Beautiful weather greeted a huge crowd of nearly 4,000 excited race fans at the Owosso Speedway for the 85th anniversary Opening Night of the historic Speedway that began operations back in 1939. Close to 100 cars packed the pit area for the event.
The first event of the evening would be the 50-lap main event for the Valley Truck Center Modifieds. Kyle Smith would lead the field down to the initial green, and looked very impressive in the opening circuits. A caution would bring Aaron Taylor to Smith’s outside for a restart on lap Nine. This would allow the Jackson, Michigan driver to get around Smith and take the lead. Fast qualifier Tim Lahar would attempt to make headway in the latter stages of the event, but it would be Taylor taking the victory on opening night over Lahar. Defending Track Champion David McManus finished third and secured 10 bonus points as the hard charger of the night. Fourth went to Fred Cummings Jr. after a superb recovery from an early race penalty, while Nick Clemens completed the top five after driving up from 14th. Heat race wins went to Mike Shannon, McManus, and Nick Lechota. As mentioned Tim Lahar was fastest in qualifying with a 15.367.
The MacAllister Rental Pure Stocks were next up for their 25 lap main event. Nick Johnston and Dan Gokee were the front row of this race. Johnston would lead the opening handful of laps as the field jockeyed behind him, but it would be Jason Spencer who would get brave on the outside line, taking control of the race on lap six. Many would try, but Spencer proved to be unpassable for the remainder of the event taking the opening night honors. Fast qualifier Jordan Lechota came home second, with Jim Miller Jr. third, Kyle Callahan fourth, and Nick Johnston completed the top five. Landon Hidy picked up the 10 bonus points as Hard Charger, coming from 17th to finish sixth. Coty Montrall, Shawn Edmonds, and Lonnie Saumier were heat race winners. Jordan Lechota was the fast qualifier with a lap of 18.083.
The Flory Crane Rental Sport Compacts were next to hit the track for their 25 lap feature. This Sport Compacts were chosen to have the option of the Kimball Midwest Challenge in which the fast qualifier can elect to start the feature last and if they win they receive a rolling $100 bonus. Fast qualifier Randy Moore opted to not take the challenge, so it will grow to $200 and be offered next Saturday night. This event featured an epic battle between Moore and Defending Track Champion Nicholas Murdock. The two drivers had to negotiate around each other as well as make split second decisions on how to work through lapped traffic. Unfortunately for Moore, while leading picked the wrong route, allowing Murdock to get around and take the victory. Moore settled for second, while Adam Whittaker made a great recovery to finish third after an early race penalty. Dan Hassard had a fourth place run after battling mechanical issues earlier in the day, and Corbin Kelley started his season off with a strong fifth place run. Keegan Cudd, Oliver Kuchar, and Drew Hosner took heat race wins. Moore was fast qualifier with a 17.816. Hassard picked up the Hard Charger honors, coming up 18 spots to finish fourth.
The Michigan Paving All-American Trucks would be next up for an amazing battle as well. Brian Dougherty would start things off on the pole. Dougherty would lead the opening few laps before giving way to Joe Shamel. Shamel would do his best to drive off into the distance, but fast qualifier Greg Long III was on the move and would wrest the lead away with a tactical pass in turn four. A three truck battle would take place for the remainder of the event, as Long, Brad Reseigh, and Shamel all duked it out for victory, but it would be Long III taking the win over Reseigh, Shamel, Cameron DeLong, and Greg Long Jr.. Heat races were claimed by Darren Burton, Charles Hamilton, and Greg Long Jr. Chris Devinney was Hard Charger, advancing seven positions to finish seventh. Long III was quick time with a 18.537.
The final race of the night was the Gross Construction Street Stocks for an adventurous 30 lap main event. Larry Seeley and Austin Edmonds lead the field down to the green. Edmonds would get around to lead the opening few laps. Jim Miller Sr. would be the early charger, getting around the outside to take over the lead. There would be an intense battle between Miller and fast qualifier TIm Lahar would have an elbows out battle at the front of the field. Contact between the two would see Lahar leave the track, and Miller would go on unchallenged to take the win. Colin Bozell would survive to finish second, with Aaron Newman, Austin Edmonds, and Larry Seeley completing the top five. In addition to the victory, Miller would claim the 10 bonus points for being Hard Charger coming from eighth to first. Heats were won by Edmonds and Miller, while Lahar was fast time in the second different division with a 16.066.
Full Results: