June 20, 2009

TOM SMITH GOES BACK-TO-BACK IN SUPERPRO SERIES

      On Saturday, June 20 the evening before Father's Day Tom Smith, Jeremy Wallen, Alex Vonderau, Tim Howard, and Michael Myers won feature events at Baer Field Speedway before a large crowd.

      The SUPERPRO SERIES made their second appearance of the season. Twenty cars made the call for the 75-lap feature and a nine-car inversion saw Jack Smith start on the pole. At the green, J. Smith jumped into the early lead with Tom Smith moving to second by lap three. Through two caution periods the race ran smoothly. Tom Smith took over the top spot on lap 39 with Jack Landis in pursuit. Leading comfortable for most of the race, Smith encountered some lapped traffic late, which allowed Landis to close in. A late caution set up a two-lap sprint to the checkers, but T. Smith was able to hold on for his second consecutive Superpro win at Bear Field. Landis settled for second with Kyle Hayden an impressive third. Recovering from a mid-race incident, fast qualifier (17.896) Mike Kugler rallied to finish fourth with Derek Bischak, Andy Marchinak, Kevin Todd, Steve Brooks, Mark Hankosky, and J. Smith rounding out the top-10.

      The Modified 25 lap feature saw an eight inversion which put Mike Mayes on the pole with Jeremy Wallen on the outside. When the green flag dropped Wallen was in the lead. By lap five Todd Bennett moved into second with Bud Adams in hot pursuit. The race ran non-stop. At the checkered flag it was Wallen, Bennett, Adams, Eric Shaffer, Ron Stine, Randy Smith, Mayes, Brad Springer, Jonathan Martin, and Mel Klein. Modified heat winners were Joe Wormcastle and Stine. Fast qualifier was Randy Smith at 18.575.

      The 20-lap Street Stock feature saw Paul Murray pace the field. When the green came out Mike Vonderau took the lead with Murray in second. By lap eight Alex Vonderau was in second with his eyes on winning. On a lap 16 restart, Alex make the pass on his father for the lead. Alex Vonderau cruised to the win over his father Mike. Dean Cook was third followed by Jamie Garrett, Steven Russell, Larry Vandall, Joe Kunberger, Bob Weisenauer, Destiny Sanders, and Curt Campbell. Street Stock heat winners were M. Vonderau and A. Vonderau with fast time set by Garrett at 17.593.

      The 15-lap Mini Stock feature was very competitive. Chris Thompson led for two laps and then Mike McBride took over. After starting last, Tim Howard took the lead on lap seven and pulled away. At the finish it was Howard collecting his second win of the season followed by Dick Soule, McBride, Ryan Wilson, Thompson, Justin Kelley, and John Puff. The heat was won by Howard with McBride setting fast time of 19.072.

      The Front Wheel Drive 12-lap feature saw Michael Myers starting in fourth position and jump into the lead on lap one with fast qualifier Jeff Shelmadine in hot pursuit. Myers held off all challenges to win his first feature of the season over Blaine Miller, Jim Spillers, Shelmadine, Chuck Agnew Steven Derouin, and Sara Zimmerman. Myers also won the heat with Shelmadine fast qualifier at 19.524.

      Racing returns to Baer Field Speedway Saturday, June 27 with the return of the Late Models along with Modifieds, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, and Front Wheel Drives on Church Group Night. Time trials at 5:30 and racing at 7:30 p.m.