Rodgers
scores first SLM win of year at LGR!
The super late model feature wasn't even one turn old, as Joel Clossey and Brian Urlich tangled in turn one, with the other eighteen drivers missing them, creating the first caution. Jamie Arlelt running mid pack left the track at the same time. The next green was again short lived, as point leader Brad Durbin bounced off the wall, stopping in turn three. Urlich led the first two laps, before Shane Bishop from row two, moved in front. By lap seven, the leader was nearly two lengths ahead of Joe Fisher, with Landry Potter, Kent Burkoth and Urlich three deep for third. By lap eleven, Fisher was just behind the leader, with a tight group behind them. On lap fifteen, Denny Hiffman and Garrett Fait tangled in turn two, stopping the race one more time. One lap later, the caution appeared for Urlich and Russ Blakley's get together, during that stop, Potter went to the pit area, but returned before racing resumed.When the next green came, Bishop had Burkoth on his right side for the lead, as it became a dead heat for that top spot.
Burkoth led the next lap, but then Randy Rodgers, made his presence on lap twenty, slipping inside the new leader. Again it was another dead heat for that lead. On lap twenty three, Bishop found new life and crept inside the twosome at the top. Burkoth established the front spot by him self one lap later. After one more go round, Fisher and Bishop tangled bringing out the final caution, just as the fog started to come in. Quickly restarting, the movement took the fog away and Burkoth led two more laps. With the white flag displayed, Rodgers inched ahead and won the event with that late charge. Burkoth held onto second, with Blakley, Urlich, Bob Moeller, Fait, Mike Simon and Hiffman rounding out the top eight. Jerry Freeman paced the field of the next feature, with fifteen other sportsman cars behind him. Shawn Utphall, LeRoy Potter, Terry Crowell and Zac Deeringer battled for that important second position, as Kevin Rybuck moved up to fourth in just four laps. On lap six, Eric Roberts spun, bringing out the first caution. Freeman wasn't fazed by that slowdown, grabbing the top spot on the next green. Potter didn't let the leader run away and hide, but the second place driver now had a flying Rybuck to contend with by lap ten. Potter fell to Rybuck on the next lap, with Brian Baker and Deeringer fighting for that
third spot. Freeman used the outside groove to hold onto the lead for three more laps,
then Rybuck moved in front. Deeringer quickly followed, with Potter, and Mike Monroe in
hot pursuit. Two laps later, Freeman was back in front, with the field right behind him.
With just three laps to go, Rybuck tried it one more time to try and take the win. For
those final two laps, it was too close to call, as Rybuck crossed the line first, Freeman
was second, with Monroe along side for third. Deeringer, The last feature tonight was the super stocks as rookie Jack Rubach led the first lap, before another first year driver Mike Bell grabbed the top spot. Greg Janutka got around Rubach one lap later, with Jim Hughes right behind them. Within two more laps Hughes was moving forward, taking third and waiting any mistakes from Janutka. Somehow, Hughes moved from third to the front in just three laps, stunning the front runners and becoming the third leader of the race. Rob Hunt started his quest forward, getting a break on lap twelve, then squeaking into second one lap later. The cluster behind them left little room for errors, as Tom Fay used the far outside to gain fourth from Bell. There was very little movement, as the field diced for anything they could get, with Hughes holding a good lead. John Janssen got his break on lap fifteen, the next three laps gaining one position per lap. With just five laps to go, Hughes was just ahead of Janssen who just taken over second. Just like the other two features, with only a few laps to go, the leader had pressure for their spot. Janssen worked on Hughes taking over the lead with two more rounds to go. It was all out war, as Janssen won the event. Hughes held back Hunt for second, as quick timer Jerry Cowan nearly nipped Hunt at the wire. Jeff Lorenz was next, as Janutka, Mike Kooi and Dave Melahn were along side each other as they crossed the line. The non stop race was completed with no cars lapped and just one car out of the event, for a real thriller. On Friday night June 2nd. the oval track show will try to get their first show in, after a rain out of the season opener. The BIC cars, Jefferson late models/millennium series late models, sport trucks, legend cars and first appearance in too years by the mini modifieds and the Formula Indy group, will all be on the card. Moto cross racing takes place on the stadium dirt course at 8 pm. On Saturday night June 3rd, Lakes Area Recreation presents Stihl Chain saws and outdoor equipment. There will be a Junior Fan Club big wheels race, with the sportsman joining the super late models and the super stocks. Both oval track programs start with time trials at 6 pm. racing at 7:30 pm. SUPER LATE MODELS: SUPER STOCKS: MID-AMERICAN SPORTSMAN: |
