Charleston Speedway
Flag-to-flag Unzicker triumphs at Charleston
CHARLESTON, Ill. (May 16) — Pole-starting Ryan Unzicker of El Paso, led all 25 laps Thursday at Charleston Speedway to win the first of a four-race swing on the Sunoco American Late Model Series. Unzicker pocketed $2,000 for his second career series victory and first of any kind in 2013. | Video
“We’ve been struggling a little bit this year. I don’t know, we just keep working hard and trying a little different setup,” Unzicker said. “We weren’t too far off, but we got the right one tonight, that’s for sure.”
Kevin Weaver of Gibson City, Ill., was second with Tanner English of Benton, Ky., in third. Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., and outside front-row starter Rodney Melvin of Benton, Ill., rounded out the top five at a track that seldom runs Late Model events.
Unzicker stayed in control throughout the race, but Weaver looked under him on the low side and English — briefly getting into second — began pressured Unzicker on the high side near the race’s midway point amid traffic. But Unzicker slipped back away and turned back a few other challenges from Weaver in the second half of the race.
“I seen Kevin on the inside there with a couple of laps to go. I don’t think with (clear) track ahead of me, I don’t think he would’ve caught me,” Unzicker said. “But lapped cars made the race interesting and put on a good show for the fans.”
Weaver, looking for his first victory of 2013 after coming off an 18-victory season, didn’t quite have enough for the leader in the caution-free main event.
“It seemed like he was just a little bit better in one corner and I was a little bit better in the other corner. He kind of had the line,” Weaver said. “I mean, everything he did was right. ... I tried about everything I could do and he was just a little bit better.”
Notes: Unzicker’s MasterSbilt Race Car is powered by a Pro Power Engine and sponsored by Pro Tire & Automotive and RJR Transportation. ... Unzicker’s best previous finish in 2013 was sixth. ... His previous ALMS victory came Oct. 2, 2010, at Kankakee County (Ill.) Speedway. ... Brian Shirley drove a Tim Lance-owned machine that he recently built but scratched from the main event. ... Brandon Thirlby entered as the overall series points leader and finished seventh. ... Series action moves to Kankakee County (Ill.) Speedway on Friday, Fairbury (Ill.) American Legion Speedway on Saturday and Vermillion County Speedway in Danville, Ill. on Sunday.
ALMS @ Charleston: (1) Ryan Unzicker, (2) Kevin Weaver, (3) Tanner English, (4) Shannon Babb, (5) Rodney Melvin, (6) Brandon Sheppard, (7) Brandon Thirlby, (8) Randy Korte, (9) Jason McBride, (10) Steve Thorsten, (11) Allen Murray, (12) Phil Ausra, (13) Marvin Burton, (14) Jim Moon, (15) Pete Parker. Scratched: Brian Shirley. Heat race winners (among 17 cars): Unzicker, Melvin.
Correction: Fixes fifth-place finisher; adds complete rundown.
