CLEWISTON, Fla. — The sky flirted with cancellation all evening, teasing Hendry County with drizzle and scattered rain like a track promoter testing patience.
But racers and fans who stuck it out were rewarded. Against a backdrop of weather radar that looked like a Jackson Pollock painting, the CRUSA Dirt Late Models dug in, dried the surface, and delivered a full show that proved once again… sometimes the best racing happens when it probably shouldn’t.
While some stayed home watching the storm clouds, those who rolled through the gates witnessed a feature that had movement, grit, and just enough unpredictability to keep everyone leaning forward.
Steven Mathis Jr. turned a strong starting spot into a statement win, charging from second to the top and sealing the deal in A Feature 1. Behind him, Kevin Strife put on one of the drives of the night, slicing through the field from 10th to second, a plus-eight effort that didn’t go unnoticed in the pits or the stands. James Haynes held steady to round out the podium with a solid third-place finish.
Further back, Ron Dubeau and Christian Augspurger kept things tight inside the top five, while Robert Pettet added a consistent sixth-place run. Early leader Colin Strife saw the night slip away, falling from the pole to seventh, as the track continued to evolve with the lingering moisture. Tim Barron and Travis Varnadore rounded out the top nine, both battling the changing surface.
