Park City, Kansas – May 26, 2013 – Modified ace Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa took the lead from his outside front row starting position and never looked back in claiming his first career National Championship Racing Association of Park City, Kansas presented by Precise Racing Products late model feature Sunday night as the tour kicked off their 2013 race season at 81 Speedway in Park City.
Corey Zeitner started on the front row for the thirty lap feature but Gustin used his outside starting position to get the jump and into the lead entering turns one and two.
Two cautions for spins on laps three and nine slowed the pace of the event but after the final caution, the feature went non-stop with only lapped traffic able to slow the leaders pace. However on lap twenty-six Gustin did get a bit rattled as Jonathan Lindberg was about to be lapped exiting turn two when he executed a 360 spin right in front of the leader. Gustin narrowly avoided contact and would lead the rest of the way aboard the #19r Gressel Racing owned, Mullins Racing Engines powered Victory Circle by Moyer sponsored by Eibach Springs/Integra Race Shocks/McCartney Welding sponsored machine to pick up his first career series late model victory.
This would be the second victory in two divisions for Gustin for his car owners Ed and Cinde Gressel in NCRA competition as he won $5000 in the NCRA modified season opener back in April.
Zeitner was never seriously challenged and finished a strong second while sixth starting Chase Junghans finally got around Garrett Anderson with two laps to go to claim the third position. Scott Lewis rounded out the top five.
The ten lap heat races for the twenty car field were won by Gustin and Zeitner.
Before the program it was announced that G&G Dozer out of Caney, Kansas, who signed on as official rookie of the year sponsor for the division, would add $500 to the rookie of the year winner meaning claiming the honor would net $1000 extra dollars at the year-end awards banquet. The two drivers who have announced their intentions on competing full-time for RoY honors; Jeremy Petty and Chance Bishop, finished tenth and eleventh respectively.
The next event for the NCRA late models will be held on Saturday night, June 15th as they join forces with the Missouri based MARS DIRTCar series at the Salina High Banks Speedway in Salina, Oklahoma.
NCRA Late Model Division
81 Speedway/Park City, Kansas
May 26, 2013
20 Cars
1st Heat: 1) Ryan Gustin, 2) Gary Gorby, 3) Scott Lewis, 4( Chase Junghans, 5) Chris Kratzer, 6) Eric Main, 7) Jeremy Petty, 8) DavidDeetz, 9) Jimmie Seagraves, 10) Wylan Petrie
2nd Heat: 1) Corey Zeitner, 2) Garrett Anderson, 3) Jacob McGee, 4) Zac Simmons, 5) Chance Bishop 6) Rick Leatherman, 7) Chris Belcher 8) Matt Johnson, 9) Steve Lewis, 10) Jonathan Lindberg
A Feature: 1) Ryan Gustin, 2) Corey Zeitner, 3) Chase Junghans, 4) Garrett Anderson, 5) Scott Lewis, 6) Zac Simmons, 7) Matt Johnson, 8) Gary Gorby, 9) Jacob McGee, 10) Jeremy Petty, 11) Chance Bishop, 12) David Deetz, 13) Jimmie Seagraves, 14) Eric Main, 15) Chris Kratzer, 16) Rick Leatherman, 17) Jonathan Lindberg, 18) Chris Belcher, 19) Steve Lewis, 20) Wylan Petrie
Lap Leaders: Gustin 1-30