The incident also collected Kevin Knight and TJ Ball, and all four dropped out immediately following contact.
“One of the last things we want happening is drivers who aren’t running for a championship impacting drivers who are,” NFRN Director of Competition Kris Neuert said. “We’re always going to penalize retaliation, but in these cases, the penalty is higher.” Although Knight and Ball were involved in the crash that brought out the caution, the NFRN concluded the two teams could have continued racing with the damage the cars had at the time. Lopez was able to dodge the accident. Lopez was 20th in points going into the race and Ball was 33rd. Makana will effectively be on probation for the rest of the NTS regular season, and it will also apply to any NACS races he makes in that period of time.
Fowler hadn't led any laps at Oswego until green flag pit stops within five laps of the end of the race. The #72 team gave him a fast pit stop that excelled against other crews and beat out other contenders, leading Fowler to victory lane for the first time in his career.
"I couldn't believe it," Fowler said. "After Trenton, our guys were down and I tried to keep them up. It's a team sport and I'm just the driver. I hope they had that in mind throughout our prep for this race." Fowler now has claim on being the first victor on a dirt track in the NFRN. Mike Simpson appeared on his way to his second victory of the season, but his pit stop did not match his on-track speed. "Think it was just an overestimation on gas mileage," Simpson said. "We didn't have any problems getting onto pit lane or driving on it, just put too much in the tank. It's alright, though, cause we should be good on points." The final laps of the race proved to be the craziest although all but one truck made it to the finish line. Following a minor spin by Dalton Wise off the nose of Kevin Knight, Barry Watson was clipped by Jeff Cabico on their way to pit lane, spinning Watson up the track and wrecking Ross Kispin out. Watson then tried to go back across the track to get to the pits, hitting Carter Friesen and missing the pits anyway. "Really not happy with Jeff," Watson said. "We're racing for something and he's not. He can't afford more bad finishes in the position we're in." Daniel Voyles potentially had a challenge for Fowler in the late going, but he was turned by Richard Morris as he left the pits. Voyles ended up 3rd. Jason Langley and Taylor The Pig had run-ins of their own, both spinning on the backstretch off the contact of other drivers.
Drivers now prepare for six heat races to determine the starting order and six advancing part-timers for the 45-lap feature.
Here's who learned the dirt quickest in the first session: 1) Dalton Wise - 19.375 (123 laps) 2) Hunter Cox - 19.426 (129) 3) Robbie Bell - 19.439 (120) 4) Emerson Sims - 19.444 (123) 5) Kevin Knight - 19.451 (126) 6) Moses Osborne - 19.452 (141) 7) Clint McComb - 19.469 (159) 8) Billy Thompson - 19.478 (100) 9) Aaron DuMatte- 19.483 (148) 10) James Smith - 19.487 (106)
A total of five New York drivers will race at Oswego, three of whom, Vargo, Derek Northrup, and Tyler Bate, will have to be the fastest part-timer in their heat to advance.
Here's who learned the dirt quickest in the first session: 1) Cameron Vargo (i) - 19.566 (206 laps) 2) Moses Osborne - 19.588 (230) 3) Josh McCoy - 19.601 (169) 4) Kyle Langeland (i) - 19.602 (117) 5) Essentia - 19.612 (174) T6) Aaron DuMatte - 19.620 (204) T6) Barry Watson - 19.620 (181) 8) Luke Evans (i) - 19.621 (212) 9) Tania Brayer (i) - 19.622 (205) 10) Carter Friesen - 19.630 (201) |
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