Spike Kohlbecker notched his first Continental Tire Pole Award of the season on Sunday morning with a time of 2:28.696. Kohlbecker led the field to green alongside Jaxon Bell with Westin Workman and Devin Anderson in the row behind them. As the field made their way around the 3.426-mile course on the opening lap, Kohlbecker and Bell were side by side before Bell was able to take advantage of the preferred line coming around the tower and gain control of the lead.
The top-3 of Bell, Kohlbecker, and Workman continued to race nose-to-tail as Jade Avedisian and Devin Anderson battled for the fourth position. Just behind them, Lucas Weisenberg found himself in a three-way chase for the sixth spot with Steven Clemons and Braydon Arthur.
The first full-course yellow came out with 15 minutes remaining in the race for the No. 47 of Ayden Kirk whose car came to a halt on the exit of Turn 11. The safety car pulled down pit road as the field went back to green with just 11 minutes of racing action left. Before they could get around the 20-turn circuit, the safety car was deployed once again for the remainder of the race after an incident involving the No. 51 of Adam Brickley and No. 14 of Alex Garcia.
Jaxon Bell took the checkered flag under caution, picking up his first career GR Cup Series victory, while Kohlbecker, Workman, Avedisian, and Gresham Wagner rounded out the top-five finishers.
Podium
Bell secured his first career win and fourth consecutive podium finish, dating back to Sebring International Raceway in early May. Kohlbecker’s runner-up finish marked his ninth trip to the podium in the GR Cup Series while Workman earned his seventh career podium finish, and sixth consecutive.
Race Awards
Along with the win, Bell put down the fastest lap of the race with a time of 2:28.589. For the second consecutive race, Avedisian earned the Endava Highest Finishing Female Award with her fourth-place finish while Henry Drury gained nine spots throughout the race to take home the Hard Charger Award.
What’s next?
The GR Cup Series will have two months before returning to action at VIRginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia on July 19-21.
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