Carlos
Rocha captures his first career MIRL win at Nazareth. Rocha held off
a late race challenge from Sam Allison to take the win. Joseph Mudrak
continues his strong season with the final podium spot. Completing
the top five was Dwight Lewis and Scott Berube. Of note was the end
of Sam Giltner's winning streak. Giltner had an early crash that put
him multipe laps down, ending his chance at setting the MIRL record.
With 7 races to go in the season, Giltner still holds a sizeable lead
over second place Joseph Mudrak (-58). Jordan Darwin (-76), Dwight
Lewis (-87), and Norm Graf (-100) complete the top five in the combined
standings. With three oval races to go, the oval standings show Dwight
Lewis in the lead, with a slim 7 point margin over Giltner. Joe Hassell
(-11) is right behind in third. Scott Berube (-23) and Sam Allison
(-30) complete the top five.
Giltner Ties
Series Record
Sam
Giltner tied the MIRL record for consecutive wins, with his fifth
straight victory at Edmonton. Giltner overcame a disqualification
during qualifying for exceeding the lap allowance to take the win.
Jordan Darwin held off Xico Rocha for the runner up spot, with Rocha
finishing out the podium. Dwight Lewis and Justin Lee completed the
top five. At the midway point of the season, Giltner holds a commanding
73 point lead over Darwin. Joseph Mudrak is 77 points back, with Norm
Graf (-96) and Dwight Lewis (-103) completing the top five.
Make it Four
at New Hampshire for Giltner
Sam
Giltner has now won four straight races with his win at New Hampshire
in race 7. Giltner held off Joe Hassell and Dwight Lewis in the final
laps in a caution marred event. Lewis would take the runner up spot
with Hassell completing the podium. Scott Berube and Joseph Mudrak
completed the top five. With his four straight wins Giltner is now
one win away from tying the series record of five wins in a row set
by Season 1 champion Ray Alfalla. Alfalla set that streak in season
1, with wins at Pocono North Road Course, Chicagoland, New Hampshire
Road Course, Kansas, and Portland.
Three in
a Row for Giltner
Sam
Giltner passed polesitter Carlos Rocha early in the race and never
looked back, taking his third race in a row and the points lead in
Season 9. Norm Graf put it all together to finish in the runner up
spot, with Joseph Mudrak completing the podium. Rocha finished in
P4, with James Allard in P5.
Giltner Hangs
on at Pocono
Sam
Giltner held off a furious charge from Joe Hassell in the closing
laps to win his second race in a row. Giltner, Hassell, and Dwight
Lewis broke away from the pack on the last restart and fought tooth
and nail until Lewis fell back and Hassell fought it out with Giltner.
Lewis filled the final podium spot, while Justin Lee and Joseph Mudrak
finished out the top five.
Giltner Returns
to Winning Ways at Cleveland
The
status quo returned to MIRL with two time defending champ Sam Giltner
lapping the field at Cleveland. Traffic was the buzzword of the night
as 30 cars took the green flag on this short challenging airport runway
course. Tempers were frayed at the end of the race after 55 laps of
traffic and dealing with aero wash. Jordan Darwin backed up his strong
practice times with a runner up finish. Joseph Mudrak continues to
impress with the last podium spot. Jose Cetina and Jimmy Jones completed
the top five.
Graf Takes
Thriller at Indy
The
parade of first time winners contiues as Norm Graf held off a furious
charge from Justin Lee, Joe Hassell, Jordan Darwin, and Mark Larson
to win at Indianapolis. Those drivers were the top five finishers
in the race. The margin of victory for Graf over Lee was 0.005 seconds.
That is the second smallest margin of victory in series history. The
smallest was a season 3 contest at Pikes Peak where Matt Smith edged
Sam Allison by 0.001 seconds. The Indy race stayed mostly green and
saw furious racing througout the field. Two time defending champion
Sam Giltner's woes continue, as he's finished outside the top ten
in every race thus far in season 9. Giltner should get back on track
in the next race at Cleveland, which should provide a stiff challenge
for the entire field.
Mudrak Wins
First at Road America
MIRL
saw its second first time winner of the season in as many races as
Joseph Mudrak survived a wreck filled race at Road America. Mudrak
kept his nose clean and took the victory over Jimmy Jones and Mark
Urban, who were the other podium finishers. Jordan Darwin and newcomer
James Allard completed the top five.
Berube Wins
Michigan on Last Lap Pass
Scott
Berube opened Season 9 with a win at Michigan, taking the race after
a last lap pass over Sam Allison. Berube got a strong run through
the tri oval, passed Allison high through T1/T2, and overtook Sam
by the end of the back stretch. Allison would come in second, with
series newcomer Mark Urban in third. MIRL veteran William Kabela and
Bill Peterson completed the top five. The race was really shook up
when a caution came out after 3/4 of the field had taken green flag
pit stops, leaving only a handful of cars on the lead lap.
