Six weeks in the books at Kinross Speedpark

A large crowd enjoyed week six of the 2007 race season with another full program including 4 Cylinders, Pure Stocks, Factory Stocks, and Late Models. Open wheeled modified cars made their return to Kinross for the first time in five years.

The fastest four qualifiers in each class ran a four lap heat to start the program. Each race saw the winner leading all four laps while taking the checkered flag. Brandy Clawson won in her 4 Cylinder, John Clawson in his Pure Stock, Mark Beaudoin with his Factory Stock, and Tim Aho in a Late Model.

The first heat race of the evening was for the 4 Cylinders. A number of ill handling cars started up front with the faster cars at the back. All the drivers drove great and ran a caution free race. Don Dangler Jr. made a last lap pass for the lead and the win. Tony Rankin finished second, and Brandy Clawson third.

The Pure Stocks took the green flag three wide and put on a great race. Mike Babcock and John Clawson ran door to door for many laps trading the lead back and forth. A yellow brought out for the spinning car of Don Etcher bunched up the field for a restart. Clawson had a nice restart and drove away with the win. Ray Golladay Jr. finished second, and Mick Pieri third.

The inside starting row in the first Factory Stock heat stormed ahead at the start with Paul Fox leading the way. Dean Eggart followed for a few laps before getting an opening on the inside going into turn three and taking the lead. Eggart led to the finish and took the win. Cecil Piche finished second, and Paul Fox third.

The Late Models lined up for their first race and had some extended warm laps out on the track. Jordan Sims was a late arrival to the track and race officials gave him some extra time to unload and start the race at the back of the field. When the green flag dropped, Jake Marcinkowski was the leader. He led for several laps before Tim Aho made a nice pass on the outside. Aho led the rest of the heat with Andy Noeske finishing second, and George Wilson third.

The second 4 Cylinder heat had Tony Rankin starting in the eighth position and taking the lead at the flag stand. Rankin had a very fast car a led the entire race. After two cautions and two restarts, Rankin was able to take the checkered flag. Larry Miller finished second and Brandy Clawson third.

There was no shortage of excitement in the second Pure Stock heat race with cars again going three wide at the start. The field safely made it to the backstretch where Mick Pieri made an exit from the track sliding through the grass and bringing out the caution. After the restart, Randy Miller led for a short time. Another yellow was flown when Pieri again went off the track spinning wildly and sliding where race cars rarely go. Two more yellows were flown for spins by Dan Shumbarger and Nicole Radar. The Radar car was tagged by Don Etcher and he received the black flag for rough driving. When the race was finally finished, John Clawson was the winner. Ray Golladay Jr. was second, and Barry Glenn third.

Dean Eggart checked out on the field and won the second Factory Stock heat. Cars were stacked up behind him with not a lot of position changes. Paul Fox finished second, and Mark Beaudoin third.

The Late Models saw Matt Radar run up front for several laps when the green flag dropped. Josh Ware and George Wilson battled close behind and slipped passed when Radar got a little loose out on the track. Ware pulled away and took the win. Wilson finished second, and Radar third.

Ray Saddison and Randy Saddison pulled their open wheel modifieds out on the track for a ten lap heat race. Both cars ran side by side for many laps putting on a great show for the crowd. When the checkered flag flew, Randy was in front, with Ray in close second.

The 4 Cylinder feature had an exciting start, race, and finish. It was a very clean start with cars running four wide into turn one. Larry Miller and Tony Rankin battled for several laps for the lead. Brandy Clawson eventually moved into first with a charging Don Dangler Jr. right behind. They got side by side and put on a great race. They touched once on the backstretch but both gave each other room to race. The last lap was spectacular. With Clawson and Dangler door to door they came up on a lap car in turn one. Clawson dove to the inside and Dangler to the high side. The lap car was surprised by the leader on his inside and moved up the track right into the speeding Dangler car spinning him out. Clawson went on to win with Eric Fountain second, and Larry Miller third.

The Pure Stock feature had a very nice start with the field running two by two for many laps. Mike Babcock and Dan Shumbarger moved to the front with Ray Golladay Jr. ready to challenge. The only yellow of the race was for a spin in turn four by Nicole Radar. Golladay Jr. took the lead on the restart and held on for the victory. John Clawson finished second, and Barry Glenn third.

Paul Fox had a great start in the Factory Stock feature and was the early leader. Fox drifted up the track just enough in turn two allowing Dean Eggart to slip into the lead. Eggart ran along the white line at the bottom of the track and built a big lead. The lead went away in a hurry when the yellow came out for a spin by Larry Young Jr. in turn four. With the field bunched up for the restart, the green flag was flown. Cecil Piche was all over the Eggart car moving him just enough to get along side on the last lap. Both cars came to the checkered in one of the closest finishes in some time. Cecil Piche was declared the winner with Eggart second, and Kary Saddison third.

The Late Model feature was another great race. The field stayed close with some of the tightest racing in years. Jake Marcinkowski led several laps before Andy Noeske made a nice pass on the outside taking the lead. Josh Ware also got free from the pack and chased down the leader. Ware ran inches from the leader just waiting for an opportunity to slip into the lead. Ware got alongside the Noeske car once but was not able to make the pass. Andy Noeske ran a perfect race and took the win. Josh Ware was second, and Jake Marcinkowski third.

The final race of the evening was the Powder Puff race. Tracey Cryderman built a commanding lead early and looked like she would cruise to victory. Erin Beaudoin came out of nowhere halfway through the race to charged to the front. Beaudoin held on for the win with Cryderman second, and Chelsea Babcock third.

Racing action resumes again this Friday at Kinross Speedpark. For more information, log onto www.kinrossspeedpark.com.

(Submitted by Steve Lawson)