Macenko prevails at Gas City
By Ken de la Bastide
Jack Macenko in victory lane at Gas City I-69 Speedway (Aaron Skillman photo)
Jack Macenko made a nifty move through lapped traffic and then survived a two-lap shoot-out to capture the Kenyon Midget feature at Gas City I-69 Speedway. Macenko becomes the third different winner with the series in 2022 joining Dameron Taylor and Trey Osborne.
The Cincinnati driver started on the outside of the front row after Trey Osborne pulled an inversion of six for the 30-lap feature. Macenko used the high groove to take the start from pole sitter Isaac Johnson. Ryan Huggler quickly moved into the second spot.
Osborne moved into the second spot on lap 21 with an inside pass of Huggler in turn two and started to run down Macenko.
Macenko was blocked by slower traffic with six laps remaining when he drove to the bottom coming off the second corner and cleared the two slower cars.
The only caution flag waved on lap 28 when Taylor spun in turn four, which set up the green-white-checker finish. Macenko was able to pull away from Osborne on the restart winning by .621-seconds followed by Ryan Huggler, Dave Osborn and Marcel Berndt.
“Ten laps in the track started slick off,” he said in the winner's circle. “I took it easy and made sure to hit my marks. I had two chances to win this year and let them slip away,” Macenko said. “I didn't want this one to slip away.”
He said of passing the lapped cars that he was trying to figure out how to make the pass. “I sat behind them for a little bit,” Macenko said. “I didn't know what way I wanted to go and the seas just parted on the bottom.”
He said it wasn't a surprise that Osborne was closing.“ I didn't want to see that caution, but I kept calm and concentrated on hitting my marks.”
Osborne said he thought the late caution would help him but his right rear tire sealed over and didn't keep it cleaned off during the yellow.
“It was a great battle just getting to the front,” he said. “I was really happy with the car all night. It was a good points night.”
Huggler said the track was super slick but with the little bit of rain this week he expected those conditions. “I would have preferred to have been second on the restart, but went down to the inside hoping to find some grip,” he said. “I knew I had a chance and wanted to make something happen.”
With the victory Macenko moved to within two points of Osborne in the battle for the championship with Taylor another 63 points back.
Dave Osborn leads the rookie of the year standings over Kyle Ford by 87 points.
Clayton Gaines earned the Advanced Racing Suspensions Hard Charger award finishing seventh after starting 12th.