Drivers banged doors for the ASA Stars win
“But yeah, just bad racing.”
On Thursday night, Hickory Motor Speedway hosted the ASA Stars. The 250-lap race on the 3.8-mile track payed $15,000 to win.
240 of the 250 laps clicked by fairly calmly. However, a late race restart and the drivers put on the boxing gloves.
As they went green, Giovanni Ruggiero leaned all over the bumper of William Byron. Despite multiple laps of contact, Byron was able to clear him and hold the race lead.
Byron’s machine was all but lifted off the ground, off the front bumper of Ruggiero. Somehow, he was able to keep it straight.
With 1 lap to go, Byron led Ruggiero by a car length. As they entered turn three for the final time, he opened the gap to two car lengths but it didn’t matter.
Byron entered turn three on the outside lane. Ruggiero drove it deep to the bottom with no intention of making the corner.
Instead, he drove right into the door of Byron and used Byron’s car to help him make the corner. Both drives stepped sideways.
They race wide off turn four and Byron was stuffed into the wall. They rubbed doors all the way to the line. Ruggiero won the race, by inches.
William Byron parked it in victory lane on the front stretch after the race. Just feet from him, Giovanni Ruggiero celebrated with a burnout.
Hickory Motor Speedway Results: May 25, 2023 (ASA Stars)
Giovanni Ruggiero comments
“Not how I wanted to win the race but I didn’t come here to finish 2nd,” Giovanni Ruggiero stated after the win.
“I think I just burned it up a little too much for those last 10 laps. But, I got it done, so that’s all that matters.”
William Byron comments
“I just saw the whole right side of his car in the left side of mine about 20 times on the restart,” William Byron stated.
Byron added, “I got clear, I mean, the left side’s destroyed. I don’t know, I guess that’s how a kid like that races. Look at his right front, it’s destroyed.”
“We had a good car. They were strong too. But yeah, just bad racing.”
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Links
Giovanni Ruggiero | William Byron | ASA Stars | Hickory Motor Speedway
