By: Spartan correspondent, Michelle Sprague

    Race fans at Spartan Speedway got more bang for their buck on Mid-Season Championship night, sponsored by Northside Service and Andrew’s Chevrolet, as the Performance Automotive NW Sportsmans and the Boss Snow Equipment Pony Stocks ran make-up features for the May 30th rain out.

   The Performance Automotive NW Sportsman division saw Lansing’s Bill Denny take the lead as the green flag waved, but Bubber Patrick, of Stockbridge, after caution waved, drove into the lead, and put some distance between himself and the rest of the field. Williamston’s Jordan Harvey, sitting in second, had his hands full, as Mason’s Scott Sigman tried to find a way around Harvey, with Charlotte’s Dane Long and East Lansing’s Jack Koone Jr. on the move. Long jumped to the outside of Harvey and was pinched into the wall, sending both Long and Harvey to the rear, with Long retiring to the pits. Koone closed on Patrick’s bumper for the restart and took the lead away while Leslie’s Damon Place and Andrew Clark, of St. Johns, battled for the third position. Sigman made his move on Clark and Place, then went to work on Patrick, as Koone checked out on the field. At the line, it was Koone, Sigman, Patrick, Place, and Clark.

   The Performance Automotive NW Sportsmans ran their mid-season championship feature later in the racing program, turning the ¼-mile into a battle zone. One car left on the hook during warm-up laps, while Mason’s Mike Ammerman, Long and Clark all got together on the front stretch, sending Ammerman hurtling into the turn one and two wall, while Long retired to the pit for a second time. With Place in the lead and Harvey in second, the duo pulled away from the field, as Koone went to work on Clark, moving himself into position to take on Harvey for second. Koone was looking for a way around Harvey, as Place pulled away from the field. Koone jumped to the outside, was pinched up to the wall, backed off, and dove under Harvey, shoving him up the track, clearing a path to take a shot at Place. As the checker waved, it was Place, Koone, Harvey, Sigman, and Clark.

   The Boss Snow Equipment Pony Stock division turned back the clock, running their May 30th feature as well. Gregory’s Jeremy LaFontaine sat on the pole and led the first six laps, as Lansing’s Rich Roberts held Lansing’s Brian Beckner and Haslett’s Scott Rogers at bay. Jackson’s Edson Rowley III charged through the field to take the lead at the halfway point. Lansing’s Bill McBride worked his way into the second spot, as Lansing’s Lex Jarecki issued a challenge, taking the spot away with six laps to go. Rowley ran away from the pack, leaving McBride to try to reel in Jarecki for second. Laps ran out for Jarecki and McBride, and at the stripe, it was Rowley, Jarecki, McBride, Roberts, and MI Center’s Marq Eaton.

   Mid-Season Championship feature for the Boss Snow Equipment Pony Stocks saw a new face take the reins, as Patrick Denison, of Eaton Rapids, led the first five laps after the start. LaFontaine took away that spot, just five laps in, while Roberts, and Denison tried to hold off Rowley and Jackson’s George Wyers. Rowley took the lead at the halfway mark, with Lansing’s Wayne Beckner Jr., McBride, Laingsburg’s Joe Bates, and Denison trying to keep pace. After 20 laps, it was Rowley, Beckner Jr., McBride, Bates, and Dennison.

   The Andrew’s Chevrolet Super Lates saw a number of Indiana drivers make the long haul to the Spartan Speedway. Dimondale’s Jimmy Gallagher scored the Four Car Dash win, while Angola’s Mike Kugler took the heat win. Kugler took command in the 40-lap feature, but Jackson’s Evan Barrett and Kugler ran side-by-side for the lead, only three laps in, with Barrett taking the upper hand. Barrett led until a lap 32 spin sent him to the rear of the field. John Dunivon, of Dansville, ran a solid second, while Gallagher and Lansing’s Doug Finley moved up through the field. Muskegon’s Stehouwer ran in the top five. Gallagher assumed the lead on lap 32, and was able to hold off Finley for the win. Stehouwer, Barrett, and Kugler rounded out the top five.

   Corunna’s Larry Wallace led wire-to-wire to take the win in the Instant Oil Change Modified feature. John Mamula was able to hold off Charlotte’s Perry Davenport to come home second, while Indiana’s USA Mod driver, Tony Dager, held Charlotte’s Bill Butler at bay to come home fourth. At the checker, it was Wallace, Mamula, Davenport, Dager, and Butler. Mamula and Mason’s Dick LaPratt took the heat wins for the division.

   The Eastside Invaders continue to flex their Pure Stock muscle, as Davison’s Lonnie Saumier and Columbiaville’s Joe O’Leary finished one and two in the 20-lap feature. Saumier checked out on the field, while Dimondale’s Spencer Drake and O’Leary battled tooth and nail, with Drake giving up second only after the corner of his hood impeded his vision Lansing’s Ian Schafer and Wayne Parkhurst II had a battle going between them, with Schafer coming out on top. At the line, it was Saumier, O’Leary, Drake, Schafer, and Parkhurst II. O’Leary tallied the heat win.

   Please join us each and every Friday night, at the Spartan Speedway, for exciting short track racing action. July 11th is the Chargin’ Charlie Ryan Jr. Memorial Race, sponsored by B & L Truck Caps of Potterville, along with Old Timers Night, featuring Super Lates (75 laps), Modifieds, VROA and Legends. Sunday, July 13th, is a special show on Auto Value Bumper to Bumper Series Night and UAW Night. Featured divisions will be Sprints, Sportsmans, Pure Stock, Pony Stock, plus Pony Stock Figure 8’s. It is also a Street Stock Slugfest. Check out the website at www.spartanspeedway.com or phone the hotline at (517) 676-5404 for more information. As always, we’ll see you at the races!