By T.J. Buffenbarger
ROSSBURG, Ohio (September 28, 2019) — Tyler Courtney was victorious in one of the most memorable USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Car Series events event held at Eldora Speedway during the 38th running of the 4-Crown Nationals. Courtney, Tanner Carrick, and Logan Seavey exchanged slide jobs the last half of the main event before Courtney was able to take the lead with two laps to go and drove to victory. The win was Courtney’s second in a row in the midget car portion of the 4-Crown National driving for Clauson-Marshall Racing.
“For a while I couldn’t gain any ground on those guys because we were all going the same speed,” said Courtney. “We got to lapped traffic and we started racing a bit. I just tried to time my moves right, but Tanner just kept coming back. He’s turning into one heck of a driver. To win all three you have to start with one. That one was a lot harder than I was hoping for but this is Eldora. That’s what this place is all about. Hopefully that’s a good way to start of the night for these fans.”
Tanner Carrick led the opening lap with his Keith Kunz Motorsports teammate Logan Seavey in second, shuffling front row starter Jerry Coons Jr. back to third position. Rico Abreu made his presence felt early dropping Coons back to third position on the second lap and set out after the leaders.
The red flag appeared on lap five when Jason McDougal flipped in turn four. McDougal exited the car under his own power.
Following the red flag Seavey took the lead from Carrick with a slide job in turns one and two only to have Carrick return the favor at the other end of the racetrack to maintain the top position. Behind them Courtney was moving up from his sixth starting position and drove by Abreu for the third spot.
With 11 laps complete Carrick Seavey, and Courtney pulled away from the rest of the field. On lap 16 the fireworks began when Seavey made a bit for the lead diving under Carrick to take the lead. Seavey and Carrick began to slide job each other on each end of the racetrack exchanging the lead on each end of the race track.
With five laps to go Courtney threw his hat into the ring putting a slide job on Seavey for second. Seavey crossed back as Carrick opened some distance between himself and the race for second. That cushion was short lived as Courtney gained the second position from Seavey and started exchanging slide jobs with Carrick. This continued until Courtney threw the final slide job on Carrick in turns one and two and pulled away to take the white flag.
Courtney completed the finale lap uncontested for the victory over Carrick, Seavey, Abreu, and Kevin Thomas Jr.
38th 4-Crown Nationals
USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Car Championship
Eldora Speedway
Rossburg, OH
Saturday September 28, 2019
Qualifying:
1. 7BC-Tyler Courtney, 16.880
2. 97-Rico Abreu, 17.023
3. 5-Kevin Thomas Jr., 17.025
4. 67-Logan Seavey, 17.213
5. 71K-Tanner Carrick, 17.363
6. 25-Jerry Coons Jr., 17.400
7. 19-Tanner Thorson, 17.414
8. 39BC-Zeb Wise, 17.444
9. 17BC-Chris Windom, 17.445
10. 4A-Justin Grant, 17.597
11. 19M-Ethan Mitchell, 17.639
12. 83-Chad Boat, 17.645
13. 76M-Jason McDougal, 17.656
14. 71-Jesse Colwell, 17.662
15. 15-Dave Darland, 17.907
16. 72-Sam Johnson, 17.909
17. 47BC-Andrew Layser, 17.966
18. 67K-Holley Hollan, 17.980
19. 27-Tucker Klassmeyer, 18.088
20. 1-Karsyn Elledge, 18.227
Heat Race #1 (8 Laps):
1. 7BC – Tyler Courtney
2. 67 – Logan Seavey
3. 19 – Tanner Thorson
4. 4A – Justin Grant
5.27 – Tucker Klaasmeyer
6. 76M – Jason McDougal
7. 72 – Sam Johnson.
Heat Race #2 (8 Laps):
1. 97 – Rico Abreu
2. 71 – Jesse Colwell
3. 39BC – Zeb Wise
4. 71K – Tanner Carrick
5. 47BC – Andrew Layser
6. 1 – Karsyn Elledge
7. 19M – Ethan Mitchell
Heat Race #3 (8 Laps):
1. 15 – Dave Darland
2. 17BC – Chris Windom
3. 84 – Chad Blonde
4. 5 – Kevin Thomas Jr.
5. 25 – Jerry Coons Jr.
6. 67K – Holley Hollan
Feature (25 Laps):
1. 7BC – Tyler Courtney
2. 71K – Tanner Carrick
3. 67 – Logan Seavey
4. 97 – Rico Abreu
5. 5 – Kevin Thomas Jr.
6. 17BC – Chris Windom
7. 4A – Justin Grant
8. 39BC – Zeb Wise
9. 27 – Tucker Klaasmeyer
10. 19 – Tanner Thorson
11. 84 – Chad Boat
12. 67K – Holley Hollan
13. 15 – Dave Darland
14. 71 – Jesse Colwell
15. 1 – Karsyn Elledge
16. 47BC – Andrew Layser
17. 72 – Sam Johnson
18. 25 – Jerry Coons Jr.
19. 76M – Jason McDougal
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-15 Tanner Carrick, Laps 16-18 Logan Seavey, Laps 19-23 Tanner Carrick, Laps 24-25 Tyler Courtney.
SALDANA RACING PRODUCTS CLEAN SWEEP: Tyler Courtney
KSE RACING PRODUCTS HARD CHARGER/LARRY RICH HIGH PERFORMANCE AWARD: Tucker Klaasmeyer (18th to 9th)
WILWOOD BRAKES 13TH PLACE FINISHER: Dave Darland
ROSEWOOD MACHINE & TOOL PRECISION MOVE OF THE RACE: Tyler Courtney
NEW USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS: 1-Tyler Courtney-1,601, 2-Chris Windom-1,465, 3-Logan Seavey-1,424, 4-Kevin Thomas, Jr.-1,351, 5-Zeb Wise-1,341, 6-Chad Boat-1,255, 7-Tanner Carrick-1,203, 8-Jerry Coons, Jr.-1,179, 9-Jason McDougal-1,097, 10-Tucker Klaasmeyer-1,084.
NEXT USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE: October 17, 2019 – Wayne County Speedway – Wayne City, Illinois – Jason Leffler Memorial – 1/8-Mile Dirt Oval