Veteran Stehouwer visits Spartan's Winner Circle
Spartan Speedway welcomed the UAW Region 1C and all its members to another weathered program at the popular ¼ mile. Strong thunderstorms around the speedway created a mixed up Carquest Racing program, as all the division's features events were ran first. The Comcast Cablevision Super Late Models had two cagey veterans on the front row as Jeff Finley and Dave Stehouwer played mind games as both drivers tried there own form of a start. After one false start, the race was on and Stehouwer took the early lead and was never headed for his first win of the season. Finley held off Harry Foote Jr. in a heated battle for second. Jon McNett and Doug Finley rounded out the top five. Stan Perry and Jimmy Gallegher were the Hidy's Towing Hard Chargers, as Perry also claimed the RaceFan.Com/ Valvoline Oil Award. Rob Buckley was victorious over Tom Klopp in the 9-car Semi Feature, as Evan Barrett won the lone heat race. Doug Finley set fast time for the 26-car field with a lap time of 13.113.
The WIBM AM 1450 Modifieds had double features with both races being won from the front row. Fast Qualifier, Bob Bauer took feature number one over Rookie of the Year leader, Steve Curry in his best run of the season for second. Earl Miles, Mike Wells and Jim Butler rounded out the top five. Bill Luckhurst was the Mr. Gasket/ Contingency Connection Hard Charger finishing 10th from his 17th starting spot, while also winning the RaceFan.Com Valvoline oil. The second feature had Harry Parrish winning over Chris Ozanich. Dick Lapratt was hooked up on the high groove and put on a show for his personal best third place finish over Jason Parrish and Bill Luckhurst. Bud Perry was the 3D Auto Racing Supplies Hard Charger finishing 9th from his 16th starting spot. Justin Kazmar was the RaceFan.Com/Valvoline Oil winner. Bud Perry won the heat race as Earl Miles won the Semi Feature over Nyle Weiler and Aaron Katz. Bob Bauer set fast time at 13.754 for the 24-car field.
Once again the deep invert created a very exciting feature event for the Performance NW Street Stocks feature event as Wayne Beckner Jr. and Dave Thorburn brought the field down for the green flag. Thorburn took the early lead as Bubber Patrick led the Hidy boys towards the front. Ben Hidy got by Patrick for 2nd and set his sights on the leader Thorburn. As the leaders approached lapped traffic on lap 16, Thorburn and Hidy went side by side for the lead. Entering turn one, Thorburn went high to avoid the lapped car and caused Hidy to spin between turns one and two. Joe Barnhart had nowhere to go and slammed Hidy head on, destroying his car. Bubber Patrick took over the lead and looked to be ready for his first checkered flag, when he headed to the pits for a flat tire. Landon Hidy then took over the lead and went on for the win over Rob Patrick and Mark Smith. Ben Hidy nursed his torn up mount to 4th as Bubber Patrick came back from the tail of the field for a fine 5th place finish. Landon Hidy was the Lost Tiger Tattoos Hard Charger winning from his 11th starting spot. Jamie Feguer won the RaceFan.Com/ Valvoline Oil Award. Ben Hidy set fast time for the 22-car field with a 14.481 lap time.
The B&L Truck Caps always-exciting feature event had George Wyers leading the way for the first 14 laps, in only his third time ever in a race car. Wyers purchased one of Trei Duebel's cars and on lap 14, sent the former owner towards the infield grass as Duebel looked to take the lead. This left the door open up high as Jerry Garland took advantage of the open track to take the lead as wild racing caused Jimmy Scavarda to get shuffled back to third as Kenny Clark to over second. Garland went on for the win over Clark as Trei Deubel recovered for 3rd over Scavarda and Wyers in 5th. Jerry Garland won the Dande Signs and Designs Hard Charger Award from his 19th starting spot. Missy Bishop won the WhoWon.Com/Valvoline Oil Award. Kenny Clark won heat one as Bryan Jenks took his first checkered flag in heat two. Jerry Garland also set fast time at 16.542.
This weekend is the highlight weekend for Spartan Speedway as Friday night bring Mr. Rubbish Season Championships and Sunday Night will be the annual Lipari's Foods/ Coca Cola Harvest 250, highlighted by the Penske Racing Shocks final round of the Finish Line Fabricating/Proformance Racing Engines Six Pack Shootout. Come on out and see the chassis challenge as five different winners take their shot at taking home a brand new 2005 Finish Line Chassis at "The Track the Stars Call Home"- Spartan Speedway.
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