Texas Two Step

BAYTOWN, Texas -- Zack VanderBeek picked up right where he left off on Thursday with his second victory in as many nights Friday on the second night of the 4th Annual Texas Winter Nationals at the Houston Raceway Park.

“The Z-Man” led all 35 laps as he held off Jason Hughes, Ryan Gustin, Rodney Sanders and Kelly Shryock en route to a $3,000 payday.

VanderBeek drew the pole position for the 35-lap WIX Filters “A” Main with Sanders starting to his outside in the front row in a continuation of their one-two finish in Thursday night’s 30-lapper.

While VanderBeek headed to the low side of the racing surface, Sanders shot to the high side and kept VanderBeek in his sights for the first three laps before the leader began to pull away, prompting Sanders to dive to the low side in his pursuit.

Meanwhile, Hughes and Gustin formed a nose-to-tail draft around the top of the racetrack and began to run down the leaders.

Four caution flags during the main event kept the field close to VanderBeek’s bumper, but the New Sharon, Iowa, racer was able to pad his lead again on each restart and sailed to the checkered flag to score his third career win at the 3/8-mile clay oval in Baytown, Texas.