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MPL Motorsports Captures Spencer RoC
Win In Commanding Fashion The nights racing action began with four ten lap qualifying heats, with the top three finishers in each heat redrawing for the top twelve starting positions in the feature event. Leaty was slotted into the second heat and started from the outside pole. Leaty battled the leader for seven laps, looking for any way around the racecar leading the field. On lap eight, Leaty powered around the leader on the outside and took the lead for the final two laps of the heat, taking the win. After all of the Modified heats were in the books, Leaty redrew the tenth starting position in the feature, which slotted him into the outside of the fifth row on the starting grid. With the drop of the green flag for the 75 lap feature, Leaty positioned himself in the tenth spot, running single file with the rest of the field. As with any long distance race, strategy is often times the most important factor of the race. Leaty conserved tires and stayed out of trouble for the first 35 laps of the race. A yellow flag on lap 35 brought a majority of the racecars down pit road for a pit stop. The #25 US Army/ Rochester Steel Treating team was ready, changing a right rear tire and getting Leaty out ahead of all the other cars that chose to pit. On the ensuing restart, Leaty starting making his move towards the front of the field from his seventh restart position. Using the difficult outside groove, Leaty passed three cars to claim the fourth position by lap 39. Next up was Leaty’s father Jan. A number of yellow flags delayed the inevitable as Leaty passed his father on lap 43 for third and went on to pass another competitor for second in the same lap. After an extended red flag, and refueling of the Modifieds on pit road, the race was ready to resume. Immediately at the drop of the green on the restart Leaty began applying heavy pressure to the leader, who had not pitted for tires. However, as Leaty vied for the lead, the third place competitor began pressuring and racing Leaty for the second spot. Not only did Leaty have to concentrate on the leader ahead of him but also the competition behind him. The third place competitor briefly took possession of the second spot from Leaty, but Leaty powered back around him and again set his sights on the leader. On lap 57, Leaty took advantage of the leader washing up a bit coming out of turn four and took possession of the lead. Leaty now held the top spot but was under intense pressure from the second place competitor. A late race restart pitted the cars nose to tail, but Leaty got a great start and collected a bit of breathing room. Leaty held onto the lead for the remainder of the laps and captured the first win of the season for the #25 US Army/Rochester Steel Treating Works team. It was Mike’s 13th career win at Spencer Speedway and he is now tied for the 2009 Race of Champions Tour point lead going into the next event. "It was a great night" said Mike Leaty. "It is always great to return home to Spencer Speedway and race in front of the hometown fans and sponsors. In the past we have always been fast in these RoC races here at Spencer but we were never able to put a complete effort together to win one. Tonight we did everything perfectly as a team and it showed up on the racetrack. The car performed flawlessly and the pit crew had a fantastic pit stop to get me out first. We had a lot of family and friends in the grandstand and I am glad we were able to put on a good show for them". Originally on the team’s schedule was the Race of Champions Tour at Dunn Tire Raceway Park on Saturday, June 20th. However due to rainy weather the event was postponed until July 18th. Up next on the MPL Motorsports schedule is Wyoming County International Speedway on July 10th. Keep up to date with the entire #25 US Army/Rochester Steel Treating Works Modified by visiting www.mikeleaty.com. |
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