SOUZA “CONNORS” THE WIN IN OUTLAWS
Connor Souza leaped off the pole ahead of Tyler Tomassi and headed for the finish line with Tomassi in hot pursuit and looking for any way around the fleeing fellow Outlaw. Fifteen laps later they flashed brawling across the stripe with Souza just 0.277 seconds ahead of his antagonist. Tomassi’s second was followed by Michael Cooper and Hailey Brightman.
Original polesitter Samantha Dell had been shuttled back after a 3/4-lap duel with Souza who started the outside pole. She spun out of turn three to bring the caution, then needed a push to restart. Lost on the first lap was dynamic Evan Marchand, who has won twice on the season so far. He reported to the pits with unknown problems.
Souza went to a two car lead, but Tomassi came right back onto his bumper and looked to the outside. Souza denied him the pass. Brightman had gone past Wesley Heard into third on the restart and battled with Heard and Cooper. Wesley was unable to get by and Cooper went to work on him.
Four laps in, Heard suddenly slowed and limped slowly around the outside, grinding to a halt in front of the starters’ platform. He had to be pushed pitside. While he had been moving at a snail’s pace, Cooper had gone past Brightman into third.
On the lap 10 restart, Souza and Tomassi were door-to-door until Cooper and Brightman, who were running side-by-side behind them, made contact and Cooper spun. Dell spun to avoid them in turn four and was in turn pushed to the pits.
Again, Souza and Tomassi were wheel-to-wheel on the second try at the restart. Souza was finally able to retaked the lead coming out of turn four. Tomassi settled in, ahead of Cooper and Brightman.
With seven laps remaining, the four cars still in the event had spread out single file. Souza now had a three-car lead over Tomassi, who was trying to shave the gap down. Cooper led Brightman.
It wasn’t over yet, as Tomassi was able to close to Souza’s bumper with two circuits remaining but Souza continued to hold him off through the white flag lap and claim victory at the checkers.