Pit Stop Radio News

Kevin Thomas Jr. overcame a mid-race mechanical problem to finish third and lead Toyota in the USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Championship’s Pennsylvania Midget Week feature at Linda’s Speedway, Friday.

For much of the race, it appeared Keith Kunz Motorsports Toyota driver Tanner Thorson was on the way to earning his second win of the year as he went from the pole position and immediately took the race lead with Andrew Layser in second, Thomas in third, Tyler Courtney in fourth and Zeb Wise running fifth.

Just four laps into the feature, Thorson started to pull away from the field as the top of the field remained intact and by the 10-lap mark, Thorson had checked out. Behind him, Thomas started to put the pressure on Layser, with Layser spinning and bringing out the caution and reverting the field back to lap nine.

As Thorson led the field back to green, Thomas, Courtney, Wise, Jerry Coons Jr., Chris Windom and Jason McDougal made up the top seven.

By lap 14, Thomas started to close on Thorson. One lap later, Thorson would slide high with a problem on his right rear tire, bringing out a caution and handing the lead over to Thomas, with Courtney, Wise, Coons and Windom in tow.

As the 30-lap race crossed the midway point, Thomas began to develop a problem with the right rear shock and Courtney would work past him in turn four on lap 19. Thomas was able to hold off Wise for second until lap 26 when Wise overtook him and then began to close on Courtney. Thomas continued to run third, followed by Windom, McDougal and Coons.

In the final laps, the leaders would hit heavy lapped traffic and Wise was able to take advantage on lap 29, driving underneath Courtney, who was slowed by lapped cars. A lap later, he would take the checkered flag with Courtney second and Thomas in third.

“The team’s been working hard and we came out and tried a few things here this week and just went the wrong direction,” said Thomas afterward. “After last night, they went back and tried a lot of things and they gave me a great race car tonight. We had a little issue with the right rear shock midway through the race, but to be able to finish third despite having a little bit of a problem is a testament to how hard Scott Petry and this entire Petry Motorsports team works.”

McDougal would finish fifth, with fellow Toyota drivers Logan Seavey, Coons, Tanner Carrick and Chad Boat finishing sixth through ninth. Narrowly missing out on a top-10 finish was Karsyn Elledge, who placed 11th.

Pennsylvania Midget Week closes out its five-race stretch Saturday at Lanco’s Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway in Newmanstown.

Toyota Racing PR