Owosso, MI (Tuesday, September 29, 2020) - This time of the year is typically reserved post-season specials at race tracks in our region. That’s exactly what fans at Owosso Speedway were treated to this past weekend at “The Big O”, as the 25th Annual Owosso Fall Nationals took center stage at the Mid-Michigan bullring. Eight divisions of feature racing would entertain fans on Saturday night, headlined by Modifieds and Outlaw Super Late Models.
The Modifieds would kick the evening off with a 50 lap feature event. Chris Begg took over the point from the green flag, and quickly put distance between himself and the rest of the field. Kyle Hayden didn’t let Begg get too far away, as he began to track down the leader at the halfway mark. At lap 32, Hayden made a nice move under Begg in turns one and two to take over the race lead. Begg attempted to track down Hayden, but Hayden’s #22 machine was up to the task, as he pulled away and was never challenged the rest of the distance.
“Qualifying 12th isn’t what we wanted,” stated Hayden. “But the invert worked out right for us, and we’ve had a pretty good long run car all year, and it worked out,” Hayden finished. Begg would hold on to the runner-up spot, with Dave Christenson, fast qualifier Blake Rowe, and Nick Clemens rounding out the top 5.
The ultra-fast Outlaw Super Late Models were next to take center stage for their 75 lap feature event, with $3,000 on the line. Dan Leeck and Blake Childers led the field to green. Childers and Leeck would stage a great side-by-side battle for most of the first 20 laps, with Childers running the high side and Leeck looking for grip on the bottom. Childers finally cleared Leeck off of turn two and found some room to run, but all eyes were on the #50 machine of Kyle Crump. Crump made his way from his 11th starting position, and with 20 laps to go, the battle for the lead was on. Crump continued to try and make the inside work, as Childers stayed to the top side, as he had the entire race. But with 11 laps to go, Crump made a move to the inside off of turn four, lost grip, and spun down the main straightaway. Crump would retire from the event with a flat left front tire. On the ensuing restart, Jason Felver, who started in the 10th position, would have his shot at Childers. But Childers and his #33 machine would be up to the task, and drive home to the checkers in his first Outlaw win at the Fall Nationals.
“It was everything I had to hold off Crump,“ commented Childers. “If he hadn’t spun, it would have been a heck of a show for the fans to the finish,” Childers exclaimed. Felver would hold on to the runner-up position, as Brandon Short, Alex Hagon, and Dan Leeck would complete the top 5.
In other action, Fred Cumming was the victor in the Sportsman class, and Lonnie Saumier added to his career win count in the Pure Stocks. The Truck win went to Paul Rigda, Anthony Richardson in the Outlaw Trucks, Ryan Cords in the Front Wheel Drives, and the Outlaw Front Wheel Drive winner was Pete Doxey. The 25th Annual Fall Nationals marks the end of the 2020 season at Owosso Speedway.
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Story: Rich Frantz, Horsepower Happenings
Photos: Thomas Stumpfig