Trackside Tidbits, by Debi Domby
Trackside Tidbits, by Debi Domby
Joe Hawes continues his great season, finishing a season high second.
Ron Allen was out in his third different late model in the last six races. Tonight he was a white #86, the car the Greg Studt drove and Bill Steinhilber drove for Jack Burdette years ago.Allen finished third.
Rookie Jimmy Alvis won his heat. Top Rookie in the feature was Nick Grodi.
Matthew Bullock was in the pits, but his car has a valve problem in hot laps and he was unable to run.
One driver that was happy to see the end of July was Dan Ford Jr. Two DNF's in a row lost him his points lead, but two wins in a row now, has given him a 85 point lead over Tim Moore with a few weeks left. "They made me work for that one. I enjoy racing for these fans and the kids. Pretty pumped up, I liked this one. I was on my feet, strapped into the car. Really want to win the championship this year. Hat's off to the #84 (James Hazlett). He's new but did a really good job out there good short track racing," said the driver of the Friendly Ford, Monroe martial arts, Remerica Country Homes, & Grafton Inn.
James Hazlett, the 2003 and 2004 Toledo Factory Stock champion, came up one corner short of winning his first career street stock win. He led 24 and 3/4 laps of the feature, only to have Ford Jr. get him at the line.
Steve Chartrand won the B main and then did a Polish Victory lap with the flag. "It's been a real good year for us. Thank my wife and family for their support. We've had a couple feature wins and some heat wins this year," said Chartrand.
Harold Davis Jr. got his first career Top 5 finish in the A division Street Stocks.
Tadek Stadniczuck had to replace the top loop of the rollcage and much of the right suspension and the right side sheet metal after an accident last week.
Another pair of new drivers showed up tonight with 1 racing night of experience between them.
Grant Hedges made his second career start tonight. He raced one time last year at Spartan Speedway (near Lansing). He started on the pole for his heat race. He kept the lead despite heavy pressure from Lonnie York and Grant came out with his first career win in only his third race. "I can't thank my dad, Jeff, enough for all his hard work. We tore the car apart and were planning on getting out earlier, but it took a little longer than we thought," said Hedges. And after his heat win, he proudly showed me his battle scars from the heat. The feature didn't go as well and he tangled with defending B main champion, Anthony Camilli and the pair got hooked together and ended Grant's night.
And another first time driver, Jeff Luttermoser made his debut tonight in a car he recently bought from John Hubner Sr. Jeff's uncle is the 1989 Street Stock champion, John Briggs and Jeff himself used to race Drag Cars.
One of our two lady drivers won her first career race. Shonda Harbin won her heat race in the B division Street Stocks.
Jeff Kurzyniec was having one of those practices First he forgot his firesuit and had to borrow the track's "rental" uniform for the 4-cylinder rental car Then blew the radiator. After checking everyone in the pits, Late Model driver, Larry Smouthers, came to rescue with a radiator for him to borrow.
The elder statesman of the Street Stockers, Jim Selmi, won his heat but had oil pressure problems in the feature.
Gary Cronenwett won his second career Figure 8 feature win, and took his victory lap around the Figure 8 track. According to the ARCA program, tonight's win is the Cronenwett Family's 99th ARCA win (A mains), so next week Gary goes for 100. "It's good to pull off the win. It was a long time coming. Greg (Studt) raced me really clean, but hard," said Gary (I'll get all his sponsors next week Gilles Automotive is the main one).
We had a new Figure 8 driver tonight Jamie Bussard. He's driving the car that Jeremy Fragassi drove last year.