Turn 1 mayhem as Travis Billingsley (#18 Big-O Tires Chevy) goes around and into the barrier in the first lap.
It certainly didn't look well for Ethan early as an early round of practice before qualifying placed Travis Billingsley in the low 1:10's on Watkins short, a full half second ahead of anyone else on the track. Qualifying looked like it was going to go Travis' way easily. However, Paul Maestri made a late charge that just edged Travis off the top spot. Travis gathered himself for a push at the end but tagged the barrier hard in the Bus Stop, ending his run for the top starting position. Paul looked to be set for a pole position until Ethan Maestri posted a 1:10.792, edging Paul by less than 0.060 seconds.
The race start would shift things even further toward Ethan's direction. As the crowd reached Turn 1, Travis would try and nose his #18 Chevy alongside Ethan's Toyota, diving deep into the turn. He was passed the commit point when he realized what danger he had put himself and others into by pushing in that far. He braced and tried to hold a steady line, but he and Ethan ran out of room, colliding, sending Travis into the barrier facing the wrong direction. This would set the #18 way back for much of the race.
Paul Maestri in the #33 Red Bull Toyota got a great start.
Paul Maestri, in the #33 Toyota, got a fantastic jump through the outside line of the corner and sailed off into first place, chased by Ethan Maestri. Nicholas Hargrove in the #5 Chevy, Drew Dilbeck in the #41 Ford and Tony Tyree in the #47 Chevy would line out the top 5 in the early going. 4 laps in, Ethan would close on Paul, and when the #33 bobbled in Turn 1, his MBR teammate in the #3 would take advantage, the two MBR cars would remain locked in the first two positions for the rest of the race.
While Travis did suffer early setbacks, he would settle into a grove that would see him climb from dead last up to third position. But bad maths in the pits let him down. He ran out of fuel in the second to last lap, he would fall to 6th place on the night. Drew Dilbeck started strong, riding in third position early on. But he would bobble in Turn 7 and would end up in the grass. He would hurry to recover and got a little too enthusiastic about protecting his position, sweeping up the track and into Nicholas Hargrove. Nick looked to have the pass cleanly, but the #41 of Dilbeck got into his rear fender and sent him to the wall. Drew would reclaim third place and hold onto it at the end. Nick would bring his #5 Chevy in fourth position. Tony Tyree ran well in fifth place early, eventually falling back to sixth behind Travis, but the #18's woe's came just in time for the #47 Old Spice car allowing Tony to snatch another Top 5.
Ethan Maestri scores his first win of this FASCAR season, giving MBR victories in both races so far this season.
It was a return to racing for Chris Dilbeck. His effort in the #99 Ford was not a Top 5 finish, but the effort he put into the drive was certainly noteworthy, he would finish in seventh place. Rounding out the field of 8 cars was another new driver to the FRL, 12 year old Gabe Stauffer. His was certainly a learning experience on the night, but a solid effort from this young driver as he dips his toe into the FRL.
The series moves on to Indianapolis for the FASCAR Indy 125 on Sunday, Oct. 8th.
Points For The Night
Ethan Maestri - 22
Paul Maestri - 19
Drew Dilbeck - 16
Nicholas Hargrove - 14
Tony Tyree - 12
Travis Bilingsley - 10
Chris Dilbeck - 8
Gabe Stauffer - 6
Series Points After 2 Races
1. Paul Maestri - 41
2. Drew Dilbeck - 35
3. Ethan Maestri - 33
4. Nicholas Hargrove - 30
5. Tony Tyree - 25
6. Travis Billingsley - 24
7. Brandon Adkins - 8
8. Chris Dilbeck - 8
9. Nate Turner - 6
10. Gabe Stauffer - 6
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