Piche holds off tough competition for 1st feature win of the season

The temperature in the air had dropped considerably this past Saturday night but the driving was still hot and it proved to be a wild night of racing at the Kinross Speedway.

Kevin Johnson (37) came back with vengeance after missing a week of racing action with a blown engine one-week prior. The Strongs, Michigan native set a new Factory Stock track record with a time of 15.350 seconds.

Cecil Piche (88) won the four-car dash before Dave Devine (4) captured the Australian Pursuit Victory.

Piche would return to victory lane topping the rest of the field in the 10-lap heat race.

The Feature event would be minus 2 cars after an accident during the heat race earlier in the night.

Paul Fox (36) would end his night early with problems behind the wheel of his Chevelle while Pee Wee Fountain (50) would also be done for the night after experiencing heavy damage to his car following tagging the front stretch wall.

Thankfully both drivers were o.k. and hopefully they can have the cars back together for this weeks race program.

Josh Ware (7) and Devine would lead the pack to the green flag of their 25-lap feature sponsored by Soo Collision.

Ware would grab the early lead and pace the field for the first 7-laps around the Speedway.

Lap 8 would see the 'Pink Panther' Cecil Piche power to the front from inside row 2.

By lap 11 Mark Beaudoin (74) was on his back bumper with Johnson and Jason Praysner (5) on-toe and all within striking distance.

When the pack would reach lap 20 the top 4 cars were nose to tail with everyone looking for the power or opening to get to the front.

Piche would be able to hold off the hard charges to claim his 1st feature win of the season along with inheriting the points lead in the division.

Praysner would make a last-lap pass for 2nd while Johnson would finish third.

Barry Glenn (55) was the fast qualifier in the Pure Stock Division coming in under the lights in 16.960 seconds.

Ray Golladay Jr. (20) would take home the four-car dash win while Al Odbert III was the winner of the Australian Pursuit.

Rollin' Randy Miller (73) and Ray Golladay (22) would win their respective heat races.

Odbert III and Miller would make up your front row for their 25-lap feature event.

The Soo, Michigan youngster Odbert was having his best night of the season and would be your leader through the first 17 laps of the race.

By that time fast qualifier Glenn had moved up to 2nd, Larry Young Jr. was in 2nd followed by Golladay and Bill Cryderman (61).

Lap 18 would see Glenn inherit the lead only to see Golladay on his back bumper 1 lap later.

These two drivers would battle it out through the stretch and down to the chequered flag.

Glenn would take the win followed by Golladay, Cryderman, Odbert III and Golladay Jr. rounding out your top 5.

The win proved to be Glenn's 4th feature win of the season and gave him a 13-point lead in the standings.

Jared Nightlinger (48) set fast time in the 4-Cylinder division on this night with a lap of 18.120. That was a mere 4-hundredths off his own track record of 18.080.

John Clawson (35) took home the 4-car dash while James Thompson (8) won the Australian Pursuit.

Clawson would make it 2-for-2 while taking the heat race victory.

Barry Williams (24) and Thompson would set the pace and bring the division down to the green flag of their feature event.

A newcomer to the Speedway occupied the field as Mike Baraluk (12) took his 1987 Plymouth Sundance to the track for the first time ever.

Thompson's lead would only last1 lap before Clawson had made the move from outside row 2 and into the early lead.

By lap 5 Nightlinger had made his move up to 2nd and was challenging hard for the lead with John Mayer (9) sitting in third.

Your leaders would begin to catch some of the other cars in the field although the lapped cars would not play a factor in the race.

Lap 23 would see Mayer head pit side only to return for the final lap, 2 laps down.

Clawson would out-run the competition on his way to his first-career feature win.

Nightlinger, Thompson, Sherlund and Baraluck were your top 5.

The Super Late Model division would see a lone car break into the 13-second bracket when Dave Vansloten (33) timed-in 13.900 seconds.

Curis Anderson (51) took home the four-car dash while Dennis Aho (75) one his first race of the season in the 10-lap heat race.

Sam Bohling (45) and D. Aho brought the field down to the green flag of what would be a race of endurance.

Lap 3 would see Anderson head pit side with heavy smoke out of the rear of his car while 5 laps later Bohling would retire pit side with problems in his 45 machine.

By this point of the race Vansloten had made his move to the lead from the final starting position but had Tim Aho (27) right behind him.

These two drivers are in a heated points battle in the standings and this night would be no different.

Unfortunately for T. Aho he would lose some valuable points when he would retire pit side on lap 10. That put Todd Jackson (21) in the 2nd position.

It was only a matter of laps as Vansloten would go on to his 5th feature win of the season.

With the win Vansloten now sits in the division lead by a mere 6-points.

Now with the 2003 season in the final stretch this coming week is sure to provide another exciting night of racing as part of the Chippewa County Fair.

A reminder to everyone that racing will be held this week on FRIDAY, AUGUST 29th.

Time trials are at 6 p.m. with racing to follow at 7:30 p.m.

Along with being part of the 2003 Fair there are a lot of events happening at the track.

This night will be Pepsi Night at the races with prizes, products etc. from Pepsi Newberry Bottling along with sponsored events from J&C Fishery and Paradise Service.

Frank Huyck and Sons is sponsoring the Pure Stock feature and all the youngsters in attendance are to watch for a special appearance from the Little Caesar's PIZZA PIZZA man.

The night will be topped off with our 3rd Powder Puff of the season. Currently Soo, Michigan native Nikki Odbert (23) is the points-leader.

For another week we thank you and hope to see all your backsides trackside "Where Action is the attraction" …. The Kinross Speedway.