JD Laird Wins Kansas After Three Overtime Restarts

JD Laird became the second driver to get back-to-back wins in the 2023 season of the TNR Grand National Series sponsored by Schue Lawn Service. In the fashion that has come to be expected from him, Laird dominated the NSRA Stay Tuned Sports Truck Series 150 at Kansas, but he certainly had to work for the win. A caution filled last 20 laps included three attempts at overtime that saw Laird hold his lead.

Laird started from the pole, his first of the season. Newcomer to the series Tom Bourne took the lead away from Laird and went on to lead 13 laps during the race. Bourne's struggle through the race would be on the longer runs, allowing Laird to get back to the race lead. Contrary to the previous week's race at Auto Club Speedway, Kansas did not have a green-flag run long enough to warrant green flag pit stops. Several drivers were able to grab the lead at times following restarts, but it was Jason Gracias who was at the helm for 25 laps late in the event.

Gracias seemed to have the race in hand until a late race yellow stacked the field up once again. Through the late race restarts, JD Laird got back to the lead and held it through three attempts at green-white-checkered finishes. Drivers had been up at the front like James Lorello and Jason Gracias got involved in late race accidents that took them out of contention. It looked as if TNR rookie Tom Bourne might be able to run down JD Laird on the last of the overtime restarts, but Bourne pushed too hard out of turn two and hit the wall, which allowed Shane Ewing to win a drag race to the finish line for second place.

JD Laird led the race high 68 laps. Tom Bourne, Shayne Therrien, Mike Tellier, and Jason Gracias all clocked laps led during the race. The TNR Grand National Series sponsored by Schue Lawn Service heads into an off week before heading to Dover. If JD Laird is able to race again, drivers will have to figure something out to beat him. The JDR Graphics 46 car has been a dominant force through the 2023 season and will look to keep that continuing in the upcoming races. TNR racing is live Mondays at 8:05 pm (EST) on the World Racing Network.