STOCKTON >> Cody Braund of Anderson held off the challenges of many-time Stockton 99 champion Wes Miller of Turlock to capture his first North State Modified Series (NSMS) Swartz 60 feature win on Saturday night at the Stockton 99 Speedway.
Presented by Protect the Harvest and Sinister Diesel, race No. 7 of the season also was part of the King of the Wings Super Series. For the fifth time in 2015, Tripp Gaylord of Golden, Colorado, set fast time (14.042) over the 20-car field to win the Sunoco/Penney Racing Supply Fast Time Award. Gaylord’s main event run wasn’t as pleasant as both he and Darrin Knight of Kelseyville, who entered the night one-two in the point standings, dropped behind Braund.
The eight-car invert put local driver Robbie Knittel and Braund on the front row with Knittel pulling ahead at the start. Braund settled into second with Michael Mitchell, Miller and Gaylord next in line. The first yellow flew on lap six when Kelsie Martin and Brandon Jones tangled on the backstretch. Braund got the edge on the restart, dropping Knittel to second. Miller snuck under Mitchell for third and Knight inched under Gaylord to assume fourth.
Three rounds later the race was slowed again when Charlie Collins tagged Kris Price, turning him around in turn two. The double-file restart saw Miller inch ahead, but Braund took the lead back on lap 10. Contact between Price and Jones brought out the third caution on lap 12, and before one more round could be completed, Kelsie Martin spun in turn two. A crash involving Eric Price and Collins followed and both Bobby Hirschbock and Eric Price had to retire their cars to the pits.
It appeared that Gaylord lost power on the restart resulting in another yellow. Gaylord pitted for a flat tire and rejoined the field. Martin’s car developed a severe oil leak under caution, causing the race to be red-flagged so that the track could be cleaned up.
Track officials went to a single-file restart because of the slick track and when racing finally got underway, Braund forged ahead of Miller, Knight, Knittel, Mitchell and Jason Philpot. The race was slowed again on lap 25 when Rick Avila’s car stalled on the frontstretch. The next round Kris Price made contact with CJ Christman while attempting to pass for yet another caution.
At the Economy Heating & Air halfway point, Knight’s suspension broke while running third, ending his run and winning streak. This moved Knittel back up to third with Philpot fourth, Mitchell fifth followed by Nick Lyons, Sammy Solari, Ty Carlson, Richie Potts, Collins, Brock Monroe and Gaylord.
Braund’s car looked loose in lap 40 giving Miller another shot at the lead. Braund regrouped and maintained his lead. Miller tried him high and low on each pass, but Braund held him off. As Gaylord was picking off cars on his way back, he made contact with Brock Monroe and both cars began to spin. Both drivers showed their discontent with each other under yellow, resulting in shoving and ramming that resulted in enough damage to force Gaylord to park his car for the remainder of the race.
The next five laps saw Braund and Miller in a constant battle for the lead. The final yellow flew on lap 55 for a Christman spin. Braund held off the constant challenges from Miller all the way to the checkered flag for his first win in the series. Miller finished second in his first NSMS outing. Philpot passed Knittel in the closing laps for third with Knittle was fourth and Mitchell fifth. Rounding out the top 10 were Carlson, Collins, Lyons, Kris Price and Solari.
Kris Price collected $100 in the Lucas Oil Dash for Cash with Knittel getting $50 for second. Solari earned the Wenteq Hard Charger Award, Knight took home the Naake Suspension award, and the F.R.E. Certificates went to Solari and Knight.
The next NSMS race is Aug. 22 at Shasta Speedway in Anderson. For more information call 274-1662 or visit the North State Modified Series Facebook page or the Northstatemodifieds.com website.
