Curtis Coasts on Fumes to Win Texas Thriller; Ghoston Dominates Early
Curtis Coasts on Fumes to Win Texas Thriller; Ghoston Dominates Early
FORT WORTH, TX — The legacy 2009 configuration of Texas Motor Speedway delivered a test of speed, survival, and fuel management on race night. In a dramatic 105-lap showdown, Judson Curtis played the strategy perfectly, stretching his fuel window to the absolute limit and winning the race as his engine sputtered crossing the checkered flag.
The night started with single lap speeds. Abbrom Ghoston laid down a massive statement in qualifying, snatching the pole position with a lap of 30.325. He edged out front row competitor Joshua Aultice by a razor thin margin of just 0.012 seconds, setting the stage for a fiercely competitive night
Ghoston translated his pole into early dominance, asserting control at the front of the field. The race's green flag rhythm was first broken on Lap 35, when Aultice, who had shown such great qualifying pace, found trouble and brought out the first of three caution flags.
After the ensuing restart, the field settled back into a groove before the second yellow flag flew for a heavy tangle involving Tyler Deweese and Mark Syphers, slowing the pace once again and bunching up the field.
The true turning point of the evening arrived during the third and final caution. Ghoston, who was having a phenomenal run at the front of the pack, lost control and spun. His car collected Joerdan Traas and several others in the ensuing chaos. The crash robbed Ghoston of a chance at the victory, despite him finishing the night with a race high 39 laps led and laying down the fastest lap of the race at 30.433.
That final caution threw the traditional playbook out the window, turning the closing stint into a tense, agonizing fuel mileage race. Curtis, who led a total of just five laps on the night, found himself in the perfect position. Masterfully feathering the throttle and saving every drop of fuel possible, Curtis held off the charging pack. In a cinematic finish, his tank went dry at the exact right moment, allowing him to coast across the finish line to take the victory.
The league now heads into a well deserved bye week for the 4th of July weekend.
