It took six restarts, but Alex Sanford finally found a way around Gary Dutton Saturday night in the season-opening IMCA Modified race at Bakersfield Speedway.
Dutton, the two-time defending track champion from Bakersfield, started on the pole and led from the outset, but a string of cautions from the ninth lap on kept pulling him back to the field.
The final caution flew with three laps left and Sanford pounced then the race returned to green. He followed drove deep into turn three to get under Dutton, then powered up the track in two four to take the lead.
Sanford said he had been sizing up Dutton for several laps and just needed to be close enough to make his move.
"I had picked out a spot and when it was time to go I hit it," he said.
Dutton's night went down hill from there as he and Troy Morris Jr.
