Andy Schmelzer Lands the Big One at Spartan Speedway
"The Man" of the 10,000 Lakes- Andy Schmelzer of Cottage Grove, Minnesota landed the big one as he won his first feature ever in the state of Michigan in only his 3rd race at Spartan Speedway. Schmelzer won in fine fashion as he took the lead from Trent Jenson on lap 6 and held off some heavy hitters in a few late race restarts to claim the Performance NW Street Stock 25 lap feature event. A late caution with 2 laps to go for the blown engine of Rob Patrick set up an exciting finish as Dave Thorburn, Dave Bollis, Ben Hidy and Landon Hidy looked to pressure Schmelzer for the win. Schmelzer held his line as the race was for 2nd as the Hidy brothers battled Thorburn and Bollis. At the line, Ladon Hidy was 2nd, Bollis (started 5th) 3rd, Thorburn (started 7th) 4th and Ben Hidy (started 15th) 5th. Landon Hidy was the Lost Tiger Tattoo Hard Charger for the 2nd week in a row (2nd from 16th).
The Street Stocks heats were claimed by Mike McEwan, Dave Bollis and Landon Hidy. The RaceFan.Com Semi-feature was won by Mike McEwan followed by Brain Beckner and Wayne Beckner Jr. Ben Hidy was the RaceFan.Com Fast Qualifier at 14.512 for the 25-car field.
The Comcast Cablevision Super Late Model 50 lap feature had a 12-car invert with John Dunivon and Lee Taylor the front row. Dunivon took the early lead until Tim Ryan dropped oil down the backstretch on lap 3 causing the entire pack to spin into turn 3. Chip Garlock got the worst of it as he climbed over John Ledwidge and road the backstretch wall on two wheels. Ryan and Garlock were done for the night as Ledwidge continued with severe body damage. When racing resumed a dirty outside groove created single file racing until lap 8 when Dave Stehouwer decided to try the 2nd groove and it proved to still be slippery as he spun coming out of turn 4 and collected Jon McNett. The restart had everybody staying single file through the halfway point. Then the racing heated up as drivers started cleaning off the outside groove. The battle was for 7th as Charlie Ryan Jr. worked the outside of Bill Heeney Jr. and Doug Finley was glued to Heeney's bumper. Finley finally jumped to the outside and the two veterans quickly proved the outside groove was back as they worked their way up to 4th and 5th by lap 40. Lap 42 had Jim Davis feeling the pressure in 3rd and he started to work over Lee Taylor for 2nd when the two got together in turn 4. The restart had Davis sent to the rear and Ryan Jr. jumping outside Taylor for 2nd. Ryan Jr. then took the lead from Dunivon on lap 44 and from there went on for his first win of the season as Dunivon and Finley (started 13th) went side by side at the stripe for 2nd. Rookie, Lee Taylor brought home a fine 4th place finish with Joey Shuryan 5th (started 3rd). "Hard" Chargin' Charlie Ryan Jr. also was the Pierce Race Engines Hard Charger (1st from 12th).
Super Late Models heats were won by Tim Rugg, Jimmy Thiel and Bill Heeney Jr. The Race Fan.Com Semi-feature went to Jimmy Thiel followed by Chip Garlock and Jimmy Gallagher. Charlie Ryan Jr. was the RaceFan.Com Fast Qualifier at 13.138 for the 26-car field.
The WIBM AM1450 Michigan Modfieds 35 lap feature had a 9-car invert putting Dick Lapratt and Wayne Haughton on the front row. The top 8 cars raced in formation until lap 3 when Lapratt took the point. Lapratt led through lap 8 when Larry Wallace went low for the lead. Haughton then took over 2nd on lap 12 as fast qualifier; Bud Perry started his run towards the front. Perry was up to 2nd when the yellow flew for Justin Kazmar on lap 20 when Kazmar was black flagged with an oil leak, ending his fine top 5 run. Wallace had his hands full holding off the MMA points leader, but Perry finally got by on lap 29 and from there went on for the win over Wallace (started 3rd), Haughton, Jim Butler (started 7th) and Leroy Ellis (started 8th). Perry cleaned house by winning the 3-D Auto Racing Supplies Hard Charger Award (1st from 9th).
Michigan Modified heat winners were Kyle Hicks, Dave Mingus and Wayne Haughton. The RaceFan.Com Semi-feature went to Kyle Hicks over Ken Buchner and Eric Gilbert. Bud Perry set fast time at 13.723 for the 25-car field.
The Midwest Amusement Pony Stocks had a record field of 22 cars start their 15-lap feature. A 13-car invert had Jason Huey and Mike Sairls the front row. Huey was the early leader until he received a speeding ticket and gave the lead over to Kenny Clark. Bruce Jones and Chris Van Gorden jumped to the outside and quickly pressured Clark for the lead. Lap 8 had a great race going for 7th, as Nate Hinderer got real loose. As the pack took evasive action, fast qualifier, Julie Abbott hit the turn 2 wall head on, destroying her car. After the red flag, it was all Jones (started 12th) as he took the win over Van Gorden and Clark (started 4th). Missy Bishop (started 10th) was 4th and Jimmy Scavarda (started 6th) 5th. Van Gorden claimed the Mac's All Car Auto Salvage Hard Charger Award (2nd form 14th).
The Pony Stock heat winners were Bryan Passick, Mike Sairls and Bruce Jones. Julie Abbott was the fast qualifier for the record 22-car field.
Spartan Speedway would like to thank all the sponsors who donated bikes for Kid's Night as 19 bikes were given away. This week is the normal 4-in-1 show for the Carquest Racing Series at "The Track the Stars Call Home"- Spartan Speedway.
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