The 250 Intermediate Class has been extremely fun to watch this season, as the competition has been fierce, and there hasn’t really been a clear cut favorite. That is beginning to change though as Preston Carr has now won three straight Main Events and four of the last five. Carr won 11 races in the Box Stock Class last season, so we already know that when he goes on a streak it is hard to stop him.
At the drop of the Green Flag it was outside front row starter Tyler Matheny getting the advantage as he would lead the opening six laps. Matheny has shown glimpses of being a front runner this season and continues to improve each time out on the racetrack. Preston Carr though was busy moving through the field. Carr started in the seventh position and by lap seven was making the pass for the lead. Once up front he would pull away and win by nearly three seconds. He was also the Hard Charger of the event after starting seventh and passing six cars on his way to the front. Tyler Matheny finished a career best second, for his second podium finish of the season. Jack Phillips started on the Pole and would hang around in the top five all race as he would finish in the third position. Aiden Bailey was the feel-good story of the night. He made his third start of the season at Cycleland, which was also only his third career start in an outlaw kart. The nine-year-old driver made it a good one as he picked up his first top five finish by way of crossing the line in the fourth position. Kaiden Butler had a rough night all the way around but was able to come back and salvage a fifth-place finish, his sixth of the season.
The night began with 14 drivers signing into the pit area for the ninth points race of the season. Raymond Baldez laid down the fastest lap in qualifying with a lap time of 10.711 seconds. It was his first Fast Time of the season behind the wheel of his #68B kart.
Heat Race competition saw Jack Phillips pick up the one and only Heat Race Win. The win marked his second of the season in his #18P kart.
Max Mittry has had a solid season going in his Mittryconstruction.com #2X kart. Although he hasn’t run all the races he has been fast when he has run. Max picked up his first Trophy Dash win of the season. He now has a Trophy Dash Win, a Fast Time, and two top five Main Event finishes.
The Championship chase in the 250 Class continues to be a great one to follow. Preston Carr now holds a 14-point advantage over second place driver Raymond Baldez. Carr came into the night with a two-point advantage, but with the victory and Baldez finishing 7th he was able to extend the lead. After netting six straight podium finishesMason Smith finished off the podium in 8th on Saturday night and now sits 37 points out of the points lead in third. Kaiden Butler is fourth in the standings and he is only 59 points out of the top spot. Jack Phillips jumped into the top five this week after Evan Burrola did not show up to the last race and did not have a sub driver. Phillips now sits 158 points out of the top spot in fifth.
We will be off this coming Saturday but will be back in two weeks with our big Double-Header Weekend. July 7th and 8th we will have Points Race #10 & #11. Hot Laps are scheduled to begin at 5:30PM with qualifying to follow both nights. For ticket information and/or directions to the racetrack please visit www.cyclelandspeedway.com.