REEDY RACE: Motter came from behind to win Open 2WD, McBride dominated Open 4WD

While the Invitational class is certainly the main event of the Reedy Race of Champions, the undercard isn’t bad, either - the Open 2WD and 4WD classes feature the fastest up-and-coming racers in the world as well as those factory drivers who haven’t yet earned their invitation to the big show. This year, the 2WD Open class came down to the final lap, while an international superstar punched his ticket to next year’s Invitational with a resounding victory.

 

 

TQ Kevin Motter took the holeshot in A1, while Nolan Anderson moved into second on the right side of the track by passing Kyle McBride. At the :45 mark, Anderson crashed over the step downs and dropped back, putting McBride to second and Frank Root to third. At 1:15, Root crashed before the triple and Cody Hollis moved to third. At 3:15, Hollis crashed before the straightaway and Anderson moved back into the top three. Just before the halfway point, Motter came up short on the triple and McBride took the lead, while Alex Kosciuszek passed Anderson for third. With two minutes to go, Kosciuszek and Anderson got together at the end of the straight and Anderson took the position. 

 

 

 

Motter and McBride broke away at the start of A2, but McBride came up short on the triple at 1:40 and dropped to fourth behind Anderson and Hollis. At 3:10, McBride and Anderson crashed on the left double. At 3:25, Motter crashed on the triple and Hollis took the lead. At 4:00, McBride got to the inside of Motter in the second corner, and then Hollis crashed on the right side, moving McBride to the lead and Motter to second. Anderson dove to the inside of Motter at 4:30 in the PL point. At 5:40, McBride crashed on the first double on the left side and Anderson took the lead, but then crashed on the right side on the next lap and McBride and Motter got by - only for McBride to crash in the center of the track and Motter retook the lead with Anderson in second. At 7:25 McBride crashed on the triple and Chris Jarosz moved up to third. At 8:30, Motter crashed on the left double and Anderson took the lead, but on the last lap Motter passed Anderson on the inside through the center of the track and held on to win the championship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top Qualifier Kyle McBride got away cleanly to start A1, but it got ugly behind him - and Rob Gillespie and Kevin Motter moved up to second and third after lap one. At 1:20, Gillespie rolled over heading into the infield sweeper and Motter took second. At 3:00, Motter crashed on the triple and Gillespie regained the position. At 4:00, Motter crashed on the right side of the track and Jake Thayer moved up to third, but at 8:25 Thayer crashed in the second corner and Motter passed him back. With one minute to go, Thayer crashed at the end of the straightaway and Hollis got by for third.

 

 

 

McBride and Rico took off cleanly in A2 with Gillespie third. At 2:00, Rico crashed on the left side doubles and Gillespie got to second - and that’s how the race finished up. McBride clinched the title with both wins going away.