Track Phone:  906-630-9584 or 1-866-780-7272 (toll-free)

** NEXT EVENT **
Deon "Squeeky" Berlin Memorial

Friday, July 3, 2009

Special 5-in-1 show of Super Late Models, Factory Stocks, Pure Stocks, AllStar Graphics Four Cylinders and only appearance of the year by the NAMRA Formula Indy's
(2nd fastest cars in track history)

Qualifying at 6 p.m.  /  Racing at 7:30 p.m.

Friday Night Thunder
Week 5 RACE RECAP

06.26.09 - by Steve Lawson

When the modifieds lined up for the first race of the night and the Mav McDonald car dropped oil all over the track causing a lengthy cleanup, one had to wonder if it was going to be one of those nights. It certainly was an unusual evening with cautions all night long and one crazy event after another. When the final race was completed, there was a great relief all around the Speedpark.

The 4 Cylinder class had some of the best driving of the night and the fewest banged up race cars. BJ Marcoux survived a four wide start in the four car dash to take the win. Alex Johnson passed everybody in front of him to win the Australian Pursuit race. Ron Etcher and Don Dangler ran side by side for many laps in the 4 Cylinder heat race putting on a great show at the front of the field, with Etcher earning the victory.

The 4 Cylinder Feature event was another great race. There was a four wide start with heavy traffic in the field. Ron Etcher took the high line and passed Alex Johnson for the lead. BJ Marcoux and Don Dangler came from deep in the pack and reeled in the leader. The top three cars pulled away with everyone racing each other cleanly. BJ Marcoux took the lead in lap traffic and held on for the win. Ron Etcher finished second with Don Dangler third.

Ray Golladay Jr. broke away from the pack and took the win in the Pure Stock dash. Mick Pieri and Ray Golladay Sr. eliminated all the cars in front of them on the first lap in the Australian Pursuit race. Pieri held on to the lead and took the win. The Pure Stock heat race had cars three wide on both lap one and two. The field was tight with Brad Leach working his way to the front. He built a small lead but got loose in turn four allowing John Clawson to make a run for the first spot. Leach held on and won by half a car length over Clawson.

The Pure Stock feature was another close race with Mick Pieri the early leader. Second on back was very close with cars swapping positions quickly. John Clawson worked his way to the front and got to the outside of Pieri. The top six cars were still nearly all touching. Clawson broke free and pulled away with the lead. The field went single file and raced to the finish. Clawson finished first, Mick Pieri second, and Bill Cryderman third.

The Factory Stock Dash saw a familiar car up front. Cecil Piche powered to the lead and never looked back to take the win. The field of Factory Stocks was large, and the class had an Australian Pursuit. Mark Beaudoin started fourth and finished first to take the checkered flag. The Factory Stock heat race really got the action going. The entire field was rubbing by turn one and four wide by turn three. The bumping continued on lap two with Beadoin getting to the front. He began to pull away when the field went four wide again behind him causing a caution in turn three. Beaudoin led the restart and held on for the victory.

Randy Miller jumped to an early lead in the Factory Stock Feature. Chris Miller spun in front of the rest of the field collecting many cars in turn one and two. Todd Jackson went pit side with a flat tire and both sides of his car tore up. He returned before the restart with much of his sheet metal missing. Beaudoin led the rest of the way with the top five cars all very close. Paul Fox finished second and Cecil Piche third.

Jay Palumbo looked very fast in the Modified 4 Car Dash. He took the lead early and earned the win. Palumbo continued to run up front shooting to the inside down the backstretch to take the lead in the heat race. He pulled away from the field and took the win.

The Modified Feature had no shortage of action with yellow flags on the first lap three times in a row. The fourth restart was single file and this one was a success. Rick Ellis led early with George Wilson and Jay Palumbo moving through the pack quickly. The top five cars ran very close for much of the race. James Brown and George Wilson were all over the Ellis car trying to get to the front. Wilson powered by on the outside and took the win. Mav McDonald finished second, and Dennis Uhlman third.

Crowd favorite Donnie Varcoe made his first appearance of the season at Kinross Speedpark with his Late Model. He took the lead on the last lap of the Four Car Dash with a little rub to the side of Josh Ware. Varcoe continued to entertain the crowd by bringing out an early yellow in the Late Model heat race. He dropped his right side tires off the pavement on the front stretch causing a cloud of dust and a big spin into turn one. George Wilson stayed at the front of the field to finish in the first position.

The Late Model Feature was lengthy but very entertaining. Robert Hiiemaa jumped to an early lead and led to the first of many cautions. John Clawson looped around on the backstretch with George Wilson skidding violently off the track trying to avoid him. The cars stacked up on the restart with Kevin Johnson spinning bringing out another yellow. Josh Ware took over first with Varcoe and Wilson battling for third. Another yellow was brought out when Johnson shot off the front stretch and onto the horse track. Ware led another restart with Jerry Artuso spinning this time in turn one. Ware stayed out front again on the restart with Varcoe and Wilson running nose to tail behind him. These three cars began to pull away when Wilson touched Varcoe in turn four causing him to spin and bringing out yet another yellow. The race resumed and Wilson left the track again on the backstretch. This time John Clawson and Kevin Johnson collided at the yellow flag causing a lengthy yellow. Hiiemaa spun in turn four with the field going yellow again. Varcoe drove right into the back of the leader Ware under caution passing him and racing around the track back to the flag. Flagman Joel Wiggins had seen enough and sent Varcoe pit side parking his car for the night. Ware immediately blew a tire on the restart bringing out the final yellow of the race. There was a two lap shootout for the win with Hiiemaa finishing first, Wilson second, and Jerry Artuso third.
 

DRIVERS CORNER

2009 DOWNLOADABLE FORMS
(opens in Microsoft Word)

The following two forms are those of interest for competing drivers in the 2009 season.  We encourage all drivers to download, print and have these forms in advance to speed up the process when arriving at the track.

Driver Registration
Mandatory for all drivers by their 2nd week of competition.  Fee is $50 for Late Models, Factory Stocks and Pure Stocks or $25 for Modifieds and Four Cylinders.  This is a ONE-TIME yearly fee.

SARA Membership Form

$35 Fee with the following benefits;  voting privileges at all SARA monthly meetings, $5 reduced admission each week at the pit gate and inclusion in 2009 Speedpark points fund.

**These forms can be printed and mailed with payment to:

Sault Area Racing Association

4234 I-75 Business Spur #431

Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan  49783