by Jacob Hord, @HordRaceWatcher
For many, the Brad Doty Classic is circled on the calendar, and for good reason, too. The best of the best come to Attica Raceway Park to pay tribute to the living legend, and vie for a $15,000 payday in front of a packed grandstands, in what truly feels like a crown jewel event.
James McFadden and Kyle Larson led the field to the green flag of the 40 lap race. Larson had the preferred line on the outside and rocketed to the lead out of turns one and two, followed by third starting Sheldon Haudenschild and fourth starting Gio Scelzi. Coming to the start of lap two, Larson had a near two second lead.
The first yellow came out on lap two, as Trey Jacobs had a rear tire stuck in an infield tire. Stuart Brubaker and Kerry Madsen would go to the work area, with Madsen retiring from the race.
Haudenschild claimed the second spot on the ensuing restart over Scelzi as Larson scooted away. The yellow came out a second time on lap five for Brandon Spithaler and Brock Zearfoss, who both nearly tipped over in turns three and four.
Larson once again nailed the restart and drove away from Haudenschild and Scelzi. Larson got to lapped traffic on lap nine, as he had about a one second lead. Larson did bobble on lap 10 in lapped traffic, which allowed Haudenschild to close in as lap 11 turned to lap 12. The yellow then came out for a third time, once again for Brandon Spithaler.
Larson did Larson things on the restart, as Tyler Courtney threw a slider from Willard and nearly took the fourth spot. Larson was approaching lapped traffic once again on laps 18 and 19 with less than a once second lead over Haudenschild.
Lapped traffic was very heavy at lap 23, and Larson bobbled again in turns three and four, but Haudenschild was no where close to being able to pounce. There was a war waging for the final podium spot between Scelzi, 14th starting Donny Schatz, Carson Macedo, and Tyler Courtney. Meanwhile, Haudenschild was inching closer to Larson.
The final yellow came out on lap 31 as Courtney found himself spun around in turns three and four. This got Larson back into clean air, and that’s all he needed. He flew away on the restart, leaving Haudenschild, Macedo, and Schatz in the dust. With five laps to go, Larson had Haudenschild gapped by a straightaway.
Larson would cruise to a 3.760 second win. This is his third Brad Doty Classic win, and in the 35 year history of the event, he is the first to go back-to-back with wins. A good way to start off the biggest week in sprint car racing history