By: Spartan correspondent, Michelle Sprague
Lansing’s Brad Harbenski and Wayne Parkhurst II, of Holt, brought the field of Boss Snow Equipment Pony Stocks down for the start of their 20-lap feature at the Spartan Speedway. On the start, Harbenski and Haslett’s Scott Rogers ran one and two, while Lansing’s Brian Beckner drove into the lead on lap two. Charlotte’s Todd Metz Jr. tacked onto Beckner’s bumper, with Metz taking the lead on lap six. Edson Rowley III, of Jackson, poised to strike, got around Gregory’s Jeremy LaFontaine and dove under Beckner on lap 7 and went to work on Metz for the lead. The duo ran side by side, Metz on the high side, Rowley down low, with Rowley taking the lead on lap 11. Rowley opened up a bit of a lead over Metz, while LaFontaine went to work on Metz, taking away second on lap 17. Meanwhile, things were heating up back in the pack, with Eaton Rapids’ Misty Allen working to hold off Wayne Beckner Jr. of Lansing. Lap 15 saw the leaders working in lapped traffic, while Beckner Jr. got around Allen for fourth. At the checker, it was Rowley, LaFontaine, Metz Jr., Beckner Jr., and Allen rounding out the top five. Heat winners were Joe Bates, of Eaton Rapids, and Beckner Jr.
Holt’s Matt Childers jumped out to the early lead in the Pure Stock division, leading the first five laps of the 20-lap feature. Leslie’s Justin Lewis was on the move however, taking second away from Dansville’s Mark Carson on lap five and then took the lead on lap seven. Lewis ran away from the field, leaving Childers to fend off Carson, lap after lap. Childers bobbled a bit and opened the door for Carson to take away the second spot. Carson began to reel in Lewis, sitting at his rear bumper by lap 19. Lewis was able to hold off Carson for his first ever feature win and a trip to the Corrigan Oil Winner’s Circle. Matt Childers took home the heat win.
Hanover’s Logan Beckwith led the charge, at the drop of the green, for the Andrew’s Chevrolet Super Late Model 40-lap feature. Lansing’s Doug Finley, Ovid’s Jimmy Gallagher, Kalamazoo’s Andy Bozell and Jackson’s Evan Barrett ran in a tight pack until Beckwith and D. Finley broke away, leaving Gallagher and Bozell to duke it out for third. D. Finley took a look under Beckwith for the lead and took the spot away on lap nine. D. Finley drove away from the field, while back in the field, Detroit’s Stan Yees Jr., Chad Finley and Tom Fedewa, both of Lansing, battled for position. Caution on lap 20 closed the field up behind D. Finley. On the restart, C. Finley ducked under Barrett for third, as Fedewa took fourth away from Barrett on lap 23. D. Finley had opened up a sizeable lead, as caution waved on lap 35. On the restart, C. Finley went to work on Beckwith with Fedewa trying to find a way to take third from C. Finley. Caution waved on lap 30, giving C. Finley another shot at Beckwith for second. C. Finley got around Beckwith, bringing Fedewa with him. Bozell jumped to the outside and took the fifth spot away from Yees Jr. on lap 36. At the stripe, it was D. Finley, C. Finley, Fedewa, Bozell, and Beckwith. Flushing’s Tim Ryan and Yees Jr. tallied heat wins.
The Valvoline Instant Oil Change Modified division saw Charlotte’s Perry Davenport and Earl Miles, of Hanover, sitting on the front row for the start of the 35-lap feature, and the duo ran one and two until caution waved for Miles, who retired to the pit. Ozanich inherited the second spot on the restart, with Leslie’s Nate Moon sitting in the third position. Moon had his hands full trying to hold off Owosso’s Dick Maurer, as Vermontville’s Leroy Ellis took to his signature high side, trying to advance his position from the second groove. Davenport and Ozanich had caught the tail of the field, while the battle raged for third on back. Ellis dove under Maurer on lap 27 and went to work on Moon for third. Moon drifted up the track a bit, opening the door for Ellis on lap 32. At the checker, it was Davenport, Ozanich, Ellis, Moon, and Maurer. Mason’s Rob Newman and Davenport won their heats.
Munith’s Dan Baschal and Charlotte’s Matt Kirchen brought the Performance Automotive NW Sportsmans down for the green flag, with Kirchen leading the first lap. Flint’s Robbie Johnston was right there to challenge for the lead and took the spot away on the second lap. Johnston drove away from Kirchen, as Jack Koone Jr., of East Lansing, and Charlotte’s Dane Long battled for position. Koone got under Kirchen on lap six, bringing Long with him. The two battled side by side for position, with Long taking away the second spot on lap 10. Caution waved on lap 12, effectively erasing Johnston’s lead, and setting Long up to challenge for the lead. Long ducked under Johnston for the lead on lap 15 but could never really shake Johnston, who tailgated right down to the finish. Koone ran third while Leslie’s Damon Place, sporting a new ride for 2009, worked his way up to fourth ahead of Kirchen. At the stripe, it was Long, Johnston, Koone, Place, and Kirchen. Johnston captured the heat win for the division.
Please join us each and every Friday night, at the Spartan Speedway, for exciting racing action. The May 15th show features the Andrews Chevrolet Super Late Models, Performance Automotive NW Sportsmans, Pure Stocks, Boss Snow Equipment Pony Stocks, and MCR Dwarfs. A very special show on Sunday, May 17th, will honor the memory of Modified driver Brian Heeney, with the running of the Brian Heeney “Wild Child” Modified 100. Also on the docket is the first Sunday Slugfest, featuring Sportsmans, Pure Stocks, and Pony Stocks, along with double Figure-8’s. Friday, May 22nd, will feature all five regular divisions in action. As always, we’ll see you at the races!
