Ashton Tucker Becomes The First Four-Time Yard Gear 250 Champion
On Monday afternoon at Speedway 660, Ashton Tucker (#2) claimed his fourth Yard Gear 250 presented by Valvoline Motor Oil, making history and leaving some of his competitor’s heartbroken in a spectacular fashion.
Tucker took the lead in the race thrice, covering fifty-eight laps, but it was when he overtook Austin MacDonald (#13) with only ten laps left that he secured his final lead. He didn’t look back after that and went on to achieve a historic win, earning more than $19,000.
MacDonald, who won the Summer Clash 250 at Scotia Speedworld three weeks ago, was relegated to second place. Meanwhile, Greg Fahey (#20) fell just short of his sought-after 250 victory, finishing in third place. This followed a race where the lead changed hands several times in a hard-fought battle to the finish.
The 24th Yard Gear 250 race, which was delayed until Monday afternoon due to weather conditions, saw 23 drivers take to the grid. Ryan Messer (#1) led the start, flanked by Hudson Weston (#43). Both Messer and Weston, along with Dustin Tucker (#52), had won Summit Dodge heat races earlier in the day. Messer continued his success, maintaining a substantial lead and earning the majority of the $50 lap leader bonuses. Whilst Messer dominated the race, the remaining drivers battled for position behind him.
The race began with a significant green flag run, as the competitors completed 98 laps under green conditions, led by Messer. The race was abruptly interrupted by a shocking collision involving Joe Hoyt (#14), who was participating in the Yard Gear 250 for the first time. Hoyt’s car flipped onto the pit entrance ramp after ramping over the backstretch embankment. Luckily, Hoyt was unharmed and was able to walk away from the incident.
Ashton Tucker ascended to second place during the initial green flag run, and subsequently overtook Messer to secure the lead on the restart. The second caution occurred on lap 116 due to a multiple car collision in turn three, with Devin Snell (#10) suffering the most damage after hitting the fence. The restart that followed was quickly interrupted by another caution as Cory Hall’s (#83) engine failed, spilling oil across the track and causing several competitors to spin, with Nicholas Naugle (#08) being most affected. Dave O’Blenis (#48) narrowly overtook Tucker in the subsequent restart. The Modern Electric Halfway Bonus for leading at halfway was imminent, and O’Blenis was declared the leader when the fourth caution was signaled due to Curtis Collins (#27) spinning out.
On the restart, Tucker managed to reclaim the lead, securing the $1000 Halfway Bonus. He continued to maintain his lead as multiple competitors headed to the pits to change tires. A green flag run of twenty-five laps until lap 147 gave those who had pitted the opportunity to start moving to the front. However, a caution for Ian Rasmussen (#81) slowed the field down, providing Tucker with the opportunity to head to the pits.
On the ensuing restart, Lonnie Sommerville (#23) took the lead and remained in front for several laps before NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Ben Rhodes (#99) overtook him. However, Rhodes’s stint at the lead was brief as Greg Fahey assumed the lead on lap 153 and began to pull away, hinting at what could potentially be a career-defining victory. Meanwhile, Tucker, after his pit stop, had managed to maneuver his way up to second place and was slowly catching up to Fahey when the race’s sixth and final caution came into effect due to Chris Duncan (#97) on lap 212.
In a twist of fate, Dave O’Blenis made his victorious pit stop during a lap 212 caution exactly a year ago. Hoping to replicate his previous success, O’Blenis chose to pit in the later stages once again, an opportunity that Austin MacDonald also seized to make his pit stop. MacDonald emerged from the pits first and restarted in seventh place, while Fahey and Tucker took the lead as the race resumed under the green flag.
MacDonald rapidly advanced to third position, as Fahey and Tucker engaged in a strategic battle for the lead. Tucker tried to overtake Fahey on the outside, but Fahey’s move up the track almost forced Tucker off course. Spotting an opportunity, MacDonald seized second place and started pressuring Fahey for the lead. The King Freight Lines #13 car, driven by Cassius Clark and with three 250 wins to its name, managed to overtake Fahey on the outside. However, a collision with Fahey caused MacDonald to lose control, allowing Tucker to exploit the situation and reclaim the second position.
Tucker then started closing the gap on the #13, overtaking it with just ten laps left to eventually secure the win. Meanwhile, MacDonald had to fend off a fiercely competitive Fahey to clinch the second spot.
Dave O’Blenis and Ryan Messer finished in the top five, enjoying a prime view of the intense competition unfolding before them. Ben Rhodes, the champion of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, started third on the final restart but fell back to ninth position by the time the checkered flag was waved.
Fans were entertained by eight lead changes among seven drivers, with Messer leading the most laps at 98. The race was only slowed by six cautions, and it was completed in 2 hours and 10 minutes.
Tucker’s victory amounted to over $19,000! The Yard Gear 250 awarded $15,000 to the winner, the Modern Electric Halfway Bonus added $1,000, and 58 laps at $50 each summed up to $18,900 for the Brad Silliker Motorsports team. Including further bonuses and contingencies will boost Tucker’s total payout when the final sums are calculated.
Earlier today, Ayden Christensen from Maritime League of Legends, Dan Duke from Heart of a Champion Hot Rod Classics, Tristin Harris from Atlantic Modified Tour, and Wayne Fox from Sharp Shooter each took first place in their respective feature races. Official results from the support classes will be confirmed and published later this Tuesday.
That concludes Lyle Bongard’s RV Sales SpeedWeekend for 2024 at Speedway 660. After a few weeks off, the track will return to action on Saturday September 21st for the Riverview Honda Weekend of Champions.
24th Annual Yard Gear 250 Results
- Ashton Tucker #2
- Austin MacDonald #13
- Greg Fahey #20
- Dave O’Blenis #48
- Ryan Messer #1
- Hudson Weston #43
- Lonnie Sommerville #23
- Dustin Tucker #52
- Ben Rhodes #99
- Nicholas Naugle #08
- Kent Vincent #8
- Chris Duncan #97
- Ian Rasmussen #81
- Clark Moore #54
- Cal Hatfield #11
- Steve Halpin #03
- Curtis Collins #27
- Kevin Moore #88
- Cory Hall #83
- Devin Snell #10
- Joe Hoyt #14
- Ed Bowlby #15
- Ryan Raynes #94
