MINERSVILLE, Pa. — Stephanie Stevens has been running stronger of late in ARDC competition.
Thursday night, she seemed ready to “close the deal” in front of the huge crowd that turned out at Big Diamond Raceway. She started from the pole and led every lap up until a lap-16 red flag. That proved to be Stevens’s undoing as Randy Monroe, Jr. was able to slip by and take the win when they got back to racing.
Stevens had opened up a sizable gap when the red flag flew due to a multi-car flip involving Johnny Heydenreich, his nephew, Eric Heydenreich, and Nick Wean.
Six laps after the following restart, Stevens slid high and Monroe was there to take advantage and hold on for the victory.
Steve Buckwalter overcame Stevens for second while Stevens settled for third. Darren Hagen and Drew Heistand rounded out the top five.
The finish:
Randy Monroe, Jr., Steve Buckwalter, Stephanie Stevens, Darren Hagen, Drew Heistand, Ryan Watt, A.J. Ernesto, Frank Polimeda, Brett Arndt, Michelle Miller, Carey Becker, Steve Lenig, Zack Martini, Tracy Hines, Andy Martin, Ray Bull, P.J. Gargiulo, P.J. Pavlick, Ryan Smith, Johnny Heydenreich, Eric Heydenreich, Nick Wean, Tracy Miller, Taylor Malsom, Dave Shirk, Tracy Readinger.