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Mini Max
PSL West Mini Max Saturday Report
Not surprisingly, the Mini Max qualifying session wasn’t decided
until the end of the 15-minute run. The importance of the draft can-
not be understated, and eventual polesitter Payton Durrant (Tony Kart)
was able to tuck behind Austin Torgerson down the backstraight late
in the session to steal the pole away from Sebastian Alvarez (CRG)
with a 49.133-second lap. Alvarez held onto second as he and PSL
West teammate Marco Kacic (CRG) had paired up after the mid-ses-
sion pit spot to jump to the head of the class. Tucson winner Griffin
Dowler (Tony Kart) was fourth in the final order, ahead of Jak Craw-
ford (Benik).
Durrant appeared to have the Prefinal handled after getting off to a
great start, emerging from the opening corners with three-length lead.
However, Alvarez was diligent and stalked the Tony Kart driver for
the entire 13-lap race, surprising him with a strong move to the inside
in the penultimate corner – turn 11 – to steal the lead and the win.
Durrant looked back underneath to take the position back, but he was
not able to get enough forward bite to outran Alvarez the right-hander
Marco Kacic
Sebastian Alvarez
Jak Crawford
that leads to the stripe. Kacic lead the next trio, as he was able to
hold off Dowler for the spot.
In the Final, Alvarez would lead the way, but it would all come
down to the final corners of the race when Kacic tracked down
his teammate. The Canadian made a strong inside move in the
left-hand hairpin turn 11, coming out with the lead and his first ca-
reer COTA win. Crawford followed Kacic through to take second
ahead of Alvarez. Durrant and Torgerson rounded out the top-five.