Beat Goes On in Super Late Race

David Beat’s decision to sacrifice in qualifying in favor of the race paid off Saturday night, winning his first super late model race of Irwindale Speedway’s season.

Beat posted the fourth-fastest qualifying time, started third in the 26-car field, moved into second on the third lap and passed Robby Sawyer on the fourth lap to take the lead and keep it for the rest of the 50-lap race on the half-mile track.

Sawyer finished second, 3.583 seconds behind, in what he said was his first top-10 finish on asphalt in his two years of driving on the surface.

Sawyer said his Chevrolet Monte Carlo had brake problems for about the final 25 laps.

Dan Moore spun on the first lap, causing a collision that knocked two drivers out of the race. It also damaged Moore’s car, prompting him to drive Rip Michels’ car the rest of the way. Moore finished in 13th place.

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-- Steven Herbert