SOMERTON, Ariz. – After coming up one spot short in Friday’s opener, Tanner Black ended the Turkey Classic at Cocopah Speedway in victory lane on Saturday evening.
Black had his work cut out for him after starting 13th in the 25-lap IMCA modified feature after racing his way into the main event via a B-Main. He made his way up to third by the time the caution flag waved at the halfway point in the 25-lap feature.
On the ensuing restart Black was able to dispatch Darrell Hughes II for second before setting his sights on race leader Chaz Baca. However, a caution for a multi-car incident in turn three nixed Black’s pass on Hughes.
Black was able to replicate his move on Hughes during the next restart and quickly turned his attention back to Baca. Entering turn one Black dove low under Baca and was able to pull clear of him through turns three and four.
Black led the rest of the way to pick up the victory, with Hughes following him across the finish line in second.
“The track was pretty hard to pass on last night. Tonight was an awesome surface, starting 13th and able to get up through there pretty quick,” Black said. “I’m out here for the winter racing. I’m originally from Arizona and I decided to come back this winter and stay around and see if we can get a little better before we go back home to Kansas.”
Baca, who won Friday’s preliminary feature, finished third. Jeff Taylor and Kelsie Foley completed the top-five.
Other winners Saturday included John Cornell (Late Model) Miles Morris (Northern SportMod), Tyson Talkington (Stock Car), Tommy Velasquez (VERS Dwarf), Darren Brown (Pro Dwarf), Ryan Brooks (Mini Dwarf Masters), Eastyn Figueroa (Mini Dwarf Sportsman) and Gage Baldwin (Jr. Sprints).
The finish:
Tanner Black, Darrell Hughes II, Chaz Baca, Jeff Taylor, Kelsie Foley, Russell Allen, Matt Aukland, Lance Mari, Spencer Wilson, Kelsy Hayes, Michael Thing, Mike Wedelstadt, P.J. Dyke, Sean Stacy, Ellsworth Conover, Joseph Altig, Bill Miller, Keith Altig, Marvin Mueller, Hayden Bender, Zachary Madrid, Shawn Strand, Kollin Hibdon, Corben Sabers.