Hessert Grabs First ARCA Win at Talladega

 

Photo - Sunoco Racing Twitter Account.

Photo – Sunoco Racing Twitter Account.

Tom Hessert got a push from his teammate to propel him to the lead with three laps to go to score his first victory at Talladega.

Early in the going, it looked like Grant Enfinger picked up where he left off last week from Salem. The No. 90 car led the first 35 laps after starting from the pole.

On the first round of green-flag pit stops, there were at least 16 cars caught speeding entering or leaving pit road, including Enfinger.

Mason Mitchell found himself out in front on lap 42, but after Justin Boston in the No. 25 got around him, he shuffled behind the leaders.

Venturini cars would then take control the next 30 laps, until John Wes Townley took over the lead at lap 54. Townley is no stranger to ARCA restrictor-plate racing, after picking up the win at Daytona in 2013.

In the closing laps, Hessert’s teammate, Austin Wayne Self, gave him a push and the two sailed by Townley.

From there on out, it was Cunningham Motorsports running one and two, until Townley got a push from Mitchell to grab the runner-up spot.

Self finished third in his Superspeedway début, with Mitchell and Spencer Gallagher rounding out the top-five.

The win was Hessert’s fourth career ARCA win.  There was only one caution on the day for eight laps.

International Motorsports Hall of Fame 200 Top Ten

                #77 Tom Hessert

                #15 John Wes Townley

                #22 Austin Wayne Self

                #98 Mason Mitchell

                #23 Spencer Gallagher

                #56 Derrick Lancaster (best career finish)

                #5 Bobby Gerhart

                #44 Frank Kimmel

             #90 Grant Enfinger

                #99 Buster Graham