(Image Credit: Ron Gilson)
26 Promotions – Queen Creek, AZ – (March 12th, 2017) – After a podium finish of 3rd last weekend at Canyon Speedway Park in Peoria, AZ, Colton Hardy was looking forward to the ASCS Southwest Region making their 2017 debut at Arizona Speedway. A track where Hardy picked up 2 wins last season.
“I felt pretty confident entering the weekend,” he said. “I know we are really good there and I just had to be smooth and run a smart race.”
Starting and finishing 3rd in his heat, Hardy would line up 9th for the 25 lap Feature.
Hardy had worked the bottom of the track and found himself sitting in 6th when the first red flag came out with just under half the race completed. Hardy would move into 5th when leader got upside down with about 9 laps left. From there Hardy would work the top groove in turns 1 and 2 and the bottom in turns 3 and 4 to move into 3rd. Hardy would slide for 2nd in turns 1 and two before a caution would fly with 3 laps to go.
“I messed up on the restart and let him (Kevin Thomas Jr.) jump out a bit,” said Hardy. “We ran out of time. I felt like we were just as good as him, but we just got beat.”
Hardy would end the night with his second podium finish in as many weekends, finishing 2nd, and earning himself the $100 Beaver Stripes Hard Charger Award.
“The car was great,” he said. “I can’t thank everyone enough for helping on it.”
Hardy also leads the ASCS Southwest Region in points by two over Bob Ream Jr as the series heads to Central Arizona Speedway on March 25th for their only appearance on three-eighths track located in Casa Grande, AZ.
Hardy would like to thank Diamond Mechanical, M & J Trophies, Mark’s Nuts & Bolts, Elite Technical Coatings, CSI Shocks, F.S.C, NAPA Auto & Truck Parts, Borello Race Engines, A & C Remodeling, Engler Machine & Tools and Simpson Race Products for all their support.
Results:
Heat: 3rd -> 3rd
Feature: 9th -> 2nd
Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/colton.hardy41
Twitter: https://twitter.com/colton_hardy41
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colton_hardy41/
Website: http://coltonhardy.com
Article Credit: 26 Promotions