81 Speedway
Gustin leads all 30 laps for NCRA victory
By David Smith Jr.
NCRA
Ryan Gustin 19r) races to victory over Corey Zeitner (26) at 81 Speedway. (Randy Lane)
PARK CITY, Kan. (May 26) — Taking command from the outset, outside front-row starter Ryan Gustin of Marshalltown, Iowa, led all 30 laps Sunday at 81 Speedway for his first career Late Model victory on the National Championship Racing Association. Gustin, the 22-year-old standout in the modified division, earned $2,000 in the season opener on the Precise Racing Products-sponsored tour.
Corey Zeitner of Bellevue, Neb., finished second with sixth-starting Chase Junghans of Manhattan, Kan., third. Garrett Alberson of Las Cruces, N.M., and Scott Lewis of Henderson, Colo., rounded out the top five.
Zeitner started on the pole, but Gustin got the jump at the green flag. Two cautions for spins on laps three and nine slowed the pace, but the race went non-stop the rest of the way.
Zeitner’s best chance came on lap 26 when Gustin was about to lap Jonathan Lindberg, who executed a 360-degree spin right in front of the leader. Gustin narrowly avoided contact and held on for his second victory of the season at 81. He notched a $5,000 NCRA modified at the Wichita-area track in April.
Notes: Gustin’s Ed and Cinde Gressel-owned Victory Circle Chassis has a Mullins Racing Engine and sponsorship from McCarthney Welding, Integra Racing Shocks, Eibach Springs, VP Race Fuels, Midwest Hearing Aids, Sybesma Graphics, FastShafts by AxleExchange, Hinchman Racewear and R2C Performance Products. ... Gustin notched his first Late Model victory May 11 at Springfield (Mo.) Raceway on the MARS DIRTcar Series. ... G&G Dozer of Caney, Kan., announced it will sponsor the NCRA Rookie of the Year honors, doubling the award to $1,000; rookies Jeremy Petty and Chance Bishop were 10th and 11th at 81 Speedway. ... Saturday’s scheduled NCRA opener at Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb., was rained out. ... Next up for NCRA competitors is a June 15 event at Salina (Okla.) Highbanks Speedway co-sanctioned by MARS.
NCRA @ 81: (1) Ryan Gustin, (2) Corey Zeitner, (3) Chase Junghans, (4) Garrett Alberson, (5) Scott Lewis, (6) Zac Simmons, (7) Matt Johnson, (8) Gary Gorby, (9) Jacob Magee, (10) Jeremy Petty, (11) Chance Bishop, (12) Dave Deetz, (13) Jimmy Segraves, (14) Eric Main, (15) Chris Kratzer, (16) Rick Leatherman, (17) Jonathan Lindberg, (18) Chris Belcher, (19) Steve Lewis, (20) Wylan Petrie. Heat race winners (among 20 cars): Gustin, Zeitner.
