Hiiemaa, Praysner secure Laird point titles

Even though one race card remains, Robert Hiiemaa and Jason Praysner completed the enviable task of winning a division points title a night early at Laird International Raceway on Thursday night.

Hiiemaa claimed his title in the late model division heat race by simply starting the race. George Wilson sat 80 points behind Hiiemaa in second place and could only mange to tie if Hiiemaa missed every remaining race in the season.

Praysner held a 75-point edge over David Slingsby in the factory stock division and also won his title by simply driving onto the track to begin the first heat race. Praysner also won the title at Laird in 2001. Parker Brockelbank won the championship by five points over Praysner, who finished third, last season.

For Hiiemaa, the championship represents the first points title for veteran driver since 1981 when the Heyden resident won the title at the Onaway, Michigan Speedway.

Despite a championship already in hand, Hiiemaa dominated the late model field all night in winning the feature, heat race and the fast car dash. Wilson won the other heat race as the 14-car field was separated into two groups for heat racing.

Praysner won the factory stock feature while Len Bibeau won the first heat and Mike Murphy won the second heat.

The battle for the pure stock division championship will likely come down to the final feature race of the season and little was settled in the four-car race for the championship. Ray Golladay held a 21-point lead heading into the night and failed to claim a chequered flag. Joe Addison, who remains in the championship hunt, won the first heat race while the Michigan Sault's Barry Glenn won the second heat and feature race. Bob Laphew and Norm Miller remain in the title chase.

The stock four division winner will not likely be crowned until the final feature race as well. Four drivers remain in contention to pass Paul Beauchamp, who held the lead heading into Thursday. Dan Dinsmore, Jeremy Van Hoek, Matt Huber and Bill Butler remain in the hunt. Scott Syrette won both heat races and the feature on Thursday.

The season finale will be held on Sunday afternoon. Qualifying begins at 2 p.m. and racing at 3 p.m. LIR will host spectator drags, kids rides and invite all fans to mingle in the pits with the drivers following the race.

Photo: Late model champion Robert Hiiemaa in action.