By David Smith Jr.
Hutchinson, Kansas – July 16, 2011 – Jordan Boston of Lincoln, Nebraska made his first appearance of the season with the National Championship Racing Association of Park City, Kansas presented by Smiley’s Racing Products sprint car division a very profitable one as he wired the field to win the sprint car portion of the 55th annual Hutchinson Grand Nationals Saturday night atop the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas.
Boston, aboard the #24a Gary Swenson owned, Gary’s Auto Sales/Terry’s Body Shop sponsored sprinter, started on the pole for the fifteen lap feature and got the jump on fellow front row starter Chris Morgan to take the lead as the green flag fell. Morgan settled into the runner up position with defending Nationals champion Danny Jennings of Norman, Oklahoma running third.
Boston would open up a three car length advantage before the first of three cautions waved on lap three when Jeff Stasa came to a stop at the top of turn two. While the caution flag fell, Josh Forshee would also exit the feature as he ripped the front end off his sprinter down the front stretch.
The attempted restart would be thwarted as veteran Mike Peters, who was running fifth, went for a spin entering turn one. A.J. Selenke, Jonathan Cornell, Taylor Velasquez and Marc Robe were also involved in the melee with Selenke and Cornell experiencing damage to their sprinters and retire from the event.
Once racing action resumed, Boston would again get a jump on the rest of the field and in no time, open up a five car length advantage over Morgan.
Boston kept his Eckley Racing Engine powered Schnee chassis working to perfection around the big fairgrounds half mile oval and looked to cruise the distance unchallenged. However, the final caution of the race would fall with just three laps to go when the right rear tire on Morgan’s sprinter would shred at the top of turn four.
This would bring a three lap shootout as Boston would now have to contend with Jennings and his #1 Goodyear sponsored sprinter on his rear bumper on the restart. Boston was up to the challenge, however, as he took control on the restart and went the final laps unchallenged to pick up the $5000 victory and the biggest of his young career. He also became the seventh different feature winner on the tour in 2011 out of the eight events that have been completed.
“I knew I had to get a good start and from there we just kept trying to hold our line,” said Boston. “We came close to winning a big paying race earlier this year ($6000) but we had problems with four laps to go there. This is definitely my biggest sprint feature win ever.”
Jennings settled for second while current series points leader C.J. Johnson settled for third. J.D. Johnson came home a solid fourth while Patrick Stasa came from his eleventh starting position to round out the top five.
The eight lap heat races for the twenty-three car field were won by C.J. Johnson, Jennings and Boston.
The next event for the NCRA of Park City, Kansas presented by Smiley’s Racing Products sprint car division will be this coming Saturday night at the Great American Dirt Track in Jetmore, Kansas for their third of four appearances on the season.
1st Heat: 1) 45x C.J. Johnson 2) 7c Chris Morgan 3) 28 Jonathan Cornell 4) 20 Luke Cranston 5) 53 Jack Dover 6) 91 Jeff Stasa 7) Kris Miller DNS) 81 Jon Freeman
2ND Heat 1) 1J Danny Jennings 2) 98 J.D. Johnson 3) 21t Taylor Velasquez 4) 99 Tanner Mullins 5) 36 Jason Martin 6) 18 Ryan Roberts 7) 92 Jordan Weaver 8) Josh Forshee
3rd Heat: 1) 24a Jordan Boston 2) 43 A.J. Selenke 3) 49 Mike Peters 4) 19 Patrick Stasa 5) 1x Garry Lee Maier 6) 21 Marc Robe 7) 33g Barry Gifford
A Feature: 1) Jordan Boston 2) Danny Jennings 3) C.J. Johnson 4) J.D. Johnson 5) Patrick Stasa 6) Luke Cranston 7) Garry Lee Maier 8) Jack Dover 9) Ryan Roberts 10) Jordan Weaver 11) Barry Gifford 12) Mike Peters 13) Marc Robe 14) Kris Miller 15) Tanner Mullins 16) Taylor Velasquez 17) Chris Morgan 18) Jason Martin 19) Jonathan Cornell 20) A.J. Selenke DNS: Jon Freeman