First time winners highlight action at Kinross

The opening three weeks of the 2005 season have proven to be just what the doctor ordered for the Kinross Speedway.

After opening this 10th anniversary season with a Fan Appreciation Night special, the crowds have been receptive to the exciting short-track style that Kinross offers.

Newberry, MICHIGAN driver Chuck Johnson (5) continued to dominate Pure Stock qualifying after setting the fast time for the third-straight week, this time at 16.640 seconds.

Larry Young Jr. (25) won the four-car dash while Norm Miller picked up his first checkered flag of the night in Australian Pursuit #2.

Australian Pursuit #1 would see a memorable moment for Raco, Michigan's Ken VanDusen (18). The rookie Pure Stock pilot was able to hold off some late hard charges to lead all the laps of his race for his first-career checkered flag in his new division.

Tim Gregory(21) won heat race #1 before Miller found victory lane for the second time on the night in heat race #2.

Seventeen-cars would start the 25-lap Feature event with VanDusen and Jim Dumas (74) holding the front row.

Dumas would have a productive first night and was able to lead the opening 3 circuits around the Speedway before Gregory made the pass after starting in the 8th position. That Sault, Michigan pilot was able to hold on to the lead until Ray Golladay Sr. (22) would take over.

A lot of positions would be swapped over the final laps but no one would be able to catch Golladay Sr. who captured his second feature of the year. Gregory held on to 2nd while Young Jr. made an impressive run from the 15th starting position to round out the final podium position.

For the second straight-week the Factory Stock division would see the track record crumble during qualifying. Pee Wee Fountain (50) would be the latest to take a blistering lap on the ¼ mile, setting the new-record and fast time of the night at 15.160 seconds.

Todd Jackson (W5) won the four-car dash while the "Pink Panther" Cecil Piche (88) would grab the heat race.

Piche and Josh Ware (7) paced the field of 8 down to the green flag of the feature in this very balanced division. (Just two-hundredths of a second separated the 4th, 5th, and 6th place qualifiers).

Ware, who was only competing in his second feature with the new engine under the hood of his truck, appeared to be on a rail throughout this event. Jerry Ball (8) would head pitside early on lap 7 but did not disrupt the flow of this event.

The surprise of the night came in the latter stages of this event.

On lap 19, Ware was your leader with Piche on his back-bumper, a place he had been all race long while Kevin Johnson (37) sat in 5th. By lap 20 Johnson was up to 4th, lap 21 3rd, lap 23 2nd, and then the heroics were complete with a pass on lap 24 for the lead.

The checkered flag would round out his 2nd feature of the season. Ware, Piche, Fountain and Jackson were your top five.

The Four Cylinder division continued to boast the largest car count, a trend that has continued since one-season ago. This night would see 20 cars down pitside although only 18 would qualify for the nights racing events.

Steve Stec (13) garnered the top qualifying time with a lap of 18.150 seconds. Dean Eggart (88) won the four car dash while Brandy Clawson (35) won Australian Pursuit #2.

Australian Pursuit #1 would see another driver grab their first-career checkered flag. After starting in the final position of the race, Eric Rye (3) passed all the competitors in front of him to grab the honours.

Heat race action would see #96 Moe Syrstad (Heat race #1), #17 Tony Rankin (Heat race #2) and #88 Dean Eggart (Heat race #3) all grab checkered flags.

Ron Etcher (27) and Syrstad would pace the field to the drop of the green flag from starter Al Kogan for their feature.

Following a complete restart on lap 1 the field would only complete 4 laps before an accident on the front-straightaway would see the red flag dawn the Speedway. Brian Greengtski tagged the front-stretch wall with the drivers-side of the car taking the force. Track officials, crews, drivers and members from down pit side were quick on the scene to stabilize Brian while Kinross EMS and Fire Departments were on the way.

After some time, the 2nd year driver was extricated from the car and taken to War Memorial Hospital.

The race would be scored as complete the way the field crossed the line on the last completed lap giving Tony Rankin (#17) the win.

Around the same time another member of our racing family, Don Rader was experiencing medical problems down pitside that would require a visit to the hospital as well.

We are happy to say that both individuals are at their respective homes recovering. We wish both Don and Brian speedy recoveries and look forward to seeing them at the track real soon.

The Speedway now looks forward to a huge night of racing this coming Friday, June 10th.

The night will feature a Full Show plus a Soo Collision Pure Stock Special that will see that division's feature pay $200 to the winner. It is also Sault Ste. Marie, MI – Brimley – Dafter – Kinross – Rudyard and Pickford Good Neighbour Night along with Pure Stock Autograph Night and Rookie Flagman Night.

All of the action kicks off with time trials at 6 p.m. with racing to follow at 7:30 p.m.

Take exit 378 off the I-75 and proceed to the fairgrounds to take in all the short-track racing at the Kinross Speedway!

For more information, check online at www.kinrossspeedway.com

(All photos courtesy of Rod Aubertin of www.saultracers.com)