(HOMESTEAD, FL) The third round of the ASRS Xfinity Series headed south to the Homestead-Miami Speedway, normally the home of the championship race, Homestead moved to the third race for 2017.
39 drivers were on hand to attempt to qualify for the 32 car starting field. Failing to qualify were Edward Bray, Michael Cunic, Austin Foutch, John Kennedy, Cody Leland, Matthew Mitchell, and Kris Titus.
Sam Maxwell turned the fastest qualifying lap and started on pole with Logan Runyon along on the front row. Maxwell would jump to the early lead in the #98 Ford, a position that he has grown familiar with in the early stages of this season’s races. The first caution slowed the field on the first lap as ASRS Officials realigned the field due to penalties from Phoenix last week.
On the restart, Maxwell once again jumped to the lead and the race went green for 16 laps before Danny Rodgers brought out the second caution on lap 20. A 30 lap run led to green flag pit stops and the third caution flew on lap 54 for Steve Buhala’s #43. The race took a turn at “yellow fever” as two more cautions flew within 14 laps before the race went green on lap 70.
Zac Bozanich took the lead from Sam Maxwell on lap 77, Maxwell took back the lead on lap 91 but was playing a fuel saving strategy that didn’t quite work out. Maxwell surrendered the lead on lap 96 to Ty Hester who led one lap before Robert Padavich took the lead.
Padavich took the victory followed by Hester in second, Bozanich third, Bradley cross fourth and Michael Atkins, Jr. fifth.
Sam Maxwell leads Jake Douglas buy one point in the Xfinity Series Championship, Ty Hester sits third three points behind Maxwell. Next week the Xfinity Series heads to Rockingham Speedway for the Rebel 110. It’s the fun of Rockingham with the drama of 10 extra laps!