Zack Novak wins overtime shootout at Kentucky Speedway

For the third time in the 2019 eNASCAR Peak Antifreeze Season, Zack Novak found himself atop the peak of the series.

Coming out of the first overtime shootout in series history, Novak held off the field to score the victory at Kentucky Speedway.

“That one felt really, really sweet,” Novak said post race to RaceSpot TV. “The setup was on rails, all night. We struggled a little bit in the first run, but we got it fixed up after pit stops.”

The race went an extra lap past the distance after a restart incident on the second to last restart.

***

Bobby Zalenski started on the pole for the evening, and before the first caution, looked to be the car to beat.

When the first caution flag flew for contact between Logan Kress and Ashton Crowder, it was in the middle of green flag pit stops.

Zalenski was mired in the back-half of the top 10, and was never able to recover.

On the ensuing restart, the field was slightly jumbled, allowing Taylor Hurst, Jimmy Mullins, and Christian Challiner to take advantage.

The three drivers went three wide a lap after the restart, and Mullins triumphed to take the lead.

Around the middle of the run, Novak was able to creep back into the picture, stalking Mullins until the final round of pit stops.

Novak hit the pits first, forcing Mullins in the following lap. When it cycled around, Novak had the advantage.

Novak looked to have the race in hand, but a late race incident involving Chris Overland and Chris Shearburn brought the field together with under ten laps to go.

The leaders made their way to the pits, and Novak was able to maintain his lead over Challiner and Blake Reynolds.

Novak took the restart perfectly, and Reynolds moved up into second position, but a restart melee involving Ray Alfalla, Nicholas Shelton, and more setup the field for their first overtime finish.

The final restart was a lot cleaner, and Novak was able to hold off Mullins to take the victory in the Bluegrass State.

***

Leaving Kentucky, Keegan Leahy maintains the points lead by six points over Ryan Michael Luza.

Blake Reynolds, Garrett Lowe, Novak, Michael Conti, Zalenski, and Nick Ottinger currently reside within the Top 8.

Mullins closed the gap to eighth, now only six points outside of the playoffs with a handful of races remaining.

The series heads to Pocono Raceway in two weeks.

The first GWC in the eNASCAR PEAK Series! 👇🏻@znovak15 gets his 3rd win of the season for @roushfenway, taking the 🏁 at @KySpeedway! pic.twitter.com/ti75kmGZzP

— iRacing.com (@iRacing) July 10, 2019

 

RACE RESULTS:

1. 6 – Zack Novak – Roush Fenway Racing
2. 46 – Jimmy Mullis – Richmond Raceway eSports
3. 74 – Taylor Hurst – Independent
4. 37 – Christian Challiner – JTG Daugherty Racing
5. 30 – Blake Reynolds – Team Dillon eSports
6. 47 – Nick Ottinger – JTG Daugherty Racing
7. 18 – Bobby Zalenski – Joe Gibbs Racing
8. 33 – Benjamin W. Nelson – Team Dillon eSports
9. 27 – Corey Vincent – Renegades
10. 8 – Michael Conti – JR Motorsports
11. 99 – Logan Clampitt – Burton Kligerman eSports
12. 28 – Garrett Lowe – Renegades
13. 88 – Brad Davies – JR Motorsports
14. 17 – Michael Guest – Roush Fenway Racing
15. 2 – Caine Cook – Independent
16. 15 – Michael Guariglia – Jim Beaver eSports
17. 80 – Brandon Hayse Kettelle – Independent
18. 90 – Malik Ray – Richmond Raceway eSports
19. 14 – Casey Kirwan – Clint Bowyer Racing
20. 62 – Keegan Leahy – G2 eSports
21. 24 – Cody Byus – Mode Motorsports
22. 7 – Ryan Lowe – Independent
23. 66 – Jarl Teien – G2 eSports
24. 53 – Ryan Michael Luza – FlipSid3 Tactics
25. 75 – Philip Diaz – Mode Motorsports
26. 36 – Chris Shearburn – Letarte eSports
27. 42 – Dylan Duval – Independent
28. 51 – Eric J. Smith – Jim Beaver eSports
29. 77 – Ashton Crowder – Burton Kligerman eSports
30. 19 – Casey Tucker – Independent
31. 55 – Brian Schoenburg – Williams eSports
32. 16 – Chris Overland – Wood Brothers Racing
33. 31 – Logan Kress – Independent
34. 83 – Adam Benefiel – Independent
35. 20 – Jake Nichols – Joe Gibbs Racing
36. 4 – Nathan Lyon – Letarte eSports
37. 79 – Nickolas Shelton – Clint Bowyer Racing
38. 21 – Ray Alfalla – Wood Brothers Racing
39. 63 – Timmy Hill – FlipSid3 Tactics

Did Not Race: 5 – Matt Bussa – Williams eSports

SOURCES
RaceSpot TV
iRacing.com
Twitter