Rick Thompson controlled much of the night before a Lap 117 caution erased a 6.4-second advantage, allowing James Beard to use the outside lane to take command and capture Race 3 of the MLSR B-Open Series presented by Ideal Family, LLC.
| Pos | Driver | Car | # | Started | Laps | Interval | Inc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James Beard | 25 | 9 | -00.000 | 0 | ||
| 2 | Rick Thompson | 76 | 4 | -01.598 | 0 | ||
| 3 | Adam Ramsey | 97 | 11 | -06.149 | 4 | ||
| 4 | Jordan Zamagni-Mander | 32 | 24 | -10.282 | 4 | ||
| 5 | Blake Hauschild | 54 | 10 | -12.075 | 0 | ||
| 6 | Chris Cornett | 83 | 1 | -12.191 | 5 | ||
| 7 | Dustin Coggin | 46 | 2 | -21.108 | 4 | ||
| 8 | Mike Presley | 17 | 19 | -1 L | 0 | ||
| 9 | Richard Wilson Jr | 28 | 20 | -2 L | 1 | ||
| 10 | Jared C Smith | 15 | 14 | -2 L | 6 | ||
| 11 | Robert T Burke | 22 | 16 | -3 L | 4 | ||
| 12 | Zack Domer | 014 | 5 | -3 L | 8 | ||
| 13 | Paul Scruggs | 11 | 15 | -3 L | 0 | ||
| 14 | Jacob Durbin | 20 | 3 | -5 L | 4 | ||
| 15 | Steven Shannon | 6 | 23 | -6 L | 6 | ||
| 16 | Ethan A Thompson | 98 | 7 | -28 L | 4 | ||
| 17 | Brandon Hunsinger | 18 | 17 | -31 L | 4 | ||
| 18 | Bryson Rupe | 2 | 22 | -65 L | 9 | ||
| 19 | Chris Etchepare | 99 | 6 | -66 L | 4 | ||
| 20 | Howard Peeples | 16 | 8 | -73 L | 7 | ||
| 21 | Alex Wilkie | 19 | 18 | -100 L | 6 | ||
| 22 | Sean Kiser | 52 | 13 | -147 L | 6 | ||
| 23 | Michael Patrick9 | 81 | 21 | -148 L | 4 | ||
| 24 | Justin M Bell | 8 | 12 | -178 L | 2 |
“Thompson built the lead. The caution erased it. Beard made the opportunity count.”
For much of Thursday night at Iowa Speedway, Rick Thompson appeared to have the field firmly under control.
Instead, a Lap 117 caution completely reset the race, and James Beard turned the opportunity into his first victory of the inaugural MLSR B-Open Series presented by Ideal Family, LLC season.
Thompson established himself as the driver to beat throughout much of the 180-lap event. The No. 76 spent a race-high 87 laps at the front of the field and eventually stretched his advantage to an impressive 6.4 seconds during a long green-flag run.
It was the type of advantage that appeared increasingly difficult for anyone to overcome under green.
Then came Lap 117.
A caution erased Thompson's entire 6.4-second advantage and brought the field back together, wiping away the cushion he had spent the previous run building.
Following the ensuing pit sequence and choose rule, Chris Cornett and Thompson lined up ahead of Beard, who restarted third with an opportunity to change the complexion of the race.
Beard chose the high side and made it work.
When the green flag returned, Beard carried momentum through the outside groove, working past both Cornett and Thompson to take control of the race. The restart transformed Beard from a challenger into the leader and put Thompson in the unfamiliar position of having to chase after controlling much of the night.
But with more than 60 scheduled laps remaining, winning the restart was only the beginning.
Beard still had to prove he could stay there.
As the race settled back into a green-flag rhythm, Beard backed up the move with sustained pace. Rather than allowing Thompson to immediately reclaim what he had lost, Beard began creating separation and established himself as the new driver to beat.
Thompson continued the pursuit, but the dominant advantage he had enjoyed before the caution never returned.
When the checkered flag finally waved, it was Beard out front, completing a 57-lap-led performance and becoming the second different winner of the B-Open Series season.
Thompson crossed the line second after a night that easily could have ended in Victory Lane. His 87 laps led were the most in the field, and the 6.4-second advantage he held before the Lap 117 caution demonstrated just how thoroughly he had controlled the race before circumstances gave the competition another opportunity.
Behind the battle for the victory, Adam Ramsey put together a strong performance to claim the final position on the podium in third.
One of the night's biggest charges belonged to Jordan Zamagni-Mander, who climbed from 24th on the starting grid to finish fourth. Two-time winner Blake Hauschild completed the top five, bringing his perfect start to the season to an end after opening the year with consecutive victories at Daytona and Indianapolis.
The numbers showed just how much Iowa belonged to Beard and Thompson. Together, the pair accounted for 144 of the 180 laps led, with Thompson pacing the field for 87 and Beard leading 57. Cornett also spent nine laps out front before ultimately finishing sixth.
For Thompson, Iowa will undoubtedly feel like one that slipped away. He had built a commanding advantage and appeared firmly in control before the caution erased everything he had earned.
But the caution didn't hand Beard the victory.
It simply gave him another opportunity.
Beard still had to restart third, find a way around two cars ahead of him and then maintain the lead for more than 60 scheduled laps. He used the high line to make the passes, took control of the race and had the pace to finish the job.
Thompson controlled much of Iowa. James Beard controlled it when the race was decided.
Driver of the race: James Beard — Led 57 laps and capitalized on the Lap 117 reset with a decisive high-line charge from third, working past Cornett and Thompson before controlling the remainder of the race.
Fastest lap: James Beard — Recorded the fastest lap of the race with a 23.945-second circuit on his way to Victory Lane.
Best drive: Jordan Zamagni-Mander — Advanced from 24th to 4th, gaining 20 positions to record the largest improvement in the field.
Hard luck: Rick Thompson — Led a race-high 87 laps and built a 6.4-second advantage before the Lap 117 caution erased it. Thompson ultimately finished second after Beard capitalized on the restart and took control of the remaining run.