Enoch Loses Race, Then Points Lead

Jeff Bucknum passed Tim Enoch on the third lap to win the 75-lap Star Mazda Series Western Division race in front of 3,629 at Irwindale Speedway Saturday night.

Bucknum, starting second, waited for Enoch to make a mistake then capitalized on it. As Enoch went into turn four, he got too wide and Bucknum went under and passed him. After the pass, Enoch stayed right behind Bucknum hoping he’d make a mistake and get the lead back.

It didn’t happen. Instead, on lap 54, Enoch got loose in turn four and spun out. He recovered to stay on the lead lap but in sixth place.

That left it to Brandon Peterson to try and catch Bucknum. He couldn’t, and Bucknum took the checkered flag.

“It is easy to get by someone when they make a mistake,” Bucknum, of Las Vegas, said. “Once I got in front, I just tried to focus on not making any mistakes. It’s almost easier to be behind Tim, but I was happy to get in front of him so quick.”

Joey Hand, who finished fifth, retook the points lead from Enoch. Hand, of Sacramento, holds a two-point advantage over the Mission Viejo driver, 187-185. Bucknum trails Hand by 12 points.

Dusty McDonald of Simi Valley led all 40 laps to win the NASCAR Late Model race.