BELLEVILLE, Ill. — Riley Kreisel banked the $2,000 top prize as the POWRi Lucas Oil WAR Sprint League made its first visit to Charleston Speedway on Friday night.
After multiple lead changes and slide-jobs being traded on both sides of the speedway, Kreisel emerged the winner and continue his hot-run of domination in 2020.
Mitch Wissmiller led the 22-car field to green flag competition with Garrett Aitken starting outside row one. With both drivers dicing for the preferred line, Wissmiller would gain momentum early leading the first few laps with Aitken slicing for speed and the top spot.
Aitken would make a valent attempt to attain the lead, only to run too hot into turn three, looping and bringing out a caution. Once racing resumed on the race track, Wissmiller would once again try to stretch his lead only to see Terry Babb slide by on the exit of turn four.
With Babb gaining the lead at the flag stand, turns one and two would be trickier. Catching the wall on the exit of two Babb would try to save the lead but roll down the backstretch, the driver was unharmed.
Wissmiller would again lead the drivers back to green, with Shane Cottle, Kreisel and Zach Daum all within striking distance. Cottle would battle past the leader Wissmiller and appear to be the car to beat.
After the late-race caution would again bunch the field with five to-go. As the laps started to tick away, Kreisel mounted a charge, diamonding off the corners gaining speed while running down Cottle.
Kreisel threw a three-wide slide-job past Daum and Cottle, who were contesting for the lead. Kreisel would maintain momentum at the front, leading the remaining pair of laps and onto his third straight win of the season.
Cottle would stay inside the podium placing second as Zach Daum finished third. One-time leader Wissmiller would continue a great showing finishing fourth, with Anthony Nicholson placing in a very tight fifth.
The finish:
- 91-Riley Kreisel[4]; 2. 77K-Shane Cottle[9]; 3. 31-Zach Daum[5]; 4. 29-Mitch Wissmiller[1]; 5. 16-Anthony Nicholson[6]; 6. 10-Aric Gentry[7]; 7. 77-Jack Wagner[14]; 8. 99-Korey Weyant[17]; 9. 54-Trey Gropp[11]; 10. 52F-Logan Faucon[13]; 11. 8D-Justin Standridge[16]; 12. N2-Nic Harris[8]; 13. 27-Steve Thomas[19]; 14. 22S-Slater Helt[15]; 15. 73-Samuel Wagner[22]; 16. 7-Sam Scott[18]; 17. 34-Parker Frederickson[20]; 18. 90-Patrick Budde[21]; 19. 5C-Colten Cottle[10]; 20. 88-Terry Babb[3]; 21. 70-Pete Palazzolo[12]; 22. 32-Garrett Aitken[2]