Reutzel Outruns Larson in Red Dirt Barn Burner
Reutzel Outruns Larson in Red Dirt Barn Burner
Aaron Reutzel, Kyle Larson, and others put on what has to be the race of the year Friday at Red Dirt Raceway.
Less than a week after getting edged-out by Austin McCarl in an epic battle at Park Jefferson International Speedway, Clute, Texas-native Aaron Reutzel redeemed himself and gave Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1 fans something even more standing ovation-worthy, this time outdueling Kyle Larson in a slider slugfest during a first-ever Series appearance at Red Dirt Raceway in Meeker, Oklahoma.
Watch full coverage from the All Stars at Red Dirt Raceway
The victory, Reutzel’s fourth of the 2020 season and the 29th of his All Star career, not only awarded a $5000 top prize, but it officially opened the 2020 edition of Cometic Gasket Thunder Through The Plains presented by Hercules Tires. Kyle Larson chased Reutzel to the final checkers, followed by Cory Eliason, Justin Peck and Danny Dietrich.
Watch the full feature from Red Dirt Raceway:
“I just want to thank the Baughman family for giving me this opportunity and taking a chance on me to come out here and race. They trust me to come in here and do my job and it feels awesome to be able to put up results like this. Curt Fischer of Fischer Body Shop is with us tonight, so we’re glad to get it done for him,” said Aaron Reutzel, driver of the Baughman-Reutzel Motorsports/Fischer Body Shop/Folkens Brothers Trucking/No. 87 sprint car. “Dylan, Jim Bob and I just kinda do our thing and it works really well. We certainly wouldn’t be in this position without everyone who supports this team and believes in us.”
Lining up seventh on the feature grid by way of dash result, it did not take long for Reutzel to learn his way around the Meeker quarter-mile, eventually navigating his way to third with just three laps checked off the counter. At that point, Elk Grove, California’s Kyle Larson was the main event leader, utilizing the outside-pole position to snag the top spot before the completion of lap one. Danny Dietrich, who started third, raced between Larson and Reutzel.
After a pair of cautions on lap nine, followed by another set of yellow flags on lap 11, a long stretch of green flag action would ensue with the top three battling under a blanket. By lap 17, Reutzel was in position to take the runner-up spot away Dietrich, this time using a slider between turns three and four to steal the position away from the Gettysburg-native. Despite the position change, Reutzel, Larson and Dietrich continued to race all within just a few car-lengths of each other, soon faced with traffic for the first time on lap 22.
Lap 23 saw the evening’s first major takeover attempt, as Reutzel dived underneath Larson to take command through turns one and two. Larson returned the favor with a slider of his own through turns three and four, regaining control of the field as the pair drag raced toward the flagstand. Now forced to deal with a gaggle of slower cars, the battle between Larson and Reutzel would only intensify.
Maintaining momentum around the speedway’s outer edge, Reutzel powered by Larson to lead the next two circuits. Staying in hot pursuit, Larson quickly retook command from the two-time All Star champion with another slider in turns three and four.
From that point forward, it was an all-out brawl for the lead, racing nose-to-tail and side-by-side for the next ten circuits, exchanging slide jobs for the top spot nearly every trip around the speedway. Despite the persistence displayed by each driver, and accidental contact on more than one occasion, Larson remained in control until lap 36.
A final slider through turns three and four on lap 36 confirmed Reutzel’s visit to victory lane. Caution flags flew for the final time the following circuit setting up a four-lap sprint to the in clean air; Reutzel prevailed.
Hear from the top three after the feature:
“We were racing each other so hard that we actually had a hard time getting through traffic. I was watching lapped cars drive away from us because we were running so hard,” an elated Aaron Reutzel continued. “Obviously, I was trying to pass him and get rid of him, but (Kyle Larson) is so good. You think you have him, but then he pulls something out of his hat. There were a few times where he thought he had me because he would leave the slider lane open. I’m not even sure what lap we started all of that on.”
Check out full results from the All Star visit to Red Dirt
“That was a lot of fun. Obviously, it would have been more fun to get the win,” Kyle Larson said, driver of the Paul Silva-owned/Finley Farms/No. 57 entry. “To have a dual like that with Aaron (Reutzel), for what felt like 15 to 20 laps, is awesome. We were a little bit off there in the feature and I think Aaron was a touch better than us. But we were still able to fight with him and do what we could to get the win. The fans definitely got their money’s worth tonight.”
What’s Next:
Watch the All Stars LIVE from Outlaw Motor Speedway
The Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1 will continue the 2020 edition of Cometic Gasket Thunder Through The Plains presented by Hercules Tires with a Saturday night visit to Outlaw Motor Speedway in Oktaha, Oklahoma. Those seeking additional information about the event should visit the Speedway online at https://www.facebook.com/Outlawmotorspeedway1/. All Star hot laps are scheduled to hit the speedway at 7:15 p.m.