By: Spartan correspondent, Michelle Sprague
Rain put a damper on the August 9th Sunday Slugfest, but Mother Nature cooperated (except for the heat) for the second attempt at the Slugfest on August 16th.
Lansing’s Brian Beckner put his Boss Snow Equipment Pony Stock in the Corrigan Oil Winner’s Circle after a heated battle with Edson Rowley III of Jackson. The duo swapped the lead a number of times, running side by side as they crossed the line, in the closing laps of the 25-lap feature. Beckner took the lead for good on lap 22, finishing ahead of Rowley, Lex Jarecki, Darren Wright and George Wyers. Brad Harbenski and Patrick Denison took the heat wins for the evening.
From the stands, it appeared that Charlotte’s Dane Long had the Performance Automotive NW Sportsman win all sewn up, but a couple of lapped cars and a wily veteran, Robbie Johnston, changed the whole complexion of the 35-lap feature. Long looked to have been shot out of a cannon when the green flag dropped, while fast qualifier, Johnston, carefully worked his way into contention for the top spot by lap 20. Everything unraveled for Long when he elected to pass two slower cars on the outside, and Johnston dove to the inside, taking the lead away. Johnston was able to pull away from the field and went on to take the win over Long, Jimmy Scavarda, Matt Kirchen and Nick Lechota. Scavarda scored a win in the heat for the division.
It was mayhem in the Spartan Pure Stock division, as 23 cars timed in for their 25-lap feature. With a 15 car invert, the fast qualifier, Chad Lamson, started from nearly mid-pack. Tony Williams took the early lead, with Leslie’s Justin Lewis taking over the top spot on lap seven. Lonnie Saumier once again flexed his Pure Stock muscle and was the man to beat by lap 12. Nick Johnston was never quite able to run him down for the win and at the stripe it was Davison’s Saumier, Johnston, Nick Lechota, Andrew Burton and Scott Beach. Josh Brown, Mike Wines and Johnston each tallied heat wins.
Seventeen Andrew’s Chevrolet Super Late Models made their return to the tight ¼-mile of Spartan Speedway and Eaton Rapids’ Phil Massuch put on a driving clinic as only 7 cars remained on the lead lap when the checkered flag waved. Dewitt’s Jon McNett took the early lead, battling side by side with Jackson’s Evan Barrett. McNett got around Barrett on the high side then had to contend with Massuch on the low side. Massuch made the pass on McNett just nine laps into the 75-lap feature. McNett, Tom fedewa, and Dave Stehouwer ran in a tight little pack, while Massuch starting picking cars off in the rear of the field and by lap 47, he had already put nine cars down a lap and by lap 57, only seven remained on the lead lap. Massuch cruised to his win over McNett, Fedewa, Stehouwer and Barrett.
Edson Rowley III took the win in the Pony Stock Figure 8, 15-lap feature, over Joe Bates, Rich Roberts, Brad Harbenski, and Patrick Denison. The 25-lap Pure Stock Figure 8 winner was Flint’s Chad Lamson, with Jordan Lechota, Jerry Persails Jr., Anthony Williams and Mike Wines rounding out the top five.
Be sure to mark September 4th on your calendar, as Spartan Speedway presents the first-ever “Eve of Destruction.” This show is guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser with the Chain Gang, Push-Pull and Trailer Races, along with Pony Stock and Pony Stock Figure 8’s.
