Starting on the pole, Putnam County Speedway’s 2006 Box Stock champion, Shawn Pawlak, dueled until the end for the win in the 30 lap feature event. Pawlak took the initial lead until four laps into the feature, Pawlak got loose in turn 4. Johnny Warren quickly took advantage of Pawlak’s misfortune to take the lead only to nearly fall victim to the same mistake 5 laps later. Pawlak and Mark Wolcott Jr. placed hard challenges on Warren after he recovered and Wolcott took the lead. Warren gained on Wolcott, took the lead on lap 16 bringing Pawlak with him, and both gained ground over the field.
By lap 22, all bets were off as Casey Feaster, who gained 3rd on lap 19, used the outside groove out of turn 2 to shoot around Pawlak, and set off to seriously challenge Warren for the lead. By lap 27, Warren, Feaster, and Pawlak were 3 wide in turn 4 and two laps later, Pawlak took the checkered over Warren, Feaster, Ray Hunter, and Stephen Katz.
Ken Durham had the ride to beat in the Hobby Stocks with a wire to wire win. Bruce Birkett appeared to gain on Durham in the turns only to see Durham pull out on the straights. Robert Hicks, Ron Frank, and David Miller Jr., put on a show with a battle for 4th behind Tim Dowling. Frank won the skirmish and set off after Dowling only to find Jeremy Cline in his shadow. After placing hard charges on Frank, Cline’s night ended early. Dowling passed Birkett and Durham; Dowling and Birkett gained ground. Durham led Dowling, Birkett, Hicks, and Miller to victory lane.
After a couple of bad starts that resulted in some battle scarred Street Stocks, Mike Scranton took the lead with Davey Cline hot on his heels. Kevin Mills overtook Martin Johnson and Jacky Bennett to take up 3rd. After a caution that tightened the field, Cline pressured Scranton hard. Trying the inside then outside grooves in an attempt to shake Scranton down, Scranton edged Cline out to maintain his lead. Mills fell out of the top five after a trip to the pits, handing 3rd to Richard Adams. Scranton took the checkered over Cline, Adams, Tim Dowling, and Bennett.
Keith Briggs made a triumphant return to the speedway to take a wire to wire win in the Mini Stock feature. After an initial challenge by James Burnett, Briggs gained a good lead over the field. Brack Gill overcame Burnett until lap 6 when Burnett used turn 4 to snag his position back. Multiple cautions resulted in a shortened feature and Briggs took the checkered with Burnett, Gill, Carl Ridenhour, and Jamie Farris rounding out the top five.
Jason Lowe upset pole sitter John Bradley to take the lead in the Modified feature. Mike Tripp took up 3rd over Chuck Gustafson, and by lap 8, the leader was lapping the rear of the field. Eddie Rosier and Chip Owen battled for position behind Gustafson. Lapped traffic checked Lowe up on lap 20, and posed the same problem for Bradley two laps later. Tripp passed Bradley until lapped traffic held Tripp up and Bradley gained his position back. Lowe took the checkered over Bradley, Tripp, Owen, and Gustafson.
Chad Scranton was set to notch another win to his belt in the Pure Stock feature as he took the lead over Michael Fish. Danny Miller Sr. came from near the rear of the field to challenge Randy Moody for 4th. Moody and Miller dueled side by side until Miller unseated Moody and set off after Luke Sadler. Running side by side with Sadler, Miller passed Sadler then reeled in Fish. Miller gained on Scranton on the front stretch and used turn 1 to pass Scranton. Heading into turn 2, Scranton got loose and tried to recover but unfortunately was unable to, bringing out the caution. Miller went on to take the checkered over Fish, Sadler, #7 (driver unknown), and Scranton.
Eight ladies took to the track in the Powder Puff feature with Flora Souther unseating Kelly smith for the lead. Souther fell out of contention and Smith took the lead over Jennifer Sims and Stephanie Green. Becky Graden overcame Green and Smith took the checkered over Sims and Graden.
Grandstands open Saturday at 5pm with $5 grandstand admission for Putnam County citizens. For more information, call the speedway at 386-649-5372, or visit www.putnamcountyspeedway.com.
