Dylan Wins Battle of the Zampa’s at Irwindale Speedway Spears Pro Late Model Showdown
Bakersfield, CA – Dylan Zampa needed a late race caution, to secure his second Spears Pro Late Model Series presented by Sigma Performance Services victory Saturday night. But when the yellow flag waved on lap 55, he knew exactly how to take advantage. That caution set up a duel between his older brother Logan Zampa Racing and the Kulwicki Driver Development Program finalist for the victory. Dylan did not disappoint as he worked under his brother on lap 58, to earn the win in the “Spears manufacturing 60 presented by OPTIMA Batteries“.
For the younger Zampa, the win continues his championship comeback, after his season opening 29th on Irwindale Speedway‘s ½-mile. ARCA Menard’s Pro Series West Irwindale winner Tanner Reif set Fast Time on the inner 1/3-mile to get official activities underway. Dylan Zampa was second with Tyler Reif, Christian Bazen and Seth Wise Racing the top-five.
Tyler Reif drew the pole for the 60-lap affair, with Tanner to his outside for an exclusively Reif front row. The Zampa brothers made up row number two, with the older Zampa on the outside. The green flew and Tyler battled with his older brother for the lead, eventually securing the spot as Logan moved by Dylan for third. Lap 8 found the brothers making contact with Tanner to the lead and Tyler dropping all the way to fifth behind Logan Zampa, Seth Wise and Dylan Zampa.
On lap 11, Dylan would get back by Wise and set sail for the lead duo of Logan Zampa and Tanner Reif, as Logan used the bumper to get by the race leader. On lap 23, Dylan Zampa was able to work his way under Tanner Reif to grab the runner-up spot. At the halfway mark of the feature, Logan Zampa had a comfortable lead over his brother Dylan as Tanner Reif battled with Seth Wise for third and Tyler Reif held fifth. One lap later, Wise would grab third from Tanner.
The race continued green with Christian Bazen advancing by a fading Tyler Reif for fifth, only to trade it back four laps later, and then taking it back once again. As the laps ran down, Dylan began to close on his brother Logan for the lead. Just as he was about to engage in a battle for the lead, the aforementioned lap 55 caution appeared for a spin by Joey Sarafin. Logan was able to edge ahead on the restart, but Dylan didn’t give up, nudging under the yellow line to get under Logan. As they crossed the line on lap 58, Dylan cleared his brother. But Logan was not done, as he made multiple attempts to loosen Dylan up with nudges to the back bumper.
In the final corner, Logan made one last attempt, getting under Dylan coming off of Turn 4. At the checkered it just wasn’t enough however, as Dylan scored the victory by ¾ of a car length. Seth Wise and Tanner Reif exchanged third several time in the last five laps, with Wise coming out on top in another good battle. Christian Bazen scored his first top-five, holding off Tyler Reif for the position.
The next event for the Spears Pro Late Models will be at Kern County Raceway Park on June 18th, where the series will compete in Round #6 of the series 11 race schedule.
