TULSA, Okla. – Justin Grant continued his winning ways on Friday night inside the Tulsa Expo Center, scoring his third consecutive Vacuworx Qualifying Night victory during the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals.

Grant started from the pole and held off a bevy of challenges from Tanner Thorson through the caution-free 25-lap feature, weaving in and out of slower traffic in the final laps and taking the checkered flag .168 of a second ahead of Thorson in the end.

Despite a rough-and-tumble race track, the feature was completed in just five minutes and 23 seconds.

With his win, Grant locked himself into a top-six starting position and will be one of the heavy-hitters taking part in Saturday’s Pizza Express Pole Shuffle.

“Man, I just love racing Friday nights here,” Grant said in victory lane. “It seems like everyone books their plane tickets for Friday morning and the crowd is always great here when you come down to this last preliminary night. It’s an amazing atmosphere in here when it’s packed like this.

“This NOS Energy Drink No. 4a was amazing tonight. It was so, so good,” he added. “I’ve had the privilege to drive some fast race cars in here before, but none of them were as good as this one. I’m really looking forward to Saturday after this one.”

There was only one nervous moment, as Grant was trying to lap Korey Weyant and Shane Cottle with three to go, where the No. 4a looked vulnerable the entire main.

“I didn’t know who that was in front of me, but I’m sure glad I didn’t have to race him for the lead because he was making his car real wide!” Grant laughed. “I just kept thinking that if I got up alongside of him enough, he’ll have to know I’m the leader, right?

“I had to get into him a little bit and move him up over the cushion, but thankfully everything stayed together and all worked out in the end.”

Thorson dogged Grant for the entire distance Friday night, never falling more than a second and a half behind the race lead, but could never work past Grant to establish a gap out front.

Still, the Vacuworx Invitational Race of Champions winner from Tuesday night came home second and locked himself into his fifth consecutive Saturday A main.

“I think everyone was fast there, with how the track was tonight,” Thorson said after the race. “Even the squirrels in the back were fast; they were just in the way. We had an awesome car, though. To be able to lock it in the show in our first year out here is pretty cool in my book.

“Congratulations to Justin. He didn’t mess up, and that’s what it took tonight,” added Thorson. “Second’s not what we usually want, but we’re locked in the show and that’s all that matters.”

Chad Boat was the highest-finishing Toyota driver in third, ending the manufacturer’s streak at four-straight preliminary night wins after Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports swept the remainder of the week.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series star Ricky Stenhouse Jr. crossed the line fourth and Tucker Klassmeyer, carrying the banner for the Kunz team, completed the top five.

Alex Schutte was sixth ahead of Daryn Pittman, Dave Darland, Spencer Bayston and Grady Chandler.

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