Laird looks to turn attention back to the track tonight

After a week of controversy, Laird International Raceway returns to action on the track tonight.

After an altercation in the pits and an unrelated incident of harassment, LIR operations officials handed out suspensions on Tuesday night and look to focus back to racing tonight. Qualifying begins at 6 p.m. with racing to follow at 7 p.m.

The LIR operations team, which includes tech, pit and track officials along with communications personnel, met for three hours and handed out a total of seven suspensions.

Due to a fit in the pits, George Wilson has been put on suspension for one week and placed on probation for the rest of the season. Rob Sartini and Jamie Kozak have been banned from the track for the remainder of the year with their status to be reviewed at the end of the season. Kevin Jackson, Jamie Wilson and Adam Misilin have been barred from LIR for three weeks.

Maverick McDonald was also suspended for three weeks for harassing assistant flagman Bill Fraser. McDonald is alleged to have visited Fraser's place of employment on two separate occasions for an explanation on the call that saw the driver black-flagged from last week's feature event. Fraser has since resigned from his post. McDonald was flagged for running Wilson off the track, though Wilson later admitted he wasn't touched.

In the points standings, Heyden's Rob Hiiemaa has a chance to build his lead on top of the late model division. Hiiemaa has 302 points while Wilson, who will be serving his suspension tonight, has 271. Rick Ellis, despite all his troubles this season, remains in striking distance with 253 points.

Jason Praysner and David Slingsby are in a different class in the factory stock division. Both are tied with 317 points and have a large lead on the rest of the field.

The Michigan Sault's Barry Glenn leads the pure stocks with 295 points while several drivers remain within reach including Ray Golladay with 281 points, Norm Miller and Bob Laphew with 274 each and Joe Addison with 250 points.

Bill Butler leads a tight stock four division with 271 points. Trailing is Paul Beauchamps with 267 points, Dan Dinsmore with 260, Matt Huber with 248 and Jeremy Van Hoek with 234.

On the money board, Hiiemaa has collected a total of $4,325 in payouts thus far while Wilson has earned $3,690. Praysner has won $1,925 and Slingsby $1,805 while Glenn has claimed $1,185 and Golladay $900.