Mike Boston collected his first career American Sprint Car Series feature win by emerging victorious in Friday night’s wild 25-lap ASCS Midwest Region feature at the Butler County Motorplex.
Boston battled past Chuck Swenson to become the race’s third different leader just past the midway point then held off Jake Peters much of the way to earn the victory aboard the Vision Sports No. 51 Maxim entry.
With Boston gridding the feature field outside the second row, it was 20-year-old Chad Humston and Brian Brown leading the way to the green flag. Humston beat Brown into the first pair of corners but the red flag flew a half lap later when Brown went for a wild ride in turn three, collecting, Don Droud, Jr., Kory Rawstern and Mark Schmidt in the process. There were no injuries, but all four drivers were done for the night.
Swenson moved to Humston’s outside shoulder on the restart and the pair battled back and forth on the opening round before Humston charged off turn tour to lead the opening circuit. Humston and Swenson continued to battle for the point until the red flag flew after three laps for Lee Grosz’ turn three tumble. Grosz was uninjured.
After Gregg Bakker’s flat tire brought out a caution two laps later, Swenson finally edged ahead of Humston to take command on the sixth lap, with Boston and Peters making their way past Humston as well in short order.
Boston soon went to work on Swenson for the lead, ultimately making what proved to be the race-winning move on the 12th lap. In a bid to recapture the lead, Swenson bicycled and then flipped in the third turn two laps later, collecting defending series champion Toby Chapman in the process. Swenson and Chapman, who had charged to fifth after starting 15th, were both done.
Back under way, Peters kept the pressure on Boston, making several challenges along the way. But Boston’s slim slim two car-length lead suddenly expanded when Peters’ powerplant expired on the 24th lap, forcing the Burch No. 1m machine to the infield.
Boston raced to the checkered flag with a ten car-length advantage over Dusty Zomer, who climbed from eighth to snare runner-up honors in Gary Swanson’s No. 24a. Humston settled for the show position, with Chad Meyer and Gene Ackland rounding out the top five.
Natalie Sather charged from 19th to finish sixth, with Ryan Anderson, Tige Jensen, 20th-starter Mark Pace and Seth Brahmer completing the top ten.
Boston, Humston and Ackland topped heat race action, with Grosz making a last-corner pass of Schmidt to win the “B” Main.
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