Blochlinger Picks Up First Career NCRA Modified Win at Belleville

[rebelracewriter]

Blochlinger Picks Up First Career NCRA Modified Win at Belleville

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Belleville, Kansas – September 5, 2010 - Brandon Blochlinger took the lead with five laps to go and held off late race charges of Marc Hurd to pick up his first career O’Reilly/NCRA modified north feature victory Sunday night at the Belleville High Banks in Belleville, Kansas on a night which saw three of the series premier divisions all competing on the same night.

 

In front of a near capacity crowd at the famed high banks, Blochlinger started on the pole for the fifteen lap feature event but it was outside front row starter Brent Burkhart of Hutchinson taking the lead as the green flag fell. Burkhart, second in the series point standings coming into the event, quickly opened a three car length advantage for the first couple of laps before Blochlinger, aboard the J.R. Motorsports powered/Belleville Motor Sports sponsored machine put pressure on the leader starting on lap four.

 

Behind the two front runners, former 2008 series champion Marc Hurd began making a move from his third starting position and by lap six made it a three car battle for the lead.

 

Hurd looked to have passed Blochlinger for the runner up position on lap eight but that pass was waved off when the red flag fell when Austin Allen and Clint Hummer got together coming out of turn four with Allen ending upside down. Both drivers walked away uninjured but both machines were destroyed, ending their night.

 

On the restart it was Burkhart, followed by Blochlinger, Hurd and Tad Davis with Burkhart setting the pace.

 

But the leader would have his hands full as Blochlinger and Hurd both pressured for the lead for the next couple of laps before Blochlinger got a run on Burkhart coming out of turn four on lap eleven. Contact was made with Burkhart coming up on the short end and Blochlinger taking over the top spot. Burkhart’s night would end on lap eleven when he came to a stop on the front stretch to bring out the final caution flag of the night.

 

From there Blochlinger led the final four laps unchallenged and went on to take the victory, his first ever with the series and first atop the famed high banked half mile oval. “I felt we had the faster car but it just took us awhile for us to find a way around him (Burkhart),” he explained. “Once I got out in front I felt I had a pretty good line and felt pretty comfortable the rest of the way.”

 

Hurd settled for second while seventh starting Tyler Davis came on late to take the third position. Current series points leader Brian Powers came home fourth while Ponca City, Oklahoma driver Casey McClaskey, who changed motors after his expired at the end of his heat race, rounded out the top five.

 

John Thompson, Hurd and Tad Davis took home the three heat race honors for the twenty-two car field.

 

1st Heat: 1) John Thompson 2) Brent Burkhart 3) Harley Peery 4) Austin Allen 5) Marlin Farr 6) Dustin Huehl DQ: Ron Gould, Jr. (light at scales)

 

2nd Heat: 1) Marc Hurd 2) Brian Powers 3) Tyler Davis 4) Kyle Sweeney 5) Ryan Hegar 6) Dan Powers DNS: Darrick Klima

 

3rd Heat: 1) Tad Davis 2) Brandon Blochlinger 3) Casey McClaskey 4) Ross Shipman 5) Brett Berhrends 6) Daryl Towne 7) Clint Hummer 8) Scott Styskal

 

A Feature: 1) Brandon Blochlinger 2) Marc Hurd 3) Tyler Davis 4) Brian Powers 5) Casey McClaskey 6) Dan Powers 7) Brett Berhrends 8) Scott Styskal 9) Daryl Towne 10) Kyle Sweeney 11) Brent Burkhart 12) Ross Shipman 13) Tad Davis 14) Harley Peery 15) Clint Hummer 16) Austin Allen DNS: Ron Gould, Jr., John Thompson, Marlin Farr, Dustin Huehl, Darrick Klima