AUCKLAND, New Zealand – American Tyler Courtney finally checked winning at Western Springs Speedway off his to-do list with a victory in the United Truck Parts Int’l Midget Series on Monday.

Courtney inherited the lead after narrowly avoiding a flipping Michael Pickens, who crashed out of the lead with seven laps left, and then held off Zach Daum the rest of the way.

The reigning USAC National Midget Series champion beat Daum to the checkered flag by 1.654 seconds, with Australian Kaidon Brown completing the podium.

“To finally get one at the Springs is something I’ve been waiting for for a while,” said Courtney. “I love this place and its fans, and it’s so awesome to win one here. The atmosphere is unreal and I can’t say thanks enough to everyone that’s helped to make it happen.”

Jeremy Webb crossed fourth and Hayden Guptill was fifth.

Other notables in the field included American Chris Windom (11th), Pickens (15th), Zeb Wise (17th) and Logan Seavey (20th).

The finish:

Tyler Courtney, Zach Daum, Kaidon Brown, Jeremy Webb, Hayden Guptill, Matthew McCutcheon, Brock Maskovich, Peter Hunnibell, Brett Morris Jr., Jayden Worthington, Chris Windom, Hamish Dobbyn, David Pellow, Nathan Howard, Michael Pickens, Hayden Williams, Zeb Wise, Max Guildford, Travis Mills, Logan Seavey.