Bridgeport, NJ – Spirit Auto Center Speedway ran the final event of the 2020 season with Kenny Miller III, Nick Skias and Scott Neary capturing the final feature events of the season in their respective divisions.
The same level of excitement existed throughout the event, reflective of the level of competition seen on the quarter mile track throughout the racing season.
Kenny Miller III captured his first ever win on the Spirit quarter mile. “We’ve been close so many times,” the young driver exclaimed. “This is my favorite track to race. Doug (Rose) did a great job here with the changes that he’s made.”
Miller raced from his luck of the draw start on the pole to lead every lap of the twenty-five lap feature event as he outgunned defending track champion, Matt Smith at the start. There was plenty of action behind the leader as multiple drivers competed for runner-up spot.
Smith battled with John Barnett and Jason Swavely in the early going after the race was restarted several times before the first lap could be scored. PJ Williams and Connor Gross rounded out the top five through lap five.
Colin White moved into the top five after a side by side battle with Gross on laps seven and eight. Williams took over third on lap eight.
With Miller and Smith out in front, White moved into fourth and then took over third at the race’s halfway mark.
The cars were three wide following a lap sixteen restart as White, Smith and Jeff Hartman raced for fourth. With five laps to go, White ran in second, trying to close the gap on Miller in the lead. Christian Bruno broke into the top five behind the wheel of one of the Rodota Trucking entries for this event.
Miller led the way to the checkered flag to claim the victory over White, Hartman, Bruno and Smith. Brenden Bright finshed sixth ahead of PJ Williams, Brandon Pavel, Jason Swavely and Connor Gross who rebounded from an earlier incident.
Colin White’s second place finish resulted in White winning the Poker Series Title for the 600 Micros. Miller needed to finish fifth to win the Poker Series title but decided a win in the race was more important.
When Nick Skias joined forces with Charlie Palmucci for the 2020 season, it came with the understanding that Skias was preparing a car to be used in some select special events – like the Skyscraper at the Spirit Auto Center Speedway. Unfortunately, the engine blew in Skias’ No. 88 during the first night of Skyscraper competition so Skias returned to the cockpit of the Palmucci No. 16P for that event.
But on Saturday night, in the final race of the season, Skias was able to run his own car and put the No. 55 into Victory Lane. Of course, Palmucci was there to join in the victory.
Kyle Weiss took the lead at the start of the twenty-five lap main event and led the way through the first seventeen laps of the race until Skias was able to challenge for the lead. Skias first looked to the outside and then made a move inside of Weiss to take the lead in turn three.
With five laps to go, Skias led Weiss, Jason Swavely, Timmy Bittner and Luke Fogg. Weiss wouldn’t see the checkered flag as a mechanical failure sent the No. 5w to the pits just two laps from the finish.
Skias drove to his second win of the season followed by Alex Swift whose late race charge netted him a runner-up finish. Bittner finished third for a season best performance followed by Swavely and Fogg.
Alex Swift’s second place run put Swift in position to claim the Poker Series title for the 270 Micros.
Defending Poker Series Champion, Amanda Angstadt successfully defended her title in the 2020 Poker Series but it was Scott Neary who picked up the win in the All Star Slingshot feature event.
Neary took the lead on the first lap and never looked back during the twenty lap, caution free feature event. The feature winner’s brother, Sam raced to a second place finish with Jared Silfee taking third in the final laps of the race. Angstadt finished fourth with 2020 Slingshot Champion, Ryan Davey rounding out the top five.
Rookie, Michael Beckett needed just one more position to capture the Poker Series title but his sixth place finish put him just one spot out.
Hyper Racing EVO Injection 600s Poker Series (25 laps)
- Kenny Miller III, 2. Colin White, 3. Jeff Hartman, 4. Christian Bruno, 5. Matt Smith, 6. Brenden Bright, 7. PJ Williams, 8. Brandon Pavel, 9. Jason Swavely, 10. Connor Gross, 11. Billy Calvert, 12. Fred Heinly, 13. John Barnett, 14. Adrianna Dellaponti, 15. Robert Pierce, 16. Robert Miles, 17. Mark Landwher, 18. Cory Hunsberger, 19. Sam Lamothe, 20. Kristopher Thompson, 21. Damon Paul, 22. Joey Amantea, 23. Corey Andersen, 24. Chris Fenimore DNQ – Brandon Hires, Daniel Dickerson, Frank Holmes, Jack Conover, Gary Bozowski, Rich Deck, Jr., Thomas Prychka, Billy Murphy, John Jenkins, Lavar Scott, Wayne Scott
POKER CHAMPION: Colin White
Micro Sprint 270s Poker Series (25 laps)
- Nick Skias, 2. Alex Swift, 3. Timmy Bittner, 4. Jason Swavely, 5. Luke Fogg, 6. Anthony Yerger, 7. Charles Chance, 8. Jordan Long, 9. Liam Mulherin, 10. Kyle Weiss, 11. Andrew Locuson, 12. Dom Pomponi, 13. Nick Walton, 14. Sarah Napora, 15. Shea Wills, 16. Billy Gray, 17. Olivia Haworth, 18. Mark Landwher, 19. Jimmy Wagner
POKER CHAMPION: Alex Swift
All-Star Slingshot Poker Series (25 Laps)
- Scott Neary, 2. Sam Neary, 3. Jared Silfee, 4. Amanda Angstadt, 5. Ryan Davey, 6. Michael Beckett, 7. Ryan Harris, 8. Scott Philipps
POKER CHAMPION: Amanda Angstadt
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