From POWRi
Lincoln, IL — (August 21, 2015) — Zach Daum of Pocahontas, Illinois “Dauminated” the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series feature, showing that the two-time POWRi champion has recovered from the vicious Australian wreck that sidelined him for a majority of the 2015 season, and is on track to return to this winning ways.
At the drop of the green flag, pole sitter Zach Daum throttled the Daum Crop Insurance, Toyota-powered Eagle into the early lead holding point over Darren Hagen and Garrett Aitken for lap one. As Daum slowly stretched out his lead, Andrew Felker would apply pressure on Aitken for third. With five laps down, Justin Dickerson would bring out the caution as his looped machine sat in the middle of turns one and two.
Coming back to green, Daum would power off on the start as Hagen worked to stay within striking distance. Six laps later, the caution would fly for Thomas Messeraul as the 5ive-6ix, Inc. Esslinger-powered Triple-X Chassis would slow exiting turn two while running in the fifth position. Lined back up, Daum would power back into the lead as Hagen scrambled to keep up, while Austin Brown, Spencer Bayston, Tyler Thomas and Tucker Klaasmeyer battled for position.
Almost out of the middle of nowhere, Thomas would throw a massive slide job on Brown, making the battle for positions fourth through seventh even tighter. As cars battled to break into the top five, Hagen looked to have found some magic and started to reel in Daum. It wouldn’t be until after the duo made it through some lap traffic that Hagen made his move. Entering turn three, Hagen would charge to the bottom and throw a massive slide job for the lead on Daum, only for Daum to repel exiting four and take off with a vengeance.
Stretching out his lead for the remainder of the race, Daum would go unchallenged to the checkered flag. Hagen would bring the Austin Brown, Esslinger-powered BOSS Chassis home in second, while Andrew Felker completed the podium in the Sixty-Six Truck and Foreign Salvage, Stanton SR-11-powered BOSS Chassis. Tucker Klaasmeyer brought home fourth, while Tyler Thomas rounded out the top five.
“We went 90 days there and didn’t race and had a messed up head and a broken collar bone and that took a while to heal,” stated Daum. “That kinda weighs on you as a driver to watch other people go out and win and race. Toyota stood behind us and they never once said anything bad. To finally get a win for them this year, we needed a win.”
“Congratulations to their team,” Hagen said. “What a great guy to race with week in and week out. Without all of the fans and our sponsors, we wouldn’t be here.”
“It was disappointing,” said Felker. “We couldn’t even see the leaders tonight, so we definitely struggled and we have to step up our game. Zach’s back and he’s definitely showing why he’s a two-time champion. Hopefully we can get our things together tomorrow night at Macon. We were pretty good last time we were there so hopefully we can rebound with that.”
Midgets
Ford Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: 5D – Zach Daum, Heat 2: 7 – Austin Brown, Heat 3: 11A – Andrew Felker
Great Clips Feature Winner: 5D – Zach Daum
POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series Feature Results (30 laps): 1. 5D – Zach Daum 2. 17 – Darren Hagen 3. 11A – Andrew Felker 4. 27 – Tucker Klaasmeyer 5. 91T – Tyler Thomas 6. 39 – Spencer Bayston 7. 7 – Austin Brown 8. 5X – Justin Peck 9. 32 – Garrett Aitken 10. 9K – Kyle Schuett 11. 3N – Jake Neuman 12. 22 – Andy Malpocker 13. 55 – Nick Knepper 14. 7X – Gage Walker 15. 16C – Dave Camfield Jr. 16. 10C – Dalton Camfield 17. 7R – Justin Dickerson 18. 7S – Wade Seiler 19. 39C – Payton Pierce 20. 85 – Shane Hollingsworth 21. 56 – Thomas Messeraul 22. 6B – Andy Baugh 23. 86C – Davey Camfield