CLERMONT, Ind. — Battling through three cautions and leading green to checker in the PRA Banjo Big Car 100, Bobby East was nothing short of untouchable Friday night at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis.
East held off Dave Darland and Eric Gordon to win the race for former USAC Silver Crown machines.
East, who had an almost two-second lead over Darland when the first caution flag waved on lap 21 of the .686-mile oval, gave the credit to his father, legendary car builder, Bob East.
“Dad has an awesome handle on these cars and this track, but still this place isn’t easy,” East said. “Even when the car is handling great, you still have to drive the wheels off of it, and tonight, I had to pull the reins back in on myself so I didn’t burn the tires off, which is hard to do when the car is so good.”
Runner-up Darland graciously accepted his place next to East on the podium.
“We were equal to Bobby in the beginning, then the car went away just enough for him to beat us,”  Darland said.
Gordon, fast-qualifier Johnny Heydenreich and Levi Jones rounded out the top five.
The finish:
Bobby East, Dave Darland, Eric Gordon, Johnny Heydenreich, Levi Jones, Ryan Smith, Mike Lichty, Bryan Clauson, Tom Capie, David Mirk, Jacob Wilson, Kody Swanson, Shane Cottle, Alex Pruett, Teddy Beach, Ron Gregory, Chet Fillip.