Photo Credit: Debbie Jo Zardo
There always comes a point in the season where all heck breaks loose and nobody has a clue what to expect next. On Saturday night at Sunset Speedway, that is the only way to describe what happened as it seemed everyone was running into each other.
A late race caution came out, setting up a dash to the checkered with Randy Rusnell and Cayden Lapcevich starting on the front row beside each other. Coming through turns three and four, Lapcevich would get sideways – whether by himself or due to possible contact from Rusnell – and make contact with the wall, also leaving Tyler Liscum nowhere to go as Liscum got heavy damage. Rusnell would cross the stripe and pick up the feature victory for his second straight win in a row and his fifth top-three finish in the first three races this season.
Rusnell’s displeasure over the end of the race incident was felt in his victory lane speech as he commented that Sunset needs to change the name to “Catering to Cayden” by letting him jump the starts.
“He wrecked himself and that’s his own damn fault and people can boo all they want but if you don’t like me winning, go watch at a different track,” the defending series champion added.
Matt Bentley would finish second for his best finish of the year so far in his new chassis, and his third top-10 in three starts. Lane Zardo would finish third for his fifth top-three finish of the season. Mike Weeda finished fourth for his first top-five finish of the year behind his new ride for the season.
While the chaos was ensuing with the top-two, there was also drama mid-field with other drivers as Dan Archibald didn’t have the cleanest night. It started on lap 13 when he collided with Paul Geniole Jr. in turn one. Then with five laps to go, he would spin Steve Cashmore, which also brought forth a second incident with Cashmore on the restart, collecting Coltin Everingham. As a result, Cashmore would take a swipe at Archibald under caution. It didn’t end there as on the restart, Geniole would slam into Archibald, with Archibald returning the favor by spinning Geniole under caution and pushing him into turn one wall post-race.
Unfortunately following his first career victory last weekend, Nick Tooley would suffer a DNF this weekend due to pulling behind the wall approximately 10 laps into the feature.
Cashmore won the first heat for his second heat win of the year ahead of Dennis Cybalski, Liscum, Jordan Latimer, Coltin Everingham, Adam Martin and Johnny Morrison. Latimer was making his Sunset Speedway debut with Jaded Motorsports as a result of his hometrack of Barrie Speedway having an OSCAAR night.
Zardo won the second heat for his fourth heat win of the year ahead of Weeda, Rusnell, Lapcevich, Archibald, Paul Howse, Geniole Jr. and Tooley.
Geniole Jr. would win the consolation race ahead of Howse, Morrison, Tooley and the 88.
Zardo won the Dash for Cash for his second Dash for Cash win of the year ahead of Lapcevich, Rusnell, Liscum and Cashmore. Perhaps we got a clue about the craziness that ensue in the feature following some drama in this race as Liscum got into Cybalski, which resulted in Cybalski dumping Liscum after the checkered flag flew.
The Super Stocks have two weeks off before returning to the 1/3 mile for another round of drama in July.
Special thanks to Ronald Costigan and Kyle Sedan for the notes in helping to contribute to this report.
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RT @OnPitRoad_: Randy Rusnell wins second straight Super Stock feature as chaos ensues at @Sunset_Speedway by @ladybug388 http://t.co/4a4vk…