By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
There will be no four-peat in Minnesota. Ryan Martin could not get out of the first round.
He was defeated by Scott Taylor in the Invitational at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota. This is the first time this season that Martin could not get out of the first round.
Martin had won the last three NPK races.
It is just the third time that he could not get to the final round. In the second round at the points opener at Virginia Motorsports Park in North Dinwiddie, Virginia, Martin defeated Adam Jennings.
However, he could not participate in the third round. Justin Swanstrom drew Martin, who had experienced an intake manifold backfire, and received the bye.
In the next race at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, Pennsylvania, Martin was eliminated in the second round. He was defeated by Brandon F’kn James.
This is a boost to Taylor, who was knocked out in the first round last weekend at Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, Kentucky. His last-round win before Saturday came at National Trail Raceway in Hebron, Ohio when he defeated Chuck Seitsinger.
With Martin out of the way, the teams near the top in points can gain on him. Kye Kelley will be able to gain the most points if he continues to remain in the race.
Kelley is onto the second round. Jerry Bird — who was third in points — was eliminated in the first round by James “Birdman” Finney.
