MARS DIRTcar Series
Longdale Speedway
May 13, 2016
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Gustin dominates MARS weekend opener at Longdale Speedway



by David Smith Jr
LONGDALE, Oklahoma (May 13) - Ryan Gustin took the lead on lap seven and never looked back to claim the MARS DIRTcar late model feature event Friday night in the series inaugural visit to Longdale Speedway in Longdale, Oklahoma.

Local favorite Kip Hughes and Justin Asplin started on the front row for the twenty-five lap feature with Asplin taking the lead as the green flag fell. Gustin quickly moved into the runner up position from his third starting spot and followed the leader for the first six laps before diving down low entering turns one and two to take the lead going down the backstretch.

It was at this time slower traffic appeared and “The Reaper” had no problems working through the back of the field, keeping a half stretch lead between himself and Asplin before the nights first caution fell on lap eleven when David Hennan came to rest up against the wall in turns three and four.



Once race action resumed Gustin jumped out front and once again opened a sizable advantage and kept a torrid pace out front while behind him, Asplin had his hands full with third starting Tony Jackson, Jr.

With just three laps to go the final caution of the night fell when Hughes slowed coming down the front stretch, bunching up the field on the final restart. Yet there was no stopping Gustin on this night as his Mullins powered Rocket Chassis pulled away from the field and he would go on to claim his eighth career series victory.

Asplin held on for second, followed by Jackson, Payton Looney and fifteenth starting Randy Timms.

The three, eight lap heat races for the nineteen car field were won by Gustin, Jackson and Asplin.

Modified standout Rodney Sanders was on hand and finished second to Gustin in the first heat race. However, his motor would expire coming down for the checkered flag and would not start the nights feature finale.

The MARS DIRTcar series will be back in action Saturday night at Longdale Speedway to wrap up the weekend that will pay $3000 to the winner.

A-Main
1 19R Ryan Gustin
2 77A Justin Asplin
3 56 Tony Jackson, Jr.
4 15L Payton Looney
5 5t Randy Timms
6 42M Brandon McCormick
7 ZZ Sloppy Hog
8 9G Joseph Gorby
9 14R Jeff Roth
10 36 Jason Redman
11 81 Mark Harrison
12 26R Randy Roth
13 28J Leroy Johnson
14 229 Damian Patocka
15 27 Brandon Mitchell
16 60 Kip Hughes
17 10 Jacob Magee
18 D11 David Hennan

Heat #1
1 19R Ryan Gustin
2 20s Rodney Sanders
3 81 Mark Harrison
4 42M Brandon McCormick
5 15L Payton Looney
6 5t Randy Timms
7 28J Leroy Johnson

Heat #2
1 56 Tony Jackson, Jr.
2 60 Kip Hughes
3 14R Jeff Roth
4 9G Joseph Gorby
5 26R Randy Roth
6 36 Jason Redman

Heat #3
1 77A Justin Asplin
2 ZZ Sloppy Hog
3 10 Jacob Magee
4 D11 David Hennan
5 229 Damian Patocka
6 27 Brandon Mitchell

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