Harry Foote Jr. takes Round I of the Finish Line Fabricating/Proformance Racing Engines Six Pack Shootout
The Stars and Cars all came out on Friday night at Spartan Speedway for the Penske Racing Shocks Round I of the Finish Line Fabricating/ Proformance Racing Engines Six Pack Shootout. 32 Comcast Super Late Models were on hand as Harry Foote Jr. claimed the hard fought win over a shadowing Doug Finley. Indiana’s Brent Jack, Jimmy Thiel and Chris Place rounded out the top 5. The 50-lap feature went caution free as Brent Jack took the early lead from Chris Place and looked to be on his way for the win until Foote Jr. and Finley chased him down on lap 25. The lead trio ran nose to tail as Foote Jr. jumped to the outside on lap 32 and took over the lead two laps later bringing Finley with him. From that point, Foote Jr. had to fight off numerous challenges from Finley for the popular win. Jimmy Gallagher was the Hidy’s Towing / Mr. Gasket Hard Charger finishing 11th from his 18th starting spot. Doug Finley claimed the Contingency Connection Six Pack Shootout Hard Charger award, while Jeff Hackworth was the Race Fan.Com/ Valvoline Cup oil winner. Tim Rugg, Jeff Hackworth and Chris Place were the heat race winners and Jeff Finley won the RaceFan.Com Semi-Feature over Gallagher and Chip Garlock. Doug Finley set fast time for the 32-car field.
The WIBM AM1450 modifieds 35-lap feature had a first time winner in Lansing’s Chris Ozanich over Harry Parish, Bud Perry, Wayne Haughton and Jim Butler. The entire field ran side-by-side through lap 3 when Haughton took the point. Haughton held on until Ozanich took the lead on lap 14. Ozanich looked to be on his way until Parish got by Haughton for 2nd on lap 27. Parish caught Ozanich and peaked under for the lead with 3 laps to go, but it was Ozanich’s night as he held on for his first ever feature win at Spartan Speedway. Bud Perry was the 3D Auto Racing Supplies Hard Charger finishing 3rd from his 10th starting spot. Perry Davenport, Dick Mauer and Wayne Haughton won heats as Bill Butler won the RaceFan.Com Semi-Feature over Steve Curry and Tom Trudgeon. Bud Perry set fast time for the 25-car field.
The Performance NW Automotive Street Stocks had there own first time winner as Mark Smith won from his 5th starting spot. Ron Heeney in the fine 55 Chevy was 2nd followed by rookie, Bubber Patrick in his best finish of the season, Landon Hidy and Dane Long. Fast qualifier, Ben Hidy was the Lost Tiger Tattoos/ Mr. Gasket Hard Charger finishing 6th from his 16th starting spot. Jordan Harvey, Wayne Beckner Jr. and Heeney won heats as Jamie Feguer won the Valvoline Semi Feature over Harvey.
The B& L Truck Caps Pony Stocks had a larger 21-car field racing in Spartan Pony Stock fashion with 3 and 4 wide racing all over track. When the dust settled, Mark Garland was victorious over Trei Duebel, Bruce Jones, John Ward and Julie Abbott. John Ward was the Dande Signs & Designs Hard Charger finishing 4th from his 17th starting spot. William Conroy has his best feature run ever-finishing 11th from his 20th starting spot. Kenny Clark set fast time for the 22-car field.
This week the Super Late Models and Modifieds have off as we bring you the ABC Contractors Figure 8 extravaganza featuring 2 Figure 8 events with the return of the Motor City Madmen and the Capital City Crazies along with double s Street Stock features and the Legends.
As all of you know, we lost our true friend and Super Late Model driver, Charlie Ryan Jr. to a massive heart attack at the young age of 40 on Saturday morning. Charlie’s last memories for all of us at Spartan Speedway will be the side-by-side battle with his brother, Tim for over 20 laps fighting for 7th place in the first race of the Six Pack Shootout. We were proud to have Charlie Ryan Jr. as the 2003 Mr. Gasket/ Hurst Cup Hard Charger Grand Champion for the entire United States as it is so fitting that “Chargin’ Charlie went out a Hard Charger Champion. Spartan Speedway’s family offers our condolences to the Ryan Family and the “Leslie Gang”. Spartan Speedway will never be the same without our “Chargin’ Charlie”- God Speed Chargin’ Charlie – God Speed!
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