It was an exciting night of racing at Bronson Motor Speedway. We had Double feature events in the V-8 Bombers, and the 4cyl Bombers. The always thrilling figure 8 racers were in attendance, and the Bronson regulars provided plenty of action. The weather was awesome, moderate temps with a very nice breeze all evening.
First up were the make up features from the week before, with Charlie Kennedy driving one of the smoothest races of his young career to bring home the win, followed by Michael Holbrook and Kevin Hodge. Next were the 4cyl bombers with there make up feature. As the race began, John Hagans jumped to the early lead, but lost traction in turn 1 and spun, giving the lead to Rick Fort. Caution came out on lap 4 as Heather Stalker hit the wall hard off turn 4. Fortunately, Heather was okay, but her Toyota was damaged too severely to continue. When the race resumed, Fort maintained his lead and captured the win, followed by The Pittsley boys, Jeff and Clark.
Having finished the make up races, and run the regularly scheduled heat races, it was time for the feature events !
First up were the Open Wheel Modifieds. As the race started, Buddy Hughes and Monty Morgan were racing hard into turn 1, they made contact and Morgan got into the wall off turn2.
Morgan’s car was damaged quite badly, and he was not able to make the race. This was a tremendous blow to Morgans run at the points championship, as this was a back up car that was being used after his primary car was severely damaged in a crash several weeks ago. When the race restarted, Owen powered to the lead, and was never seriously challenged for the lead. Gene went on to capture the victory in the Owen Farms Special, followed by Rick McManaway and Buddy Hughes.
The Mini Stocks were next, with Don Faunce showing some real power as he took the lead, and held off the challenge of Dave Westrich to bring home the win in the Slingshot Chassis entry.
Next feature out was the Sportsman class, with a good field of cars taking the green flag. Arthur Conquest took the early lead, followed very closely by Doc Batson, Bobby Dixon and Rob Cooper. Conquest had his hands full staying in the lead as Batson was working hard to find a way by. Cooper finally got under Dixon and joined the battle for the lead. It looked like Conquest might open a lead as Cooper and Batson were involved in a furious battle for second place. After several laps of very hard racing, Cooper got by Batson and went after Conquest. Conquest drove the wheels off his racer, but in the closing laps he made one little slip, and gave Cooper the opening he was looking for. Cooper took the lead, and went on to the win in his Bronson Lube Camaro, followed closely by Conquest and Batson.
Finally, it was time for the figure eights ! 15 cars lined up for the green flag, and when the race started it was wild action from start to finish. Ethan Nistor took the lead, and was pressured by Robbie Powell, Ronnie Schreifels, and Rick Botts. As the race progressed, the misses at the crossing became closer and closer. Several cautions were needed for contact and spins by several of the racers, one of whom was Second place Robbie Powell, who was forced to pit with a flat tire. Quick work by his crew got him back on the track without losing any laps, and he began a mad dash thru the field trying to regain lost positions. There was one big boomer at the crossing when Lamar Smith was tagged by Danny Hamilton, and the ensuing melee involved 5 cars. All but Hamilton were able to continue, although many were missing various body panels. The race ended with Nistor holding off Schreifels and Powell for the win. What makes it more remarkable for Nistor, is that this was only his FIFTH Race in figure 8’s, and his SECOND win, in the Simply Hydroponics entry.
After the track was cleared of sand and debris from the figure 8 race, the Pure Stocks came out for their feature race, Michael Baker took the lead at the start, but his lead was short lived as Arthur Conquest drove under him to take the lead. Baker and Cliff Erhardt had a great battle for second position, with Baker hanging in for the runner up spot.
The V8 Bombers were next for their second feature of the evening, and it was a WILD ONE! The start of the race saw the 33 car of Roger Bayles and the 37 Car of Kevin Hodge immediately get into a heated battle for position. Bayles got into Hodge on the front straight causing Hodge and Bayles to crash, collecting the car of Charlie Kennedy. As the caution was shown and the field was slowing, Bayles was black flagged. Hodge wasn’t finished, however, and hammered the car of Bayles in the second turn with Bayles ending up in the wall. Needless to say, Hodge also was disqualified. The race restarted 3 cars short, as Kennedy was not able continue. Bobby Taylor in the 27x led wire to wire, but was challenged at every corner by Emmitt Bottoms, Ken Sheffield and Jerry Hodge. Taylor held on for the win followed by Bottoms and Jerry Hodge.
Rick Kuhn took top honors in the second 4 cyl bomber feature, followed by Rick Fort.
Be sure to join us next Saturday night as the FastTruck Series returns to the high banks of Bronson Motor Speedway.
