Pit Stop Radio News

Chad Boat finished second, followed by Brady Bacon and Spencer Bayston as Toyota drivers captured three of the top four finishing positions on the first night of the USAC P1 Insurance National Midget series’ Kokomo Grand Prix at the Kokomo Speedway in Kokomo, Indiana, Friday night.

Toyota drivers occupied the top four starting positions and it was Du Quoin winner Logan Seavey that immediately went to the front ahead of Keith Kunz Motorsports (KKM) teammate Bayston.

Seavey would hold the top spot through the first eight laps before a slight bobble on the cushion opened the door for Tyler Courtney to slip by. The two then traded the lead back and forth before Courtney would pull away on lap 13. As the race passed the midway point, Seavey slipped on the high side, which opened the door for Boat to move into second and Bacon to climb into the third spot with less than 10 laps remaining.

A late-race caution with five laps appeared to set the stage for more drama and Seavey once again made a charge, seemingly passing Boat and Bacon, only to have the caution flag fly once more with four laps remaining and reverting the field back to the previous lap.

On the restart with four laps remaining, Courtney got the jump, with Boat and Bacon following, while Seavey was shuffled back in the field before yet another caution flew with two laps remaining. No one was able to run down Courtney for the win as Boat would finish second with Bacon right behind him in third. Bayston, the 2017 USAC champion, used the late re-start to pass Justin Grant for the fourth position.

In addition to the top four, three more Toyota-powered drivers earned top-10 finishers as Seavey would eventually finish seventh, while Ryan Robinson was ninth and Kevin Thomas Jr. placed tenth. Rounding out the Toyota contingent was Holly Shelton in 11th, Tucker Klaasmeyer in 12th, Andrew Felker in 14th, Jerry Coons Jr. was 15th and Tanner Carrick placed 17th.

Night two of the USAC Kokomo Grand Prix is scheduled for Saturday.