Despite earning four Super DIRTcar Series wins in his career, Alex Payne finally delivered the moment he’s dreamed about his whole life.
In front of his hometown crowd, the Hopewell, NY driver wrestled the lead from Alex Yankowski with seven laps to go and never looked back to win Tuesday’s SummerFAST stop at Land of Legends Raceway.
Tears were flowing from Payne’s eyes as he sat in Victory Lane, overcome with emotion as he celebrated with his family and car owner Doug Dulen Jr.
“I wear my heart on my sleeve,” Payne said. “I work for this every day of the week. All week. All year. This is all I want to do.
“This was the top of my list. This was the very top. This is my home. I grew up two minutes from here. I watched my dad race here his whole life. I’m just doing this with my family. I don’t want this to end; I’m living the dream.”
Mike Trautschold, the SRI Performance and Stock Car Steel Pole Award winner, led the field to the green in the 60-lap Feature, driving away from Jimmy Phelps on the race’s opening lap. The Roscoe, NY driver opened a full straightaway lead and gained separation in lap traffic before the race’s first caution fell on Lap 21 for Matt Stangle.
Behind Trautschold, Super DIRTcar Series points leader Alex Yankowski drove past Phelps on the outside lane, moving into second before the yellow flag came out.
When the race resumed, Trautschold spun the tires on the restart, allowing Yankowski to drive away on the outside lane and take the lead. While “Kid Rocket” drove out front, Trautschold stayed within three car lengths over the next 10 laps, waiting for Yankowski to make a mistake.
That mistake happened on Lap 37, as Yankowski went too high as he drove through Turns 1 and 2, going over the cushion. Trautschold regained the lead, but Yankowski quickly gathered his momentum again, using the outside lane to close on the No. 28 in traffic.
As they exited Turn 4 to complete Lap 39, Yankowski’s momentum powered him around Trautschold to take the lead back. And unfortunately for Trautschold, that’s when heartbreak struck.
When the Roscoe, NY driver entered Turn 1 on Lap 40, the driveshaft broke, ending his chances at his first career Series win.
Trautschold’s misfortune put Alex Payne on the front row with Yankowski on the next restart, giving him a chance to win a SummerFAST Feature for the third straight night.
Yankowski took the lead when the green came back out, but as the laps wound down, Yankowski started sliding up the track in Turns 1 and 2.
That was the opportunity Payne needed, as he took advantage of the inside lane in Turn 2, diving underneath the No. 84Y to take the lead on Lap 53.
From there, Payne increased his lead and never looked back to score the emotional $6,000 victory.
Before he made the pass for the lead, Payne slipped over the banking in Turns 3 and 4 with 10 laps to go. But once he gathered it back up, the “Slide Job Express” said he realized he still had a great chance to win.
“Normally I’d be a nervous wreck and not know what to do,” Payne said. “But I just told myself I’ve been doing this for almost 10 years now. With 10 to go, I was like, man, I’m going to win this race. I just had a feeling.”
Yankowski settled for second, extending his Super DIRTcar Series points lead to 90 points over Mat Williamson, who finished third. He also extended his SummerFAST points lead to 18 points over Jimmy Phelps with one night remaining.
Despite finishing second, Yankowski said he was content with another podium finish.
“I started skating the right front up the hill on the brakes,” Yankowski said. “I’m just bummed. I had a racecar that could’ve won. The driver just kind of goofed a little bit.
“Alex (Payne) can rip around here as good as anyone else ever has, and I know it’s his home turf, so hats off to him. When you lead, and you get second, it really hurts, but at the end of the day, top threes are good. We just have to keep digging.”
Phelps crossed the line fourth, earning his second straight top five, and Land of Legends Regular Justin Haers finished fifth.
Here are the SummerFAST points standings after three races:
- Alex Yankowski 452
- Jimmy Phelps -18
- Jack Lehner -28
- Alex Payne -33
- Felix Roy -34
For a complete look at the SummerFAST standings, CLICK HERE.
UP NEXT: The Super DIRTcar Series heads to Utica-Rome Speedway on Wednesday, Aug. 19 for the final night SummerFAST. Joining the Beasts of the Northeast will be the DIRTcar Sportsman Championship Series.
How can you watch the Super DIRTcar Series? Live on DIRTVision.
RACE NOTES:
JAM Performance Fastest Hot Lap Award: Mat Williamson
Billy Whittaker Cars and Trux Quick Time Award: Mat Williamson
Bicknell Racing Products Heat Race 1 Winner: Mat Williamson
DIG Race Products Heat Race 2 Winner: Alex Payne
Wix Filters Heat Race 3 Winner: Jimmy Phelps
The Greatest Store on Dirt Heat Race 4 Winner: Felix Roy
SRI Performance/Stock Car Steel Pole Award Winner: Mike Trautschold
Behrent’s Performance Warehouse One Lap to Go: Alex Payne
SummerFAST at Land of Legends (60 Laps): 1. 70A-Alex Payne[7]; 2. 84Y-Alex Yankowski[4]; 3. 88-Mat Williamson[3]; 4. 98H-Jimmy Phelps[2]; 5. 3H-Justin Haers[8]; 6. 21A-Peter Britten[6]; 7. 99L-Larry Wight[21]; 8. 91-Felix Roy[5]; 9. 2-Jack Lehner[17]; 10. 19-Tim Fuller[13]; 11. 4-Anthony Perrego[20]; 12. 9S-Matt Sheppard[10]; 13. 83X-Tim Sears Jr[11]; 14. 35-Mike Mahaney[9]; 15. 12-Darren Smith[14]; 16. 7Z-Zachary Payne[12]; 17. 25-Erick Rudolph[18]; 18. 30-Nicholas Root[22]; 19. 11-Matt Caprara[19]; 20. 15X-Justin Stone[26]; 21. 48TOO-Gary Tomkins[16]; 22. (DNF) 28-Michael Trautschold[1]; 23. (DNF) 27-Tanner Van Doren[15]; 24. (DNF) 4M-Logan Watt[23]; 25. (DNF) 6-Matt Stangle[25]; 26. (DNF) 14B-Brendan Darrah[24]
Bonuses:
Jam Performance Fastest Hot Lap Award –Mat Williamson – $100
Billy Whittaker Cars and Trux Quick Time Award – Mat Williamson- $100
VP Racing Fuels Award (8th) –Felix Roy– $50
ARP Award(4th) –Jimmy Phelps– $50
ASI Racewear Award (11th)-Anthony Perrego – $50
Behrent’s One Lap to Go Award –Alex Payne- $50
Cometic Gasket Award (12th)-Matt Sheppard– $50
Comp Cams Award (10th)- Anthony Perrego – $50
DIG Race Products (9th)-Jack Lehner– $50
Fox Factory Award (3rd) –Erick Rudolph- $50
MSD Award (5th)-Peter Britten $50
Swift Springs Award (6th)-Larry Wight– $50
Hoosier Racing Tire Award –Justin Haers – Free Tire
SRI Performance and Stock Car Steel Pole Award –Mike Trautschold- $100
