By: Spartan correspondent, Michelle Sprague

    If it was racing you wanted, you got it this past weekend at the Spartan Speedway, with the annual running of the Harvest 300. The Andrews Chevrolet Super Late Models took center stage, as 29 powerhouses were slated to time in for their 100 lap feature. A fifteen lap B feature was a necessity, and Stockbridge’s Jim Heeney took the win. Also transferring to the feature were George Rangle, Bob Bauer, and Dave Bigos. Kalamazoo’s John “Torch” Osterhouse took the lead for the start of the feature, with Edgerton, Ohio’s Jack Landis in hot pursuit. The duo would battle for the lead for 26 laps many of which were run side by side, with Landis in his very familiar line on the outside. Dimondale’s Jimmy Gallagher got around Muskegon’s Dave Stehouwer for third, while Vicksburg’s Harry Foote made his way into the top five. Dewitt’s Jon McNett made his charge to the front, sitting second by lap 33. Caution closed the field up behind Landis, and on the restart, the battle was on, with McNett and Landis swapping the lead many times during the next 14 laps. McNett ducked under Landis and took the lead for good on lap 46, with Gallagher slowing on the track. Gallagher made his exit, just before a competition red came out for a fuel only stop, just past the halfway mark. On the restart, it was Landis, Osterhouse, Dewitt’s Chad Finley, and Stehouwer, sitting in the top five within striking distance of the leader, McNett. Dewitt’s Jeff Finley, Delton’s Chuck Greer, and Lansing’s Doug Finley sat just outside of the top five. On lap 71, C. Finley took a look to the low side of Osterhouse for third, as the leader, McNett, slowed going down the backstretch, made the hard right turn into the pit, ending his evening. Landis inherited the lead on the restart, and checked out on the field, leaving Osterhouse to fend off three Finleys-Chad, Doug and Jeff. After 100 laps, it was Landis, taking the win on his first visit back in a race car, since the death of the Godfather of the Ohio Posse, Stan Perry, his father-in-law, who was a driving force in this division, at the Spartan Speedway, for many years. Osterhouse, C. Finley, D. Finley, and J. Finley rounded out the top five. Stehouwer, Jackson’s Evan Barrett, Greer, Bauer, and Ann Arbor’s John Ledwidge made the top ten.

   The Valvoline Instant Oil Change Modified division saw Hanover’s Earl Miles and Corunna’s Larry Wallace bring the field down for the green flag, with Lansing’s Chris Ozanich able to duck under Miles on the start of the 50-lap feature, to run second to Wallace. Wallace and Ozanich ran one and two, with Ozanich able to get around Wallace for the lead on lap six. Miles, Stockbridge’s Bill Heeney Jr., Charlotte’s Perry Davenport, and Battle Creek’s Dusty Carl ran in a tight little pack, right behind the leaders. Caution closed the field up behind Ozanich and Wallace. A.J. Foote, of Vicksburg, ducked under Carl, for the sixth position, while Davenport jumped to the high side of Heeney to take away the fourth position. Davenport went to work on Miles, taking away the spot from the inside lane. H. Foote made the pass on son A.J., finding his way into the top five, but was unable to run down Miles for a shot at fourth. With two laps to go, Davenport ducked under Wallace for second. The pair ran side by side, with Davenport nipping Wallace at the line for second. After 50 laps, it was Ozanich, Davenport, Wallace, Miles, and H. Foote. A.J. Foote, Carl, Mason’s Rob Newman, Okemos’s Ron Parish, and Mike Piette rounded out the top ten.

