Cummins Wins Incredible USAC Sprint Main at Action Track USA
Gunnar Pio Is First Time 600 Sprint Victor
Kutztown, PA (June 18)— Any dads who missed Sunday’s Father’s Day spectacular USAC AMSOil National Sprint Car event at Championship Energy Action Track USA missed out on a perfect, heart-pounding nightcap to their special day.
Princeton, Indiana’s Kyle Cummins captured an incredible non-stop, 40 lap A-main as the USAC National Sprint Car series made its debut at the Berks County oval. For the full recap of an insanely entertaining event, click on the link to read USAC P.R. Guru Richie Murray’s press release: https://usacracing.com/component/k2/item/12199-rock-steady-cummins-closes-usac-eastern-storm-tab-with-a-victory-at-action-track-usa?fbclid=IwAR17c_YtSJuzIt18usK3–nwCGifH6fyY9mKuQ1nUP4Wsi70wi5_tQ3CU7o_aem_th_ARVi7COD1UXnf4OvN0YBspovGWLB4GCk_Qd8Tq63Sx9x71dDqiL6IthP31UJZfc5IqM .
The Hyper Racing/ EVO Injection 600 Sprints served as the companions to USAC’s Thunder n’ Lightning division on Sunday, and the small but mighty ground-pounders put on quite a show of their own in a very competitive 30 lap feature.
Kunkletown, PA throttle-masher Gunnar Pio recorded his first Action Track USA victory in impressive fashion, as the 13 year-old gasser rumbled from 13th starting position to grab the top spot from Christian Bruno with only four circuits remaining. His pass of Bruno nearly resulted in chaos, however.
With Bruno hugging the bottom and Damon Paul ripping the lip up high, Pio gunned his mount off the low side of turn four as Bruno drifted up to take away Paul’s line. Just as Pio drew even with Bruno, though, a slower car in front of them got sideways—directly in front of Pio’s No. 64. Pio calmly steered just a bit to the right as the out of shape competitor shot to the infield. Pio never lifted and managed to snare the lead in spite of the close call.
The 30 lapper was chock full of slide jobs and two, three, and even four-wide competition. Alex Ruppert and Connor Mirabelli diced for the lead during the early laps while Tim Buckwalter and Bruno sliced their way toward the front of the pack. Bruno’s car was working so well in the low groove, and he used that line to wrestle the top spot from Ruppert before the first caution period with 11 tours in the books.
Point leader and two-time winner Connor Gross was on the move as he and Buckwalter scuffled with one another and closed on Bruno and Ruppert at the same time. An incident with 14 revolutions complete changed the complexion of the race because Gross and Buckwalter were involved (Gross’s No. 14c went spinning like a top, in mid-air, from the end of the backstretch into turn three). Buckwalter was knocked out of the race but Gross was able to continue.
Damon Paul, making his first start of the season at the oval situated on the Kutztown Fairgrounds, was now third and quickly dispensed of Ruppert to claim runner-up status. He and Bruno waged war for the lead in a struggle that soon became a three-way fight for the lead as Pio joined the party. The trio swapped the top three positions well into the second half of the race before Pio made his race winning move off turn four on the 26th trip around the clay.
Pio opened a slight lead over the final circuits, leaving Bruno to battle Paul for second place. At the finish it was Pio registering a popular triumph over Bruno, Paul, Pat Bealer, and Pullman, AL hot shoe Kevin Thomas Jr.
Championship Energy Action Track USA swings right back this Wednesday, June 21, with its four weekly classes doing battle. Qualifying heats, B-Mains, and features are scheduled for the Speedway Entertainment All Pro SpeedSTRs, the Hyper Racing 600 Sprints, along with the All Star and Junior Slingshots.
Pit gates open at 4 p.m. with grandstand gates swinging open at 5:00. Warm-ups begin at 6:15 with opening ceremonies and heat races immediately following the hot lap sessions.
This will be the final event before the annual “summer break” at the Berks County race place. There will not be any racing on June 28 or July 5. The track begins its second half of the 2023 campaign on Wednesday, July 12, when the USAC East Coast Sprint Cars make the first of two appearances at Action Track USA. The 600’s and both Slingshot classes will join the non-wing 360 USAC East Coast Sprints on the 12th of July.
Photo credits: 1) Bob Armbruster’s shot of Gunnar Pio and Ms. Racing Xtravaganza Maddie Dissinger after Pio’s first career Action Track USA victory. 2) Ty’s Racing Photos captured this image of Gunnar Pio (No. 64) holding a slim lead over Christian Bruno (No. 5) and Damon Paul (No. 144).
RESULTS:
Sunday, June 18, 2023 Race Results:
USAC AMSOil National Sprint Car Series, 40 laps: 1.Kyle Cummins, 2.CJ Leary, 3.Emerson Axsom, 4.Robert Ballou, 5.Justin Grant, 6.Alex Bright, 7.Logan Seavey, 8.Chase Stockon, 9.Brady Bacon, 10.Jake Swanson, 11.Daison Pursley, 12.Mitchel Moles, 13.Joey Amantea, 14.Charles Davis Jr., 15.Carmen Perigo, 16.Billy Pauch Jr., 17.Briggs Danner, 18.Tom Harris, 19.Matt Westfall, 20.Preston Lattomus, 21.Tim Buckwalter.Hyper Racing 600 Sprints, 30 laps: 1.Gunnar Pio, 2.Christian Bruno, 3.Damon Paul, 4.Pat Bealer, 5.Kevin Thomas Jr., 6.Billy Koch, 7.Alex Ruppert, 8.James Roselli, 9.Aidan Donaldson, 10.Tyler Lindsay, 11.Michael Nolf, 12.Connor Gross, 13.Zack Bealer, 14.Jacob Severn, 15.Zack Weisenfluh, 16.Nate Freed, 17.Connor Mirabelli, 18.Teddy Reed, 19.Shelby McLaughlin, 20.Evan Nolf, 21.Kyle Herve, 22.Maddie Boyd, 23.Tim Buckwalter, 24.Brian Carber, 25.Danny Buccafusca, 26.Hayden Wise, 27.Jasper Zigafuse, 28.Zach Curtis.DNQ: Geoff Federspiel, Marty Brian, Angelo Kourapis, Corey Colaluce, Georgian Marrero, Beckham Malone, Brett Conklin, Anthony Tramontana, Dylan Kontra, Zach Jurcik, Billy Calvert, Jacob Homnick, Gabe Gerber, Kaitlyn Swist, Sonny Tete, Kevin Nolf, Weston Doklan, Morgan Bealer, Joe Nemeth, Fred Heinly, Dan Leaper, Amanda Onimus, Colin White, Ryan Boyd, Briggs Danner.
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