By: Spartan correspondent, Michelle Sprague
Sunday, July 20th, brought cloudy skies, but that didn’t deter the Sunday Slugfest Sportsmans, Pure Stocks, Pony Stocks, Figure 8ers, and Super Lates from testing their mettle on the tight ¼-mile bullring called the Spartan Speedway.
The 75-lap Andrews Chevrolet Super Late Model feature saw Jon McNett take the early lead from Tommy Fedewa just nine laps in, and never looked back, in spite of constant pressure from Jack Landis. Landis led a group of heavy-hitters, Andy Bozell, Dave Sensiba and Phil Bozell, but none could equal the horsepower of McNett and Landis. Caution closed the field up many times behind McNett and his shadow, Landis, but McNett was able to pull away on restarts, with Landis playing catch up. A. Bozell, Sensiba, P. Bozell and Tim Ryan drove the wheels off their cars to keep the lead duo in their sights, but came up short as the checker fell. At the stripe, it was Jon McNett, of Dewitt, followed by Landis, A. Bozell, Sensiba, and P. Bozell as the top five.
Jack Koone Jr. grabbed the Performance Automotive NW Sportsman feature win on Performance Automotive Night at the Spartan Speedway. Matt Kirchen dove under Jordan Harvey on the start and into the lead, as Bubber Patrick and Koone duked it out for second. Dane Long was making his signature move to the front, on the outside, when he got loose coming out of turn four and got turned into the front stretch wall ending his evening. On the restart, Robbie Johnston and Jimmy Scavarda made their charge to the front as Koone dove under Patrick and Kirchen for the lead. Johnston put the hammer down and got around Koone for the lead on lap six, leaving Koone and Scavarda to battle for second. Johnston was dominating when his car exploded in flames, thus surrendering the lead to Koone. Ron Heeney tacked on to Koone’s bumper, jumping to the high side for a number of laps, eventually losing grip in the middle of turn four, turning himself around thus giving second place to Kirchen. At the line, it was Koone, Kirchen, Tony Basalone, Patrick, and Heeney. Kirchen and Koone also took the heat wins.
Twenty Spartan Pure Stocks did battle with the Eastside Invaders walking away with top honors. Ian Schafer took the early lead but Andrew Burton made a pass on the low side, hanging Schafer out to dry as Duane Damon, Gary Persails, and Kenny Clark got under him as well. Nick Johnston began his run to the front on lap five, as Persails got around Damon. Lonnie Saumier and Nick Lechota tacked onto Persails back bumper and by lap15 Saumier took the lead from Burton. Saumier continued to lead, as Scott Beach, Chris Stearns and Chad Lamson broke into the top five while Burton faded. At the checker, it was Davison’s Saumier with the win followed by Persails, Stearns, Beach and Lamson. Rob Clark, Beach and Lamson took heat wins, while Anthony Williams, Joe Sharp, Clark and Ricky Dinius transferred into the feature after the consi.
Joe Bates brought the seventeen Boss Snow Equipment Pony Stocks down to the green flag and went into the lead ahead of George Wyers and Rich Roberts. Patrick Denison came blasting up through the field to sit in third by lap three, then took the lead on lap four. Todd Metz Jr. took that lead away on lap nine, and the duo pulled away from the field. Misty Allen put on a driving exhibition, cutting a path through traffic from the middle of the track to sit in third by lap 18. Edson Rowley III challenged Allen for the third spot and nipped her at the stripe. At the line, it was Metz (first ever Spartan checker), Denison, Rowley, Allen, and Darren Wright. Heat wins went to Roberts and Jake Thompson.
Many drivers did double duty, some leaving the speedway with racing rheumatism and crumpled equipment. Two red flags were displayed during the Pure Stock Figure 8, the first for Dave Thorburn and the second for Andrew Burton and Wayne Parkhurst II. Chad Lamson dominated the 8, taking the commanding win over Jordan Lechota, Charlie Thom, Andrew Burton and Jeff Stinson. Next, the Pony Stocks came out to play on the Figure 8 and the red flag waved one more time for Todd Metz Jr. and Jim Harbenski, after the two collided, sending Metz spinning wildly through the infield. On the restart, it was Edson Rowley III to the point with Joe Bates, Parick Denison, Rich Roberts and Randy Kretzinger Jr. as the top five finishers.
Please join us each and every Friday night for exciting racing action. Friday, July 31st, marks the return of the wildly popular School Bus Figure 8’s, along with Modifieds, Pure Stocks and Pony Stocks. Special show pricing will apply. Friday, August 7th, will feature the MOD 50 for Modifieds, along with Sportsmans, Pure Stocks, Pony Stocks and Legends. As always, we’ll see you at the races!