   The Performance Automotive NW Sportsman feature was like watching a rerun of the 2008 season, with Charlotte’s Dane Long and East Lansing’s Jack Koone Jr. clawing their way to the front. Holt’s Jimmy Scavarda took the early lead, with Clio’s Dave Christiansen, Mason’s Scott Sigman in hot pursuit. Sigman got around Christiansen, with Bay City’s Don Riley moving up through the pack, bringing Long and Koone with him. Long tacked himself on to Scavarda’s rear bumper, challenging every step of the way for the lead. Sigman, Christianson, and Stockbridge’s Bubber Patrick were running nose to tail, when Koone got into Riley, sending both to the rear. On the restart, it was Long, Sigman, Christiansen, and Patrick all biding their time for a shot at Scavarda. Leslie’s Nate Moon, Williamston’s Jordan Harvey, and Leslie’s Damon Place were battling for position, when Koone and Riley came up on the outside, trying to make it four-wide, with Holt’s Chuck Ammerman getting caught in the middle. Caution waved on lap 28, and on the restart, it was Scavarda and Long, once again fighting for position. As laps wound down, Scavarda, smoking badly, continued to lead, with Koone moving up to sit in third behind Long by lap 44. Caution waved for Patrick, who slowed on the front stretch after a stellar run. On the lap 45 restart, Long tried the high side for the lead, and took the top spot on lap 47. Koone and Riley got around Scavarda as well to finish second and third. Scavarda came home fourth followed by Christiansen. Moon, Harvey, Flint’s Nick Lechota, Place, and Charlotte’s Matt Kirchen rounded out the top ten. Long was crowned the 2008 Slugfest Sportsman Champion.

   It was the Eastside Invaders getting it done in the Pure Stock 35-lap feature. Springport’s Dale Wagner took the lead after the drop of the green, with Flint’s CJ Davis taking the spot away. Caution waved as Hanna Christiansen, of Clio, got into Davis, sending both to the rear, opening the door for Davison’s Lonnie Saumier to take the lead. Davison’s Chris Stearns was working his way up through the pack, and took the lead on lap 12, leaving Saumier, Nick Johnston, and Mt Morris’s Jimmy Stratton to decide second through fourth. Lap 26 saw Johnston make his move around Stratton for third, while Munith’s Rob Patrick ran in fifth. At the stripe, it was Stearns, Saumier, Johnston, Stratton, and Patrick. Davis, Christiansen, Dimondale’s Steve Orta, Flint’s Jordan Lechota, and Wagner rounded out the top ten. Saumier was crowned the 2008 Slugfest Pure Stock Champion.

   Mason’s Ken Dollarhite and Portland’s Jim Harbenski brought the Boss Snow Equipment Pony Stocks down for the start of their 25-lap feature. Dollarhite took the lead as the green flag waved, with Haslett’s Scott Rodgers taking over on lap three. Bridgeport’s Scott Quall wound his little truck up on the outside to take the lead and run a commanding race from lap five on. Walled Lake’s Jake Thompson ran in second, with Lansing’s Brian Beckner and Lex Jarecki right behind him. Eaton Rapids’ Patrick Denison inherited third as Charlotte’s Todd Metz Jr. and Jarecki got together, ending their hunt for the win. Lansing’s Wayne Beckner Jr. ducked under his brother for second, as Pinckney’s Julie Dailey made her run to the front, sitting fifth by lap 18. Dailey continued to better her position, getting around B. Beckner and Denison, to sit in third behind W. Beckner. As the checker waved, it was Quall, W. Beckner Jr., Dailey, Denison, and B. Beckner. Somerset Center’s Bill McBride, Jackson’s Edson Rowley III, Burton’s Paige Amy, MI Center’s Marq Eaton, and Rodgers rounded out the top ten. Wayne Beckner Jr. was crowned 2008 Slugfest 4 Cylinder Champion.

   Charlotte’s Todd Metz Jr. had a little something left for Lansing’s Brian Beckner during the Pony Stock Figure 8 15-lap feature. Beckner and Metz ran nose to tail for lap after lap. Metz got into Beckner, giving the lead briefly to Lansing’s Rich Roberts. Metz allowed Beckner to correct, and the duo went after Roberts on lap 10. Beckner and Metz got around Roberts, with Metz diving under Beckner on lap twelve. Metz took the win, with Beckner taking home the 2008 Pony Stock Figure 8 championship.

   Flint’s Andrew Burton led wire to wire to win the 25-lap Pure Stock Figure 8 feature. Flint’s Chad Lamson came home second, to be named the 2008 Pure Stock Figure 8 champion. Flint’s Jordan Lechota, Nick Johnston, and Dan Leeck rounded out the top five.