By: Spartan correspondent, Michelle Sprague
The Harvest, a tradition at the Spartan Speedway, was held Sunday, September 5th, promising over 300 laps of racing. The racing program capped off the Sunday Slugfest Series, and as an added bonus, the SuperPro Series made an appearance to run a 75-lap feature.
The evening’s festivities kicked off with the Boss Snow Equipment Pony Stock “A” feature. Scott Casaday and Lex Jarecki battled for the top spot after the green flag waved, but Patrick Denison took command on lap five, as Casaday tried to hold off Todd Metz Jr. and Edson Rowley III in a battle for second. Metz took away the second position on lap ten then went to work on Denison for the lead. Wayne Beckner Jr. made it a three car battle for first, while Darren Wright jumped into the thick of things. Metz Jr. took the lead on lap seventeen, with Beckner Jr. on his rear bumper. Beckner Jr. took the win with a last lap pass. Metz Jr., Wright, Denison, and Rowley rounded out the top five. Metz Jr. took the 2010 Slugfest Series “A” Championship title. Edson Rowley III pulled double-duty and walked away with the 2010 Slugfest Series Pony Figure 8 Championship. Brittany Toth was shown as the leader on the start of the Pony Stock “B” feature. Mike Westphal took over briefly, with Rich Roberts taking the top spot, from the outside, on lap four. A three-way battle for first shaped up as Brandon Moody and Darrell Taylor went to work on Roberts for the lead. Taylor tried every move in the book to find a way around Roberts, but at the checkered, it was Roberts with the win. Darrell Taylor was named 2010 Slugfest Series “B” Champion.
Ricky Dinius brought the Pure Stock field down to the green for their 25-lap feature. Dinius held off the pack until Lonnie Saumier took the lead on lap seven. Saumier had company, as Chad Lamson sliced his way up through the field to sit second. Lamson took the lead on lap 12 and never looked back. Back in the pack, a great battle shaped up for third between Scott Beach, Matt Childers and Mark Carson. Ultimately, Chad Lamson came home the victor, taking both the feature win and the 2010 Slugfest Series Pure Stock Championship. Lamson also did double duty during the Sunday Slugfest’s and was crowned the 2010 Slugfest Series Pure Stock Figure 8 Champion.
Cautions plagued the 100-lap Andrews Chevrolet Super Late Model feature, so much so that the feature was cut to 75 laps, then the race exceeded it’s time limit and was called at the last caution, number 14 of the race, at lap 59. Evan Barrett took the early lead, with Stan Yee Jr., always a threat, taking the top spot on lap eleven. Randy Day took charge at lap 15. Dave Stehouwer drove under Day for the lead on lap 19, but couldn’t hold off Phil Massuch on a lap 35 restart. Massuch took the lead as Harry Foote Jr., Jon McNett and Jimmy Gallagher battled it out behind him. At the stripe, it was Massuch with the win followed by Gallagher, Foote, Luke Krick, and Al McLaughlin. Jimmy Gallagher clinched the 2010 Slugfest Series Super Late Model Championship.
The Valvoline Instant Oil Change Modifieds saw lapped traffic play an important role in the difference between a first and second place finish. Megan Carpenter took the early lead from Wayne Haughton, but veteran driver, Ron Parish, took the lead from the youngster on lap four. Sonny Coito moved into second to challenge Parish for the lead, while Chris Ozanich had a mirror full of Travis Eddy. Coito took the lead on lap 22, as Eddy went to work on parish for second. Eddy took the second spot on lap 27 and went to work on Coito, while Tom Hernly Jr. reeled in the lead pair. Coito, in the inside lap got trapped behind a slower car, with Eddy on the outside, poised to make the pass. Eddy took the lead and Coito tried to fight back but ran out of laps. At the line, it was Eddy, Coito, Hernly Jr., Parish and Larry Wallace.
The SuperPro Series saw Claude Plante Jr. score an emotional win over Mike Kugler, who led 42 of the 50 laps. Plante took advantage of a late caution, dove under Kugler on the restart and went on to put one in the win column. Kugler, Tommy Cook, Brian Bauman and Kevin Todd rounded out the top five.
Please join us Friday, Sept. 10th, for Spartan’s very special night of destruction. Events for the evening include School Bus Figure 8, Figure 8 Trailer Races, Flag Pole Races, Powderpuff races, and Modified, Pure Stock and Pony Stock “no rules” features. Special show pricing applies. We’ll see you at the races!
