Cloudy skies and the threat of rain pushed out of the mid-Michigan area, just in time for the start of Spartan Speedway’s Harvest 300 Plus, sponsored by Lipari Foods. Fans that planned a “staycation” for their Labor Day weekend were treated to lap after lap of fast and furious racing action on the ¼-mile bullring.
Phil Bozell was fast qualifier for the Late Models, but Andy Bozell looked to be the man to beat, taking the lead from Doug Finley on lap 12. Andy had company though as Phil Massuch whittled away at Finley, in second, and made the pass on lap 44. Caution waved on lap 48, setting up a lap 50 restart, with Massuch on the outside of A. Bozell on the front row. Massuch beat Bozell to the line to take the lead, as Phil Bozell closed on his Dad, looking to take second away. The trio ran in a tight little pack until a lap 70 caution closed the field up behind them. At lap 72, Finley made his way around P. Bozell and into third and was put to the task of trying to catch Massuch and A. Bozell. Caution on lap 85 set up the final restart of the event and A. Bozell was able to use the high line to his advantage and got around Massuch for the lead, while Jeff Bozell took third from Finley. After 100 laps, it was Andy Bozell, of Portage, as the Harvest winner and was also named the 2011 Midwest Racing Scene Slugfest Champion. Massuch, J. Bozell, Finley and Tyler Roahrig rounded out the top five.
Kyle Drake took the early lead for the Wild Child 100, with Leroy Ellis taking the lead away from Drake on a lap 16 restart after an early caution. As Ellis pulled away from the field, Drake had his hands full with a challenge for second from Andy Bozell. Bozell got around Drake on lap 36 leaving Drake to fend off Ben Rabber and Nyle Weiler. Back in the pack, Travis Eddy was working his way up through the field, sitting sixth by lap 48. By the halfway mark, Ellis had caught the tail of the field, when competition yellow came out for fuel. On the restart, Bozell challenged for the lead, but Ellis was able to drive away from him. Eddy continued his march through the field, sitting second by lap 58. Caution waved on lap 64, just the break the field needed to cut Ellis’s lead. Ellis chose the outside of the front row for the restart and Eddy was right there, poised to strike. Ellis took the lead but Eddy dove to the inside of Ellis on lap 70 to briefly take the lead when caution waved. Ellis went back into the lead on the restart but Eddy didn’t give up. Eddy and Ellis swapped the lead a number of times before Ellis took the lead for good on lap 80. Behind them, Weiler was trying to reel in the lead duo, while Chris Hettinger was trying to keep pace with Bozell for his shot at ta third palce finish. At the line, it was Ellis, from Vermontville, as the 2011 Modified Champion, followed by Eddy, Weiler, Bozell and Hettinger.
Steve Irwin led the way for the first 19 laps of the Spartan Sprints 50-lap feature, but Tom Fedewa took over the reins on lap 20. Behind Irwin, a great battle was shaping up between Doug Dietsch, Gary Sherman and Kyle Feeney. The 18 sprints ran caution free for all 50 laps, with Fedewa taking the commanding win, bringing his 2011 Championship season up to eight wins. Irwin, Dietsch, Sherman and Feeney rounded out the top five.
Fast qualifier, Todd Foote, took the Spartan Stock A feature win and was named the 2011 Midwest Racing Scene Slugfest Champion for the Spartan Stock A division. Terry Humphries took the early lead from Jon McNett , with Don Bergau running second. Foote worked his way into second, bringing Mike Ammerman with him on lap 9. Humphries looked to the low side, with Todd Foote on the outside and Ammerman stuck a nose under Humphries and the two got together on lap 20, ending Ammerman’s night. On the restart, Foote took off like a shot, leaving Steve Prucnell, Misty Allen and McNett to decide second. Allen got around Prucnell for second, but Damon Place jumped into the mix, taking the second spot away on lap 32. At the checkered, it was Foote with a commanding win. Ron Heeney and Rob Newman battled it out for the Spartan Stock B 25-lap feature win, with Heeney coming out on top. Mike Middaugh had a stellar run going, running third, until he was involved in an altercation, turning the third spot over to Mark Carson. Tyler Hawkins came home in fourth with Jason Luce rounding out the top five. Tyler Hawkins was crowned the Spartan Stock B division Slugfest Champion.
The Boss Snow Equipment Pony Stock A feature saw Brian Beckner lead the charge to the green, with Darren Wright running the high line outside of him. Wayne Beckner Jr. drove into the lead on lap 5 bringing Aaron Taylor with him. Todd Metz Jr. jumped into the thick of things on lap 11, took the lead on lap 12 and drove away from the field. A lap 17 caution brought Beckner Jr. back into contention, but Metz Jr. was able to hold on for the win over Beckner Jr., Taylor, Wright and Beckner. Beckner Jr. earned the title of Slugfest Champion for the A Pony Stock division. R J Miller took the B Pony Stock win over Brandon Moody, but Patrick Denison was named the Midwest racing Scene Pony Stock B Slugfest Champion. Bob Miller took the Pony Stock Figure 8 win over Bryan Jenks, Todd Metz Jr., Ken Dollarhite and Chris Taylor to close out the evening’s racing program.
