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Justin Grant powers to Friday Chili Bowl qualifier win

By Bryan Hulbert
Posted 3:39AM on Saturday 15th January 2022 ( 2 years ago )

TULSA, Okla. - Justin Grant held off the charge of NASCAR Cup Series racer Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. over the closing laps to score the Driven2SaveLives qualifying night win at the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals on Friday night at Oklahoma’s Tulsa Expo Raceway.

It marked the fifth preliminary night victory for the Ione, California native, as he and Stenhouse, Jr. are locked into Saturday night’s A-Feature.

The win by Grant is the first of the week for RMS/NOS Energy Drink Team, ending the steak of preliminary wins by Keith Kunz Motorsports at four. The win is also the fourth of the week by a driver from California. Oklahoma’s Christopher Bell captured Thursday’s prelim victory.

Working by early leader Sam Johnson on lap 16, Grant held the point until lap 24 when Stenhouse, Jr. charged to the top spot, only to have a caution negate the pass.

“That yellow doesn’t come out, I’m pretty sure Ricky (Stenhouse) wins that race,” Grant said afterwards.

“We caught a big break there getting back to the lead and knowing that the bottom was there, and it was cleaning off, but I still didn’t feel that great down there so I kept trying to circle the top of one and two, and then he finally rolled up alongside me and I had to hustle down the backstretch and get that door closed.”

Back under green, the duo battled hard for the lead, with Grant finally getting the advantage. In the end, Grant took the win by 0.504-seconds over Stenhouse, Jr.

Zeb Wise finished in third, with Bryant Wiedeman in fourth and Sam Johnson in fifth.

Clinton Boyles, former NASCAR Cup Series ace Kasey Kahne, Chase McDermand and Ethan Mitchell rounded out the top 10.

That sets the Saturday night’s finals. For more information on the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals, visit ChiliBowl.com.

Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals
Tulsa Expo Raceway – Tulsa, OK
Drive2SaveLives Qualifying Night – January 14, 2022

1. 2J-Justin Grant*
2. 47S-Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.*
3. 97W-Zeb Wise
4. 01K-Bryant Wiedeman
5. 72J-Sam Johnson
6. 84-Michael Faccinto
7. 11B-Clinton Boyles
8. 19S-Kasey Kahne
9. 40M-Chase McDermand
10. 19M-Ethan Mitchell
11. 68-Ronnie Gardner
12. 11A-Andrew Felker
13. 75B-Ryan Newman
14. 77X-Wayne Johnson
15. 28-Ace McCarthy
16. 21-Daryn Pittman
17. 26E-Cory Eliason
18. 19F-Frank Flud
19. 97K-Brenham Crouch
20. 11X-Donovan Peterson
21. 1UK-Tom Harris
22. 32W-Casey Shuman
23. 44X-Wesley Smith-DNF
24. 7R-A.J. Hopkins-DNF

*Top 2 advance to Saturday’s A-Feature

Justin Grant celebrates after winning Friday night's qualifying race for the Chili Bowl Nationals at Tulsa Expo Raceway. Photo: Ryan Black

http://accesswdun.com/article/2022/1/1070434/justin-grant-powers-to-friday-chili-bowl-qualifier-win

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