Matt Brabham starts the 2023 SST season with victory in Long Beach Race 1

It could be the start of a new year, but some things never change like that Matt Brabham, Robbie GordonAnd Gavin Harlienall Stadium Super Trucks Champions with a total of six titles from nine awarded, swept the podium for Race #1 at Acura Long Beach Grand Prix.

Brabham, with three titles the most titles in the history of the series, started sixth after a difficult qualifying session on Friday from midfield but was on the podium after just two laps. After passing RyanBeat later in the third lap he ran behind polesitter Bill Hynes by the first competition warning. Shortly after the restart, Hynes lost the lead when he nearly slid into the tire barrier at turn seven but saved the truck from contact.

Beat wasn’t so lucky a lap earlier when he drifted into said tires, causing him to lose third place Robert Stark and Gordon. Gordon edged Stout into second place on lap six. He failed to catch Brabham after a strong restart from the latter on the second yellow card.

The win is Brabham’s twenty-fourth in SST and fourth at Long Beach, with previous triumphs from 2017-2019. All three podium finishers have previously won at the California road course, with Gordon being the reigning winner and fastest qualifier.

Stout was unable to stop Harlien as the reigning Champion passed him on the outside at Turn Nine with two laps to go.

Trey Hernquist was the best of the four rookies in eighth, one spot ahead of him Bruce Binquist. The latter was having a long day when he ran into his tires on lap two after a bump from behind at turn three Myles Cheekfollowed by a tap on the lock at turn seven. Joshua Thomas And David Bernstein both opted to start from the back despite the field reversal and finished in the same positions, with Thomas spinning at one point.

“My spinal cord turned to porridge around the third round and the crowd cheered me louder than anyone else.” Bernstein wrote on social media after the race. “I asked everyone who was winning when I came in and no one knew but they were screaming for me. Thanks very much. Every one of you fans is the best! I’m going to get a back bracelet that goes from my ankles to my tongue and they’re going to put me in the truck tomorrow. I’ll be there!”

Race #2 takes place Sunday at 3:30 p.m. Pacific Time after the NTT IndyCar Series race.

race results