Gold collects his own bonus at Laird

Michael Gold wasn't prepared to let any bounty hunters catch him on this night.

With Laird International Raceway having placed a $500 bounty on Michael Gold, the 21 year-old late model driver has been a marked man the past two race nights.

If a four car dash participant captured the feature or if a driver who started behind Gold won the feature, they would collect a $500 bonus on top of the regular $500 late model first place feature prize.

If Gold could capture the feature himself, he would collect a $250 bonus.

On Sunday, Gold dominated the field and took home $750 for his win in the late model feature. The win added to the two checkered flags Gold picked up in the two heat races.

The special Sunday show at LIR put an end to the 2nd Annual Laird Summer Extravaganza with was held throughout the weekend.

The win in the feature for Gold didn't come very easily.

Veteran driver Rick Ellis took a lead and ran a tight inside line the entire race. Gold eventually advanced through the field and caught up to Ellis. After several attempts, Gold eventually made the pass in the late laps and cruised from there to the win.

Robert Sartini captured the four car dash over Gold.

Robert Hiiemaa captured the feature on Friday and took home $1000 with the bounty. If Hiiemaa could have won the feature on Sunday, the defending track champion would have pocketed an additional $1,000 bonus.

The pure stock division held a special $500 35 lap feature and Len Bibeau continued his weekly improvement and sped home for the feature win. Michigan Sault drivers Barry Glenn and Norm Miller were the heat race winners.

The stock four division also ran for big prize money as $400 would be handed out to the winner. Mike Savino added to his earlier heat race victory to take the feature.

Gordon Hunt won both his heat races while Savino and Mike Baraluk won the others.

After initially being disqualified following Friday's feature win, Savino had the decision overturned and was awarded the feature win on Saturday.

In the modified division, Kevin Oicle's 21 consecutive race victory streak came to an end on Sunday as George Wilson made his return to the track in Larry Ebare's #40 and captured the first heat.

Oicle would rebound for a win in the second heat but car troubles kept the points leader from the feature as Randy Hache would cross the finish line for the win.

In the factory stock division, Bar River's Steve Kent recorded his ninth consecutive feature win in nine outings this season. Shawn Ritchie won both division heat races.

LIR will resume action this week on their regular Thursday night with qualifying to begin at 6 p.m. followed by racing at 7 p.m.

For points updates and other track information, click here to visit the LIR website.

*** DEMOLITION DERBY:

In the Demolition Derby held Saturday night at LIR, Randy Hache outlasted over 20 cars to win the $1000 prize.