Ace Takes What He Learned And Conquers
[Sun Prairie, WI] Two years ago Chester Ace saw himself in a very similar position. Out front at the Milwaukee Mile with fellow Midwest Truck Series veteran James Swan chasing him down. Two years ago Ace dove it off into three on the final lap and allowed Swan to his inside and from there it was a drag race down the front stretch with Swan beating Ace by inches at the line to capture his first of two Milwaukee Mile wins. The mistake that Ace made two years ago sat with him for two long years until this year when Ace found himself with Swan behind him heading into the final turn, however, this time Ace didn't give up the bottom and brought home the checkers at the historic Milwaukee Mile.
The day started off strong for Ace who recorded the fastest time in 608 Graphics qualifying with a time of 31.548. Kevin Zielezinski would qualifying second, however rolled across the scales light disqualifying his time moving Eugene Gregorich III into the second spot with a time of 31.820. Ace would roll a 2 inverting him back to 8th (Holtz the previous winner starts at the back of the invert).
With no heat races on the schedule, two time season winner James Lynch would bring the field to green with Aaron Moyer on the outside. The field would slice and dice for the first 7 laps with a caution being brought out when leaders Bryce Miller and Eugene Gregorich III would make contact entering turn 3 sending Miller into the outside wall. Miller would pit for repairs and both he and Gregorich would be sent to the back for involvement. This would give Chester Ace the point position and allow him to control the race from that point. The green flag would not last long as contact between Weston Marthaler and Derek Doerr going into turn one would bring out the second caution just before the halfway point of the race. Scott Ascher was collected sustaining heavy front end damage while Marthaler found the wall with the back of his truck. Both would be forced to retire. Weston Marthaler would the Gentleman's Agreement and claim responsibility which gave Derek Doerr his spot up back up in the top 5. On the restart it would be James Swan to the inside of Chester Ace and the race was on from there. Swan would send it deep lap after lap trying to get something to stick, but Ace was just too strong on the outside and would bring home the 20 lap feature and take home the Bickle's Bon Voyage Checkered Flag and claim his first win of 2023.
Midwest Truck Series officials did pull the engine from Chester Ace following the event to be put on the dyno. Results are unofficial until the tech process is finalized.
Swan would finish second and extend his championship point lead with Aaron Moyer crossing the line in 3rd. Moyer would later be disqualified in post race tech for a carburetor that doesn't meet the Midwest Truck Series specifications. The disqualification moved Jeff Holtz into 3rd for the race as well as a tie for 3rd in the championship standings with Kevin Knuese. Kevin Berg recorded a career best 4th place finish and his first top 5 with the season. Derek Doerr rounded out the top 5 with his best finish of the 2023 season.
Next up for the Midwest Truck Series is the Prelude to the Nationals at Slinger Speedway Sunday July 9th for the 5th race of the 2023 season.
Full Race Results: Click Here
Current Points: Click Here
