Glen Ervin Gets First Modified Win at Bronson, Doug Anderson Gets Second Sportsman Win
By Rick Warren
Despite threatening skies and lightening in the distance, Mother Nature once again smiled on the racers and fans at Bronson Motor Speedway. On a night that saw several area tracks have there programs cancelled by rain, Bronson was able to finish the entire program.
The evening’s program began with a full card of heat races, as the racers all worked for a good starting position in the feature events. The heat races saw several exciting shows, with the most notable being Tommy Ausburn racing side by side with Cliff Erhardt for several laps, before finally inching ahead at the checkered flag to win his Pure Stock Heat Race. The fans were loving it, and ready for more of the same style action as feature time drew near. The fans were treated to more excitement during intermission, as Cliff Erhardt, with a quick change of tires, came out to win the First Annual Bronson Motor Speedway Front Straight Smoky Burnout Competition.
When Feature time rolled around, the Open Wheel Modifieds were first up on the program. The Line up had Monty Morgan on the front row, returning in the car that was virtually destroyed early in the season. Morgan has been running a backup car most of the season, and was glad to be back in his primary car again. When the green flag waved, Morgan powered to the lead, with Buddy Hughes, Glen Ervin and Rick McManaway hot on his bumper. As the race progressed, Morgan continued to hold the lead, and McManaway had closed in on the leader as Hughes started to fade. Ervin,David Baxley, Gene Owen and Larry Goolsby were also making their presence felt as they gave McManaway a lot of pressure for second place. On Lap 14, McManaway drove under Morgan down the back straight to take the lead, and the rest of the lead pack was snapping at Morgans’ heels. The running order stayed the same until the two lap to go signal. As McManaway entered turn 3, it appeared as if a wheel locked up, and Mcmanaway spun between turn 3 and 4. Morgan tried to dodge the spinning car, and spun as well. As the field was being reset with Morgan once again in front, Morgan’s racer was found to have a flat on the right rear, forcing him to pit. This put Glen Ervin on the point for the 2 lap shoot out. Ervin held off a hard charging David Baxley and Gene Owen to come home with the win, his first at Bronson. Larry Goolsby finished in fourth, followed by Kyle Owen. Heat races were won by Baxley and Goolsby.
The Sportsman division saw rookie driver Doug Anderson make it 2 wins in a row, as he started on the front row, and never relinquished the lead. It was not a cakewalk for the rookie, however, as Dwight Pinner and Rob Cooper were all over the rookie, hunting a way around for the lead. Anderson drove a consistent race, with Cooper trying high and low to rattle Anderson and cause him to slip. On lap 17, Cooper was forced to pit, due to large amounts of smoke from his racer. Pinner took up where Cooper left off, and worked Anderson hard to the finish. Anderson was able to maintain his lead, and come home with the win, followed by Pinner, Keith VanAernam, and Bobby Dixon.
The Pure Stock Feature saw another first time winner for this season as Mike Baker worked hard to pick up his first win of the year. Starting from the front row, Baker ran hard as Joey Hunt and then Wes Keller tried to take the lead from him. Baker drove a flawless race, and gave no chance for anyone to get by. Baker came home with win followed by Keller , Hunt, and Bobby Johnson.
Billy Smith grabbed his second win of the season in the Mini Stock Division. Smith took the early lead, and never looked back. The real Battle was for second place, as Don Faunce and Dave Westrich went at it tooth and nail, with no favors given. Faunce managed to finish second, followed closely by Westrich.
In the V8Bomber division, Kevin Hodge maintained his strangle hold on the division as he notched another win, with Ken Sheffield giving him all he could handle to stay in front. Hodge and Sheffield put on quite a show as they battled the entire race. Third went to Bobby Taylor, followed by M. Carr.
John DeGeorge was the winner of the 4cyl. Bombers, followed by E. Frances and Jeff Pittsley.
