Tyler Letarte was ultimately the benefactor of Beattie’s misfortunes in the Intermediate feature, inheriting the lead for a lap two restart after Beattie and polesitter Ryan Israel got together in Turns 3 and 4 while racing for the lead.
Beattie led the opening lap, but Israel came back on him and retook the top spot in Turns 1 and 2. When Beattie went back to the bottom on the opposite end of the race track, he and Israel made contact that led to Israel sliding to a stop against the outside wall exiting Turn 4.
Both drivers were sent to the rear, and as a result, Letarte took a lead he would never relinquish.
Despite having to weather four more caution flags, Letarte opened up as much as 1.8 seconds over the field on each restart, dominating en route to his second-straight win at the fairgrounds and a sweep of the Short Track Showdown twinbill during NC Race Week.
“There’s a lot of times I’d rather be lucky than fast any day, and tonight was one of them,” said the son of NASCAR on NBC analyst Steve Letarte. “Man, this track was grippier because not everyone was burning up (the bottom groove) and it’s such a small track that I almost had fresh dirt every time I came around. Clean air always helps, but this kart was fast tonight man … it was rolling.”
“I love this track, and if I had to sweep anywhere I’d want to do it here,” he added. “It’s like a little bullpen … there’s constant beating and banging and that’s the style of racing I love.”
Ben Studer finished second and was credited with the 125cc class victory, followed by Beattie and Israel, who rallied from the rear again after a second coming-together to cross the line third and fourth, respectively. Beau Stenzel rounded out the top five.
Sam Corry (Box Stock) and Matthew Francis (Beginner Box Stock) also took home feature wins during the four-division program.
The next race for the Millbridge Speedway mini outlaw karts will be Wednesday, Sept. 20, back at the Salisbury sixth-mile for their 14th points race of the season.
Full race results can be viewed on the next page…
