With finishes of first, second and second, Steve Laking would top the rankings of all drivers at the end of the three 50 lap features, scoring the 2015 Grisdale Triple Crown Championship.
The Pro Late Model drivers would set the starting order by time trialing in the early afternoon. When it was all said and done, Michael Gould of Delaware Speedway would start on pole ahead of Billy Schwartzenburg, Mark Watson, Steve Laking, Shawn Chenoweth, Mat Box, David Elliott, Andrew Gresel, Trevor Mornaghan, Matt Lockwood, Steve Cashmore, Nick Roth, Nick Goetz, Jeff Ruddy, Steve Adams, Paul Howse, Bruce Wheller, Kent Nuhn, the 98, Bill Pearsall, Chad Corcoran, Gary Elliott, Dave Osborne, Al Maclean, Kevin Albers and Linda Stenhouse.
Gould would grab the early lead ahead of Schwartzenburg, though Laking would make his move early as he would take the second spot on lap five. Schwartzenburg would slip back to third, running ahead of Watson and Chenoweth. Laking’s climb to the front was complete on lap seven, as he passed Gould to take the lead, while Watson, Chenoweth and Box were able to get by Schwartenburg.
The caution would then fly the next lap as Gary Elliott would spin in turn four. Under the yellow flag, Cashmore would head off for adjustments. With 43 laps to go, Laking led Gould, Watson, Chenoweth, Box, David Elliott, Gresel, Mornaghan, Schwartzenburg, Lockwood and Adams.
The first attempt at a restart would result in Howse and Osborne going in turn four while Wheller spun on the frontstretch; the incident was started virtue of Goetz getting into Howse. Goetz would head pit side for repairs to the front end damage.
The second attempt would see a good side-by-side battle for the lead between Laking and Gould, with Laking grabbing the advantage at lap 11 as Watson slipped through to move into second ahead of Gould, David Elliott, Chenoweth and Gresel. Unfortunately for Mornaghan, he would run into problems and pull off the track on lap 15. Meanwhile, both Chenoweth and Gresel would make their way by David at lap 20.
The race had a green flag look to it with the leaders getting spread out, looking to conserve equipment with two more 50 lap features set to take place. However, that game plan changed on lap 26 when the big one struck in turn three and four. Wheller and Maclean would tangle, going around. Schwartzenburg would then not be able to slow up, crashing into the back of Wheller and going underneath him, with Roth then getting into Schwartzenburg. All of the drivers would be okay, with Schwartzenburg and Roth both done for the day due to the damage.
Laking would get a good restart to keep the lead ahead of Gould, Chenoweth, Watson and Gresel. The race wouldn’t go smoothly for everybody as Maclean pulled off at lap 32, followed by Nuhn pulling off at lap 46.
Steve Laking would lead the rest of the way en route to scoring the victory ahead of Michael Gould, Shawn Chenoweth, Mark Watson, Andrew Gresel, David Elliott, Mat Box, Jeff Ruddy, Matt Lockwood, Chad Corcoran, Steve Cashmore, Paul Howse, Gary Elliott, Bill Pearsall, Nick Goetz and Bruce Wheller.
VIDEO: See a video of the feature courtesy of petalpower51
With the invert in place for the second feature, Gary Elliott would start pole for the second feature ahead of Howse, Goetz, Cashmore and Albers. Paul Howse would grab the early advantage on lap two ahead of Cashmore and Lockwood as Box and Goetz battled for fourth.
Box would get the spot on lap three ahead of Gresel, as the caution flew for Watson spinning Laking around. With 48 laps to go, Howse led Cashmore, Lockwood, Box, Gresel, Goetz, Albers, Chenoweth, Ruddy, David Elliott, Watson, Gould, Wheller and Corcoran.
The first attempt at a restart would see a big wreck in turn one involving Chenoweth, Goetz, Gary Elliott, Laking, the 41, MacLean and Corcoran. Damage resulting from the wreck would send both Goetz and Chenoweth to the pits for repairs, with Chenoweth not making the restart.
The second attempt at a restart would see Howse get really loose, but he was to make the save and keep it going straight. This would allow Steve Cashmore to take the lead on lap four ahead of Box as Howse battled Albers for third. Howse would get the spot on lap six, with Lockwood, Laking and others following him through as Albers would get freight trained on the outside.
Lockwood would then get by Howse to move up to third at lap 15, with Laking and Gresel following through to move up as well as Howse took his turn getting freight trained on the outside. The caution would then fly five laps later as Cashmore would spin while running second. Roth would head off to the pits, while Chenoweth returned to the track after his repairs.
