Late Model points race heats up

The weather may have been cool but the racing action was hot as Laird International Raceway heads into the final weeks of the season.

The Late Model Division results tightened the points race between Michael Gold and Rick Leonard. Gold ended the night with a slim one-point lead over Leonard in the points race after entering the night trailing by three.

Gold got off to a quick start as he won the fast car dash over Jerry Artuso, Rod Bolduc ad Chris Furkey. Leonard gathered ground by holding off Gold and Artuso in the first heat race. Corey Furkey held off Leonard and Gold in a shortened heat two. In the deciding race Artuso took top spot over Corey Furkey with Gold finishing in third. Leonard finished in fifth, just behind Rob Bolduc.

That Gold was able to participate in the night’s action was a surprise after the veteran driver was involved in last week’s eight-car demo derby that was the Late Model feature. Gold’s car left Laird following that race looking as though it would be out of action for repairs.

In the Modified Division, Mav MacDonald could not continue his torrid pace since returning as his feature win streak was halted as Dennis Uhlman battled to the feature win with Jordan Sims finishing second and Nick Jobst third. Uhlman won heat one over Jobst and Rick Ellis while MacDonald won the second heat over Sims and Jobst.

Parker Brocklebank won the Factory Stock Division’s first heat race over John Hamilton and Steve Kent. Kent battled back to win the second heat race over Dick Wellwood and Bill See. Hamilton held off all comers as he took the lead on the first lap and held off Mike Murphy and Wellwood to take the victory.

In the Stock 4 Division Cody MacLean held off Adam Gardner and Dean Wade in the feature. John Gardner won the first heat race over Wade and Tristen Anderson while Anderson won the second heat over Adam Gardner and MacLean. The second heat is under review though as Anderson restarted out of position.

Action will continue next Thursday night with a full slate of action.