ELAMA, Wash. -- Another amazing USRA Modified feature took place at Grays Harbor Raceway on Saturday, Sept. 29. Lawrence O’Conner of Port Hardy, B.C., Canada, earned his third win of 2012 which ties him for most wins throughout the campaign.

The feature was a caution-filled affair but found the top position hotly contested. As the main event rolled into action Shelton’s Scott Miller led the early goings, taking advantage of his inside pole starting position. The Blue Bear Park/Barbie’s Restaurant #26 DirtWorks entry lost lead to O’Conner on lap 4.

O’Conner managed to get some momentum in his favor running the high line to track down Miller and overtake him at the line on the fourth circuit but secured the lead when he exited of the second turn on lap 5. Miller at that point was not going to let O’Conner drift away and sticking to his guns down low on the track and renewed the battle for the lead. The struggle between the two competitors allowed the DNC Competition Engines/Highway Specialties #14 DirtWorks of Craig Moore from Seabeck into the mix to bid for the lead.

A caution occurred on lap 7 and bunched up the field to produce an exciting restart. Moore moved to the high line and railed both Miller and O’Conner to earn the lead by the time the field crossed the start-finish line on lap 8. Miller and O’Conner attempted to regain lost positions before a yellow came out once more.

A few more stoppages occurred within the next few laps with O’Conner regaining the lead on a restart on lap 10 when Moore attempted to block Miller’s charge on the inside, leaving the high side completely open for the taking. A caution came out just after O’Conner took the lead and in the following restart the Shelton’s #50K machine of Kris Asche found himself bidding for the lead until Miller intervened to move Asche back to third.

Asche made his presence known to O’Conner on a restart that occurred shortly after battling with Miller. As Asche was making a legitimate bid for the lead, the seventh and final caution took place, producing another wild restart. Miller restarted low and got a necessary run to challenge O’Conner for the lead.

In fact, Miller briefly recaptured the lead on lap 20 only to be passed shortly afterwards by O’Conner. For the rest of the race it was nonstop and O’Conner transitioned to primarily running the bottom of the race track on the 3/8-mile oval. The move allowed both Kris Asche and Craig Moore to have one last opportunity to surge forward. The two drivers worked the high line while Miller and O’Conner still continued to run low.

Asche ran third for the most of the closing laps until a slight bobble occurred out of turn 4 on lap 27, giving Moore the position. From there, Moore closed the gap and passed Miller for second on the white flag lap and utilizing the high side ran down O’Conner but was unable to make the pass out of turn 4.

For O’Conner it was the second consecutive visit to victory lane for the QID Limited/QNPC Limited #27EH! Harris entry. O’Conner joins Miller and defending champion Joe German of Wishkah as all have managed to earn three triumphs at GHR in USRA Modified action throughout the 2012 campaign.

Moore finishd a respectable second place followed by Miller in third. The balance of the top 5 finishers consisted of Asche in fourth and Cosmopolis chauffer Tom Sweatman in fifth in his Sweatman Trucking/D&D Dyno #11 Rayburn.

The fastest of 19 qualifiers in time trials was Moore at 16.139 seconds. Victors in heat race action were Moore, Miller and O’Conner. The classification will be in action for the final time this Saturday, Oct. 6, for Championship Night.

For more information log on to www.graysharborraceway.com.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series
Grays Harbor Raceway, Elma, Wash.
Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012

USRA MODIFIEDS

Fast Time: Craig Moore, 16.139 seconds.

Heat Race winners: Craig Moore (1), Scott Miller (2), Lawrence O’Conner (3).

Feature: 1. Lawrence O’Conner, 2. Craig Moore, 3. Scott Miller, 4. Kris Asche, 5. Tom Sweatman, 6. Joe German, 7. Kyler Moore, 8. Steve Signal, 9. James Wolford, 10. David Burns, 11. Zack Simpson, 12. Scott Westley, 13. Carl Larson, 14. Del Schnitzer, 15. Alan Munchoew, 16. Will Taylor, 17. Greg Dineen, DNS - Randy Ward, Paul Liner.