PETERSEN MEDIA- Getting out to the Midwest and stretching his legs a little, Willie Croft would pick up a win on Friday night in Lincoln, IL as he competed with the Midwest Open Wheel Association.
“We have had some really good speed these two weeks, and I have to thank everyone at Rudeen Racing for all of their hard work,” Willie Croft said.
After experiencing some mechanical issues at the Brad Doty Classic in Ohio on Tuesday night, Croft and the Rudeen team would travel to Lincoln, IL to race with the MOWA on Friday night.
In what was the series’ 100th ever event, Croft would kick it off in style as he set quick time aboard the Kaeding Performance/Brown and Miller/Rod End Supply backed No. 26 machine.
Picking up the win in his heat race, Croft would move into the 25-lap feature event where he would find himself in the fourth row. On a track that he had never seen before, Croft showed great speed as he worked his way to the front.
Closing in on AJ Bruns who led early, Croft would take over the top spot on the 10th lap. Out front, Croft would set a torrid pace as he opened up his lead. Just past the race’s halfway point, Croft would drift a little too high in turn four and his machine would get up on the turn four wall and ’50/50 grind’ the corner, and amazingly continue to lead the race.
With a little damage to the rear corner of his car, Croft was able to fend off Parker Price-Miller as he recorded his first ever MOWA feature event win, and capped off a clean sweep on this night.
Checking in at the Knoxville Raceway on Saturday night, Croft would time his machine in 13th fastest in time trials, before finishing second in his heat race.
Lining up in the sixth row of the feature event, Croft would race his way forward and battle for position inside the Top-10 for much of the race. Making a few mistakes on the famed ½ mile, Croft would lose track position late in the feature event as he slipped back to finish in the 11th spot.
Sunday night would cap off a busy week of racing for the Rudeen Racing team as Croft and company bolted a 360ci engine to the car and checked in at the Badlands Motor Speedway in Brandon, SD.
Picking up the heat race win, Croft would move to the feature event where he quickly became a factor for the race lead. On the seventh circuit, Croft would pass for the race lead, but an untimely caution would fly and negate his pass. When the action resumed, Croft continued to race hard with fellow Californian, Tim Kaeding, but something would go south under the hood of his machine and he would pull into the pit area, as his night came to a close.
“It was awesome to come out and get a win at a new track,” Croft added. “We have been fast everywhere we have gone, and to have something to show for it is pretty cool. I really have to thank this Rudeen Racing team for all they have done, and I am looking forward to Knoxville and Jackson this week.”
Willie Croft and the Rudeen Racing team would like to thank Kaeding Performance, Brown and Miller, Rod End Supply, XYZ, Firedown Graphics, and Speedmart for their support in 2016.
2016 BY THE NUMBERS: Races-15, Wins-1, Top 5’s-2, Top 10’s-5.
ON TAP: Croft and the Rudeen Racing team will head to the Jackson Motorplex in Jackson, MN on Friday night before returning to the Knoxville Raceway on Saturday night.
STAY CONNECTED: Stay connected with Willie Croft Racing by visiting www.williecroftracing.com. You can also follow him on Twitter @WillieCroft29.
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