Chris Johnson was the winner this weekend in the IMCA Modified Series at Dominion Raceway. After a slow start to the season mired down by a blistered tire on opening night. Johnson has since nipped away at the hot wheel of Chris Humblet who has two series wins and is the current points leader.
The other winner in the series is Allen Marshall who comes in third in the points and shown to be worthy of winning more. But on this night, Chris Johnson was the man and possessing the hot wheel at Dominion Raceway, here is how it all began.
Series qualifying took place with Chris Johnson nabbing up the pole position on the grid. His lap of 15.736 sec or 91.510 mph around Dominion Raceway was better by 0.186 thousandths over Allen Marshall’s fast lap but worthy in sharing the front row. Michael Johnson, Chris Humblet and though he did not practice earlier in the afternoon, Andrew Fortin rounded out qualifying’s five best.
Prior to the race, pill draw determined the invert selected by none other then the races pole sitter Chris Johnson who drew a three pill. That gave P3 qualifier Michael Johnson the point to begin the evenings feature. Green flag would wave as thirteen IMCA style Modified’s set sail into turn one with Michael Johnson securing the lead out of turn two.
But by lap three, Chris Johnson from the three spot on the grid was the man on the move and the man to take the lead. On back, Michael Johnson could do nothing but watch the leader get away as several laps into the green flag run saw Johnsons lead amount to at least fourteen lengths. The races first caution period was over the track for the spinning ride of Robbie Babb and soon we were back to the green.
Chris Johnson nailed the start and easily established himself as the race leader. This time, Chris Humblet got a great start as well and poised to go after the leader before the second caution waved for the expired motor of Andrew Fortin. After quick clean up of the track. Lap fourteen ensued and once again Chris Johnson is better at the start but Michael Johnson this time would mount a charge at the leader.
But for Michael Johnson and one corner later, Chris Johnson took off and left the field. On back the best racing on the track was in the form of Michael Johnson, Chris Humblet and Robbie Babb who was able to recover from an earlier spin. But while the three through five spots were being contested, Chris Johnson was left uncontested as he would cruise to the Checkered Flag for his first win at Dominion Raceway. Michael Johnson finished second, Robbie Babb was third, Bubba Johnston fourth and Allen Marshall was fifth. Modified race action resumes at Dominion Raceway on July 16th for another thirty five lap race feature and possibly a new series points leader.
Race Results:
1 #36 Chris Johnson
2 #38 Michael Johnson
3 #44 Robbie Babb
4 #51 Bubba Johnston
5 #20 Chris Humblet
6 #17 Allen Marshall
7 #5 Tony Fowler
8 #66 Tanner Aman
9 #37 Wayne Hartley
10 #11 Jimmy Humblet
11 #43 Warren Lipford
12 #73 Paul Lipford
13 #15 Andrew Fortin