By: Chris Wolfson
It was a championship weekend as the Bootleg Racing League Saturday Night Short Track Series pulled into New Smyrna Speedway for the PWNIT WEAR 75. Up for grabs was the prestigious Outlaw Modified Series title in the top division of the Bootleg Racing League. Donny Moore carried an 8 point lead into the PWNIT WEAR 75 over Phillip Temples. Temples had a strong night in the support races prior to the Outlaw Modifieds taking wins in both the Whiskey Run Truck Series and Crooked Still Late Model Series. It was clear that Temples was coming out tonight with all guns blazing.
The field of the PWNIT WEAR 75 sits on pit road ready to fire engines.
On the pole for the race would be the #60 of Brian Neff with the #20 of Ryan Edwards-Kiss starting on the outside of the front row. Donny Moore would start the #26 back in the 6th spot and Phillip Temples would start the #19 in the 10th position.
Brian Neff and Ryan Edwards-Kiss both jumped out to a fast start with Tim Knott in the #41 settling into the 3rd spot. The caution would fly for the first time on lap 5 with Ryan Nuss experiencing a mechanical failure and slapping the wall hard in turn 2 turning the #13 car upside down.
Ryan Nuss (#13) catches the wall hard as points leader Donny Moore (#26) and Matt Hoose (#21) slip by.
As the race set off on its longest green flag run, Ryan Edwards-Kiss would take the lead from pole sitter Brian Neff. Donny Moore was hanging in the 3rd position, but the man on the move was Phillip Temples in the #19. Temples climbed to the 6th position and was challenging the #41 of Tim Knott to break into the top 5. Temples’ progress was short lived as the #24 of Matt Mead began his charge through the field passing both Temples and Knott. Moore would surrender the 3rd position to Matt Hoose in the #21 as he continued to drive a defensive race, protecting his points lead.
Ryan Edwards-Kiss (#20) passes Brian Neff (#60) on the outside after a restart for the only lead change of the event.
The caution would fly for a second time as the #58 of Ralph Conner Jr. touched the #55 of Lowell Jewell, sending Conner around. The field would slow and regroup for another restart with 50 laps to go in the event.
After a few quick cautions, the race would go green again with 40 laps remaining with Phillip Temples sitting in the 5th position looking at the rear bumper of Donny Moore just ahead. Ryan Edwards-Kiss continued pacing the field as the championship story played out several car lengths behind him. With 35 laps to go, Brian Neff would lose it coming out turn 4 running in the second spot, collecting the 3rd place car of Matt Hoose and bringing out the caution once again.
The race would go back to green on lap 44 with Ryan Edwards-Kiss still leading, albeit a shaky internet connection. Donny Moore would restart on the outside of the front row in the 2nd position. If Temples was looking to strike, it would have to happen soon.
After another caution period for an incident involving Neff, Hoose, and Chris Wolfson, the green flag would fly with 23 laps remaining with Edwads-Kiss and Matt Mead restarting from the front row. Moore and Temples would line up side by side in the second row for the restart. Temples would manage to use the outside line to get around Moore and fall in behind Edwards-Kiss and Matt Mead in the 3rd position. Moore continued to be in control of his own championship destiny as he was riding in the 4th spot.
Brian Neff (#60) into the wall hard as Matt Hoose (#21) collects Chris Wolfson (#17) and Ernie Brown (#8).
The caution would stack the field again with 19 to go. A quick restart followed by another quick caution would inch the field closer to the conclusion and set the field for a final dash to the checkered.
With 7 to go, the race would go green for the final time with the championship in Donny Moore’s sight barring a disaster in the closing laps. Edwards-Kiss would get another great restart as he continued his domination of the PWNIT WEAR 75 with Matt Mead in the #24 sliding into the second position. Moore and Temples continued racing door handle to door handle with Moore hanging the #26 on the outside lane and taking the 3rd spot away from Phillip Temples in championship fashion. The caution would fly on lap #71 for the final time giving the race win to Ryan Edwards-Kiss and the championship to Donny Moore. Matt Mead would come home in the 2nd position and Donny Moore would finish 3rd.
Donny Moore passes Phillip Temples on the outside in the closing laps to put an exclamation point on his championship.
Congratulations to Ryan Edwards-Kiss for taking the win in the season ending PWNIT WEAR 75 at New Smyrna and congratulations to Donny Moore for taking the championship in the Bootleg Racing Leauge’s premier Outlaw Modified Division.
Be sure to check out the Bootleg Racing League at www.bootlegracingleague.com.
Click here to check out all the action in the PWNIT WEAR 75 broadcast on the Global SimRacing Channel – https://youtu.be/mb_Qvc1fuMc
