Stehouwer, Sherman and the Clingan Clan Checker at Spartan Speedway
Poor Paul's perfect season looked in jeopardy Friday morning, until the skies cleared and the miracle season continued with B & L Truck Caps night at Spartan Speedway.
The 22-car 40-lap Metro Ford Super Late Model event was filled with action from the start as the front row cars of John Dunivion and Joey Shuryan scattered the pack for three restarts. The third time was the charm as Shuryan took the early lead. Jon McNett looked tough again on the outside groove as he and Dunivion waged a heated battle for 2nd. McNett finally took over the position and was all over Shuryan for the lead when Chris Place (2nd in points) spun in turn 3. 10 laps into the event, there was hot racing all over the track as Jeff Hackworth got under Scott Lamp for 5th and Harry Foote took to the outside to claim 7th from John Ledwidge. Back up front, McNett got loose trying to take the lead and thus allowed Dunivion back into 2nd. Lap 15 saw the end of Dunivions fine run with a cut tire dicing with McNett in turn 1. The halfway point had the veterans: Foote and Phil Massuch coming from their 9th and 10th starting spots, breaking into the top 5. Shuryan continued to hold the point when McNett got into turn 3 a little hot and gave up 2nd to Dave Stehouwer. With 14 laps to go, Stehouwer jumped to the outside to challenge Shuryan for the lead and finally took the point 3 laps later. With the leaders battling, Hackworth had a mirror full of Foote and Massuch for 4th. Their great battle ended as Hackworth and Foote got together in turn 1 and both were sent to the rear. Shuryan's great run was cut short with 2 laps to go as he was sent to the rear for getting into McNett on the outside. Stehouwer saw his lead evaporate with a 2-lap shootout for the finish. but using his patented restart held on for the popular win over McNett, Ledwidge, Massuch and Doug Finley. Stan Perry was the hard charger coming from 14th to finish 7th. Chuck Garrison, Jim Heeney and McNett took heat wins and Darel Woosley dominated the semi-feature. Doug Finley set fast time for the 30 Supers on hand with a lap of 13:099.
The Michigan Modifieds had a 13-car invert putting Mike Logan and Bob Bauer on the front row. Logan took the early lead until a backstretch tangle took out the cars of Jim Butler and Terry Goldberg. Logan continued to lead as Bud Perry and Gary Sherman quickly worked their way to into the top 5 by lap 14. A caution on lap 15 for Nyle Weiler hitting the front stretch wall closed up the pack. The restart had Sherman jumping to the outside to claim 3rd from Perry. Two laps later, Sherman took 2nd from Bauer and quickly closed in on Logan. 13 laps from the finish, the top 4 cars ran side-by-side until Sherman finally got the lead and Perry took 3rd from Bauer. As Sherman stretched his lead, Perry was able take 2nd from Logan with 3 laps to go. Sherman won back-to-back features, as Perry took 2nd. Mike Logan had his best run of the season for 3rd and positions 4th- 7th finishing under a blanket with Bauer nipping Jason Parrish and Larry Wallace at the stripe. Dick Lapratt, Lee Taylor and Kyle Hicks, grabbing his first checkered took the heat wins. Dan Logan took a rare semi-feature win and Sherman set fast time at13:652 for the 30 modifieds.
The Performance NW Street Stocks had a deep 14-car invert putting Ken Clingan and Chris Gay on the pole. Stan Lambert put out the first caution 2 laps into the event with suspension damage. Rob Marten and Pat Dent were the cars on the move when the fine 3rd place run of Jonathan Eppler ended as he was sent to the rear for contact with Beckner Jr. The restart had Clingan under Gay for the lead. Marten and Dent stuck together and were up to 2nd with 8 laps to go. Two laps later, the duo caught Clingan and as the leaders met lapped traffic, Dent made a nice move on the backstretch to take over 2nd. Two laps from the finish, heavy lapped traffic had Dent and Marten making contact in turn 2 and both cars were sent to the rear. This final caution waved as the curfew fell upon the winner Clingan. Jeff Houghton was rewarded 2nd, Mike Heavens 3rd, Gay 4th and Landon Hidy 5th. Rookie, Jamie Feguer, Wayne Beckner Jr. and Rob Patrick took heat wins. Hidy took the semi-feature. Dent led the 27 cars in qualifying with a lap of 14:592.
The 14-car Post-Net Pony Stock feature had 73 year old, Norv Stockell and Jerri Munn on the front row. Manny Goodrich took the lead bringing 80 year old, Art Kimball with her. Cathy Clingan wasted no time and was up to 3rd. Jim Clark was running his best race of the year as the leaders went 3 wide into turn 3. 7 laps to go, Clingan took the lead bringing Clark with her. Clingan went on to take the win as Chris VanGorden nipped Clark for 2nd. Kyle Ballard and the ageless wonder Kimball rounded out the top 5. Manny Goodrich and Julie Abbott took heat wins and Clingan set fast time at 17:04.
This week is Shram Auto and Truck Parts Night with the addition of the ever-popular spectator drags. Make plans to bring your street car and give "The Track the Stars Call Home" a try. Racing always starts at 7:30 sharp.
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