By: Spartan correspondent, Michelle Sprague
Fourteen-year old Taylor Ferns of Shelby Township won the feature for the inaugural running of the Sawyers Wingless Sprints, at the Spartan Speedway, on April 30th. Jimmy McCune and Mike Astraukas brought the nine car field down for the green, with McCune taking a commanding lead in the opening laps. Ferns worked her way around Astraukas, as Derek Snyder took third on lap five. Tom Fedewa took the high groove and worked his way into third by lap 10. With McCune still in the lead, Ferns was slowly but surely reeling in the leader with Fedewa trying to close the gap between himself and Ferns. Ferns caught McCune on lap 17, in traffic, and dove to the low side of McCune for the lead on lap 19. Ferns gave him a little nudge, got him out of shape and took away the top spot. At the line, it was Taylor Ferns for her first ever feature win and her first trip to the Corrigan Oil Winner’s Circle. McCune, Fedewa, Snyder, and Chris Hettinger rounded out the top five. Astraukas, Doug Dietsch, Jim Heeney and Mark Strpko finished sixth through ninth, respectively. Deitsch and McCune took heat wins for the evening.
Sixteen Valvoline Instant Oil Change Modifieds lined up for the MOD 50 and when the green flag waved, Leroy Ellis was out of the shute first with Nate Moon in tow. A pile-up in turn one forced a complete restart and Ellis gave a repeat performance, jumping out to the lead at the green. John Mamula, Larry Wallace and Rob Newman gave chase and caution flew on lap five, and Ellis chose the outside lane for the double-file restart. When green came out again, Wallace took second from Moon as Travis Eddy began his march to the front, battling Newman, lap after lap, side-by-side, taking away the fourth position. Eddy dove to the low side of Moon, they touched, Moon spun, collecting Newman, and caution waved again as both Moon and Eddy retired to the pit on lap 11. On the restart, Ellis again was up top and it was a race to the green with Wallace, while Moon tacked on to the rear of the field. Ellis drove away from Wallace, as Obrinske worked his way up into fourth behind Mamula. Caution waved on lap 21 for Mamula, Earl Miles and Wayne Haughton, and Ellis again chose the outside for the restart. Wallace was able to keep pace on the restart and the duo ran one and two, while Ron Parish broke into the top five. The battle for first and third raged for 23 laps as Wallace tried to find a way around Ellis and Obrinske looked for his window of opportunity with Mamula. Obrinske’s window opened when caution waved on lap 44. On the restart, Obrinske drove past Mamula on the outside, while Newman used the high line to retake fifth from Parish. Ellis and Wallace ran side-by-side in the waning laps and got into each other, resulting in a lap 47 spin. Both were sent to the rear, handing the lead over to Obrinske for the restart. Obrinske and Mamula duked it out with Mamula briefly taking the lead on lap 48, but it was Obrinske nipping Mamula at the line for the win. Newman, Parish and Dan Loughan rounded out the top five. Newman and Parish tallied heat wins for the division.
Ten Pure Stocks lined up for their 20-lap feature and Jordan Harvey took the early lead over Mark Carson, but Lonnie Saumier, of Davison, who started sixth, came up through the pack to sit third by the end of lap one. Landon Hidy picked off cars on his way to the front and found himself in fifth by lap three. Saumier had put plenty of real estate between himself and Kyle Drake when caution waved on lap five, closing the field up on Saumier’s bumper. Hidy drove into second on the restart giving Saumier a mirror full. Hidy got into Saumier on lap 11, tapped out, and was sent to the rear. Drake tried to keep pace after the restart, but fell back, then fell victim to Hidy, who took second away on lap 17. Back in the pack, Harvey and Carson battled for fourth. At the checker, it was Saumier, Hidy, Drake, Harvey and Carson. Hidy and Harvey took home heat wins.
The Boss Snow Equipment Pony Stock A- and B- features were run together and action heated up quickly with a charge to the front when the green flag waved. Brad Harbenski took the early lead over Marisa Jones and Wayne Beckner Jr. Patrick Denison made his way into the second spot and took the lead from Harbenski, as Todd Metz Jr. began his march to the front from the rear of the field. Metz Jr. took over the top spot on lap nine, as Beckner went to work on Denison for second. Jones had her hands full as Todd Metz Sr. bore down on her for fourth and both Metz Sr. and Lex Jarecki made their way around her on lap 12. After 20 laps, it was Metz Jr., of Charlotte, Denison, Beckner, Metz Sr., and Jarecki. The B-feature saw Ken Dollarhite out in front over Scott Sparagowski, Bryan Jenks and Jim Harbenski. George Garza took the top spot from Dollarhite on lap six, while Jenks, J. Harbenski and Wayne Parkhurst II rounded out the top five. Aaron Taylor broke into the top five on lap 11. At the line, it was Garza of Lansing, Dollarhite, B. Harbenski, Taylor and J. Harbenski. Metz Jr. and B. Harbenski took heat wins.
Please join us each and every Friday night for exciting short-track racing action at the Spartan Speedway. Friday, May 7th, is Red Carpet Night (introduction of sponsors) and MARFC Night. All card carrying members of MARFC are admitted free.
