Baker Scores First Victory of 2014 Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals Season at Attica Raceway Park
By Jordan Morris
ATTICA, Ohio July 18, 2014 Dave Baker scored his first Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals victory of the 2014 season in thrilling fashion after leading the final two en route to capturing the $1,000 checkered flag on Friday night at Attica Raceway Park.
Baker started the 20-lap feature event from the outside of row one, as Jeff Babcock captured the pole-position. Babcock slipped out to an early lead as Baker came under fire from second-row starters Taylor Cook and Collin Thirlby.
Cook managed to grab the second position from Baker, who settled into third. After securing second, Cook reeled in Babcock, who led the opening three laps, with ease. Cook managed to get to the leaders inside as the two leaders battled side-by-side for the top spot.
Cook was credited as taking the lead on lap four, but had trouble clearing Babcock and building an advantage on second-place. The two leaders remained within a car-length of each other for much of the race, as Babcock could never build up enough momentum to work his way to Cooks outside.
Then with two-laps remaining, Babcock tried a daring go-for-broke move to the inside of the leader, as the two made contact, sending the leader spinning. Both drivers would be forced to start the final two laps from the rear of the field which gave third-place driver Dave Baker the lead. Baker held off Brad Wilson on the final restart, leading only two laps en route to claiming the $1,000 checkered flag at Attica Raceway Park.
Both points-leader Mike Harrison and Jacob Poel were absent from the feature event on Friday night. Heading into the final event at Oakshade Raceway, Harrison continues to cling to his slim six-point advantage over Poel as the two drivers duel it out on championship night.
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Collin Thirlby, Jason Kinney and Mark Anderson rounded out the top five.
Heat race winners were Babcock, Baker and Thirlby.
With the closest points battle in series history heading into the final event, the DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals joins the DIRTcar Summer Nationals on champsionship night at Oakshade Raceway in Wauseon, Ohio.
DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals Statistical Report; Attica Raceway Park; Attica, Ohio; July 18, 2014;
A-Main (20-laps): 1. 15B-Dave Baker ($1,000), 2. 21W-Brad Wilson, 3. 47C-Collin Thirlby, 4. 4-Jason Kinney, 5. 43-Mark Anderson, 6. 55S-Zachary Schroeder, 7. 10L-Nathan Loney, 8. 11JS-Josh Scott, 9. 31J-Ray Jackson, 10. 20K-Bill Keeler, 11. 8C-Corey Bevard, 12. 15G-Jacob Gamber, 13. 66W-Jack Waldfogel, 14. 21-Taylor Cook, 15. 7B-Jeff Babcock, 16. K9-Scott Gerdeman, 17. 73B-Cody Basinger, 18. 6-Dave Golembrewski, 19. 53-Brad Johnson, 20. 5-Dean Taylor, 21. 18-Ryan Sutter.
