[VERC] Race 4 - Eurospeedway

Results
Points

After being in the top-5 in each practice session, Mike Falls [45] qualified on the pole. Starting in 2nd was Rick Jarrett Racing's new driver Robert Barnett [37], who is making his first start today. Along with Robert, his brother Randall Barnett [67] and Belgian driver Jacques Boliver [03] are also making their first starts today.

By lap 15, Falls still held the lead while Jacob Jarrett, II [27] and Bill Wainwright [0] battled for 2nd position. Tyler Fortner held 4th position and had just broken away from Greg Johnson, Jr. [24], Aaron Fisher [90], and Mark Nelson [577], who where going for 5th. Robert Barnett struggled in the opening laps, dropping outside the top-10 after starting on the front row.

On lap 22, while going into turn 3, Mike Falls had to check up as he almost closed the door on the 27 of Jacob Jarrett who just managed to get underneath Falls. This allowed Jarrett to get a better run out of the turn. Bill Wainwright pushed his way into the battle as well, making it three wide for the lead going down the frontstretch. At the line, it would Jacob Jarrett (on the inside) taking over the lead, with Bill Wainwright (in the middle) and Mike Falls (on the outside) just about even for 2nd, but it was Falls was scored ahead of Wainwright. Mike Falls dropped to 5th when he went too wide into turn 1, and got into the wall. Jacob Jarrett settled into 1st and was followed by, Bill Wainwright, Aaron Fisher, Tyler Fortner, then Falls in 5th.


Green flag pitstops started on lap 28, when most of the field decided to pit. This includes everyone in the top-5 except for Mike Falls, Cameron Taylor [149], Josh Mertz [81a], and Jefferson Mikually [50].

There appeared to be a problem on James Fortner [38] and Aaron Fisher [90]'s cars as both drivers stayed in the pit lane for a long time. Both stayed on the lead lap, but eliminated their chances of a good result. This a shame for both teams, but especially Fisher, who was running in the top-5.


When everything settled, it was Jacob Jarrett leading, with Bill Wainwright in 2nd, and they were followed by Mike Falls, Tyler Fortner, Mark Nelson, and Cameron Taylor. Josh Mertz's pit strategy appeared to work out well for him, as he was running outside the top-10 earlier in the race, but moved up to 7th after his pit stop. Rounding out the top-10 would be Greg Johnson, Jr., Kendall Worthington [146], and Jacques Boliver. Jefferson Mikually also gained a few positions with his pit strategy, and was battling with Boliver for 10th.


Bill Wainwright closed in on Jacob Jarrett and finally made the pass for the lead on lap 37. The two had pulled out to an almost four-second lead over third place. Speaking of third position, Mike Falls had visited the outside wall again and dropped down to 6th, allowing Tyler Fortner to take 3rd, with Mark Nelson and Cameron Taylor also getting around Falls. Josh Mertz had been passed by Greg Johnson, Jr. for 7th but held 8th; however, as if Mertz's season has not been difficult enough for the 81a team, the one time that they have a good run, Mertz's engine blows on the frontstretch on lap 37.

After closing back in on Wainwright, Jarrett would have the edge across the line with the white flag in the air, and completed the pass in the exit of turn 1. Jarrett held the lead for the last lap and took the win at Eurospeedway.



Points and Results links are at the top of the post.

Taylor Comments on Eurospeedway Finish

Cameron Taylor walked out of the Eurospeedway near Dresden, Germany with renewed confidence in the future. Taylor scored his first top five finish since his win on debut at Brands Hatch. The Cleveland, OH native showed speed all weekend and ran up front for most of the race.

"I think the setup was great and from there we just took off. I think I lot of people missed the setup and didn't have grip in the corners. Congratulations by the way to Jacob [Jarrett]. I feel sorry for Josh [Mertz], he can't buy a lucky break this year."

Jacob Jarrett II, recently demoted from the top tier VSCC, scored his first win in any Vaughn Stock Car Championship series in the race. He was joined by the Barnett brothers as teammates following the purchase of RJ Bandsma Motorsports. Josh Mertz lost the engine in what was one of the few good runs that the driver from Lowell, Indiana has had this year. He was also involved in an accident not of his doing at Brands Hatch.