(Image Credit: Ben Thrasher)
26 Promotions – Queen Creek, AZ – (May 10th, 2017) – Colton Hardy continues to rack up the podium finishes in 2017, picking up his fifth podium of the ASCS Southwest Region season Saturday night with a 2nd place finish at Arizona Speedway.
Hardy started the night in dominating fashion opening a 2.5 second lead in his Heat before having it erased due to a caution with 3 to go. Hardy would check out again on the restart to go on to win by 1.7 seconds locking himself into the Feature redraw.
Hardy drew the 4, lining him up on the outside of row 2 for the start of the 25-lap Feature.
“They did a little bit of track prep right before we went out,” said Hardy. “I thought the bottom was going to be decent the first couple of laps, which I was wrong. We got up to 3rd in the first corner and blew the non-existent bottom and fell back to 4th.”
Hardy caught a small break during the first caution on lap 3 when the 3rd place car had to pull in due to a flat left rear tire. A long 19 lap green flag run followed the caution where Hardy showed his speed laying down the fastest lap of the night with 10 laps to go, but not being able to get passed lap traffic cost Hardy valuable time.
“I let lap cars beat me,” he explained. “I either tried to run the bottom around them or followed them into the corner, which killed any time I had gained on the leaders.”
Hardy moved into 2nd when J.T Imperial, leading at the time, pulled into the infield due to mechanical issues. Now battling reigning series champion Rick Ziehl for the win, Hardy went to the bottom of the track to grab the lead as Ziehl was held up behind a lap car on top. Unfortunately, an ill-timed caution seconds later would see Hardy relinquish the lead back to Ziehl with 3 laps to go.
“I tried to make something happen on the restart but it didn’t work,” he said. “It was a good night and we ended up with a 2nd place finish.”
Hardy will have a 19-point lead in ASCS Southwest Series standings when the series returns to action on July 1st back at Arizona Speedway.
“It’s a privilege to drive for Ted and Stayce Williams,” Hardy said. “The car is always in tip-top shape thanks to Nate, AJ, Aaron and Randy. They did an excellent job throughout the night and during the week.”
Hardy returns to Micro Sprint action on May 20th at Canyon Speedway Park. He picked up two podium finishes the last time he was in the Micro back in April.
Colton 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, Borrello Race Engines, A & C Remodeling, Engler Machine & Tools and Simpson Race Products for their continued support.
Results:
Heat: 1st -> 1st
Feature: 4th -> 3rd
Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/colton.hardy41
Twitter: https://twitter.com/colton_hardy41
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colton_hardy41/
Website: http://www.coltonhardy.com/
Article Credit: 26 Promotions