4/19/2019
Marriott Cool under pressure in breakout USMTS triumph
VIVIAN, La. --Not only did Hunter Marriott score his initial USMTS victory Friday night at the Ark-La-Tex Speedway, but he did it by fending off two of the most skilled drivers familiar with Gene Boyter's high-banked speed palace in Vivian, La.
In 14 USMTS main events held here over the past decade, Chris Henigan has two wins and Cade Dillard owns a series-best three, including the last two prior to this weekend, but neither had the goods to get by Marriott in the closing laps as the 27-year-old from Brookfield, Mo., claimed the $3,000 top prize with a wire-to-wire effort.
From the outside of the front row, Marriott distanced himself from the pack right away and picked his way through lapped traffic flawlessly to maintain his advantage while Dillard and Henigan were inching their way forward.
The race's first caution on lap 29 bunched the field and Dillard threatened Marriott on several occasions over the next eight laps before the yellow flag waved for a second and final time with just three laps remaining.
Restarting inside of Dillard when the green flag returned, Henigan pulled even with Marriott momentarily before settling in for a battle for second place with Dillard while Marriott cruised the final three circuits.
Dillard held off Henigan for his second runner-up finish in as many nights. For his efforts, Henigan earned the FK Rod Ends Hard Charger Award by racing past ten cars from his 13th starting spot.
Ryan Gustin and Lucas Schott came from the fourth row to finish fourth and fifth at the checkered flag. Jason Hughes, Tyler Wolff, Joe Duvall, Terry Phillips and Zack VanderBeek completed the top 10.
Rodney Sanders suffered a flat tire with three laps to go while running third, but continues to sit atop both the USMTS National Championship and Summit USMTS Southern Series points.
Due to impending severe weather including the possibility of tornadoes on Saturday, the third and final night of the 7th Annual Cajun Clash has been canceled.
The USMTS Mid-American Series returns to action for a three-night excursion through Kansas and Oklahoma On Thursday, April 25, it's the 8th Annual Sunflower State Showdown at the 81 Speedway in Park City, Kan., and then the USMTS makes its maiden voyage to the historic Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kan., on Friday, April 26. The tripleheader wraps up Saturday, April 27, with the fourth event for the series at the Longdale Speedway in Longdale, Okla.
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Article Credit: Rick Staley