HAGEN HOLDS OFF CLAUSON BY .092 SECONDS TO WIN OCALA FINALE
Ocala, FL…….Darren Hagen of Riverside, Calif. held off a charge by Bryan Clauson on the final corner to take the victory on the final night of the“Winter Dirt Games” presented by eBay Motors at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Fla. After Friday’s program was rained out, Saturday’s events started with a New Track Record by Justin Grant and ended with a .092-second winning margin in the 30-lap Main Event.
“It’s just a blessing to be able to get a win for this team after all the work they’ve put in this week. They’ve been great to work with, and we’re just really pumped to take a win here tonight,” Hagen said of his Hoffman Auto Racing Mean Green Chalk/Stanton Mopar #69.
Hagen held off advances from Grant throughout the first half of the race. Hagen slipped away in lapped traffic until a caution flew with ten laps remaining. From then on, Clauson stalked the lead in his CTR/BCI/Curb-Agajanian R&B Trucker’s Maxim/Fisher #7. On the final lap, Clauson went high in turn three and had a run to the line with the two making contact just before the flagstand. Clauson spun to the infield in turn one.
“We were just getting better and better. We could get some runs on him but just couldn’t get a way by. We had a shot coming to the line, but he kinda shut the door there. It’s a great way for us to start the season, though,”Clauson said.
Grant held on for third in his Hery Racing Sunset Meats Maxim/Claxton #40. Defending series champion Levi Jones was fourth in the Tony Stewart Racing GM Performance Maxim/Kistler #20. Thursday’s winner Damion Gardner was fifth in the DG Racing Pace Lighting Eagle/Shaver #71.
FEATURE: (30 laps) 1. Darren Hagen, 2. Bryan Clauson, 3. Justin Grant, 4. Levi Jones, 5. Damion Gardner, 6. Jon Stanbrough, 7. Wes McIntyre, 8. Kody Swanson, 9. Tracy Hines, 10. Bud Kaeding, 11. Kevin Thomas, Jr., 12. Dave Darland, 13. Coleman Gulick, 14. Brady Bacon, 15. Jonathan Hendrick, 16. Chris Windom, 17. Bobby East, 18. Casey Shuman, 19. Hunter Schuerenberg, 20. Robert Ballou, 21. Chase Stockon, 22. Mitch Wissmiller, 23. Kyle Cummins. NT