Kalamazoo, MI (Saturday, May 30, 2021) - Jimmy McCune fought off challenges from Joe Liguori and Jason Blonde to win the Must See Racing Sprint Series presented by Engine Pro 50-lap feature event at Kalamazoo Speedway Saturday night. McCune’s victory in the inaugural American Speed U.S. National was worth $5,000.
McCune got the jump at the start from his outside front row starting position and led the first 17 circuits. Joe Liguori trailed closely and pulled alongside McCune on lap 17. The duo ran side-by-side for several laps. McCune managed to hang on to the top spot, but only momentarily.
Jason Blonde then began to harass McCune for the lead with 27 laps to go and eventually wrestled the top spot away 4 laps later. Blonde began to pull away until a yellow flag flew for Nolan Allison’s spin on lap 35.
On the double-file restart, race leader Blonde surprisingly chose the outside line. When the green flag waved, Blonde got too high exciting turn two and nearly got into the wall. McCune assumed the top spot again and Liguori snagged second place.
The final caution waved with ten laps to go. McCune also chose the outside lane on this final restart. McCune took the lead and drove the final 10 laps to seal the victory.
In victory lane McCune insisted when Blonde took the lead and began to build a sizeable lead there was no quit.
“We were still digging” explained McCune.”We just weren’t as good on that longer run. We just started the race a little too good. I needed to be a little more uncomfortable in the beginning of the race and let the car come to me. On that restart, she launched on the bottom pretty hard. I sailed her into one and I realized he (Blonde) wasn’t there, so I let her slide up to take his line away and then we were off to the races from there. I wasn’t surprised he chose the outside lane on the next-to-last restart. That’s typical of Jason. He loved to run the top. This was probably my second biggest payday since I’ve been racing” concluded McCune.
Jason Blonde was second followed by Troy DeCaire, Joe Liguori, and Jacob Dolinar rounding out the top five. Troy DeCaire was the nights fast qualifier with a lap of 11.003 seconds.
In the Maxima Racing Oils Must See Racing Midwest Lights event, Joey Wyckoff picked up his second consecutive feature event of the 2021 season over Dylan Watson, Charlie Schultz, James Rader, and Tim Henthorne.
MUST SEE RACING SPRINT SERIES PRESENTED BY ENGINE PRO 50-LAP FEATURE FINISH:
1. Jimmy McCune (88) 2. Jason Blonde (42) 3. Troy DeCaire (36) 4. Joe Liguoi (13) 5. Jacob Dolinar (48) 6. Nolan Allison (16) 7. Charlie Schultz (9s) 8. Tom Jewell (7) 9. Rick Holly (85) 10. Tom Geren (11) 11. Adam Biltz (8a) 12. Anthony Linkenhoker (41) 13. Jeff Bloom (26) 14. Anthony McCune (8) 15. LJ Grimm (99) 16. Teddy Alberts (44)
MAXIMA RACING OILS MUST SEE RACING MIDWEST LIGHTS 25-LAP FEATURE FINISH:
1. Joey Wyckoff (90) 2. Dylan Watson (12) 3. Charlie Schultz (92) 4. James Rader (63) 5. Tim Henthorne (15) 6. Jason Rader (52) 7. Josh Sexton (51) 8. JJ Henes (36) 9. Justin Stanley (9) 10. Lauren DePasquale (18) 11. Craig Sharfenburg (99) 12. Dale McQuillen (23)
Story - Must See Racing Press Release
Photo - Jason Partanen