ULMS: Knight Claims Opener at Tri-City
FRANKLIN, Pa. - May 7. Ripley, New York's Mike Knight kicked off Tri-City Speedway's season opener and took home the Northern Tier ULMS 2011 season opener. Knight took home $2,000 for his efforts in the 25-lap event on a threatening night of weather.
All-time ULMS feature winner David Scott led Matt Lux, Knight, Dennis Lunger and Dutch Davies at the start. The first yellow of the season came out on lap four for late arrival Greg Oakes as he spun, and on the restart, chaos took place as the drivers were in a dog fight for positions behind the top three. Dick Barton, Chris Hackett, Rob Blair and Russ King were all battling for fifth. Lap seven would see the second yellow come out for Bump Hedman. The top four was still the same with Hackett now in fifth over Barton, Blair, Dutch Davies and King.
On lap eight the third yellow came out as Hackett got loose on the outside of turn two and collected the cars of Blair and Dutch Davies. Davies and Hackett were done for the evening while Blair received extensive body damage.
On the restart, Knight pressured Lux for second and took it on lap ten, then raced Scott door to door. On lap 12, Knight had a half car length lead at the stripe, and took over completely as the duo exited turn four for lap 13.
With ten laps remaining Lux was third and Dick Barton held fourth from his 11th starting spot. Blair
was backing up through the field as it appeared the body damage was affecting his car. Lap 16 saw
the final yellow of the event for Dereck Frank on the front stretch.
With the double file restart, Knight chose the inside lane over Scott and jumped out front while Barton
moved into third on lap 17. One lap later, he Scott back to third. With five to go, Knight was
checking out with Lux now in fourth was in a battle with Russ King.
King was the car on the move in the final laps as he took fourth from Lux and third from Scott on lap 22. Scott came back with two to go to retake third. With the white flag falling, Knight was already heading for “Hollywood” and Barton was solidly in second as King gave Scott a slide job to grab third one final time as the checkers fell.
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