Kinross drops green flag on new season

The Sault Area Racing Association opened its 2006 season Friday night at Kinross Speedpark with exciting stock car racing action. The gray skies and cool breeze didn't keep racers and fans from participating in this great event.

Flag man Dan Shumbarger waved the green flag for the 4 cylinder four car dash to start the evenings races. Tony Rankin in the #17 blue and orange car was the first driver to take the checkered flag in the season opener. Larry Young Jr. in the black #25 started in the back and raced to the front while winning the Pure Stock four car dash. The Factory Stock four car dash was an exciting race with Kevin Johnson driving the #37 blue and orange car making a last lap pass on Todd Jackson's w5 car and holding on for the win.

Heat races were run for all the classes bringing excitement to the many fans watching the evenings events. Long time racers Denny Aho and Tim Aho brought their Late Model cars to the track to participate in the racing program. Both Denny's #75 and Tim's #27 Late Models were allowed to start at the back of the pack in the Factory Stock heat, letting fans see these cars for the first time in quite awhile at Kinross Speedpark.

Fans were treated to a great time with the judging of the Prettiest Car Awards handed out in each class. Applause was used to determine the winners. Brandy Clawson in the pink and blue #35 car edged out the #20 Tony Stewart lookalike car driven by James Orr for the 4 cylinder award. The Pure Stock award was won by Larry Young Jr. with his #25 black and orange car. Todd Jackson had his white w5 car looking good for the win in the Factory Stock class. Tim Aho's #27 Late Model edged out his dads #75 car for the final award in this contest.

A 25 lap feature was run for each class with the 4 Cylinders taking to the track first. Dean Eggart in the #88 car jumped into the lead early and never looked back. The first caution of the evening occured when Kaye Eddington's #34 car climbed the side of another car entering turn one. She blew a tire and was forced to make a pit stop to change the flat.

Ashley Pietrangelo in the #99 car brought out the second caution when she spun exiting turn two. The field was brought back together for another restart. John Gardner in the #44 car touched Brandy Clawson in turn two causing the most spectacular crash of the night. He made a slow motion slide on the backstretch before he went off the track, stopping on his roof in the infield. He climbed out of the car and waved to the fans to show that he was alright.

The race was called due to a preset time limit expiring, with Dean Eggart taking the checkered flag. Tony Rankin in the #17 was second, and Eric Sherlund in the #79 finished third.

The Pure Stock Feature had Billy Cryderman's #61 car taking an early lead. Larry Young Jr. made a pass and took the #20 car of Ray Golladay Jr. with him. These two cars ran first and second for many laps. They ran away from the field for much of the race. Golladay Jr. got sideways in lap traffic which let Larry Young Jr. drive away with the win. Randy Miller in the #37 car finished third.

The final feature of the evening was for Factory Stock. Paul Fox's #36 led for many laps with Todd Jackson second, Kevin Johnson third, and Josh Ware fourth. They stayed in this order until Jackson got inside of Fox in turn two and took the lead. Paul Fox dropped to fourth when Johnson and Ware slipped by on the inside. The w5 car ran strong when it got up front, and Todd Jackson won by about 3 car lengths. Kevin Johnson finished second, and Josh Ware in the #7 truck finished third.

Racing resumes this Friday with exciting action starting at 7:30 p.m. If you would like more info, log on to www.kinrossspeedpark.com.

(Submitted by Steve Lawson)