PARK CITY, Kan.—Cade Dillard raced to his third USMTS victory of the season Thursday night at the 81 Speedway, showing the rest of the 41-car field the fastest way around the 3/8-mile clay oval from start to finish.
After recording the quickest lap of the night during his heat race win, the 25-year-old from Robeline, La., drew the pole for the 42-lap main event and never looked back once the green flag appeared.
While Dillard set the pace the entire distance, the battles for positions behind him were fierce.
Two-time USMTS national champ Ryan Gustin blazed through the field from his 13th starting spot and was running down the leader when the yellow flag waved on lap 29.
Gustin stayed close after the restart, but Dillard never offered up a mistake to allow him an opportunity to get by.
Jesse Sobbing, who gave up the second spot to Gustin during the 25th lap, regained the position with six laps remaining and held on for the runner-up paycheck behind Dillard’s $3,000 triumph.
Zack VanderBeek, Gustin and Jeremy Payne—all three former winners at the 81 Speedway—finished third, fourth and fifth after starting the race from 12th, 13th and 14th on the grid, respectively.
Dereck Ramirez, Kenny Sweet, 15th-starting Mike Jergens, Ryan McAninch and multi-time NCRA champion Brian Franz, who started 27th, rounded out the top 10.