Cox was held up entering turns three and four coming to complete the 23rd circuit, and it was then that McCune pounced and threw caution to the wind, opening up a 6.561-second advantage in just the final eight laps before flashing underneath the twin checkers.
“The early caution didn’t make any difference to us,” McCune added. “We were just stuck there in fourth, and I was just riding, so it wasn’t that big of a deal that early in the race (to have the restart) because Jason still got out on us early in that run. We just kind of picked our way through there … a couple guys had some trouble … and we finally got up there to Jason and got him.”
“I don’t know what it is about Wisconsin, but it seems like every time I come to the state I win because we’re four for five, I think. So it’s a fun deal. A great night.”
Cox hung on to finish second, and cited the differences that kept him out of the winner’s circle after the event.
“Lapped traffic was part of the problem, but we had a pretty bad oil leak brewing and my (helmet) shield was like looking through wax paper late in the race,” Cox explained. “If you’ve ever looked through wax paper, you can’t see anything, so when we got to the traffic it was tough to see exactly what they were going to do … especially with the lights here. The lighting system is great, but it made it difficult on us there.”
“I think when the oil got on the right rear tire, it shrunk it just a bit and the car got tight coming off (the corners), and that’s why McCune got to us. It was just one of those deals where you get to people and it’s hard to make a decision (on which way to go), especially when you’re out front … you hesitate and someone gets underneath you and it’s all over, so it just is what it is. It’s just our second run with this new car, so we’ll certainly take it and move on to the next one.”
Jerry Caryer scored a season-best third place finish, his first time on the Must See Racing podium, and Sierra Jackson drove the DJ Racing No. 22A to a fourth-place effort in her series debut. Wyatt rounded out the top five.
Wilson’s quick time effort in qualifying was the fifth of his career, tying him with McCune for third on the all-time list, while Cox and Jackson each won their respective heat races prior to the green flag.
The Must See Racing Sprint Car Series resumes on Saturday night, June 4 at the quarter-mile Rockford Speedway in Rockford, Illinois. Brian Gerster is the series’ most recent winner at Rockford, winning a 50-lap feature during last year’s National Short Track Championship weekend.
For more information on Must See Racing, including driver and team news, race results and schedule information, visit www.mustseeracing.com.
RESULTS: Must See Racing Sprint Car Series; Dairy Farms by Bytec, Inc. Night; Madison International Speedway; June 3, 2016
Engine Pro Time Trials (best of two laps): 1. #07 – Jacob Wilson, 14.720 seconds; 2. #40B – David Byrne, 14.766; 3. #88 – Jimmy McCune, 14.919; 4. #81 – Brad Wyatt, 15.012; 5. #1 – Jason Cox, 15.131; 6. #40C – Tim Cox, 15.241; 7. #75C – Jerry Caryer, 15.250; 8. #22A – Sierra Jackson, 15.410; 9. #26B – Jeff Bloom, 15.658; 10. #21 – Mike Stutsman, 15.676; 11. #10 – Matt Vanderveer, 15.861; 12. #9 – Kris Leming, 16.264.
Mahle Heat #1 (eight laps, all transfer): 1. Jason Cox, 2. Jacob Wilson, 3. Jimmy McCune, 4. Jerry Caryer, 5. Matt Vanderveer, 6. Jeff Bloom (DNS).
SpeedPro Heat #2 (eight laps, all transfer): 1. Sierra Jackson, 2. David Byrne, 3. Brad Wyatt, 4. Tim Cox, 5. Mike Stutsman, 6. Kris Leming.
Engine Pro A-Feature (30 laps): 1. Jimmy McCune [3], 2. Jason Cox [1], 3. Jerry Caryer [7], 4. Sierra Jackson [8], 5. Brad Wyatt [2], 6. Mike Stutsman [9], 7. Matt Vanderveer [10], 8. Kris Leming [11], 9. David Byrne [4], 10. Jacob Wilson [5], 11. Tim Cox [6], 12. Jeff Bloom [12].
CREDIT: Must See Racing
