Nine weeks of racing is in the books at the Kinross Speedway.
Action continues to heat up in the race for division points titles as several drivers from the Canadian Sault make their presence at the track.
The following is a complete recap of last week's show provided by the Kinross Speedway:
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First feature wins of the season for Tim Aho and Ray Golladay Jr.
By Gerry Liscumb Jr.
The 2004 season at the Kinross Speedway continues to roll on and week #9 would see some more new faces find themselves pit side for the full show of racing brought to you by the Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club.
Fairview, MICHIGAN native Kim Zenker (#96) and Spanky Robinson (#26) would make their first appearances of the season behind the wheel of their Late Model cars while 3-time Pure Stock track champion, Dan Shumbarger (09) would make his return to the cozy confines of the ¼ mile.
The full slate of racing action would also see the drivers in thick for the feature lap money sponsored by Northside Used Auto.
Sault Ste. Marie, ONTARIO native George Wilson (67) would set fast time in the Late Model Division with a time of 14.010 seconds.
Wilson would back that up with a win in the 4-car dash while Dave Vansloten, driving the Bohling Racing #59, would find his way back to victory lane after a 4-week absence in the 10-lap heat race.
Sam Bohling (45) and Kim Zenker (96) would pace the field to the green flag of their 25-lap feature event.
Zenker, making his first feature start of the season would lead the first 3 laps before the caution flag would fly when Wilson and Vansloten would come together in turn 3 and 4. On the restart Zenker would hold onto the top spot until lap 5 when Tim Aho (27) would take the lead from the second last row.
Aho would extend his lead over the next portion of the race with Wilson and Vansloten making their way to the 2nd and 3rd positions respectively on lap 18.
Neither contender would be able to close the distance on your leader, as Aho would reel in a long-awaited feature win.
The checker flag would prove to be his first feature of the 2004 season. Wilson, Vansloten, Zenker and Spanky Robinson (26) would round out your top 5.
Fifteen-cars would register pit side in the Pure Stock Division and Chuck Johnson (5) would set the fast time with a lap of 16.680.
Sault Ste. Marie, MICHIGAN competitor Al Odbert III (32) took home the Four Car Dash win while Terry Johnson (11) outlasted his peers in the Australian Pursuit.
T. Johnson would return to victory lane with a win in heat race #1 while Ray Golladay Jr. (20) would take home the division's second 10-lap affair.
Your top two spots would remain unchanged throughout the final laps of this race, as Golladay Jr. would take his first feature win of the season in this caution-free event.
Huyck would finish 2nd while Randy Miller (73) would continue his bid to catch the division points' leader finishing 3rd after starting at the tail end of the field.
The Factory Stock Division would see another night of tight-qualifying as 3-tenths of a second would be all that separated the 8-car field.
Pee Wee Fountain (50) would set fast time with a lap of 15.400 seconds.
Jerry Ball (8) would grab the early bragging rights with the four-car dash win while Josh Ware (7) would continue his hot-streak as-of-late by taking the heat race win.
The field would be tight throughout the race and the checkered flag would fall with Ware taking his 2nd consecutive feature win at Kinross. Johnson, Piche, Ball, Fox, Devine and Nightlinger would round out the field.
Twenty-one Four Cylinder cars would qualify on this night in this up-and-coming division. Eric Sherlund (79) would set fast time at 17.930. That is a mere 4-hundredths off the current track record.
John Clawson (35) would take the four-car dash win while Kenny Nayback (43) and Dean Eggart (88) would take home the wins in their respective Australian Pursuit races.
Chris Piche (21), Chris Brady (17) and Preston Nightlinger (48) would win the three heat races.
The checkered flag would fall with Clawson taking the win with Sherlund and Nightlinger capping off the podium positions.
The evening's card of racing would not be done until the two Powder Puff Races would pull the curtain on the great night of racing.
The first race would feature lady's who opted to compete in the 4-Cylinder Division. Kelly Nightlinger (5) and Reanna Ellis (50) made up the front row for this 8-lap affair.
The field remained pretty much unchanged throughout the race with Nightlinger taking the win after lapping the entire pack.
Ellis was 2nd with Yolanda Ellis finishing 3rd.
Then it was time for the Pure Stock and Factory Stock cars to make their way out with their respective interim drivers set to go.
Your top two cars ( Nicole Rader and Kasey Nyberg ) would battle throughout the whole race with a last lap pass needed for Nyberg to take the win.
A post-race inspection would reveal that the winner was not who was originally expected and was in-fact track co-promoter Donna Nyberg.
Nyberg, a former Pure Stock competitor herself would later relinquish the win therefore giving Rader the well-deserved victory in her first ever time behind the wheel of a stock car.
Congratulations to all the ladies!
The race to the 2004 track championships continues this coming Friday, August 13th with a special night at the Kinross Speedway.
A full 4-in-1 show is on tap with an Auto Value Parts Store of Sault Ste. Marie, MICHIGAN Late Model Special
Qualifying is at 6 p.m. with racing action to follow at 7:30 p.m.
Off the ¼ mile the Speedway will be hosting a special fundraiser.
Co-inciding with the strong support from Late Model driver George Wilson, the promoters of the Kinross Speedway are pleased to be hosting a fundraiser for Baby Tyler (www.baby04.com)
Tyler Berlinguette is a 4-month old Sault Ste. Marie, ONTARIO baby who was born with severe Bilateral Club Foot.
With extensive expenses incurred from traveling in excess of 8 hours from home for numerous check-ups and surgery, Tyler and his family are looking for the publics help.
With a strong foundation within our racing community, and the proven-ability to step forward when called upon, we are confident that this will be a huge success.
A number of events will be held throughout the night for the family who is expected to be in attendance.
We ask for your attendance and help in this well-deserved cause.
For more information on this event or anything concerning the Kinross Speedway you can check us out online at www.kinrossspeedway.com or by contacting track promoters Todd and Donna Nyberg at 906-647-3405.
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PHOTO: Feature winner Tim Aho. (picture provided by Rod Aubertin of www.saultracers.com)