Coming in to this weekend’s race at Virginia International Raceway, it looked like the event was going to be all about Tony Buffomante. The Naperville, IL native captured most of the weekend’s pre-race honors, including pole position… albeit by just a twentieth of a second.

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Buffomante knew that storm forces were gathering behind the current series point leader, Jason von Kluge, who won both races at the series opener last time out in Florida. A weak clutch in Buffomante’s Mustang would make the difference after all but three laps remained in the race. von Kluge captured his third win in three starts of the 2010 Ford Racing Mustang Challenge at the rural road course near Alton, VA.

“I don’t think I was being patient, I was just trying to do what I could to get past Cole. We had a great race there-he wouldn’t let me by. Then I got a good run out of the Oak Tree, drafted him down the back and got it done going deep into (turn) 10,” said von Kluge.

Photos: Wes Duenkel / Mustang Challenge

Buffomante led the field into turn 1 in his Capaldi Racing Mustang, while the rest of the field threaded their way through the first three corners without incident, despite several side-by-side battles through the complex of corners. At the end of lap 1, Buffomante was in charge with Cole and von Kluge getting around outside front row winner Crosland.

In the lead, Buffomante was able to establish a firm gap between 1 and 2 seconds. Behind, von Kluge exerted some pressure on Cole through turn 2, but the hard-driving Cole defended his honor. By lap 5, Cole gained enough of a margin over von Kluge to try chasing down Buffomante.

The only caution period of the race occurred on lap 7. George Winkler, who had been consistently fast throughout the weekend, lost control of his red No. 12 just before the Oak Tree turn and made contact with the tire wall. He escaped without injury.

Racing resumed on lap 10, and Cole took attempted to take full advantage on the restart having a good, long look around Buffomante through turn 1, but being on the outside through the 180 degree right hander, was unable to make the pass. For the next three tours of the VIR full course, the order through the field went unchanged with Buffomante leading Cole, Von Kluge, Crosland and Aweida for the top 5.

With Buffomante extending his lead to 2.2 seconds on lap-13, von Kluge was able to get around Cole on the long back straight. However, in the space of a lap and half, Buffomante’s lead evaporated.

He was ahead of von Kluge across the line to begin lap 15 with less than a second in hand, but at the exit of turn 1, Buffomante drew to the right, allowing not only von Kluge into the lead, but also Cole and Crosland into podium position.

“I just lost pressure on the clutch and couldn’t get it into gear. The pedal went dead. I was just trying to pump it up over and over and then after going around in fourth gear, it came back a little bit for me to get to the finish,” explained Buffomante.

The white flag came as the leaders completed lap 17. Crosland was doing everything he could to get past Cole for second place as the youngster looked to usurp the veteran racer. Buffomante came through on his own, to maintain his gap over the trio of Aweida, Kyle Gimple and Phillips.

“I’m still learning the race craft side of things,” said 17 year-old Crosland. “I can be fast by myself, but I still need to learn more about how to be fast during the race. (This was) probably the most fun race that I’ve ever been in. It was really competitive and it was a very good day for the team and I’ve got really good feelings coming out of this weekend.”