OSKALOOSA, Iowa — The 31st McKay Group Front Row Challenge Presented by Country Builders Construction and DKW Transport will definitely go down as one of the most interesting.
After starting 11th, Kyle Larson put a controversial late slider on Ryan Timms, and captured his third Front Row Challenge in a row, and the sixth in his career. The Elk Grove, California, pilot earned $21,000 for the win aboard Paul Silva’s No. 57.
Timms led early in the 30-lapper, ahead of Carson Macedo, Danny Sams III, Parker Price-Miller and Corey Day. Price-Miller and Day motored by Sams into third and fourth on lap two, and Day passed Price-Miller for third a lap later.
By lap four, Larson had surged from row six into eighth. On lap seven, Timms entered lapped traffic, and two circuits later, Larson was into the top five. Larson shot by Price-Miller for fourth on lap 11, and on lap 12, the second place car of Macedo got into the right rear tire of the lapped Xavier Doney and got upside down in turn two.
Timms led Day, Larson, Price-Miller and Sams back to green. Using the low side of turn three, Larson moved by Day into second, while Sams and Price-Miller traded fourth. On lap 14, Cale Thomas, who had climbed from 22nd to 10th got upside down in turn two.
On the restart, Sams again snatched fourth, and James McFadden followed him into fifth on lap 17 as Price-Miller brought a caution with a flat left rear tire.
It would prove to be the last yellow of the race. Timms led Larson, Day, Sams and McFadden back to green. McFadden snared fourth, while Steven Snyder Jr. followed him into fifth.
With four laps to go, Larson shot across the bottom of turns three and four, making contact with Timms, whose nose wing went askew. Larson led the rest of the way, and Day passed a limping Timms for second.
Austin McCarl made a late charge to fourth, ahead of McFadden. Snyder, Spencer Bayston, Cam Martin, Kasey Kahne and Christopher Thram rounded out the top 10.
Price-Miller won $500 from Jet Fitness for setting quick time.
“(Timms) was getting nervous in one and two and started making mistakes,” said Larson. “It allowed me some runs. It was strung out, and you’ve got to get going. I’m sure that wasn’t the cleanest move. The McCarls have been doing this forever, and it’s such a fun event. That’s why these stands are packed every year…the foot race, it’s all fun. The car was extremely good, and I took advantage of a moment I felt I had to.”
“I’d say we were good early, and as soon as the fuel came off, I was just out there kind of hanging out,” said Day. “We’re struggling right now to tell the truth. It’s the wrong time for that, but my guys are working hard at it. It’s the first time in a couple of races that I’ve actually passed cars.”
“I went into three there,” said Timms. “I knew I was screwing up, and figured (Larson) might be gaining on me. I did what I did every lap. I saw him coming up, and initially I was going to drive around it. Then I saw he wasn’t giving me any room. I lifted, slammed the brakes and tried to turn it. He still ran right over me. We need to just forget about it and move on. We’ve got Wednesday coming up, so that’s the main focus now.”
It was all Trevor Serbus in the 15-lap IMCA Racesaver feature. He led early over Gaige Weldon, Mike Moore, Logan Moore and Laney Moore.
The finish:
Feature (30 laps): 1. 57-Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA (11); 2. 14-Corey Day, Clovis, CA (6); 3. 10-Ryan Timms, Oklahoma City, OK (1); 4. 88-Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA (8); 5. 21T-James McFadden, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Aust. (5); 6. 51-Steven Snyder Jr, Rising Sun, MD (16); 7. 17-Spencer Bayston, Lebanon, IN (12); 8. 4M-Cameron Martin, Ankeny, IA (21); 9. 4-Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, WA (9); 10. 24T-Christopher Thram, Sanborn, MN (7); 11. 45-Derek Hagar, Marion, AR (14); 12. 45X-Rees Moran, Tulsa, OK (10); 13. 24D-Danny Sams III, North Port, FL (4); 14. 25-Jy Corbet, Gympie, QLD, Aust. (15); 15. 63-JJ Hickle (, Quilcene, WA17); 16. 1TAZ-Tasker Phillips, Pleasatnville, IA (13); 17. 71-Parker Price Miller, Kokomo, IN (3); 18. 31-Cale Thomas, Fairland, IN (22); 19. 74-Xavier Doney, Odessa, MO (19); 20. (DNF) 2MD-Darin Naida, Adrian, MI (23); 21. 41-Carson Macedo, Lemoore, CA (2); 22. 22-Riley Goodno, Knoxville, IA (24); 23. 27-Carson McCarl, Altoona, IA (20); 24. 1X-Scott Bogucki, McLaren Vale, SA, Aust. (18).
