Music Claims Victory at Homestead

Music leads 35 laps including the final 10 laps to claim the Overdrive Graphics 200 in the opening round of the Lionheart IndyCar Series presented by Overdrive Graphics. Deadzone Racing’s Jonathan Goke, returning from testing Star Mazda’s, finished 2nd, and last night’s practice race winner James Krahula from Unacceptable Racing finished 3rd.

The night’s festivities began with the Last Chance Qualifier. This season’s LCQ, featured a new format, which gave nearly two hours for drivers to attempt a two lap qualifying run. The drama began early with names such as Michel De Jong, Bradley Walters, Ryan Lowe, Charles Eisenbarth, James Krahula, Ryan Bowles, Mark Goodwin, Mark Norbert, and Thomas Engle initially missing the race. However, due to absences from locked in drivers, Michel De Jong, Ryan Lowe, and James Krahula were allowed to race.

No Name Racing’s Jake Wright, who was fastest in the Last Chance Qualifier, also turned the fastest lap in qualifying. Rick Music qualified second, just .006 seconds behind Wright. Defending race winner Joe Hassert, Terry Matthiensen, and Jonathan Goke rounded out the top 5.

The first lead change of the race happened on lap two, with “Big Joe” Hassert taking the lead from Jake Wright for two laps, before Wright took the lead back from his teammate, just as the caution came out for an incident involving Trevor Malone. When the race went back green, it would stay green for 82 laps when a caution for an incident involving Sam Adams and Jason Galvin.

A third caution waved on lap 102 for an incident involving Sam Adams and Dan Geren. Under the caution, the lead cars pitted, with Jonathan Goke pulling out ahead of Rick Music. Goke would lead Music for several laps, before Music would pull back by Goke, and drive away for a 2.5 second win over Goke.

Pre-race favorite, and last season’s championship points runner up, Joe Hassert, finished 7th after leading 24 laps. Other pre-race favorite, Chris Stofer finished 26th.

Full race results can be viewed here.

To stay up-to-date with the series, like them on Facebook, and visit their website, www.lionheartracingseries.com. The series returns to the track next week for the No Name Racing 125 from the Milwaukee Mile, broadcast on the Global SimRacing Channel.