By: Tom Giannini

(CLERMONT, IN) When we last took a look at the ASRS Short Track Pro-Series, Jared Mogard just finished the second of two wins in a row. The win at Rockingham was the third of the short season for Mogard. With only 6 races completed so far, Mogard had accounted for an astounding 50% winning percentage. We have not seen a driver so dominant in a single series since Justin Blackdeer dominated the Super Late Model Series earlier in the year.

Although Mogard has won half of the races, the season has really belonged to Jason Stewart with his masterful consistency shown so far. Stewart leads the series by 4 points over Jared Mogard. Ty Hester (-8), Dominic Lee (-28) and Scott Smith (-28) round out the top 5, respectively. The race on tap for this Wednesday was at Lucas Oil Raceway, a track the drivers tackled just the night before in the Sam Maxwell Customs Truck Series. There were fireworks in that race as their Chase for the Cup was well under way but here were certainly fireworks flying again in this race.

The night started out with Ty Hester laying down a blistering lap. Hester’s lap beat second place Jared Mogard by over a full tenth of a second. Tim Knott, Tom Giannini and Evan Osbourne rounded out the top 5. The fastest two drivers on the night would be the #36 of Hester and the #01 of Mogard.

Both drivers were greased lightning and gapped the field by almost 4 seconds on the first green flag run which consisted of less than 30 laps. Tom Giannini showed his willingness to be on a separate pit strategy early when he was the only driver not to pit under the first caution. He would soon get overtaken by Hester and would settle into 6th place. Giannini would then pit under the next yellow flag whilst everyone else stayed out.

The driver of the #33 climbed back into the 4th position but would remain there until a caution flew with less than 20 laps to go. He would stay out and regain the lead. He would not look back when 2 more cautions slowed the pace of the race at the very end. One of those yellows was for the #36 and the #01 when they made contact exiting turn 2 on the ensuing restart. That wreck would have major points implications. Jason Stewart, who was involved in a different wreck, would salvage a 4th place, yet another impressive run for the driver of the #1. The top 5 would extend his points lead late into the short season.

The drivers of the ASRS Short Track Pro-Series will roll into Texas next week for a big race at a big track. Make sure to tune into ASRS.com to see how that turns out!