(Photo by DPC Media)
Inside Line Promotions – MEEKER, Okla. (March 8, 2021) – Frank Flud posted a pair of triumphs on Sunday during the finale of the season-opening Lucas Oil National Open Wheel 600 Series presented by Hi-Plains Building Division doubleheader at Red Dirt Raceway.
Flud won both the Stock Non-Wing and Winged ‘A’ Class main events to cap a successful first weekend of the season.
“It always feels good to be able to do it the opening weekend,” he said. “It puts your mind at ease that we’re still able to do it. I try to treat every race like I haven’t won a race. Any time I can open the season like that it reminds you that you’re still capable.”
Flud’s Stock Non-Wing victory was his 50th career with the NOW600 Series and his third at Red Dirt Raceway, making him tied for the most in series history at the track. He maneuvered from sixth to second place in a heat race before advancing from fifth to win the feature.
“I was running third when the drivers running first and second got together a little bit in turns three and four coming to the checkers,” he said. “I kinda got lucky and had it handed to me. Sometimes you just get lucky.”
Flud also enjoyed a stout outing in the Winged ‘A’ Class division, marching from fifth to second in a heat race before going from fifth to win the feature with a last-lap pass. It was Flud’s 54th series triumph in the division and series-best fifth win at Red Dirt Raceway.
“Noah Key had me covered,” he said. “Coming into turn three for the checkers they had a caution. We had a green-white-checkered finish and I got him on the restart. He missed the bottom a little coming out of turn two. We were side by side going into turn three. We leaned on each other and it was drag race to the finish line.”
The opening night also yielded a podium finish for Flud, who rallied from seventh to win a Stock Non-Wing heat race before placing third in the feature.
“We had a good showing,” he said. “We just missed the setup. I had the car too tight. I second guessed my gut and went the wrong direction with the shock settings.”
Flud advanced from fourth to second place in a Winged ‘A’ Class heat race. He salvaged a frustrating feature with an eighth-place result.
“I had a transmission problem and had to shift to third during the race,” he said. “I was geared for second. I just fell backwards, trying to make laps. I didn’t want to have a DNF because I wanted to show the development kids to never give up; you just keep trying to fight.”
Next up is a NOW600 Series doubleheader at Caney Valley Speedway in Caney, Kan., this Friday and Saturday. Flud has produced a series-leading half dozen victories in both the Stock Non-Wing and Winged ‘A’ Class divisions at the track.
QUICK RESULTS –
March 6 – Red Dirt Raceway in Meeker, Okla. (Stock Non-Wing) – Heat race: 1 (7); Feature: 3 (5).
March 6 – Red Dirt Raceway in Meeker, Okla. (Winged ‘A’ Class) – Heat race: 2 (4); Feature: 8 (6).
March 7 – Red Dirt Raceway in Meeker, Okla. (Stock Non-Wing) – Heat race: 2 (6); Feature: 1 (5).
March 7 – Red Dirt Raceway in Meeker, Okla. (Winged ‘A’ Class) – Heat race: 2 (5); Feature: 1 (5).
SEASON STATS –
4 races, 2 wins, 3 top fives, 4 top 10s, 4 top 15s, 4 top 20s
UP NEXT –
Friday and Saturday at Caney Valley Speedway in Caney, Kan., with the Lucas Oil National Open Wheel 600 Series presented by Hi-Plains Building Division
MEDIA LINKS –
Twitter: https://twitter.com/81racing
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frankfludracing
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Engler Machine & Tool, Inc.
Established in 1980, Engler Machine & Tool, Inc., builds fuel injection systems, custom made pulling chassis, gears, shafts, specialty CNC products, racing engines and some custom machining. For more information, visit http://www.EnglerMachine.com.
“Tim Engler’s injection products and support are second to none,” Flud said. “Tim wants to make sure you understand his product and you are prepared. He goes above and beyond to help make sure you have everything you need.”
Flud would also like to thank Driven Midwest, Driven Performance, Harley Hollan Companies, Smith Titanium, Outlaw Wings, Metric Cycles, Mychron-Tom, Performance Electronics, LTD, Schoenfeld Headers, PureMax Racing Oil, Swindell Bleeders, TUHB, Impact RaceGear, Broken Arrow Powder Coating, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, Select Coatings, Klint Pursley Trucking, Walker Performance Filtration, Hoss Media, Fast Four Media and Velocita for their continued support.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.
To meet the media relations needs of your program by joining Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.
- Shawn Miller on Mar 08, 2021
- Article Date: 3/8/2021 by Inside Line Promotions