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Craig Curtis drove his No.74 Lane Automotive Pontiac to his third win of the Winter MCT-SRL season on Tuesday night, at the USA International Speedway. Although the ¾ mile track in Lakeland, Florida closed in 2008, it lives on in the virtual world of Sim-Racing. A fact that I am grateful for, as it is one of my favorites to drive.  Eleven drivers were on the starting grid for the 100 lap event, Mark Howland of Rudyard, put his No.59 Auto Value Dodge on the pole, clocking a 21.573 second lap (125.157 mph). Curtis started on the outside front row, with a 21.610 second lap.(124.942 mph).

Curtis got the hole shot on Howland at the drop of the green flag and led the field into turn one.  Back in the field, two time defending MCT-SRL Champion John Hernly dove hin No.64 to the inside on lap 10 to make it three wide as the crossed the stripe, with Kalamazoo’s Phil Loedeman in the middle and Jimi Ward of Calgary, Alberta on the top.  The move caught Loedeman by surprise and as they entered turn one, Loedeman’s No.0 slid way up the track into the No.07 of Ward, sending the No.07 for a wild ride along the outside wall. As the sparks and debris flew from the impact, the yellow flag was in the air.  After sliding through turn two on the driver’s side, Ward’s car eventually came to a rest back on all fours. Ward lucked out and ended up with mostly cosmetic damage and was able to continue after an extended pitstop. The majority of the field elected to pit during the caution, while Curtis and Hernly stayed out.

As the saying goes, cautions breed cautions. Kinross Speedpark 4 Cylinder stock Champ Don Dangler had to restart at the back of the field due to a speeding penalty in the pits. When the green flag waved on lap 16 for the restart, Dangler made a hard charge in his No.15, but clipped the apron on the exit of turn two. Dangler’s car spun head-on into the inside wall on the back straight and his night was over.

The race restarted on lap 21 and ran green until lap 36, when Craig Bristol spun his No.96 getting onto turn 3 bringing out the third caution of the night.  Howland stayed out to collect his 5 bonus points and after cycling through pit stops, the race restarted with Ward’s No.07, scared and duct-taped from his lap 10 accident, in the lead, followed by Curtis in the No.74 and Loedeman in the No.0.  Curtis, who appeared to be on rails throughout the evening, quickly dispatched Ward within two laps of the restart.

The yellow flag was in the air for the fourth and final time on lap 43, when Howland got into the back of Loedeman as the pair entered turn one, sending Loedeman’s car for a slow spin.  It was Curtis, ward and Hernly lined up 1-2-3, when the race restarted on lap 48.  After running nose to tail for about a dozen laps, Ward wobbled in turn for and Hernly dove for the inside. The two drivers raced door-to-door for a lap, before Hernly could get the advantage. Ward tried for a cross-over and it was a side-by-side battle once again. Hernly eventually prevailed and he set his sights on the No.74 of Curtis, who had pulled out to a one second lead.

By lap 88 Hernly had pulled to within a tenth behind the leader, but had used his tires up chasing Curtis down. Within a few laps, the gap between the two drivers widened once again.  Curtis sailed across the finish line with Hernly a distant second.

MCT-SRL USA International Race Results

MCT-STL Standings