Birkett and Johnson take First Season Wins at Putnam County Speedway Park
By Tera Gunter
Hobby stocks had fans on their feet with multiple battles for position throughout the field. Tim Dowling and Mike Scranton swapped the lead for most of the race, often running side by side. While the race leaders waged their battle, Jeremy Cline had his hands full trying to hold off Bruce Birkett. As Birkett passed Cline, both caught up to the race leaders and a four way battle for the lead erupted. Dowling and Scranton pulled away from the field, David Miller Jr. passed Cline, and Ron Frank placed heat on Ken Durham for fifth.
Scranton’s night ended after his ride overheated and Dowling suffered mechanical failure, handing the lead to Birkett. Miller placed heat on Birkett, taking a brief lead until the momentum had Miller sailing sideways just short of the checkered flag, leaving Frank with nowhere to go. Birkett took the win over Durham, Randy Moody, Cline, and Roger McDaniel.
Martin Johnson placed heat on Davey Cline for the lead in an equally exciting Street Stock feature. Cline held Johnson off as Richard Adams, Josh Sanford, and Marc Kinley battled for position behind Johnson. Cline’s ride failed on lap 9, handing the lead to Johnson. Kinley tried multiple times to shake Adams down but Adams prevailed and placed heat on Johnson. Tim Dowling challenged Kinley for third but Kinley shook Dowling off and continued to pressure Adams until Kinley slid sideways, bringing out the caution. Dowling used the inside groove to pass Adams and Johnson took the checkered ahead of Dowling, Adams, Robert Hicks, and Kinley.
Mark Wolcott clearly had the ride to beat over a field of 16 in the Box Stock feature with Stephen Katz and Shawn Pawlak dueling for the right to try to challenge Wolcott. Pawlak, the speedway’s 2006 champion, wrested second from Katz and set his sights on Wolcott. Sandy Davis held onto her fourth position behind Katz in spite of challenges from Kenn DeVane. Wolcott took the checkered over Pawlak and Katz, with Davis and DeVane in a dead heat for fourth and fifth.
Chad Scranton took the lead over Dustyn Tyre in the Pure Stock feature with Luke Sadler challenging Tyre. Tyre held Sadler off as Scranton gained ground over the rest of the field. Sadler got loose but recovered before Randy Moody could snatch Sadler’s third position, handing Tyre a brief breather. Sadler quickly closed back in but Tyre held on as Scranton took the win over Tyre, Sadler, Tim Gigon, and Jimmy Dowling.
Tony Lewis Sr. held off multiple challenges from Billy Costello in the Late Model feature. Costello worked the inside and outside grove in an attempt to shake down Lewis. Lewis held on until lap 8 when Costello prevailed on the backstretch. Al Larson moved into third and Costello took the checkered over Larson, John Trammell, Lewis, and Bug Rose.
Chris Douglas took the lead in the Modified feature until he flew too high in turn 1, handing the lead to Jason Lowe. Douglas quickly recovered and placed heated challenges on Lowe. By lap 4, Lowe shook Douglas off and gained ground over the field. Douglas looped his ride on lap 8 but quickly regained his momentum on the restart, challenging Garland Spangler for second. Spangler prevailed as Douglas fell out of contention. Lowe took the win over Spangler, David Vandevander, Ed Rosier, and Douglas.
Racing resumes Saturday at 7pm with grandstands opening at 5pm. For additional information, visit www.putnamcountyspeedway.com or
