Mullens Tames NCRA Modified Field; Point Battle Continues!

Tanner Mullens took the lead with eight laps remaining and held on the rest of the way to claim his first victory of the season as the National Championship Racing Association of Park City, Kansas

Former five-time tour champion Brian Franz started on the pole for the thirty lap feature and quickly took the lead over outside front row starter Jason McGehee. Only one lap would be complete as McGehee would slow on the track with a flat tire, bringing out the first caution flag of the feature.

Franz would pull away on the restart, only to be slowed three laps later when the caution fell again, this time when Brendon Gemmill got spun in turn two.

Once racing action resumed, Franz stayed at the point and kept the rest of the field behind him before cautions fell on laps 18; 20 and 22 – the last for former two-time tour champion Marc Hurd, who slowed to a stop in turn four. Hurd, who came into the night just a slim ten points out of the point lead, would be credited with a tenth place finish and would fall to third in the point standings, now 45 points out of the lead.

On the lap twenty-two restart, Franz stayed out front but fourth starting Mullens was right on his tail and would take the lead on lap twenty-three. From then on there was no stopping Mullens and he would go on to claim his first series victory of the season.

Twelfth starting Jon Thompson of Superior, Nebraska finished a strong second and would claim the second spot in the standings heading into next weekend’s season finale, just twenty points out of the lead.  Gemmill would rebound from his lap four spin and race back through the field to finish third while current point leader Dan Powers came from his eighteenth starting position to finish fourth. And maintain his point lead.  Franz would settle for a fifth place finish.

The five heat races for the 45 car field were won by Franz, McGehee, Hurd, Mullens and Richard Wilson. The night’s “C” feature was won by Kevin Newell while the two “B” features were won by Kyle Bohleder and Josh Lanterman.

This will now set up the “battle for the championship” night at 81 Speedway next Saturday night, October 25, where Powers, Thompson and Hurd will end their three-way battle for the 2014 NCRA modified championship against what appears to be yet another huge field of modifieds set for the season finale.

NCRA Modifieds