Dillon Motor Speedway has not been to kind to Kodie Conner, but after two motor issues Conner used his experience to come home with the season opening victory.
The race weekend began this year for Conner much in the same way as 2014. Heading into the Pro All Stars Series South season opener for the Pro Late Model class, Conner was the favorite to take the win as he won a series high 5 races last year, and the last two to end the 2014 season.
In practice last season the #45 Camry lost an engine on race day and the team was loaded up and back at the Mooresville, NC shop before the race even began. This year the open Friday practice session produced the same result. After just a few practice laps the engine let go in the car, and the team packed up and headed back to the shop to change out engines for race day. Upon returning to the track on Saturday morning, the oil pump went bad in the spare engine forcing the Tiger crew to fix the issue at the track which resulted in zero practice laps.
Following issues in qualifying after that being the first laps all day for Conner, the car lined up sixth to start the 50 lap race.
The race went green and Conner settled into a pace to feel out the car and see what kind of race car he had for the event. Lap 10 and he began to move his way toward the front by passing Ryan Krachun for fifth as the field settled into a long green run.
By halfway, the fourth place car suddenly slowed and this propelled Conner into a three car battle for the second spot several seconds behind the leader Chandler Smith.
Lap 30 and Conner moved his way around Austin Thompson for third, and quickly went to work on Zachary Dabbs for second.
With just 15 laps to go Conner was up to second and just over two seconds behind leader Smith, but was closing every lap.
Just five laps later and Conner caught leader Smith and was looking for a way around when the first and only caution flag of the race came out just 9 laps from the end.
On the restart Conner got a much better jump than Smith, but was forced to give the lead back up to avoid a penalty. This was only temporary as with 5 laps to go, Conner made the move under Smith in turn 3 and took the lead away.
Kodie Conner would set sail and cruise home to his first win of 2015 after a rough start to the weekend. This is the sixth career PASS Pro Late Model win for Conner, and third straight dating back to last year.
