MOHAVE VALLEY, Ariz. — Kevin Thomas Jr. fought off a furious challenge from Ricky Lewis down the stretch to win Saturday night’s Avanti Windows & Doors USAC CRA Sprint Car feature at Arizona’s Mohave Valley Raceway.
Thomas, utilizing a 360 cubic inch engine against a field full of 410s, started fifth on the grid for the 30-lap feature but steadily dug his way to the front past Eddie Tafoya Jr. on the ninth circuit. Tafoya led the first eight laps from the pole.
However, with three laps remaining, 10th starting Lewis used the high side to rip the lead away from Thomas, getting him at the stripe by a single car length. Moments later, Thomas dove back to the bottom of turns one and two and slid back by Lewis for the lead in turn two.
Immediately, Lewis shot back underneath Thomas in turn three and scooted past Thomas’ front bumper and up to the turn four cushion. As Lewis banged his right rear tire off the cushion, Thomas slipped back under to retake the lead with the white flag waving, signifying one lap to go.
On the final go around, Lewis pulled even to the inside of Thomas through turns one and two but slipped over the edge at the top of two. While Lewis fought to regain control, Thomas escaped away for the victory in his Bonneau Motorsports No. 78.
For Thomas, it was ninth career USAC CRA feature victory, moving him to 15th place on the all-time list alongside Brady Bacon, David Cardey and Richard Vander Weerd.
The finish:
Feature (30 laps, starting positions in parentheses) 1. Kevin Thomas Jr. (5), 2. Ricky Lewis (10), 3. Eddie Tafoya Jr. (1), 4. Austin Williams (4), 5. Charles Davis Jr. (3), 6. R.J. Johnson (6), 7. A.J. Bender (8), 8. Connor Lundy (2), 9. Logan Calderwood (14), 10. Dayton Shelton (15), 11. Brody Wake (17), 12. Brecken Guerrero (12), 13. Verne Sweeney (20), 14. Jim Vanzant (19), 15. Troy DeGaton (13), 16. Brent Sexton (18), 17. Connor Speir (9), 18. Jeff Dyer (21), 19. Racin Silva (16), 20. Braden Chiaramonte (7), 21. Jayme Barnes (11). NT
