By T.J. Buffenbarger
Rossburg, OH — (May 9, 2015) — Justin Grant made a last lap pass to win the Don Branson / Jud Larson Classic on Saturday night at Eldora Speedway with the USAC Amsoil National Sprint Car Series during the “Mother of All Sprint Car Weekends”. Grant was able to catch C.J. Leary on the final lap, splitting a lap car three wide to make the pass for the lead, denying Leary his first career USAC National Sprint Car Series feature victory. The victory was Grant’s first USAC win at Eldora.
“This is just awesome, dream come true, wanted to win a USAC race here forever,” said Grant. “C.J. did a great job, and you want to be heartbroken for the kid unless you are the one who beats him.”
Leary took the lead at the start with Grant in tow. Seven laps in Leary was held up by a slower car, but Grant was unable to take advantage. Grant continued to talk Leary through slower traffic, which allowed Tracy Hines to close in to create a three car race for the lead.
Grant tried to slide past Leary on lap 15 off of turn four, but could not make the pass. One lap later Grant slipped a bit coming off turn four and allowed Leary to open up some distance.
With nine laps to go the Leary encountered heavy traffic, but was able to dispose of them quickly as Grant was held up. Grant finally cleared traffic with five laps to go and started to slowly chase down Leary. With two laps to go Leary and Grant came up on another large group of slower cars. Grant used them to his advantage down the front stretch on the final lap. Leary and Grant split a lap car, which Grant used as his opportunity to throw a slide job on Leary through turns one and two. Grant made the slider stick and held off Leary through turns three and four for the victory. Hines held on for third with Aaron Farney and Robert Ballou rounding out the top five.
“After about five laps in i knew our car was better, I was just trying to bide my time and not mess anything up,” said Grant. “I thought we lost (the race) in lapped traffic, guys crossing me over and got back to the top, and try crossing you over again, but we got an opening and tracked (Leary) down and he got held up in lapped traffic and I figured I was going to win this thing or we were going to end up in a big ball in turn one, so it worked out.”
For the second night in a row Stockon was the fastest qualifier with a lap of 16.432 seconds. Landon Simon, Kevin Thomas, Jr., and Robert Ballou won heat race events.
USAC Amsoil National Sprint Car Series
Mother of All Sprint Car Weekends
Eldora Speedway – New Weston, OH
Saturday May 9, 2015
Qualifications: 1. 32 – Chase Stockon, 16.432; 2. 15F – Aaron Farney, 16.544; 3. 4 – Tracy Hines, 16.834; 4. 81 – Jon Stanbrough, 17.051; 5. 15 – Brandon Whited, 17.063; 6. 21X – Chris Windom, 17.206; 7. 40 – Justin Grant, 17.224; 8. 30 – C.J. Leary, 17.381; 9. 12 – Robert Ballou, 17.408; 10. 16 – Dallas Hewitt, 17.451; 11. 71P – Dave Darland, 17.498; 12. 69 – Brady Bacon, 17.511; 13. 63 – Kody Swanson, 17.600; 14. 17RW – Kevin Thomas, Jr. , 17.684; 15. 39 – Matt Goodnight, 17.737; 16. 24 – Landon Simon, 17.741; 17. 83 – Adam Cruea, 17.802; 18. 66 – Daron Clayton, 17.835; 19. 24P – Tyler Hewitt, 17.916; 20. 71 – Robert Bell, 18.020; 21. 10E – Jerry Coons, Jr. , NT;
Heat Race #1 (8 Laps): 1. 24 – Landon Simon, 2. 40 – Justin Grant, 3. 16 – Dallas Hewitt, 4. 81 – Jon Stanbrough, 5. 81 – Jon Stanbrough, 6. 63 – Kody Swanson, 7. 24P – Tyler Hewitt.
Heat Race #2 (8 Laps): 1. 17RW – Kevin Thomas, Jr., 2. 30 – C.J. Leary, 3. 71P – Dave Darland, 4. 15F – Aaron Farney, 5. 83 – Adam Cruea, 6. 15 – Brandon Whited, 7. 71 – Robert Bell.
Heat Race #3 (8 Laps): 1. 81 – Robert Ballou, 2. 66 – Daron Clayton, 3. 21X – Chris Windom, 4. 4 – Tracy Hines, 5. 69 – Brady Bacon, 6. 39 – Matt Goodnight. DNS: 10E – Jerry Coons, Jr.
A-Main (30 Laps): 1. 40 – Justin Grant, 2. 30 – C.J. Leary, 3. 4 – Tracy Hines, 5. 12 – Robert Ballou, 6. 71P – Dave Darland, 7. 81 – Jon Stanbrough, 8. 69 – Brady Bacon, 9. 32 – Chase Stockon, 10. 17RW – Kevin Thomas, Jr., 11. 21X – Chris Windom, 12. 16 – Dallas Hewitt, 13. 24 – Landon Simon, 14. 63 – Kody Swanson, 15. 83 – Adam Cruea, 16. 15 – Brandon Whited, 17. 24P – Tyler Hewitt, 18. 71 – Robert Bell, 19. 39 – Matt Goodnight, 20. 66 – Daron Clayton.