big joe gets win #2 at kentucky

Wednesday night Lionheart Racing Series went under the lights of Kentucky Speedway for the Commonwealth 125. 84 laps meant 125 miles as the full distance at the 1 1/2 mile oval. 

Lionheart hoped to have one of the best races of the season with members turning over 7000 laps of practice, but concerns about the setup from some of the drivers came to fruition, when 6 cautions plagued the race. 

Matt Kingsbury would take the pole with a blistering 24.605. Jesse Vincent, Big Joe, Tony Lurcock and Dan Geren would round out the top 5. Once the green flew, Joe got by Jesse right away and tried to break away with Matt with Jesse in tow. This would continue until the first caution on lap 17 when Vincent Bluthenthal and John Downing made contact and as John tried to save his car collided with Leandro Mattos. 

Fireworks on pit road as Austin Espitee and Trevor Malone collided on pit road. Joe would win the battle off of pit road, but Chris Lanini would stay out and take the lead, until he ended up pitting one lap later. Joe would take over and lead the field back to green. 

Much of the same would occur with Joe and Matt working together at the front, this time with Justin Laxton taking 3rd and Dan Geren close behind in 4th. Matt and Joe would swap for the top spot multiple times until the 2nd caution came out on lap 27 when Jorge Anzaldo ran out of room with Jack Bogan and Ray Kingsbury 3 wide in turn 2, taking out all 3 drivers, also collecting Trevor Malone. 

The leaders would stay out and Joe would lead the field back to green. The middle of the field went 3 wide at the start and Pierre Daigle would collect 2 other drivers, but the race would stay green. The top 4 of Joe, Matt, Justin, and Dan would break away from the rest of the field but caution would strike on lap 49 when Thomas Engle and Rudy Avalon made contact in turn 3, with Rudy hitting the wall. 

Michael Gray would take the lead after staying out followed by Joe, Matt and Dan. Michael's damage would slow him down as Joe would get by him the first lap after green, Matt would follow, as well as Justin and Austin. Caution would fly when Justin and Dan would make contact, and Austin would take the brunt of the damage, flipping his car out of the race. 

Joe would win the final battle out of pit road, Matt would follow, with Korey in 3rd. Matt and Joe would jump out to a 2 second lead taking advantage of Korey's damage slowing down the rest of the pack. The lead would be erased, however with caution #5 caused by Korey and Justin making contact, sending Korey into the inside wall. 

Matt took the lead just before the yellow flew and led Joe to green, and in familiar fashion, jumped out in front of the field once again, but caution would fly one more time with 6 to go when Krista Nelson pushed up into Dan Geren, setting up a Green White Checker finish. 

Matt tried to get a jump on Joe on the restart but failed as Joe pulled out to a small advantage. Jesse tried to get Matt on the inside as the white flag flew but Matt was able to get the advantage on the backstretch, both drivers making contact in turn 4 as Joe took his 2nd checkered flag of the season, Matt pulling out the pass for 2nd. Jesse 3rd. 

Jesse kept the points lead over Matt by 65. Joe pulls into 3rd 106 behind. Ray and Justin round out the top 5. Next week is leg 2 of the triple crown with the Indy 250. This is a double points race and will be broadcast at 9:40 pm cst on 4-8 on GSRC.