With
a record field of 81 entries filling the pit area, Rilat gridded the
feature field outside the front row. But it was polesitter Terry
McCarl, who accumulated the most points through heat and qualifying
race action, gunning into the lead at the drop of the green flag.
As
McCarl set the early pace, third-starter Josh Higday charged past
Rilat for second on the opening round, only to have Rilat return the
favor the next time around. Rilat quickly reeled McCarl in and began
pressuring him for the point.
Rilat
looked both high and low before making a move to the low side stick as
the 2003 ASCS National champion raced into the lead exiting turn four
upon the completion of the fifth round. Rilat wasted little time
establishing a healthy straightaway advantage over McCarl by the time
the race’s first caution flew at the midway point for Higday, who
surrendered fifth position when he coasted to a stop in turn one.
With
four lapped cars separating himself from McCarl on the ensuing
restart, Rilat once again left the pack in his wake, leaving McCarl to
fend off Tim Montgomery and 13th-starter Jason Sides for
the runner-up position.
After
Zach Chappell’s turn three contact with the wall after 17 laps, McCarl
had one more shot at Rilat following the race’s third and final
caution after 21 rounds when Mike Brecht stopped in turn two.
There
was no match for Rilat on this night however, as he stretched out a
ten car-length advantage over the final four lap dash to the checkered
flag to score his 19th career O’Reilly ASCS National Tour
victory aboard the Motor Mike-powered F&J Construction/Haulmark
Trailers No. 29 Maxim.
Presents
