HUMBOLDT — Inclement weather has not been friendly to Humboldt Speedway this year, and once again weather played a factor Friday.
Under a constant threat of pop-up showers, Luke Phillips beat the rain to park his No. 31 Ray’s Metal Depot USRA B-Mod in Humboldt Speedway victory lane.
Krew Walburn grabbed the early lead, until the fifth lap, when Phillips found the top side of the track to his liking and powered his way past Walburn. Behind Walburn, Tyler Kidwell and Brian McGowen engaged in a furious battle for third with both drivers closing in on the No. 28 machine.
What had been a two-car battle quickly became three, with Kidwell taking advantage of the situation to grab the runner-up spot with three laps to go. By then it was too late for Kidwell to catch up to Phillips, who won with a 3-second gap.
McGown took third, with Walburn settling for fourth and Matthew Kay completing the top 5. McGowen and Phillips each picked up heat race wins.
Tensions rose to a boil during Home Savings Bank Factory Stock A-feature action. For the opening 10 laps of the race Derrek Wilson showed Brian Knisley the way around the quarter-mile dirt track. Knisley found room to squeeze under Wilson off turn four and muscled the bottom of the racetrack away from Wilson back into one and two.
Contact from Wilson in the next set of corners sent Knisley spinning. When the yellow flag waved, it was Wilson who had to move to the rear of the field as track officials determined Wilson’s contact caused Knisley to spin. With Knisley back at the front of the field when the green flag waved, he went unchallenged over the final five laps to grab the win.
Trey Stipp, Trey Clough, Wilson and Braxton Lamons completed the top 5. Wilson and Jonathan Hightower each recorded heat race wins.
Rain interrupted the Extrusions Inc. USRA Tuners five laps into their A-Feature, bringing the night to an early end. USRA Tuners and Primal Jerky Midwest Mods will complete their A-Features on June 3, while ARMI Contracting USRA Modifieds will run their A-Feature on June 10.
After a week hiatus, racing returns June 3, with the Titans B-mod Series headlining the show.
