The Modified Central Regional Series rolled into Race 4 with the championship picture starting to take shape—and by the time the 25-lap feature was complete, Aidan Strawberry had made the message even louder. Strawberry scored the win and the qualifying fast time bonus for a maximum 13-point night, continuing a blistering run to open Season 2. With the points format paying 12 to win, one point less per position behind, plus 1 point for qualifying fast time, clean execution matters every week—and Strawberry has been near-perfect when it counts.
From the drop of the green, Strawberry controlled the pace. He led all 25 laps, never officially giving up the top spot, and paired it with the race’s quickest pace marker, recording the fastest lap of the event (16.474). That combination is exactly how you separate from the field early in a 7-race season: win the race, grab the bonus point, and give the standings no room to breathe.
Early on, Chase Meredith proved he belonged in the conversation. In just his second career start, Meredith was able to hang with Strawberry through the opening portion and deep into the middle of the race, keeping the leader honest until lap 16, when he got into the wall and exited. His speed up front before that moment was a clear sign that he’s a name to watch when he returns—especially with how quickly he matched the leaders despite limited experience.
The biggest breakthrough of the night belonged to Zach Ellisz. Ellisz came home 2nd, scoring 11 points and turning in the best finish of his career in just his third career start. That result wasn’t just a great race—it was a major swing in the standings as well. Right behind him, Zachary J Clark kept the momentum rolling with a strong 3rd-place finish and 10 points, while Eddie Sickles and Jason Rodninger rounded out a busy top five that was packed tightly for most of the run.
One of the most important points storylines happened immediately, and unfortunately it hit a key contender. Doug Welch, who entered Race 4 as one of the top point threats, was involved in an incident on lap 1 that ended his night early. In a format where every finish matters and there are only seven races total, losing a points opportunity like that can be the difference between fighting for the title and fighting to stay in the top five. That one moment created a major reshuffle behind Strawberry in the championship picture.
After four races, the standings now show Strawberry in firm control at the top. He leads with 47 points and three wins in four starts, while Brayden E Carter sits second on 22 with two starts. Behind them, Brenden McGlothlin (20) continues to hold third, and the scramble for fourth has tightened significantly with Zach Ellisz rocketing up into the mix and Doug Welch landing in a tie on points after the tough night. With three races remaining, the fight for the podium positions in the championship is heating up, and one strong run—or one missed result—can still completely reorder the top five.
RESULTS (Race 4)
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Aidan Strawberry
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Zach Ellisz2
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Zachary J Clark
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Eddie Sickles
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Jason Rodninger
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Chase Meredith
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Tyler Spradley
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Kam Boyd
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Dusty Fincher
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Adam Bradley2
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Dennis Holley
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Doug Welch
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Colten Coleman
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Robby Aodry
TOP 10 STANDINGS (After Race 4)
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Aidan Strawberry — 47
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Brayden E Carter — 22
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Brenden McGlothlin — 20
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Zach Ellisz2 — 17
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Doug Welch — 17
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Jesse Newsome — 12
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Zachary J Clark — 10
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Dolan Cole — 10
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Brycen Daffern — 10
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Brayden Avila — 9
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