LIR provides plenty of action

It was certainly an interesting night at Laird International Raceway on Thursday night in stock car action.

Action got heated in the Late Model Division, specifically during the feature race. Late in the race sparks began to fly, both figuratively and literally, involving veteran drivers George Wilson and Jeremy Van Hoek.

With the race nearing its completion, the two racers entered the front stretch and while nearing the flagstand, Van Hoek was forced into the guardrail, causing plenty of damage to the No. 51 car.

With his car parked at a standstill on the front straightaway, Van Hoek angrily exited the car and had some heated words for Wilson, who had come to a standstill on the infield by this point. Van Hoek left the track, but was visibly angered by the events.

In the actual race, Rod Bolduc took advantage of the crash to take over the lead in the feature and walk away with the victory. Bolduc also wrapped up a heat race victory in the second heat.

In the first heat, Van Hoek came away with the victory. Cory Furkey won the Fast Car Dash.

In the Modified Division, Jordan Sims received some good fortune and used it to open up a 23 point lead over Kevin Oicle in the Modified Division points standings. Sims turned a hat trick as he won both Modified heat races and proceeded to cruise to a victory in the feature race.

Oicle managed a sixth place finish in the first heat and a second place finish in the second heat before being black-flagged during the feature. Oicle ran all three races behind the wheel of Marty Luzzi's No. 45 car.

In the Factory Stock Division, it wasn't a very good night for points leader Steve Kent when it came down to the feature race. After posting a pair of solid finished in the heat races, second and third, Kent wound up finished sixth in the eight-car feature.

John Hamilton was the big winner in the Factory Stock's as he took home a heat win and a second place finish to Mike Murphy in the second heat. To top it all off, Hamilton walked away with the feature victory as well.

In the Stock Four Division, three different racers found themselves with victories on the night as Cody McLean won heat race one, Kevin Walker won heat two, after finishing second to McLean in the first heat, while Gord Hunt came away the big winner with a first place finish in the Stock four feature.

Action continues at LIR on Monday night with a full racing schedule beginning with qualifying at 6 p.m. Racing is set for 7 p.m.

Action will then continue on Thursday night with action getting underway at 6:30 p.m.

The action will be modified for the races Thursday night as there will be no qualifying and only one heat race per category, plus the normal feature, as LIR has scheduled a demolition derby for the same night and that will take place immediately following the races.