(May
24, 2014) - Jacob Wilson repeated
as champion of the 66th running of the Pay
Less Little 500 at Anderson Speedway on
Saturday, May 24.
Wilson ran in the top five for most of the
race and took the lead for the first time on
lap 328, he surrendered the lead to Shane
Cottle when he made his second mandatory pit
stop, but came out in second.
When Cottle lost an engine on lap 386,
Wilson returned to the point and led the
final 114 laps for the victory. He becomes
the first back-to-back winners since Eric
Gordon accomplished the feat in 2004 and
2005.
Wilson was followed to the checkers by
Herald Bulletin rookie of the year Jerry
Coons Jr. and Jo Jo Helberg, who started
20th in the 33-car field.
For the second consecutive year saw a
valiant effort for the win in the Contos
Racing entry went up in smoke.
A year ago Shane Cottle was threatening for
the win putting pressure on eventual winner
Jacob Wilson, when his engine expired with
four laps remaining. This year the engine
let go on lap 387 as Cottle was leading the
race chased by Wilson.
Cottle in the Contos Racing entry took over
the lead on lap 209 following the first
round of pit stops for the leaders chased by
Helberg and defending champion Wilson.
Being in the lead early in the race was not
the place to be as first Aaron Pierce and
then Bryan Clauson were involved with lapped
cars knocking them from contention.
Pole sitter Bryan Clauson led from lap 44
through lap 123 with Jerry Coons Jr. running
on his tail pipe. On lap 124 Clauson tapped
the back of the lapped car of Tom Paterson,
causing Clauson to spin and Patterson
climbing over the front of his sprint car.
Clauson was able to continue but lost four
laps as a result of the incident. He fought
back to get a lap back when the leaders
pitted and was threatening to get a second
lap back near the 300 lap mark, when his
tires went away.
The back luck that has struck Daleville
driver Aaron Pierce continued when he made
contact with the rear tire of a slower car
and hit the turn three retaining wall.
Pierce had led the first 43 laps jumping to
the point from the middle of the front row.
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