News
United Fiber&Data and Gavin Harlien Win SST Grand Prix Opener
Detroit, Michigan (June 2, 2018) - Coming off a rough weekend in Perth, Western Australia the last time Stadium SUPER Trucks competed United Fiber & Data driver Gavin Harlien of Mesa, Arizona was determined to make up the points deficit he lost to current points leader Matt Brabham. Harlien was able to do just that making his way to the front of the field from his sixth starting position, and never looked back en route to his first race victory at the Detroit Grand Prix.
"Stadium SUPER Trucks are always a wild time, and today's race was an exciting one. I was able to make the passes when it mattered, and got to the front of the field early to avoid all the carnage behind me. I was able to capture the weekend overall last year, and we are half way to repeating that feat. " Stated and ecstatic Gavin Harlien to Detroit ABC affiliate WXYZ-TV.
Rochester Hills, Michigan driver Aaron Bambach driving the Strategic Staffing Solutions truck would quickly jump out to the early lead from his second starting position, and build a sizeable lead all the way until the competition caution at Lap-5.
The chaos however was behind Bambach as Gold Coast, Queensland driver Paul Morris and eventual race winner Gavin Harlien were on a mission picking off truck after truck as they attempted to track down Bambach.
Morris and Harlien would muscle their way past Bambach for the top two spots on the restart after the mid-way competition caution.
Racing action was briefly halted shortly after the restart, as Cole Potts of Scottsdale, Arizona would loose the handle on his HallmarkTrust.com/ Innovative Computer Professionals truck, backing it into the wall with hard contact, and eventually rolling onto its side.
Potts would be injured, but his truck would not be able to compete any further.
On the restart the LIVE/Think Loud Development truck of Morris would develop a problem and would have to pull off the track as Harlien, and the rest of the field blasted past the leader.
Bambach would do all he could to try and catch the leader Harlien but he would run out of time as the United Fiber & Data entry was just too strong.
Harlien's victory Saturday at the Detroit Grand Prix was his first victory at the picturesque Belle Isle Street Circuit located on an island in the Detroit River separating the United States mainland, and Canada.
"Stadium SUPER Trucks are always a wild time, and today's race was an exciting one. I was able to make the passes when it mattered, and got to the front of the field early to avoid all the carnage behind me. I was able to capture the weekend overall last year, and we are half way to repeating that feat. " Stated and ecstatic Gavin Harlien to Detroit ABC affiliate WXYZ-TV.
Local hero Bambach whom would lead the first four laps would go on to finish in the second position, while Arie Luyendyk Jr. of Scottsdale, Arizona would place his Lear Corporation truck on the podium in the third spot after being involved in multiple on track incidents, and hitting nearly everything on track except the pace vehicle.
Fast Qualifier Matt Brabham of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia would start the race in the ninth position after the complete field inversion. With the addition of a tight chicane this year coming to the straight finish line there would be limited opportunities for passing with a extremely fast group of drivers entered this weekend. However, where any other driver would become frustrated and drive aggressively forcing a pass the Stadium SUPER Trucks points leader would remain calm the first half of the race and let things fall into place. Fighting a truck that would keep loosing power throughout the race Brabham was able to avoid all trouble, and bring the Hawk Performance/ DeVilbiss entry home in the fourth position.
Blade Hildebrand of Yucca Valley, California would start in the last position after missing qualifying on Friday morning, and having no experience on the track previously. Following Matt Brabham to the front of the field Hildebrand would have an eventful race bouncing off the tire barriers and walls trying to learn the braking zones. Hildebrand would keep all four Toyo Tires inflated, and rolling forward for the entire event to finish in the fifth spot.
SST veteran Bill Hynes of Nazareth, Pennsylvania would start the race in the third position in the United Fiber & Data entry, and would run in the second position for two laps before getting passed by teammate Paul Morris. Avoiding a few mishaps of others Hynes would spin out and loose large ground to the lead pack. Hynes would battle with Boyle through out the remainder of the event, and would be recorded at the finish in the sixth position.
Making his return to Stadium SUPER Truck competition after a two year hiatus Russell Boyle of Toronto, Ontario, Canada driving the VP Racing Lubricants & Oil No. 7 would start on the pole position, and stay towards the front for the first three laps before loosing the handle exiting the corner and spinning out. As the entire field would pass Boyle he would work his way back up and challenge Hynes for position. At the end of the event Boyle would not remain in front of him being scored in the seventh position.
LIVE/TEAM UFD driver Jeff Hoffman of Phoenix, Arizona would experience electrical issues throughout the race after starting in the seventh position, and racing his way up into the fifth spot early. Fighting a truck that would loose power throughout the rest of the event Hoffman would limp his truck to the finish eighth.
After breaking an axle on the restart of the red flag Paul Morris would end up being scored in the ninth position after retiring from racing action at the beginning of Lap-6.
Cole Potts of Scottsdale, Arizona driving the HallmarkTrust.com/ Innovative Computer Solutions truck would loose the handle on Lap-5 backing his truck hard into the outside wall causing extensive damage to the rear of his machine ending his day early.
The second and final round of SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Trucks at the Detroit Grand Prix will take place Sunday at 2:05 p.m. et.
Fans unable to be in Detroit are able to live stream the race at http://www.stadiumsupertrucks.com or http://www.facebook/stadiumsupertrucks.
SST Detroit Grand Prix
Detroit, Michigan
June 2, 2018
SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Trucks
Round 9 Results
1. Gavin Harlien; Mesa, Arizona; United Fiber & Data/ LIVE/ Think Loud Development
2. Aaron Bambach; Rochester Hills, Michigan; S3 Strategic Staffing Solutions
3. Arie Luyendyk Jr.; Scottsdale, Arizona; Lear Corporation/ Detroit 119/ E-Systems/ Team UFD
4. Matt Brabham; Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia; Hawk Performance/ DEVILBISS/ HeadStrong/ KMC Wheels
5. Blade Hildebrand; Yucca Valley, California; Empire Destructive/ HeatWave/ MPI/ King Shocks
6. Bill Hynes; Nazareth, Penn.; United Fiber & Data/ LIVE/ Think Loud Development
7. Russell Boyle; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; VP Racing Fuels and Lubricants/ NG Stone/ ZCD Montreal/ Toronto Motorsports/ MPI/ Sparco/ Jingles
8. Jeff Hoffman; Phoenix, Arizona; LIVE/ United Fiber & Data/ Think Loud Development
9. Paul Morris; Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia; LIVE/ United Fiber & Data/ Think Loud Development
10. Cole Potts; Scottsdale, Arizona; HallmarkTrust.com/ Innovative Computer Professionals