By: Spartan correspondent, Michelle Sprague
Sixteen Valvoline Instant Oil Change Modifieds timed in for the MOD 50, for fifty laps of action on the ¼-mile of Spartan Speedway. Larry Wallace took the early lead, with Jon McNett and Travis Eddy in hot pursuit. Eddy took the second spot from McNett on the low side and went after Wallace who was running the high line around the speedway. The duo ran side-by-side for a number of laps, with Wallace getting the advantage with every lap. McNett and Leroy Ellis were battling for the third spot, leaving Ron Parish and Chris Ozanich to vie for fifth. Caution waved on lap 28, with Eddy in the lead, and with the double-file restarts, the leader has lane choice for the restart. Eddy took the high road and when the green came out, Eddy took off like a shot, while Ozanich got around Parish for third. Eddy ran away from the field, while Sonny Coito and Bill Butler worked their way into the top five. At the line, it was Eddy to the Corrigan Oil Winner’s Circle, while Wallace, Ozanich, Coito and Butler rounded out the top five. John Mamula and Wallace both won their heats.
Mark Childers took command of the 20-lap Pure Stock feature, opening up a pretty good lead after the start, but Landon Hidy quickly reeled him in to take the spot away on lap six. Kyle Drake moved into second around Mark Childers but didn’t have enough to catch Hidy for the win. Dave Hidy piloted the Fox 47 car to a third place finish, ahead of Mark Childers and Kenny Clark. Landon also took the heat win.
The Boss Snow Equipment Pony Stock division, A-feature, saw Jimmy Scavarda and Lex Jarecki battling for the top spot, running side-by-side, lap after lap, and opening the door for Darren Wright to close on their bumpers and jump into the mix. Back in the pack, Patrick Denison began his march through the field, bringing Wayne Beckner Jr. with him. After 20 laps, it was Lex Jarecki to the Winner’s Circle, followed by Scavarda, Wright, Denison and Beckner Jr. Jarecki grabbed the heat win as well. The B-feature win went to Rich Roberts who took the top spot on lap two, but had company when Tyler Heeney drove from the tail of the field to challenge for the lead on lap seven. Darrell Taylor caught the lead duo and made his way around Heeney into second but couldn’t get around Roberts for the win. At the checkered, it was Roberts, D. Taylor, Heeney, Brandon Moody and George Garza. Jim Harbenski took home heat win honors.
Four restarts on the start of the Auto Value Bumper-to-Bumper MI Legend Series kind of set the tone as everyone was itching to get to the front as soon as possible. Tony Monge was successful, but had company, as Levi Rouster caught him and challenged for the lead. Monge and Rouster swapped the lead, with Monge exiting the track when caution waved on lap 13. L. Rouster took the lead on the restart, with Tyler Rycenga and Brandon Mahoney in hot pursuit. Rycenga took the lead on lap 16, but Mahoney dove under him to take the spot away, as Bryan Nuckles came along with Mahoney and then took the lead from Mahoney in the next lap. Nuckles took the win, with Rycenga, L. Rouster, Brandon Mahoney and Matt Todd rounding out the top five. Rick Kilbourn, Nuckles, and B. Mahoney scored wins in their heats.
Please join us each and every Friday night for exciting racing action at the Spartan Speedway. Gates open at 5 PM, racing at 7:30 PM. Check out www.spartanspeedway.com for more information. As always, we’ll see you at the races!
