Solid night for Bond at Kinross

Kinross Speedpark hosted races for week 13 at the Chippewa County Fairgrounds under blue skies and comfortable temperatures.

The fastest four Factory Stocks opened the night’s action with Jared Nightlinger taking the first checkered flag of the evening. Billy Cryderman led the field of fast four Pure Stocks to green and never looked back while taking the win. John Gardner took the lead on lap three in the 4 Cylinder Dash and pulled away with a big lead and a win. The Pure Stock Australian Pursuit had lots of beating and banging with all but two cars being eliminated early. Mike Babcock and John Clawson raced door to door in a great battle with Babcock winning by a nose, earning his first victory of the season.

The 4 Cylinders lined up eleven cars for eleven laps in another great pursuit race. Eric Fountain, making his stock car racing debut, got nailed from behind by Kaye Eddington in turn one of the first lap, bringing out the yellow and a complete restart. Brandy Clawson raced to the lead and almost a victory. After taking the checkered flag, she was informed she broke the 1/4 second rule on her last two laps, disqualifying her from the race. Don Dangler, the only other car still left on the track, was awarded the victory.

There was a short delay before the first Late Model heat went green as the setting sun was blinding the drivers going into turn one. When the green flag dropped, Tim Aho jumped out front and led for a few laps before getting loose in turn four. Both George Wilson and Bill Bond were able to pass Aho. Wilson went on to the victory, with Bond second, and Tim Aho third.

A spectacular cloud of smoke from Pee Wee Fountain’s stock car highlighted the Factory Stock heat race. Smoke started to show going down the backstretch and really erupted when the car stopped on the front stretch. The field came to a stop as half of the track and most of the pits had little visibility. When racing resumed, Paul Fox held off Cecil Piche and Jared Nightlinger for the win.

The first Pure Stock heat again had cars bouncing off each other but great save after great save kept the race green. Barry Glenn raced to victory with Randy Touchtone second, and Ray Golladay Sr. third.

The second Pure Stock heat had lots of side by side racing. The field stayed close and Mike Babcock got his second win of the night. Bill Cryderman finished second, and John Clawson third.

Heat race number one for the 4 Cylinders had four wide racing on lap one. Racing was very tight and Kaye Eddington took her first win ever with an exciting finish. First, second, and third ran three wide the last lap with Dale Williams finishing second, and Erica Pietrangelo third.

The second 4 Cylinder heat ran caution free with lots of contact within the field. Dean Eggart and John Gardner finished first and second, with Don Dangler finishing third.

Bill Bond jumped into the lead on the first lap of the second Late Model heat race, and raced to the victory. The field lined up single file and stayed this way for most of the race. George Wilson finished second, and Kevin Jackson third.

Intermission activities included round two of the Kid’s Power Wheel races. Racers were allowed to race their battery operated vehicles for a lap around the Kinross quarter mile. Five year old Colby Piche driving a Gravedigger monster truck took the win. All the children competing were award medals, bringing lots of smiling faces to the track area.

The first twenty five lap feature of the evening were for the Late Models. Tim Aho and Bill Bond ran door to door for several laps before Bond got away with the lead. Kevin Jackson’s spin on the backstretch brought out the yellow and bunched up the field. Bill Bond, was very fast, and took the victory by about four car lengths over George Wilson. Tim Aho finished third. Bonds victory was his ninth feature win in only twelve starts at Kinross in the last seven years.

The Factory Stock feature had the field running very close together. Cecil Piche was able to pass Paul Fox for the lead and the win. Fox finished second, with Jared Nightlinger third.

Fifteen cars lined up for the Pure Stock feature event. Again, lots of three wide racing and cars bouncing off each other made for some exciting action. Ray Golladay Sr. came from deep in the pack to lead for awhile. Ray Golladay Jr. spun Nicole Rader on the backstretch bringing out the only caution. After the restart, Larry Young Jr. worked his way into the lead and pulled away with the victory. Ray Golladay Sr. finished second, with Barry Glenn third.

The 4 Cylinder feature had some very fast cars go right to the front and put on a great race. John Gardner took the win over Dean Eggart, with Adam Gardner third. These drivers battled lap traffic and each other making for a great race and a great finish.

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

(Submitted by: Steve Lawson)