Following a pass at lap 50, Andrew Gresel would lead the following 100 laps to pick up the victory in the Beat the Heat 150 at Sauble Speedway.
The night started off with Gresel and Jesse Kennedy winning the pair of heats.
When it came time for the feature, it’d be Kent Nuhn starting on pole, followed by Brandon Watson, Matt Pritiko, Marc Jacobs, Gresel, Jesse Kennedy, Mark Watson, Jamie Cox, Dwayne Baker, Stephen Richmond, and Tom Gibbons.
On the first lap, it’d be Brandon Watson pulling out to the early lead, ahead of Nuhn, Pritiko, Jacobs, Gresel and Kennedy. Gresel would begin to make his move, looking for a way around Jacobs on lap two, completing the pass on lap three while Kennedy battled with Mark Watson. Though the first caution would then come out as Steve Adams would get into the wall with a flat tire.
On the restart, Brandon Watson would jump out once again to the early lead while Nuhn and Pritiko battled for second. Pritiko would clear Nuhn on lap five, opening the door for Gresel to pass Nuhn for third on lap seven. On lap 13, Jason Parker would pull to the infield with a problem.
On lap 16, Kennedy would begin to look for a way by Mark Watson for fifth when the caution would come out for the No. 89 going around, collecting Adams.
On the restart, Brandon Watson would get sideways, allowing Pritiko to take the lead while Gresel battled with Nuhn for third. Gresel would complete the pass on lap 19 to move up to the third position, while Mark Watson moved up to fourth while Kennedy battled with Nuhn for fifth. Kennedy would complete the pass on lap 22. On lap 29, the No. 71 would pull his late model into the pits.
Kennedy would begin to look for a way by Mark Watson on lap 36, completing the pass on lap 38. Gresel would also continue his climb to the front, passing Brandon Watson for second on lap 39. Brandon Watson would then fall back to the fifth position, allowing Kennedy and Mark Watson to move up a spot each.
Meanwhile, Gresel would begin to look for a way by Pritiko on lap 47, completing the pass on lap 50. On lap 51, Brandon Watson would head pit side, allowing Jamie Cox to move into the fifth position. The top five would remain the same all the way till the mandatory yellow at lap 75 for a five minute pit stop. At this point, it was Gresel leading Pritiko, Kennedy, Mark Watson, Cox, Nuhn, Jacobs and Baker.
After the restart, it’d be Gresel continuing to lead, now over Kennedy as Kennedy passed Pritiko for second. Pritiko would fall back to third after Mark Watson made the pass by him on lap 85. Mark Watson would continue his climb to the front with a pass on Kennedy for second on lap 109.
The rest of the race would see the top five remaining the same with Andrew Gresel taking the win, followed by Mark Watson and Jesse Kennedy. There’d be only four cars finishing on the lead lap at the end of the 150 lapper with the fourth car being Pritiko. Nuhn would round out the top five.
...........I've heard after writing this that the race is under review and Gresel may not be the official race winner.
Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=16049.msg103895#msg103895
