By: SMS correspondent, Michelle Sprague

    Leslie’s Ken Buchner showed he has what it takes, winning his first ever feature in a Valvoline Instant Oil Change Modified at the Springport Motor Speedway. On the start, point leader Earl Miles, of Hanover, got hurled into the backstretch wall, ending his bid for win number four. Ken Buchner had a stellar run, as Charlotte’s Bill Butler, Horton’s Darel Woolsey, Leslie’s Craig Willett, and Marshall’s Justin Kazmar gave chase. Butler and Woolsey had to be content playing follow-the-leader as Buchner was able to hold them off. Kazmar looked to the outside of Willett, bringing Charlotte’s Wayne Haughton along with him. The duo made the pass, setting their sights on Woolsey. Caution waved as Woolsey retired to the pit with a smoking car, setting Kazmar up for a run at Butler and the leader, Buchner, with three laps to go. Buchner was able to pull away from Butler on the restart, preserving his lead, while Butler had to hold off Kazmar who issued a bid for second. At the line, it was Buchner, Butler, Kazmar, Haughton and Willett. The heat race win went to Miles.

   The Performance NW Sportsmans saw twelve competitors test themselves and their machines on the big 3/8-mile asphalt oval. Dennis Roys, of Troy, took the early lead, but ran laps under his qualifying time, and was sent to the rear, handing the lead over to Leslie’s Nate Moon. Okemos’ Steve Oberst and Leslie’s Ron Heeney were going at it tooth and nail when the two got together, sending Heeney spinning into the infield. Both were sent to the rear of the field, setting up the restart with Moon still shown as the leader. On the restart, Mason’s Scott Sigman took the lead, with Holt’s Chuck Ammerman settling into the third spot, followed by Leslie’s Dave Thorburn and Mason’s Ian Sprague. Heeney worked his way up into the top five, sitting behind Moon on a restart after a caution. Heeney lost a left front tire, bringing out the caution once again. With time being a factor, the race was shortened to 15 laps, with Sigman still shown as the race leader on the restart. Moon was running in second, followed by Ammerman, with Thorburn being pursued by Sprague through every turn. Ammerman lost a motor on lap 13, bringing out the early checker. Sigman made another trip to the Corrigan Oil Winner’s Circle, with Moon, Thorburn, Sprague, and Roys rounding out the top five. Thorburn and Heeney scored heat wins for the division.

   Twenty Boss Snow Equipment Pony Stocks took to the track, with one special Pony driver being honored at intermission. Art Kimbal, of Marshall, was awarded the 2007 Sportsman of the Year for Springport Motor Speedway, as he didn’t receive the award at the banquet last season. All drivers gathered on the front stretch to celebrate Art’s 58th year of racing. By the way, Art is 86 years old, the same as his car number. What a remarkable man, truly dedicated to the sport. To kick off his special night, Kimbal took the win in the four car dash, and led the majority of the first regular heat, with Charlotte’s Todd Metz Jr. coming home the winner. Kimbal also led the first three laps of the feature, but Jackson’s Edson Rowley III came blasting up through the field to take the lead on lap four. Rowley scraped the wall on the front stretch, giving Charlotte’s Todd Metz Sr. the window of opportunity he needed, and Metz took the lead on lap five. Charlotte’s Steve Wrenn and Lansing’s Misty Allen were duking it out for third, with Matt Vainner sitting in the fifth position. Lansing’s Bill McBride was on the move, taking the third spot on lap eight. JT Leach made his way around Allen and Wrenn to take away the fourth spot. At the line, it was Metz Sr., Rowley, McBride, Leach and Wrenn. Kimbal, Metz Jr. and Lansing’s Lex Jarecki took heat wins.

   The Pure Stock division, once again, resembled an endurance race, with caution waving three times, before the first lap. Flagman, Doug Allen, finally had them line up single-file, and the race was on. Kyle Drake was handed the lead as Spring Arbor’s Jonathan Smith and Dansville’s Mark Carson got together a number of times, bringing out the black flag for Carson and a trip to the rear for Smith. K. Drake was running just ahead of brother, Spencer Drake, with Jimmy Tucker, of Mt. Clemens, running in third. Charlotte’s Pastor Randy Royston held down the fourth spot, with Smith running fifth. The race was shortened due to a time limitation, with K. Drake taking the RWD win, while Tucker took the FWD win. Eleven cars started this race, and only six cars were left on the track when the checker waved. Tucker won the FWD heat, while S. Drake took the RWD heat.

   Please join us each and every Saturday night for exciting racing action at the Springport Motor Speedway. Saturday, July 12th, will be a special day, with gates opening at noon for a Vintage Race Car display and mock races. Greater Jackson Chamber Night brings the ever popular 60-lap w/pitstop Pony Stock event, along with Pure Stock events. Also featured are the Sportsmans and VROA. Discount tickets are available at the Jackson Chamber of Commerce office. July 19th will feature Valvoline Instant Oil Change Modifieds, Performance Automotive NW Sportsmans, Pure Stocks, and Boss Snow Equipment Pony Stocks. The evening’s program will be sponsored by Performance Automotive NW. Pencil in the biggest party of 2008, Racin’ and Rockin’ 4 will be held on July 26th, with a full racing program, food and live music in the pit. As always, we’ll see you at the races!