By: Spartan correspondent, Michelle Sprague

    Jeff Hackworth, of Leslie, scored his second win of 2008 in the Andrews Chevrolet Super Late division at the Spartan Speedway. Jim Heeney, of Stockbridge, and Jeff Brunt, of LaGrange, IN, started on the pole with Heeney to the lead on lap number one. Hackworth worked the outside lane, took the lead away on lap two and led the remaining 38 laps. Heeney held on to second until a hard-charging Jimmy Gallagher, of Dimondale, ducked under him and into second. Dewitt’s Jon McNett and Muskegon’s Dave Stehouwer were on the move, getting around Heeney as well. Caution waved when a car, laps down, and Gallagher got together, sending Gallagher to the rear. On the restart, it was McNett, trying to find a way to keep Hackworth in his sights. Stehouwer was fighting to keep Lansing’s Doug Finley at bay for third. Finley got around Stehouwer, then went after McNett. McNett retired to the infield, relinquishing the second spot to Finley who couldn’t catch the leader, Hackworth. At the line, it was Hackworth, Finley, Stehouwer, Jackson’s Evan Barrett, and Heeney. Stehouwer and Heeney each made a stop at the Corrigan Oil Winner’s Circle for their heat wins.

    Eaton Rapid’s Jason Parish made a stop in the Corrigan Oil Winner’s Circle as well for his wire-to-wire win in the Valvoline Instant Oil Change Modified division. Vermontville’s Leroy Ellis and Charlotte’s Dan Loughan tried to run Parish down, but Parish was just too much for them. The trio ran nose to tail, after caution for Battle Creek’s Dusty Carl (whose bad luck streak is up to number five now), closed the field up on Parish’s bumper. Charlotte’s Bill Butler ran in third, while Mason’s Dick LaPratt and Corunna’s Larry Wallace vied for the fifth position. Wallace and LaPratt got together, with Wallace getting his spot back. After 35-laps, it was Parish, Ellis, Loughan, Butler, and Wallace. Vermontville’s Tom Williams and Parish each tallied a heat win.

    Williamston’s Jordan Harvey swept the Performance NW Sportsman division, capturing both the heat and feature win. This win was his first in thirteen years of competition. On the start of the 25-lap feature, Leslie’s Nate Moon took the early lead, with Harvey right on his bumper. Moon led for 10 laps until retiring to the pit. Harvey took over the top spot, with Leslie’s Damon Place in hot pursuit. Back in the pack, East Lansing’s Jack Koone Jr. was making his way to the front, battling Mason’s Scott Sigman, side by side, for a number of laps, eventually picking off both Sigman and St. John’s Andrew Clark on the same lap. Koone went after Place and Harvey, with Koone taking his familiar route on the outside. Koone got around Place on lap 24 but didn’t have enough to get around Harvey. At the checker, it was Harvey, Koone, Place, Sigman, and Clark.

    The Boss Snow Equipment Pony Stocks were sixteen strong on this holiday weekend, with a pair of 55’s going at it for the lead after the green flag waved. Portland’s Jim Harbenski led the first couple of laps, with Lansing’s Dan Gokee trying to find a way around him. Gokee charged to the front, up the middle from his eighth starting position, with Jackson’s Edson Rowley III following suite from fourteenth on the grid. Gokee took the lead, with Rowley breathing down his neck for first. Rowley jumped to the high line and powered around Gokee for the lead. Lansing’s Lex Jarecki was working his way through the field as well, sitting in second by lap 12. Jarecki looked to the inside of Rowley for the lead, but couldn’t make it stick. Wayne Beckner Jr. and Bill McBride, both of Lansing, had a battle royal going on between themselves, with Beckner Jr. winning the war. After 20 laps, it was Rowley to the Winner’s Circle, followed by Jarecki, Gokee, Beckner Jr., and McBride. Jarecki and Lansing’s Rich Roberts took the heat wins for the evening.

    Leslie’s Justin Lewis made his return to the familiar #103 Pure Stock, flexing his muscle by leading eleven of fifteen laps in the Pure Stock feature. Dimondale’s Spencer Drake battled Charlotte’s Mark Childers for second, taking away the position, as Lewis ran away from the field. Slowly but surely, Drake reeled him in and took away the top spot on lap twelve. Dansville’s Mark Carson won a hard-fought battle with Childers for third, while Dimondale’s Ian Schafer, sporting a new ride, retired early, but rounded out the top five. At the line, it was Drake, Lewis, Carson, Childers and Schafer. Drake scored the heat win for the division.

    Randy Kretzinger Jr., one of Spartan’s Pony Stock drivers, captured his second Spectator Drag title for 2008. Kretzinger took home the money and the trophy at the Springport Motor Speedway, making this win two in a row for Randy.

    Please join us each and every Friday night, at the Spartan Speedway, for exciting, family-friendly racing action. July 11th features the Chargin’ Charlie Ryan Jr. Memorial race for Andrews Chevrolet Super Late Models, sponsored by B & L Truck Caps of Potterville. It is also Old Timers Night featuring the Vintage Racers group. The Valvoline Instant Oil Change Modifieds, VROA and the Legends round out the program. Sunday, July 13th, is Auto Value Bumper to Bumper and UAW Night, featuring the Auto Value Super Sprints, along with the Street Stock Slugfest, Performance Automotive NW Sportsmans, Pure Stocks, Boss Snow Equipment Pony Stocks, plus a Pony Stock Figure 8. Special show pricing will apply for this Sunday show. As always, we’ll see you at the races!