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Travis Johnson Caps Busy NCRA Weekend with Modified Victory in Enid!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Enid, Oklahoma – June 24, 2012 - Travis Johnson capped of a successful weekend of racing with the National Championship Racing Association as he claimed his third straight victory over the weekend in two different divisions as he claimed his first career NCRA of Park City, Kansas presented by Precise Racing Products modified feature event Sunday night at Enid Speedway in Enid, Oklahoma.
Johnson claimed victories in Elk City and Amarillo, Texas on Friday and Saturday night respectively in the series southern sport modified division
Series rookie contender Jon Thompson of Nebraska and defending series champion Tyler Davis started on the front row for the twenty lap feature and after the original start was aborted due to a caution, Davis took the lead on the complete restart.
His lead only lasted one lap, however, as former three time series champion John Allen moved up from his third starting position and drove around Davis in turns three and four to take the lead.
A lap four caution for Daniel Richey's spin in turn two gave Johnson the break he needed as he restarted third and once racing action resumed, drove underneath both Davis and Allen exiting turn two and took the lead heading down the backstretch.
Two laps later the final caution would wave when Justin Moler came to a stop at the top of turn four.
Johnson had Davis, who over took Allen for the runner up position on lap five, right on his tail but Johnson and his Dunsworth powered Hughes Racing Chassis #86j pulled away and quickly established a five car length lead.
In the meantime Davis, Allen and fifth starting Marc Hurd waged a spirited battle for the runner up position with Allen eventually fading to fifth when Greg Burt over took him for position at the races midway point.
With ten laps down and ten laps to go it was Johnson with a half stretch lead over Davis, Hurd, Burt and Allen with that battle for second through fifth still undecided.
But back up front there was no catching Johnson during the races last set of laps as he would cruise to his first career tour victory and capped the weekend off with Johnson claiming his fourth straight series victory in four series starts. His first coming at the Salina High Banks Speedway in Salina, Oklahoma in southern sport modified division as well as the previously mentioned two events held the previous two nights.
"I am tired," exclaimed an exhausted Johnson in victory lane which saw him make the overnight drive from Amarillo to his home in Enid. "I saw both Allen and Davis drift high in the corners and the bottom worked well for me so I just waited for them to do that. It was real rough there in turn four but I felt pretty comfortable where we were running."
Davis held off a late race charge from Hurd to claim second while Allen made his way back into fourth position late. Dan Powers, who had struggled thus far during the 2012 season with the series, started eighth and rounded out the top five.
The three heat races for the twenty-seven car field were won by Davis, Johnson and Allen.
It was a rough night for Mickey Lassiter who came into the night leading the series rookie of the year point standings. The Piedmont driver had something break down the backstretch during heat race action, hitting the back stretch wall and executing and barrel rolling three times. Lassiter escaped uninjured but was done for the night.
The next event for the NCRA modified divisions will a two day show at the famed Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas during the 56th running of the Hutchinson Grand Nationals on Friday and Saturday night, July 13-14 with Saturday nights championship feature event paying $2000 to win.
1st Heat: 1) Tyler Davis, 2) Jon Thompson, 3) Dan Powers, 4) Ron Gould, 5) Josh Lanterman, 6) Michael Shenberger, 7) Dusty Robbins, 8) Daniel Richey, 9) Kirk Coleman
2nd Heat: 1) Travis Johnson, 2) Marc Hurd, 3) Dustin Belcher, 4) Jim Johnson, 5) Jon Herring, 6) Don Hodge, 7) Cam Case, 8) Matt Martin, 9) Dustin Allen
3rd Heat: 1) John Allen, 2) AJ Brochu, 3) Greg Burt, 4) Kirby Robe, 5) Justin Moler, 6) Bob Lane, 7) Mickey Lassiter, 8) Bob Bills, 9) Brian Miller
A Feature: 1) Travis Johnson, 2) Tyler Davis, 3) Marc Hurd, 4) John Allen, 5) Dan Powers, 6) Jon Thompson, 7) Greg Burt, 8) Kirby Robe, 9) Josh Lanterman, 10) John Herring, 11) AJ Brochu, 12) Don Hodge, 13) Dusty Robbins, 14) Dustin Belcher, 15) Jim Johnson, 16) Cam Case, 17) Dustin Allen, 18) Bob Lane, 19) Justin Moler, 20) Matt Martin, 21) Daniel Richey, 22) Ron Gould, 23) Michael Shenberger, DNS: Mikey Lassiter, Brian Miller, Kirk Coleman, Bob Bills
David Smith Jr. www.oklahomatidbits.com
