Being overly cautious in the final few laps cost Muskogee’s Colton Dunlap the championship in the Grand National/Hobby Stock Sizzler at Outlaw Motor Speedway on Friday night.

With five laps to go, the Muskogee teenager started coasting and that opened the door for Kansas’ Billy Kelley to take the checkered flag and a $1,000 to win. Dunlap had almost a quarter-of-a-lap lead on Kelley.

Dunlap was bidding for his third win of the year. He seemingly had the checkered flag in his sights with a seven car-length lead over Kelley and the field with eight laps to go. But by lap 16, Kelley had gained on the Muskogee High junior and with two laps remaining he went to the lead.

“When you have a big lead you tend to lose perspective of where the other cars are on track,” Dunlap said. “You simply cannot see them I thought my lead was safe, I was wrong. I won’t make that mistake again.”

Dunlap was able to finish second, the ninth time this year he has trailed another driver across the finish line. He has won two features.

Brian Parker of Collinsville was third, followed by Muskogee’s Kevin Flock and Dale Richardson. Richardson and Flock were bidding for their ninth and fifth feature wins (respectively).

Dunlap took the lead on lap five and pulled away from the field, leaving the fight for second place.

Kelley eventually grabbed second and raced to catch Dunlap from there. Dunlap won his heat race and, before the feature, had to replace his clutch.

It was an interesting night for Parker. On his way to the track, his car came off its trailer as he pulled away from a stop light.

Pure Stock

A horrific, seven-car crash in turn one resulted in a fire and minor injuries to Jessi Muhlhauser. The Chouteau driver was one of six battling for position going down the front straightaway when he got sideways and was then hit, sending him into concrete wall, severely damaging the front of his car.

Then he was tagged again, igniting his fuel cell. Track firefighters were quickly on the scene and along with other track safety personnel quickly extinguished the flames. Track workers removed him from the car and he was examined by track EMS. He escaped with only bumps and bruises. He was not burned, according to track safety officials.