Pit Stop Radio News

Spencer Bayston took the lead on lap 22 of 30 and went on to win the USAC P1 Insurance National Midget series’ Indiana Midget Week event at the Lawrenceburg Speedway in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, Saturday. The victory is the first of the season for Bayston, the 2017 USAC national champion, and the third straight for a Toyota-powered driver in the first three Indiana Midget Week events.

Starting from the sixth position, Bayston methodically climbed through the field as pole-sitter Tyler Courtney maintained the lead while battles waged throughout the top five in the first half of the race.

After 10 of 30 laps, it was Courtney followed by Justin Grant, Tanner Carrick, Bayston and Chad Boat, Thursday night’s winner, running in the top five. Bayston made a daring move diving into turn one to pass Grant and Carrick, only to have Grant cross back under him for second, with Bayston holding off his Keith Kunz Motorsports (KKM) Toyota teammate Carrick for the third spot. Behind them Boat was able to successfully roll the bottom of the track past Carrick and into the battle for second with Grant and Bayston as they began to close on Courtney.

As they passed the midway point, Grant, Bayston and Boat would go three-wide for second and Bayston was able to claim the position as he continued to rip the topside of the track. From there, he quickly closed on Courtney, who stayed down low as Bayston went high. The two ran side-by-side on lap 22 before Bayston inched ahead coming to the start/finish line, leading the lap by .054 seconds as Boat moved into third.

Just after Bayston claimed the top spot, a caution waved, setting up a re-start with just eight laps remaining. At that point, the 19-year-old Lebanon, Indiana native would take control, pulling away from his pursuers before the final caution on lap 26. Once again on the restart, Bayston got the jump to take a commanding lead as he pounded the top around the track.

Bayston then held off a late charge by Tanner Thorson to become the tenth different Toyota driver to win a national feature event in 2018. Boat would finish third with Carrick placing fifth to give Toyota three of the top-five finishers. Behind Carrick was Brady Bacon in sixth, Rico Abreu placed seventh, Tyler Thomas in eight and Logan Seavey came home in the ninth position.

The finale of Indiana Midget Week will take place Sunday night at Kokomo Speedway.