A five feature night at Laird

A returning face and a pair of feature races in the Late Model Division gave the fans at Laird International Raceway something to talk about.

Because of curfew, last weeks Late Model feature race had to be push back by a week, giving Laird fans two Late Model features to enjoy on the night of the mid-season championship.

Also, veteran driver Jeremy Van Hoek, who had not raced yet this season got back behind the wheel of his traditional No. 51 Late Model and had a strong finish to his night.

To open the night, Corey Furkey weaved in and out of traffic to earn the first victory of the night in the first Late Model Feature. Jerry Artuso took second spot with Michael Gold taking third.

With the added feature, the Late Model's ran just one heat race. Rod Bolduc, who was celebrating his father's birthday, held off Kevin Jackson and Gold to win the heat. The fast car dash, which kicked off the second half of the night, saw Gold beat out Artuso, Furkey and Van Hoek for the win.

In the final feature for the division, an early wreck involving six cars cut the field down. Rick Leonard, Jordan Sims, Paul Seabrook, Artuso, and Donnie Varcoe Jr. were all involved though Sims managed to make his way back onto the track. Gold then held off a hard charging Van Hoek and Kevin Jackson to take the win.

In the Factory Stock Division, Dick Wellwood won the feature race ahead of John Hamilton and Steve Kent. Hamilton and Kent made contact on the final lap giving Hamilton the higher finish, though Hamilton apologized to Kent following the race.

Hamilton won the first heat over Wellwood and Kent before Wellwood held off Hamilton and Kent in the second heat.

In the Modified Division, Rick Ellis had an outstanding night with a clean sweep by winning both heat races as well as the feature. He held off Larry Ebare and Sims in the first heat while holding Sims and Artuso in the second.

In the feature Ellis, with a big thank-you to his crew members, took the win for the sweep.

In the Stock Four Division, Brandon Penno won his first race at Laird, holding off Mike Baraluk and Tristan Anderson in the first heat race of the night. Baraluk, over Cody McLean and Anderson, won the second heat race.

Jeff Tomas also won his first race at Laird beating out Anderson and McLean for win No. 1.

Next week will see Laird run their usual set of racing, but following the race program the track will be holding a demolition derby.