Jason Huey takes first feature win ever at Spartan Speedway
Friday the 13th and a full moon welcomed a full house to Spartan Speedway for a great night of racing at the racy ¼ mile. Drivers and fans alike know that full moons cause for some crazy things at racetracks and then by adding Friday the 13th into the mix, fans didn't know what to expect. What we did get was three new faces in victory lane; one feature event ran caution free and a complete clean night of racing completed by 10:30pm.
The Comcast Cablevision Super Late Models 50-lap feature had a 12 car invert putting Bill Heeney Jr. and John Dunivon on the front row. Heeney Jr. took the early lead and was able to lead wire to wire for his first victory of the season over a persistent Jon McNett (started 3rd). The win didn't come easy as Heeny Jr. fought a loose car and McNett in his rear view mirror for the entire race. The lead duo took off as John Ledwidge, Stan Perry and Doug Finley waged a great battle for the 3rd spot. Perry and Ledwidge stayed side by side for the last 7 laps and Ledwidge (started 6th) was able to bring home his best finish of the year in 3rd, followed by Perry (started 4th) and Finley (started 11th). A record number of cars, 18 of 20 starters completed the fast paced event. Doug Finley was the Pierce Race Engines Hard Charger gaining 6 positions.
Harry Gibbs, Bill Heeney Jr. and John Ledwidge claimed the heat victories and Craig Willet took his first ever flag in the Racefan.com Semi-Feature event. Jack Landis set quick time for the 25-car field with a time of 13.272.
Next out were the WIBM AM1450 Michigan Modifieds and their 35-lap feature event. A 10-car invert had Harry Parish and Bob Bauer the starting front row. Parish took the early lead and was never contested until the leaders encountered heavy lapped traffic with 4 laps remaining. The lapped cars created what looked like a four car dash as Bob Bauer, Dan Logan, Bud Perry and Bill Luckhusrt ran side by side for 2nd through 5th positions. Parish was able to work the lapped traffic to take his second victory of the season. The heavy lapped traffic created a wild run to the stripe for the top five as Logan snuck by Bauer for 2nd and Perry beat out Luckhurst for 4th. Fred Lytle was the 3-D Auto Racing Supplies Hard Charger finishing 10th from his 18th starting spot. Once again 18 of the 20 starters finished the event.
Ken Buckner, Jon Deford and Dan Logan won the heat races and Tim Easey won the Racefan.com Semi-Feature. Bud Perry was the fast qualifier for the 26-car field at 13.752.
The Performance NW Street Stocks 25-lap feature had a 13-car invert putting Jeff Titmus and Bob Flotka on the front row. Titmus took his first feature win of the season by leading all 25 caution free laps. Dave Thorburn had to fight off the Hidy brothers for a great race for 2nd until Landon Hidy lost a trans down the backstretch on the last lap. Thorburn (started 7th) took the well-earned 2nd position, followed by Ben Hidy (started 13th), Dave Parker (started 5th) and Dane Long (started 11th). Ben Hidy was the Lost Tiger Tattoo Hard Charger gaining 10 positions. An unbelievable 17 of 20 starters finished the event in a record time of 6:22.
Nathan Moon, Trent Jenson and Rob Marten won the heats and Jonathan Eppler won the Racfan.com Semi-Feature. Ben Hidy once again set fast time 14.504 for the 33-car field.
The Midwest Amusements Pony Stocks had another record field in 23 cars for their 15-lap feature event. A 12-car invert had Scott Sigman and Nate Hinderer on the front row. After two restarts, finally lap one was in the books and Sigman took the early lead. Jason Huey worked up to Sigman's door on lap 3 and the lead duo put on a show as they ran side by side swapping the point thru lap 10. Lapped traffic allowed Huey on the outside to finally take the lead and Missy Bishop snuck by Sigman for 2nd. Huey (started 5th) won his first ever feature after claiming his first heat race last week. Bishop (started 6th) was 2nd followed by Sigman's great 3rd place run. Julie Abbott (started 12th) and Trei Deubel (started 8th) rounded out the top 5. Chris Van Gorden was the Mac's All Car Hard Charger finishing 6th from scratch on the field.
Jerri Lynn Munn claimed her first win ever in her heat race, while Jimmy Scarvarda and Chris VanGorden claimed the others. Julie Abbott set fast time for the record field of 23 cars with a 16.923 lap.
This week is a double-header weekend as Schram Auto Parts sponsors the return of the Spectator Drag's along with the 4 in 1 Carquest Racing Series. All Spectator Drag drivers must purchase a pit pass. Sunday will be the debut of the US PRO Super Late Models along with the Performance NW Street Stocks, Spartan Figure 8's and the VORA Coupes. The weather is finally warming up so make a date to visit "The Track the Stars Call Home"- Spartan Speedway.
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