The temperature in the air had dropped considerably this past Friday night but the driving was still hot and furious in what proved to be a wild night of racing at the Kinross Speedway.
With a full 4-in-1 show on tap, the cars and stars of this ¼ mile facility were on hand for one of the few point’s nights remaining.
The battle for positions continued and some changes were noticeable when all was said-and-done.
A special thank-you is imperative to Gerald Cartright and the drivers of the Dafter Mud Runs who were in attendance on this night.
Not only did they put on a great intermission show, the kids rides around the Kinross Community Park were a huge hit … thanks again!
The Pure Stock Division would see Ray Golladay Jr. (20) setting fast time for the 2nd consecutive week, this time with a lap of 16.760 seconds. Al Odbert III (32) was victorious in the four-car dash while Larry Young Sr. (26) started off his very productive night by winning the Australian Pursuit.
Both Odbert III and Young Sr. would make return appearances to Victory Lane with wins in heat race one and two respectively.
Young Sr. and Tim Gregory (21) would pace the competitive field to the green flag of their 25-lap feature event. Young Sr. would lead the field through the first 5 laps before being slowed down by the first caution of the night on lap 6.
A broken axle on the #55 car of Barry Glenn would relegate your current point leader to the infield for the duration of the race. When action resumed a battle would ensue at the front of the field between Young Sr., Randy Miller (73) and Chuck Johnson (5R). It would take until lap 12 before Johnson was able to make the pass and into the lead.
A few late cautions would bunch of the field while two black flags would see the field reduced by two.
When the race for the win continued no one would have enough to get past Johnson as the Newberry, MICHIGAN native would grab the first feature win of his rookie campaign.
Young Sr., Bill Cryderman (61), Dan Shumbarger (09) and Odbert III rounded out the top 10.
In Factory Stock action, Pee Wee Fountain (50) would make his return well known after setting fast time for the division with a fast lap of 15.350 seconds.
Fountain was absent one-week prior with engine problems in his familiar red #50 car.
Another newcomer would make their first-ever appearance in the division, as Petoskey, MICHIGAN native Charlie Wager (10) would bring his truck to the Speedway to shake-it down before the big September 11th race.
Cecil Piche (88) won the four-car dash while Josh Ware (7) was the winner of the Australian Pursuit.
Jerry Ball (8) progressed with his consistent season by taking home the 10-lap heat race.
The feature event would be reduced by one car after Paul Fox (36) experienced problems with his #36 Camaro.
Dave Devine (4) and Wager would make up your front row for the drop of the green flag.
The Midas sponsored car of Devine would have a stellar opening portion to the race, as he would be your leader through the opening 10-laps.
It would take until the midway point (lap 12) before Piche would make his move from inside row 3 and into the lead.
Following a lap 15 caution flag, Jared Nightlinger (48) would find himself on the back bumper of the “Pink Panther” looking for his first feature win of the season.
The laps would wind down with the checker flag falling on Piche for his 2nd feature win of the season. Nightlinger and Fountain would cap off the podium positions.
The Four Cylinder division would see it’s current point leader, John Clawson (35) setting the fast time of the night with a lap of 17.810. That time proved to be a mere 5 hundredths of a second slower than the current track record held by Eric Sherlund (79).
Chris Brady (17) won the Four Car Dash while Adam Gardner (81) and Tony Rankin (55) won the division’s Australian Pursuit Races.
Gardner would return to victory lane with a win in heat race #1 while Sherlund would win heat race #2.
Scott Marshall (2) and Brian Greenski (50) would bring the large field of cars down to the green flag. Marshall would hold onto the lead for the first circuit around the track before Norman Kuczenski (34) would take over on lap 2. The Pickford, MICHIGAN driver would lead the field up until a caution on lap 8 that would see 5 cars being sent to the rear of the field after a turn 2 mishap.
When the action continued Brady overtook the lead from his 13th starting position.
The leader would withstand constant pressure from behind him and it would take until lap 21 before Clawson would overtake your leader.
One lap later, the third caution of the night would fly and would result in 3 cars being sent pit side after receiving the black flag. Despite the restarts and bunched up field Clawson was able to hold on for his 8th feature win of the season. Brady, Sherlund, Kuczenski, Don Etcher (1), James Thompson (8), Steve Stec (13), Greenski, Marshall and Josh Grady (22) would complete the top 10 positions.
For the first-time this season, the Late Model Division would not see a driver break into the 13-second bracket during qualifying.
Nick Guerriero (4) would ultimately set the fast lap with a time of 14.270 seconds.
Spanky Robinson (26) would take the win in the four-car dash before Guerriero would make his first trip to victory lane on the night in the 10-lap heat race.
The feature event would be reduced by one car after veteran Sault Ste. Marie, MICHIGAN driver Dennis Aho would experience problems with his #75 car.
Robinson was looking for his first feature win of the season as he would be your leader for the first 6 laps of this race.
It was by lap 7 that Guerriero would make the pass and into the top spot. Nobody was able to close the gab and chase down the leader as Guerriero would capture his 2nd feature win of the season.
Robinson and Sam Bohling (45) rounded out the top 3.
The chase to the 2004 track championships will resume once again this coming Friday, August 27th with a full show sponsored by Soo Collision.
Qualifying begins at 6 p.m. with racing action to follow at 7:30 p.m.
Don’t forget the season will be capped off with two big nights of racing.
Friday, September 3rd will prove to be Season Championship Night along with our participation in the Chippewa County Fair.
The added pressure will be felt as drivers compete for not only positions in the standings but the prosperity of being crowned a Chippewa County Fair Champion.
Then one week later, the Speedway presents the 2nd Annual Randy Dewitt Memorial Invitational on Saturday, September 11th.
With over $3700 in first place prize money, this race is sure to draw another large car count for it’s second running.
For more information on any of the happenings at the Speedway you can contact the Speedway by phone at 906-647-3405 or by e-mail at dnyberg@up.net or kinross_speedway@yahoo.ca.
The Kinross Speedway is located at the Kinross Community Park in Kinross, MICHIGAN. Take exit 378 off the I-75 and follow the signs.
Until the next green flag flies at the track “Where Action is the Attraction!!” … this is your report from down trackside. __________________________________________________
PHOTO Pure Stock feature winner Chuck Johnson #5. (photo courtesy of Rod Aubertin from Saultracers.com)