Opening night results from the Kinross Speedway

The Kinross Speedway opened up the new race season to fans from across the Twin Sault Area this past Friday Night with their 2005 Season Opener and Fan Appreciation Night. With admission prices dropped for this opening night special, a very large and boisterous crowd made their way to the ¼ mile facility.

Despite expecting a lower car count than usual, as no less than 20 cars are still getting prepped for the new racing campaign, track promoters were not phased and went on with the regularly scheduled events.

After noticing the large contingent of children in the stands, Intermission Kids rides were added to the program. This is always a huge hit to the youngsters in the crowd and this night was not to be an exception.

The Factory Stock division was back with vengeance and displayed some very tight competition despite missing half of it's field of cars.

Pee Wee Fountain (50) set fast time on the evening with a lap of 15.310 seconds. Todd Jackson (W5) wheeled his Algoma Industrial sponsored car to victory lane in the four-car dash before defending track champion Kevin Johnson (37) would find the checkered flag in heat race action after making a pass late in the race.

The highly-anticipated feature would not disappoint. With a field of cars as competitive as they were one season ago, it was definitely anybody's race.

Jackson would take the lead from the drop of the green flag while running door-handle-to-door-handle with Johnson for the first 10-laps. Fountain, Cecil Piche (88) and Paul Fox (36) would be knocking on the doorsteps but couldn't quite catch your top 2 cars.

Johnson would make the pass for the lead on lap 11 and was able to hold on for the feature win and successful opening night defense of his 2004 track championship.

Fourteen cars would park pitside in the Pure Stock Division.

Defending track champion Chuck Johnson (5) set fast time with a lap of 16.720 seconds. Ray Golladay Jr. (20) won the four-car dash while Bill Cryderman (61) would take home the Australian Pursuit victory. Heat race #1 would see Barry Glenn (55) take the win in his new car while 2002 track champion Ray Golladay Sr. would grab heat race #2.

In the 25-lap feature event, Don Etcher (1) and Randy Miller (37) would pace the field to the green flag. By lap 2, Glenn had taken over the lead and was now being challenged by Johnson, who had started in the 12th position.

Those two cars would swap positions before Johnson would pull off on lap 13. That trend would continue as Glenn, who was your leader at the time, would head pitside alongside second-place runner Young Jr. (26) during a lap 23 caution period. Young Jr. would return but not before tagging the rear of the field.

Those deletions would relinquish the lead over to Golladay Sr. The Dafter, MI native would hold on the final 2 laps for the feature win. Cryderman and Norm Miller (73) would round out the top three positions.

It came as no surprise that the Four Cylinder Division bolstered the largest car count yet again as 23 cars would take part in qualifying to start off the night.

2002 Track champion John Mayer (9) would set fast time at 17.780 seconds. That was a mere 3-hundredths off track record time. Steve Stec (13) won the four-car dash while Norm Kuczenski (34) and Eric Sherlund (12A) would take home their respective Australian Pursuit races. Newcomer Jim Beaumontt (69) took his first-ever checkered flag in heat race #1 while Kuczenski won his 2nd race of the night in heat race #2.

Dale Williams (7) and Shawn Davis (31) made up your front row for their 25-lap feature event. The top spot would change four times in the opening 5 laps and would see Dean Eggart (88) pacing the field through some early caution periods.

James Thompson (8) would take over the lead on lap 12 after Eggart would receive the black flag for breaking his ¼ second rule time. Thompson, who started 13th, was able to hold on until lap 24 when Tony Rankin (17) would take over the top spot and reel in his first career feature win. Thompson, Mayer, Kuczenski and Tim Aho (11) would round out your top 5.

The Late Model Division would be removed from the program for this night only due to car count problems. Soo, ONTARIO native George Wilson (67) made his way to the Speedway and was awarded points accordingly.

Track officials have been in contact with the drivers expected and at least 7 additional drivers should have their cars ready to go to battle this coming Friday Night.

The Speedway now moves into it's second night of the season this coming Friday, May 27th.

The night will feature a full 4-in-1 show while it has also been deemed a Memorial Day Special with veterans receiving a ticket to the main grandstand for just $4!

Regular admission prices are just $8 U.S/CAN for Adults, $6 U.S../CAN for Students and Seniors with Kids 12 & Under being admitted free.

Take exit 378 off the I-75 and follow the signs to the Speedway (fairgrounds).

We hope to see you all back trackside "Where Action is the Attraction!" … this Friday night!

For more information check us out online at www.kinrossspeedway.com!

(PHOTO: Ray Galloday Sr. All photos courtesy of Rod Aubertin of www.saultracers.com