The first attempt at a restart would see a jumped start by Box. Roth would return to the track and with the aborted start, he wouldn’t go a lap down.
The second attempt would see Box have a good, clean restart en route to taking the lead ahead of Laking as Gresel battled Lockwood for third. Gresel would get the spot on lap 23 ahead of Lockwood, as David Elliott completed the top-five. Gresel would continue his climb to the front, passing Laking to move into second at lap 27.
The caution would then fly a lap later for a wreck in turn four involving Goetz, Gary Elliott, Howse and Albers. With 23 laps to go, Box led Gresel, Laking, Lockwood, David Elliott and Watson.
Gresel would get a good restart to take the lead ahead of Box, while Laking ran third ahead of David Elliott and Lockwood. The caution would then fly, though, at lap 32 as Howse would spin on the frontstretch.
The first attempt at a restart would see Gresel jump the start. The second attempt would go cleanly with Gresel grabbing the advantage on lap 33 ahead of Laking, Box, David Elliott, Lockwood and Watson. Unfortunately for Michael Gould, he would head pit side at lap 35 with issues. Ruddy would also suffer the same fate, slowing at lap 44 and pulling off a lap later with issues.
Andrew Gresel would lead the rest of the way en route to scoring the victory ahead of Steve Laking, Mat Box, David Elliott, Matt Lockwood, Mark Watson, Bruce Wheller, Steve Cashmore, Nick Roth, Chad Corcoran, Nick Goetz, Gary Elliott, Bill Pearsall, the 41, Al MacLean and Shawn Chenoweth.
With two races in the books, Steve Laking boosted the best score of the afternoon with three (first and second), three points ahead of Andrew Gresel (fifth and first). Mark Watson, David Elliott and Mat Box entered into the final feature with a three-way tie at 10 points.
VIDEO: See a video of the second feature courtesy of petalpower51
For the third and final feature, Nick Goetz would start on pole ahead of Nick Roth, Steve Cashmore, Bruce Wheller, Mark Watson, Matt Lockwood, David Elliott, Mat Box, Steve Laking, Andrew Gresel, Chad Corcoran, the 41, Al MacLean, Michael Gould, Kevin Albers, Dave Osborne, the 98, Bill Pearsall, Gary Elliott and Linda Stenhouse.
The action would start right away as Cashmore would spin off of turn two, bringing forth the caution on the opening lap.
The second attempt to start the race would see Goetz grab the lead ahead of Watson and David Elliott. Coming up off of turn four, Elliott would get into the back of Watson, getting Watson squirrely. Watson would look to have it almost saved, but broke loose again, going through the turn one grass and crossing up across the track, colliding with Goetz. The speed and force of the contact would carry Goetz to the wall, with both cars climbing the turn two barrier. Despite the severity of the wreck and heavy damage to both cars, both drivers were uninjured in the incident.
PHOTOS: See photos of the incident and aftermath courtesy of Ashley McCubbin
VIDEO: See a video of the crash courtesy of petalpower51
Following the clean-up, the race would restart with David Elliott grabbing the lead on lap two ahead of Laking, Lockwood, Cashmore and Gresel. Gresel would then get by Cashmore on lap five to move up to fourth.
The lap cars would be a testy moment for the race leaders as Elliott would get stuck on the outside of the 98 car. The result would be Laking sneaking under to grab the lead at lap 12 ahead of Elliott, Lockwood and Gresel. The caution would then fly a lap later as Box and Cashmore would come together off of turn four.
Laking would get a good restart to keep the lead ahead of Elliott, Lockwood, Gresel and Ruddy. Gresel would then make the move at lap 15 to get by Lockwood to move up into third.
The caution would then fly 11 laps later once again, this time with the 41 spinning off of turn two. With the cars slowing down to avoid, Gresel would get into Elliott, spinning him around. Both drivers would get to restart in their previous running positions. With 24 laps to go, Laking led David Elliott, Gresel, Lockwood, Ruddy, Albers, Box, Roth, Corcoran, Cashmore, Gary Elliott and Pearsall.
The restart would bring forth another caution as Lockwood would get into the outside wall after contact with Ruddy and Box coming together.
The second restart would go off cleanly with Laking keeping the advantage ahead of David Elliott. Elliott wouldn’t remain in second for long, though, as Gresel would make the move at lap 28 to take the spot. Elliott would now run third ahead of Box and Albers. Gresel would then complete his climb to the front of the field, taking the lead from Laking at lap 36.
Andrew Gresel would lead the rest of the way en route to scoring the victory ahead of Steve Laking, David Elliott, Mat Box, Nick Roth, Kevin Albers, Chad Corcoran, Jeff Ruddy, Steve Cashmore and Gary Elliott.