Brenham Crouch and Jordan Goldesberry would lead the field to the green for twenty laps around the Dodge County Fairgrounds. Goldesberry would get the one-up on the rest of the field from the outside of the front row.
Goldesberry would try to leave the rest of the field in the dust, while Bill Balog and Thiel would already be making their way around the high side to catch up to the Rockstar Energy Drink 65. He would see the tail of the field as we had a handful of laps ticked away. This allowed Balog and Crouch to close the gap on Goldesberry.
Jett Mann would draw out our first and only caution of the feature by getting up into the wall in turns 1 and 2. Goldesberry would be joined by Crouch in second, Balog third, Thiel fourth, and Schneiderman fifth. On the restart, Balog made a massive slider to take second from Crouch. Scotty Thiel would also pull the same move on Crouch for third as they headed out of turn four.
The race to watch was to see if either the North Pole Nightmare or the Big Wheel could catch Goldesberry. Ten laps to, as Balog would be the first to challenge Goldesberry for the lead as they headed down the front stretch. Thiel would try to peak his front nose wing under the 17B but was unsuccessful this time around.
Balog, running second, would again be challenged by Scotty Thiel and would surrender second to him in turn four with seven laps to go. Thiel would be on a mission to reel in Goldesberry. Brenham Crouch would also use this to move his High Plains Building Division 1 to third.
Scotty Thiel would use a wicked run down the backstretch to overtake the lead from Goldesberry and would lead lap 16. Goldesberry and him would dash into turn one where Goldesberry would attempt to throw the slider back, but it wouldn’t stick and he would wash up in turn two allowing Balog and Crouch under his 65.
Thiel would take the white flag and then the checkered flag, Crouch would finish second, and Bill Balog would round out the podium for the Harry Neitzel Tribute Night. We all miss Harry and his smile around the track, and are grateful for the support the Neitzels have given us throughout numerous seasons with the series.
Story by Chatty Madi Racing News
Photos by Larry Douma
