Jake Finch executed a text book last lap bump-and-run to win the Keeping the Peace 100 on Saturday night at Montgomery Motor Speedway.
The race is part of the monthly Show Me The Money track championship at the half-mile located just outside of the Alabama capital and Finch is become a regular contender there in his first season driving full-time Pro Late Models for the legendary Ronnie Sanders.
Grill, the multi-time Montgomery track champion and two-time Snowball Derby winner had led the race since a restart on Lap 46. Seeking his 16th Show Me The Money Victory, Grill was almost a half mile away from the finish when Finch drove in deep and applied the bumper.
Grill tried to return the favor on the next corner, but Finch was able to hold on enough to claim his first victory at Montgomery and taking the points lead alongside finishes of second and fourth so far at the Stan Narrison operated short track.
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“We obviously had a really good race car tonight and sat on the pole,” Finch said in Victory Lane. “The invert kind of screwed me. I hope nobody was listening in on my radio because I was pretty frustrated there for much of the race.
“It’s hard to pass with the motors we have in these cars and I didn’t think I was going to be able to catch Augie. When I got to him, I obviously didn’t mean to run into him like I did and I hate that. He’s always raced me clean and I look up to him.
“I felt like that was my only chance and my brakes were going away, so I took it.”
In the moment, Grill wasn’t entirely pleased about the contact even if he believes ultimately that he go beat.
“He was able to save his stuff better than I was, that’s what it came down to for us,” Grill said. “I took a shot at him after he passed me, but that’s not how I like to race. I hate it for my team, I thought we had this one in the bag to win.”
Finch was actually fastest in qualifying but started fifth due to a redraw. Grill drove to the lead from seventh and that might have cost him the life of his tires over the long run on the abrasive and humid Alabama surface.
Jim Wall had led over Dylan Fetcho to the Lap 47 caution. Wall maintained second ahead of Finch until nine laps to go at which point they traded the spot. From there, the Sanders No. 18 waited for his shot to get by the classic No. 112 at his home track.
The Show Me The Money Series returns on June 22 with the Summer Sizzler. The entire schedule airs live on Racing America.
Montgomery Pros Protecting the Peace 100
Montgomery Motor Speedway
May 25 2024
- Jake Finch
- Augie Grill
- Jim Wall
- Dylan Fetcho
- Clint King
- Zack Dixon
- Jeremy Williams
- Landon DeVaughn
- Bryce Carver
- Gage Rodgers
- Brian Reeves
- J.C. Cleckler
- Gavin Graham
- Jason Furrow
- Harrison Halder
- Dylan Armstrong
- Hudson Halder
- Steven Chunn
- Hunter Johnson
