Sunday, March 5, 2017

FASCAR Watkins Glen 120 - Recap

          Ethan Maestri would start on Pole, but Travis quickly assumed the lead.

 Qualifying for the Watkins Glen 120 on Thursday night went well for Ethan Maestri as he gained just over a tenth of a second over Travis Billingsley, to start the race from the front. However, when the green flag waved, Travis quickly gained the lead and the race into the first two corners were hotly contested by the #18 & #85 cars. Into the second turn they were joined by Owen Henderson in the #48 Lowes Chevy. Owen and Ethan touched fenders and Ethan spun out of the corner and into the wall. This left a wide open track for Travis to capitalize on and extend a sizable lead. 

The battle into Turn 2 was a little too close for the #48 and #85


 Drew Dilbeck was able to settle into a nice rhythm in P2, while Tony Tyree took over P3 handily. The previous weeks dominate performance by Nicholas Hargrove was followed up this week by a less than stellar performance from his newly minted #3 Chevy. Nick would fight an ill-handling racecar throughout this event, spinning on several occasions and pitting no less than three times. 

 Most everyone was on a single pit strategy, with exception of Owen Henderson, he would pit too early in the race and would have to come in a second time in the late stages of the race in order to finish. Ethan Maestri would steadily work his way back up through the field as the race progressed, eventually catching Drew Dilbeck in the #19 Ford and the two would run a close battle for several laps before Drew eventually mis-judged his speed on the entry to Turn 1 and had to allow Ethan to slide by for second place. 

 In the end, it was Travis Billingsley in the #18 Big-O Tires Toyota that would win the event by a mile. He would be the race's only leader and therefore claimed the only bonus points on the night. Drew Dilbeck posts his second straight Top 3 here at Watkins Glen. Tony Tyree follows him in P4 as well. With Travis' top level performance this week helping him recover from a dismal Daytona race result, he now joins Nick and Drew in a three way tie in the standings as the series gets set to move to Indianapolis and the Brickyard 125.

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