KEVIN MCKINNEY TAKES FINAL IN TUSA MOD LITE WINTER NATIONALS AT EAST BAY

By Charlie Brown, 1.20.10 Tampa, FL – The 2010 TUSA Mod Lite Winter Nationals at the East Bay Raceway Park produced four nights of exciting competition. Fifty-four drivers from 13 different states and two Canadian providences took part in this year’s series. Taking the $1000 to win final on Saturday night was Kevin McKinney of Dover, Del. Brandon Sturgis of Seaford, Del. won the companion Junior Mod Lite Championship.

Landis Musser started on the pole by virtue of having the best point average from the previous two night but when the first lap was in the books it was second place starter, Tracy Fritter from Zanesville, Ohio taking the lead.

Fritter would stay on top for only one circuit as Kevin McKinney, who started in third moved on top for lap two. Fourteen year old Dylan Evans of Millsboro, Del. took the second spot from Fritter on lap three. The first caution was out on lap five when Tim Hinneger got around with some help.

McKinney pulled away from Evans on the restart and Musser worked back into third. The yellow was out again on lap seven when James Hill got around in turn one. Under the yellow former National Champion, Steve White pulled to the infield and out of the race while riding in the top ten.

Cautions on laps nine and 11 would keep the field tightly bunched. Friday night winner, Mikey Hay of Somerset, Pa. was on the move and at the halfway sign it was McKinney, Fritter, Hay, Musser and Salisbury, Md.’s Tim White.

The race would stay green the rest of the distance with Musser working back into second with ten to go. McKinney was comfortably out front with Hay moving back into second under Musser who was riding up against the wall with four laps to go. Fritter got back under Musser for third on lap 22 as Hay closed to the back bumper of McKinney coming to the white flag.

Going into the final turn, Hay tried to squeeze under McKinney as the pair came off turn four wheel to wheel. McKinney won the race back to the checkered by a hood to take the win. “I saw Mikey closing in with two to go and I knew that it was going to be tight,” said McKinney. “This is a brand new Pro car out for the first time this week.”

Hay closed out a solid week finishing in second with Fritter third. Tim White took the fourth spot on the final lap with Glendale, Arizona’s Bud Grossenbacher nipping Musser to round out the top five.

Brandon Stugis made it a three night sweep in the Junior Mod Lite Championship. Sturgis led all 12 laps but was chased by 10 year old Zac Weller the entire distance. Nick Nash finished a close third and Stacy Roberts rounded out the field.

RESULTS: (3 to transfer) Heat 1 – 1. Ryan Charland; 2. Paul McGinley; 3. Chris Jestice; 4. Lynn Knepper; 5. Mike Morrill; 6. Jason Musser; 7. James Parker; 8. Dallas Caldwell.

Heat 2 – 1. Landon Cling; 2. Shawn Sliter; 3. Alan Knepper; 4. Matt Glanden; 5. Shane Pfeuffer; 6. Josh Sliter; 7. Kirk Miles; 8. Kevin Nicolino.

Heat 3 – 1. Mark Marcucci; 2. Mikey Hay; 3. James Hill; 4. Tim Hinneger; 5. Dusty Masolini; 6. Phil Asseff; 7. Ricky Yelle, Jr.

Heat 4 – 1. Matt Hay; 2. George Eglert; 3. Rick Brubacher; 4. Johnny Mordock; 5. Scott Tessman; 6. Scott Stenzel; 7. Billy Thompson.

1st “B” Main (2 transfer) – 1. Tim Hinneger; 2. Mike Morrill; 3. Dusty Masolini; 4. Dallas Caldwell; 5. Johnny Mordock; 6. Matt Glanden; 7. Lynn Knepper; 8. Shane Pfeuffer; 9. Scott Stenzel; 10. Kirk Miles; 11. Jason Musser; 12. Phil Asseff; 13. Scott Tessman; 14. Josh Sliter; 15. Kevin Nicolino; DNS: James Parker; Billy Thompson; Ricky Yelle, Jr.

JUNIOR MOD LITE 12-LAP FEATURE: 1. Brandon Stugis; 2. Zac Weller; 3. Nick Nash; 4. Stacy Roberts.

25-Lap TUSA Mod Lite Championship: 1. KEVIN MCKINNEY; 2. Mikey Hay; 3. Tracy Fritter; 4. Tim White; 5. Bud Grossenbacher; 6. Landis Musser; 7. Erik McKinney; 8. Ryan Charland; 9. Mark Marcucci; 10. Dylan Evans; 11. George Englert; 12. Paul McGinley; 13. Rick Ament; 14. Tim Hennigar; 15. Shawn Sliter; 16. Matt Hay; 17. Jimmy Wills; 18. Alan Knepper; 19. Mike Morrill; 20. Ken Meadows; 21. Rick Brubacher; 22. Chris Jestice; 23. Curt Miles, Jr.; 24. Landon Cling; 25. James Hill; 26. Steve White.