After five career runner-up finishes in USAC Silver Crown competition, Kevin Thomas Jr. had no desire for any more “second” thoughts during Saturday night’s inaugural Murphy Tractor & Equipment Salt City 100 at Hutchinson, Kansas’ Salt City Speedway.
Thomas’ (Cullman, Ala.) quest for his initial series victory didn’t exactly occur in a straightforward manner. First, Thomas was brought to the Chris Dyson Racing/Concord American Flagpole – Macri Concrete – High Performance Lubricants/Maxim/Ott Chevy in a substitute role while the team’s regular driver, Brady Bacon, was competing in the Kings Royal at Ohio’s Eldora Speedway.
Secondly, in a late-race battle for the lead between Thomas and C.J. Leary, the two touched wheels, resulting in Leary toppling over while Thomas continued onward to victory, casting a bit of a pall over his long-awaited Silver Crown celebration.
“I’m going to start off by apologizing to C.J. and everybody over there on the Klatt Enterprises team,” Thomas stated. “C.J. and I have been friends for 10-plus years, and we’ve never touched. That was piss poor judgement on my end. He’s one of my better friends and that really sucks.”
Nonetheless, Thomas’ $10,000 victory extended a remarkable streak of first-time USAC Silver Crown winners. A brand-new first-time series victor has emerged in each of the past three events: Daison Pursley (Port Royal), Dakoda Armstrong (Madison) and now Kevin Thomas Jr. (Salt City).
That’s the first time there have been three consecutive first-time Silver Crown winners in as many races since 2010 when Tanner Swanson (Berlin), Kody Swanson (Du Quoin) and Bryan Clauson (Eldora) reeled off first-time series wins in succession.
Not to mention, all three dirt Silver Crown races held thus far in 2024 have resulted in first-time winners: Kaylee Bryson (Belleville), Pursley (Port Royal) and Thomas (Salt City). The last occurrence of three-straight first-time dirt winners also came in 2010 when Levi Jones (USA Raceway), Shane Hmiel (Indiana State Fairgrounds) and Kody Swanson (Du Quoin) each grabbed their firsts.
But for Thomas, the Silver Crown monkey on his back has finally been released. Entering Saturday night’s race, He held the dubious distinction of owning more runner-up finishes in series history among drivers who had not yet won a main event.
Thomas previously finished as the runner-up at Springfield (2018), Du Quoin (2018), Eldora (2018), Indiana State Fairgrounds (2019) and Eldora (2019). And for a time, it looked like it might happen again after he led the opening 68 circuits around the historic 1/2-mile Kansas State Fairgrounds dirt oval.
After winning the pole and establishing the Salt City USAC Silver Crown track record with a lap of 21.090 seconds in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying, Thomas started from the pole position and was in total control from the drop of the green flag until that very point when he encountered lapped traffic at just the wrong moment.
Thomas became hung up behind the car of six-time Hutchinson Grand Nationals Sprint Car champion and first-time Silver Crown competitor Danny Jennings in turns three and four. Leary took advantage of the opportune moment by darting to the inside in turn three before coming out of the other side of turn four with the lead in hand and just 31 laps remaining.
Throughout the ensuing 10 laps, Leary extended his lead over Thomas to nearly two seconds until a caution for fourth-running Justin Grant who slowed suddenly in turn four on lap 79. Grant continued toward the Indy Metal Finishing Work Area where the crew added fuel. However, fuel didn’t turn out to be the remedy. Soon after Grant pulled back onto the track, he was back in the infield, this time out of the race for good with a 13th place finish.
In time for the lap 83 resumption, Thomas was in full attack mode as he dove under Leary to swipe the lead in turns one and two. However, Leary countered the maneuver and raced back under Thomas on the back straightaway. By the time the pair reached turn one the next time around on lap 84, Thomas pulled a car length ahead of Leary.
However, by the time they reached turn two and Leary attempted to race around the outside of Thomas, the town proved to be not big enough for the both of them. Thomas’ right rear tire and Leary’s left rear tire collided, sending Leary flipping upside down multiple times. Leary walked away but his bid for his first Silver Crown win of 2024 was finished.
When action resumed, Thomas worked the low line in turns three and four while opting for the top side in turns one and two down the stretch. Meanwhile, new second place runner Seavey made his pursuit while committed to the multi-layered cushion that had been built up around…
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