Yahoo Autos McConnell powers to Nitrocross season opener win in Oklahoma
Fraser McConnell was the victor as the Nitrocross season kicked off in Oklahoma.
The Dreyer & Reinbold JC driver started the final from pole position and resisted a charge from Kris Meeke to secure his second victory in Nitrocross’ premier Group E class.
The final was reduced in length from six laps to three as a result of track conditions caused by the extreme heat. However, with the course at MidAmerica Outdoors being the longest in series history, the overall length of the final race itself was no shorter than ther series’ previous mains.
Racing into the first banked turn, McConnell forced Robin Larsson wide, negating the challenge from the reigning series champion, but opening the door for the rest of the field to sneak through. Meeke capitalized on that, rocketing from fourth on the grid and sneaking through a gap in the first corner melee to snatch second.
McConnell took the joker on lap one to gap the field further with Larsson following him into the shortcut. Meeke took that route a lap later, but not before pitching his car onto two wheels after the start/finish straight as he pushed to overhaul McConnell and the chasing Larsson.
Meeke emerged from the joker on-par with Larsson and quickly disposed of the Swede, and he set about getting by McConnell next, but a door-to-door collision broke his car’s suspension, ending what stood to be an immense battle for the win.
McConnell brought his car home virtually unchallenged after the final lap, ahead of Larsson and Kevin Eriksson who inherited the final podium spot after Meeke’s issue, plus a last-lap joker.
