Bridgeport, NJ – The first Poker Series event at the Spirit Auto Center Speedway was worth the wait as all three divisions produced great side by side racing that came down to the checkered flag to determine the winners.
Billy Koch picked up his first ever Spirit victory in the Hyper Racing/EVO Injection 600 Micro Sprint feature event. Koch and Tommy Kunsman made up the first row as they led the starting line-up to the green flag for the twenty-five lap event. After one caution flag on lap four, the remaining twenty-one laps ran non-stop to the checkered flag.
Kunsman pressured Koch through the first half of the race until Damon Paul began to put the pressure on Kunsman for second. Colin White and Kenny Miller III caught up to the leaders and began to battle for position as the laps counted down.
With Koch out in front, Kunsman and Paul raced across the start/finish line side by side to complete lap twenty. With three laps to go, Paul took over second and began to work on Koch with White hot on their heels. Paul was on the gas as the leaders headed for the checkered flag. It was a photo finish between Koch and Paul with Koch getting the win by a narrow margin of victory.
Paul finished second followed by White, Kunsman and Miller.
“This (win) gives us so much confidence going into 600 Speed Week,” Koch stated. Spirit Speedway will host the Monday night portion of Hyper Racing/EVO Injection Speed Week on Monday, August 3rd.
Reigning track champion, Alex Swift picked up his first Spirit win of the season in the John Blanda No. 15 in the 270 Micro Sprint feature event. Swift led from the green flag to the checkered but the battle for second was never far off the winner’s back bumper. Logan Diehl raced into second on the third lap and then had to fight to keep the spot as Nick Skias moved in to challenge. Skias moved into second on a lap seventeen restart but he and Diehl were side by side when they crossed the stripe one lap later.
Swift picked up the Poker Series win over Skias, Diehl, Mike Rutherford and Luke Fogg.
2019 All Star Slingshot Poker Series Champion, Amanda Angstat defended her title with a win in the first Poker Series event of the 2020 season.
It was an uphill battle for Angstat who led the first three laps before Mason Pittinger took the lead on lap four. It was a three car battle for the lead when Michael Becket moved in to challenge on lap five after starting eleventh at the green. Beckett and Jason Kraycirik battled for the lead at the race’s midpoint until Kraycirik broke with five laps to go.
Angstat was back to challenge Beckett for the lead when he spun in turn four. Angstat raced to the checkered for the win over Pittenger, Tim Franks, Joseph Hansen and Beckett who rebounded for a top five finish.
Korey Inglin was the winner of the Xcel 600 Modified win over Brian Blankenbiller, Thomas Pychka, Hunter Diehl and Kevin McGinty.
Action returns to Spirit Speedway on Friday night with Hyper Racing/EVO Injection 600s and 270 Micro Sprints and the All Star Slingshots. Racing to immediately follow warm-ups which begin a 7pm.
Hyper Racing/EVO Injections 600s Poker Series (25 laps) 1. Billy Koch, 2. Damon Paul, 3. Colin White, 4. Tommy Kunsman, 5. Kenny Miller, III, 6. Mike Rutherford, 7. Joey Amantea, 8. Buddy Schweibinz, 9. Jay Hartman, 10. Mike Thompson, 11. Bobby Butler, 12. Joe Kay, 13. Chris Fenimore, 14. Mike Butler, 15. PJ Williams, 16. Aiden Bordern, 17. Connor Gross, 18. Jason Muldowney, 19. Fred Heinly, 20. Dave Damaio, 21. Bailey Houtz, 22. Geordon Marrero, 23. Kyle Spence, 24. Dakota Bartlett
270 Micro Sprints Poker Series (25 laps): 1. Alex Swift, 2. Nick Skias, 3. Logan Diehl,, 4. Mike Rutherford, 5. Luke Fogg, 6. Glenn Macomber, 7. Johnny Trendler, 8. Shea Wills, 9. Deana Butler, 10. Brandon Shipley, 11. Corey Waegel, 12. Sarah Napora, 13. Barry Pollard, 14. Wayne Scott, 15. Nick Waltron, 16. Daniel Gagliardi
All Star Slingshots Poker Series (20 laps): 1. Amanda Angstat, 2. Mason Pittenger, 3. Tim Franks, 4. Joseph Hansen, 5. Michael Beckett, 6. Tomas Mowery, 7. Ashley Therien, 8. Ryan Cummings, 9. Jason Kraycirik, 10. Ryan Davey, 11. Shawn Mowery, 12. Dave Morrell
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