Tellier Gets Second Win in Action Packed TNR Race and Phoenix

In the season opener for the TNR Grand National Series sponsored by Schue Lawn Service, Atlanta put on a fantastic race full of lead changes and side-by-side pack race. That race set a high bar for the second race at Phoenix, but week two delivered. The race saw Mike Tellier pick up back-to-back wins. Tellier only led one lap out of the 150 in the race, but it was enough to pick up the victory. However, the win didn't come without some controversy.

Mike Tellier (47) dives under Phillip Scott (99) in the final corner of the race

Tellier started the race in the 3rd position but disappeared from the front of the field for most of the race. As the laps wound down, Tellier found his way back to the front of the field. A late race restart set up the battle between Mike Tellier and Phillip Scott for the race win. Both TNR veterans layed everything they had on the track through the final laps. With Phillip Scott leading down the backstretch and the checkered flag looming just around the corner, Mike Tellier put everything into a dive to the inside of the 99 of Scott, which sent the Scott hard into the turn three wall and gave Tellier the victory.

"This isn't a good win, this isn't a nice win, this is just I'm here talking to you guys because I happened to wreck a guy to win", Tellier told WRN's Garrett Gleason in his interview from victory lane. "I know it's not a very ethical way to win a race, I know it's not how most people would want to win a race. I really don't like winning a race like this". Despite the controversy, Tellier had a blazing fast Toyota and did everything he needed to do to put himself in a position to grab the race win. "I expected it given what happened last season" Phillip Scott told WRN's Mitchell Adams post-race, referring to an incident last season between himself and Tellier at Darlington that saw tensions get very high. "I know I'm fast now and everyone knows it now. I'm just more motivated now," said Scott.

JD Laird (46) and Bill Edwards (5) both hit the wall in turn 3 after contact battling for the lead late

The dominant car in the race was not Tellier, but JD Laird. Laird led 106 laps after starting the race from 10th due to not posting a qualifying time. Laird was involved in an incident of his own battling for the lead with Bill Edwards in the late stages of the race. Bill Edwards had a great car all race long and had run down the race leader and gotten around Alonso Chocano for the 2nd position. Edwards made a move to the inside of Laird for the race lead on lap 132 and the two drivers collided in the entrance of the corner. Laird, despite heavy damage, would rally to a 4th place finish in the race; Bill Edwards was not so fortunate and finished in the 11th position.

Tristan Maher started the race from the pole and would lead 19 laps in the race, many of those coming in the early stages of the race. He too would be involved in a late race incident. While trying to race back through the field after pitting under a caution, David Durand and Maher came together on the entrance of turn three. Maher would finish the race 10th. Other lap leaders in the race were Alonso Chocano with 11 laps at the front of the pack, Jake Bustos led 3 laps, Philip Scott led nine, and Bill Edwards led one.

Next Monday night, the TNR Grand National Series sponsored by Schue Lawn Service will stay out west. The two-mile racetrack Auto Club Speedway will play host to race three of the 2023 TNR season. With the tensions leaving Phoenix Raceway, the only way to know if there will be any payback is to watch. The TNR Grand National Series sponsored by Schue Lawn Service races every Monday on the World Racing Network with broadcasts starting at 8:05 pm (EST).