The Casey Cycle City INEX Legends feature, part of Saturday evening's racing program at Langley Speedway, featured seven lead changes among four drivers. At the end, though, Brad Hancock came out on top, scoring his division-best sixth win of the season.
Hancock qualified on the pole, at 78.008 mph, but gave way to his front-row partner, Rette Causey, on the opening lap. Hancock quickly slipped in line on Causey's bumper, followed by Joe Hendricks Jr., Steve Keesee and Chris Raiford.
Hancock tailed Causey for a couple circuits, then moved back out front on lap 3. By lap 7, Hancock, Causey and Hendricks were locked in a nose-to-tail battle, while Keesee watched from two lengths back.
On lap 8, Keesee, who clinched the '09 division title when he took the green flag, got into the fray, swiping the third spot from Hendricks as they raced off Turn 4. At the crossed flags, the front four were bumper-to-bumper.
The first caution flag appeared on lap 15. Setting the lineup, Hancock was the leader, followed by Causey, Keesee, Hendricks and Spencer Saunders.
Back under green, Causey scooted past Hancock to retake the lead as they headed into Turn 1. A lap later, Hancock returned the favor and left the lane open for Keesee, Hendricks and Saunders, dropping Causey to fifth.
On lap 19, Keesee motored under Hancock in Turn 1 and pulled ahead, bringing Hendricks and Saunders with him.
The leaderboard changed again on lap 21 as Hendricks pushed his machine to the front for the first time. Saunders took over second, while Hancock moved up to third and Causey grabbed fourth.
In search of his first victory, Hendricks showed the way as the white flag waved. Heading into Turn 1, though, Saunders made a strong bid for the lead and the two front-runners locked horns and spun, prompting a caution flag and setting up a "green-white-checkered" sprint. To accommodate the finish, the event was extended from 25 to 26 laps.
As Hendricks retreated to the back of the pack and Saunders turned into the pits, Hancock assumed the lead with Causey, Keesee, Jamie Price and Raiford in tow.
On the final restart, Hancock quickly forged a two-length edge, then held on as Causey tried to rally. At the finish, Hancock was the winner by 0.191-second. Causey was second, followed by Keesee. Hendricks rebounded from the tangle with Saunders to salvage fourth place, while Price took fifth.
In the final division standings, Keesee outpointed Price by 34, 558-524, to claim the title. Hancock was third, followed by Saunders and Raiford.
OCT. 3 RACE RESULTS: 1. Brad Hancock; 2. Rette Causey; 3. Steve Keesee; 4. Joe Hendricks Jr.; 5. Jamie Price; 6. Chris Raiford; 7. Chris Peterson; 8. Gary Adams; 9. Spencer Saunders; 10. Kim Forrester. Pole: Hancock - 78.008 mph.
