Cruise Control: Jon McKennedy Dominates Thompson Outlaw Modified Feature At Sunoco World Series

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THOMPSON – The promoters of Thompson Speedway cooly referred to the Thompson Outlaw Modified feature Friday at the Sunoco World Series as a “Dash for Cash”. 

Jon McKennedy turned it into a cruise for cash. 

McKennedy put on a dominant spanking of the field on the way to victory in the 50-lap Thompson Outlaw Modified feature. 

McKennedy earned $5,000 for the victory. 

“The car was just awesome,” McKennedy said. “All day it was an absolute rocket. Big thanks to all my guys, they all worked hard. It’s been a crazy couple weeks at the shop. Had a pretty tore up car at Stafford [Speedway on Sept. 27]. This thing was a bare frame basically two weeks ago. A ton of work went into this.” 

Woody Pitkat of Stafford was second, nearly two second behind McKennedy at the finish. Patrick Emerling of Orchard Park, N.Y. was third, a little more than three seconds behind McKennedy. 

Pitkat went to the lead at the start. On lap two caution flew for an issue in turn two. 

On the lap two restart Pitkat held the spot with McKennedy moving from fourth to second. 

With Pitkat leading, McKennedy in second and Ronnie Williams third, caution was back out for a turn two Jack Ely spin on lap nine. 

On the lap nine restart McKennedy went to the front by Pitkat. Caution returned on lap 14. McKennedy controlled on the restart, but the action was short lived with the car of Kevin Folan in the turn one wall just after the green. 

McKennedy once again controlled at the front on the restart with Pitkat fighting off Williams for second. 

With McKennedy and Pitkat checked out from the field, Emerling moved past Williams for third on lap 24. 

Justin Bonsignore found the lane under Williams off fourth place on lap 31 with Matt Swanson moving past Williams a lap later for fifth. Swanson used a diving move into turn three to go by Bonsignore for fourth on lap 37. 

At the front, McKennedy held a half second lead over Pitkat on lap 40 with third place Emerling about two seconds behind the top spot. McKennedy opened his lead up to more than a second over Pitkat by lap 45.