March 18th 2024, Words by Danny Krueger; Photos by James & Jared Murphy, Thomas Levister
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The LoO IMCA Style Stock Car Series came to the big USA International Speedway last night for the Freedom 30. The speeds from the 3/4 mile track allowed for some great action filled racing and James Murphy would capture the win.
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Heat race number one went green the entire 8 lap race. James Murphy, after setting quick time, started 1st and finished 1st.
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Heat number two saw some action right off the bat when Trevor Doyle and Christian White made contact going into turn one. The top three after lap one were Jared Muphy, Chris Cox, and Trevor Doyle. Cox, was a touch faster than the race leader and slowly began running Murphy down.
Just two laps to go and as the leaders entered turn 2, Cox made slight contact with Jared Murphy. Chris Cox wound up spinning out. Trevor Doyle also got into it when he made contact with Cox. Jared Murphy held on the final two laps for the race win.
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Only 10 cars would start the Freedom 30 at USA International. Murphy brothers, starting on the front row.
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Hunsinger was running the quickest laps early on and was battling Thomas Levister for the first 10 laps of the race. Hunsinger was not able to make the pass on Levister for 4th and would begin running the low line to save tires.
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At the halfway point of the race, Trevor Doyle was pouncing on Jared Murphy for the 2nd position as James Murphy was still in the race lead.
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All the drivers had their hands full as tires were wearing out significantly and were running right against the wall and frequently making contact with the wall. With just 3 laps to go, Andre Savala spun out as his tires were losing grip as well, bringing out the yellow flag.
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It would be a single file restart as the drivers set to do battle for the remaining 3 laps of the race. Going into turn 1 after the restart, Hunsinger throws a huge slider, going from 5th place to 3rd place after taking the spots away from Doyle and Levister. Coming out of turn two, all three drivers would be 3 wide.
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Going into turn 3, Hunsinger again with a slider but this time was not clear and he put the #024 machine of Doyle into the wall. Levister was now battling for 2nd with Jared Murphy.
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White flag out and Hunsinger wasn’t done handing out sliders yet as he put a slider on Thomas Levister for 3rd place going into turn 3. Simultaneously, Jared Murphy got into the wall just ahead. Coming out of turn 3 heading to the checkered, it was James Murphy, AJ Hunsinger, Jared Murphy 3rd, and Levister 4th.
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