Local driver Leary wins inaugural Stoops sprint car invitational
Submitted by IMS
Chase McDermand picked the most famous racetrack in the world to earn his first USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship feature victory Thursday night.
McDermand, from Springfield, Illinois, led the last 16 laps of the 30-lap preliminary feature for the Driven2SaveLives BC39 presented by Avanti Windows & Doors at The Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
“This one has been a long time coming,” McDermand said. “You can never take a win for granted because you just never know when the next one is coming, and it took us a long time. To do it here, to do it at the BC39 – granted, it’s just a prelim night, but still we beat the best of the best here tonight. I’m super happy for my team and all of our partners.”
Cannon McIntosh finished second, with series points leader Daison Pursley third.
Pole sitter Thomas Meseraull and Zach Daum swapped the lead on Lap 2 of the feature before Meseraull returned to the front on Lap 3 in the No. 7x machine.
On Lap 14, McDermand drove his No. 40 family-owned car past Meseraull by taking the high line between Turns 3 and 4 on the quarter-mile dirt oval. He never trailed thereafter, but two cautions kept him on top of his steering wheel for restarts.
“The line he (Meseraull) was kind of running kept me from getting all of my momentum down the straightaway,” McDermand said. “So, once I was able to finally clear him and I feel like I could set my own pace and dictate the corner entry, I feel like I was better. The car was super good tonight.”
McDermand held off Meseraull on one restart with 14 laps to go and started to pull away on cruise control for victory. But a three-car tangle between Glenn Styres, Joel Myers Jr. and Luke Hall with two laps to go triggered the final caution period of the race.
Once again, McDermand powered away at the green flag with two laps to go, this time pulling away from Daum’s No. 16 machine. Daum was shuffled back to sixth over the last two laps, with McIntosh charging forward to finish second.
Local hero C.J. Leary made history by winning the inaugural Stoops Sprint Car Invitational, the first time USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Cars have raced at IMS.
2019 USAC National Sprint Car champion Leary, from Greenfield, Indiana, passed pole sitter Pursley for the lead with eight laps remaining in the 20-lap feature and led the rest of the way in the 10-car exhibition race. Pursley held on to finish second, with Mitchel Moles third.
While this was a non-points race, it was Leary’s first victory in a USAC Sprint Car since winning a series race Feb. 16 at Ocala Speedway in Ocala, Florida.
“Pretty special,” Leary said. “I didn’t know if we knew how to win anymore. It’s been a long time. Really good race car. This thing was dialed in.
“Last time this car ran was at Kokomo during (Indiana) Sprint Week, and it did pretty poorly, and I didn’t like it that much. I think my opinion has changed a little bit.”
Pursley stuck to the high line to hold off second-place Moles in the first half of the race. But then Leary, who started seventh, entered the picture at the halfway point while running the low line. He pulled even with Pursley as they exited Turn 4 with eight laps to go and eased ahead at the flag stand, never trailing thereafter.
“I came here and tested two years ago, and I feel like that gave me a little bit of an edge,” Leary said. “We knew what kind of gear to run and just a little bit about what to think. It’s just super cool to be down here in Victory Lane. I’ve run here since the start of the BC39 and I’ve never really done very good, so it feels good to win something.”
Action resumes at 6:30 p.m. ET Friday night at The Dirt Track. The second half of the 59-car field will compete in heat races, qualifying races and a semi-feature, concluding with another 30-lap feature paying $5,000 to win.
On Saturday night, multiple C-Mains, semi-features and a Last Chance Race will precede the 39-lap BC39 feature for USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship competitors.
Public gates open at 4 p.m. ET Friday. Visit IMS.com to buy tickets and pit passes or for more information.
The Driven2SaveLives BC39 presented by Avanti Windows & Doors continues to honor late USAC champion and three-time Indianapolis 500 starter Bryan Clauson. In addition, it increases awareness of the Indiana Donor Network and its Driven2SaveLives campaign, sponsors of the event since its inception.