Action on the speedway Saturday night was just as hot as the weather with 6 features on the card capped off by a 50 lap $3000 to win Super Late Model feature.
Davey Cline took the lead over Kevin Mills in an action packed Street Stock feature. Rena Hurley defended her third position from Ricky Land before a hard charging Marc Kinley passed Land and dueled by side with Hurley for nearly 2 laps. After a caution that placed Mills to the rear, Kinley passed Hurley on the backstretch and set off after Cline. Hurley, Land, and Richard Adams ran nose to tail as they battled for position behind Kinley. Hurley’s evening ended after bringing out the caution twice and Kinley, Mills, and Adams, who tangled in turn 2, found themselves placed at the rear of the lead lap. Cline’s ride failed on lap 15, handing the lead to Land. Mills and Kinley worked hard to get back into contention as Land led Jacky Bennett, Bob Dowling, Joe Willis, and Mills under the checkered.
An equally exciting Hobby Stock feature placed Bruce Birkett and Mike Scranton on the front row with Birkett taking the lead in turn 2. Birkett didn’t have it easy though as Scranton worked Birkett before snatching the lead on lap 5. David Miller, Mike Tripp, and Jeremy Cline battled for third as the race leaders gained ground over the field. Scranton kept clear of the battles as Birkett looped his ride on lap 12, leaving Miller, Cline, and Tripp with nowhere to go. With the 2nd-5th position racers placed at the rear of the field, the restart saw Scranton sailing away with the lead and Miller and Ken Durham battling for second. Scranton took the checkered over Miller, Durham, Robert Hicks, and Ron Frank.
Jeff Mathews took the lead in the Modified division as Roger Crouse stayed in Mathews’ shadow and worked Mathews in an effort to snag the lead. Mathews held Crouse at bay and Jason Lowe challenged Chad Haddick for third before passing Haddick on lap 4. The field spread out as the leaders lapped the rear of the field in turn 4 on lap 9. Mathews, Crouse, and Lowe gained a good lead over the field. Haddick’s ride failed late in the feature, handing 4th to Mike Tripp. Mathews took the checkered over Crouse, Lowe, Tripp, and Haddick.
Johnny Warren and Shawn Pawlak flew side by side for nearly two laps before Warren won the battle to lead the Box Stock feature. Mark Wolcott challenged Pawlak hard for the second position, a battle Wolcott won on lap 4. Eyes were on Casey Feaster tonight as Feaster, who started next to last in a 17 car field, was up to 4th before the field was red flagged on lap 10 when Art Souther’s ride briefly caught fire after hitting Pawlak, who got sideways in turn 4. Warren took the lead at the restart and never looked back as he led Feaster, Pawlak, Jonathan Green, and Stephen Katz to victory lane.
After a three-wide battle for the lead in the Pure Stock feature, Dustyn Tyre took the lead over Jimmy Dowling. Chad Scranton placed heat on Jody Wells for third before using the inside groove to his advantage to pass Wells. Scranton became a man on the move as he passed Dowling and set off after Tyre. Tyre held Scranton off for much of the feature before Scranton persevered on lap 10. Scranton took the checkered ahead of Tyre, Dowling, Tim Gigon, and Ken Durham for an unofficial finish. At press time, the result of a tech breakdown of the top five cars is unknown.
Billy Costello took the initial lead in the Super Late Model feature before Roger Crouse snagged the lead bringing Bill Howard with him. Howard placed hard challenges on Crouse but Crouse held steady to maintain the lead. Shan Smith worked Costello for third before passing Costello on lap 31. It was clear Crouse had the ride to beat as Howard would close in only to see Crouse pull away. Dillon Wood worked Smith before a restart after a caution placed Smith at the rear of the lead lap. Smith worked back into contention and Crouse took the checkered over Howard, Wood, Smith, and Jeff Mathews. An official call after the race handed the win to Howard.
Racing resumes Saturday at 6:30 with a Pastor’s Race on the card. Visit www.putnamcountyspeedway or call 386-649-5372 for more information.
