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Dakoda’s Florida Invasion
PRI Sprint & Midget Classic
A GAME: Dakoda Armstrong (7a) moves past polesitter Justin Melton during the midget portion of Friday’s Mopar PRI Sprint & Midget Classic at Orlando Speedworld. (Al Steinberg Photo)
Teen Armstrong Dominates Midget Classic At Orlando Speedworld
ORLANDO, Fla. —Teenager Dakoda Armstrong earned a breakthrough victory Friday night at Orlando Speedworld.
Armstrong put his No. 7a out front on the second lap and went on to dominate the 40-lap midget feature that concluded the third annual Mopar PRI Sprint & Midget Classic at the half-mile asphalt oval.
While Armstrong was pulling away from the field, former USAC champion Bobby East was struggling in traffic. East started last in the 24-car field in an effort to win a $50,000 bonus posted by Crane Cams. East won the sprint-car race earlier in the night, giving him an opportunity to chase the big money.
However, East found it as difficult to pass in the midget feature as his competition did in the sprint-car race, and he made it only as far as 15th in the feature.
But the night definitely belonged to the 16-year-old Armstrong. Zooming past polesitter Justin Melton on a lap-two restart, Armstrong remained out front throughout the event, which included a lengthy delay to repair the catch fence after Adam Cramer flipped on lap three.
Armstrong beat Melton to the checkered flag by 3.73 seconds and earned $8,000 for the biggest triumph of his young career.
| Dakoda Armstrong |
The former USAC Kenyon car champion said his car stayed strong as the race progressed.
“I knew once the fuel started going down and everyone started getting loose they would have a hard time passing,” Armstrong said. “I got a little loose, but it was good all night.”
Defending race winner Ron Gregory finished third, while Josh Wise and Dave Steele rounded out the top five.
The finish:
Dakoda Armstrong, Justin Melton, Ron Gregory, Josh Wise, Dave Steele, Bryan Clauson, Chuck Gurney, Jr., Kody Swanson, David Byrne, Dave Darland, Brady Bacon, Zach Schiff, Cole Carter, Bobby Santos III, Bobby East, Ricky Ehrgott, Darren Hagen, Brent Beauchamp, Chris Windom, Stephanie Mockler, Brad Sweet, Adam Cramer, Tony Hunt, Mario Marietta.