Blankenship Scores 4th Feature Win

Shirley driver JD Blankenship Jr. led almost the entire distance to win his season high fourth feature race in the Marcum’s Welding Front Wheel Drive Division. Aided by the invert Blankenship jumped into the lead from the front row chased by Chris Gray and Nick Warner. Fast qualifier Josh Ebbert Jr. passed Warner with an inside move entering turn three and the trio of front runners ran in a tight pack. The first caution flag waved on lap seven when Tyler Willhoite and James Allender tangled in turn four which ended Willhoite’s night. Gray took the lead for one circuit on the restart, but Blankenship was back on the point after one lap. The lead trio continued to run in that fashion through another caution period with Ebbert taking the second spot on lap 11 exiting the second corner. The complexion of the race changed on lap 13 when Ebbert slammed into the turn two wall after contact with Gray. Ebbert’s night was done, and Gray was sent to the tail of the field. There were two more caution periods but didn’t keep Blankenship from scoring the victory by 3.1 seconds over Nick Warner and Cody Riley.