6/26/2023
Owosso Speedway
Jimmy McCune Finds Victory at Owosso
Another near capacity crowd packed the bleachers at the Owosso Speedway for the return of winged sprint cars to the historic oval for the first time since 2019. With the brand new racing surface all eyes were on Cameron Dodson’s legendary lap of 12.565 from August of 2005.
The Durotech Automotive Street Stocks would be first up for their feature event. Tim Lahar would be the dominant car in the event, showing the way in the latter half of the race. The former Corrigan Oil Speedway Champion would hold off Lonnie Saumier en route to his first victory of the season. Bo Smith, Duane Damon, and Kalamazoo Speedway regular Chad VanSparrentak would complete the top five. Jim Miller Sr. was fast time in qualifying with a 16.363.
The Must See Racing Midwest Sprint Lights would be next up for their feature event. The crate engined Sprinters would be making their first ever appearance at the Owosso Speedway. Castalia, Ohio’s Sawyer Stout would be the early leader of the event, looking dominant in the opening stages. But a fellow Buckeye would steal the show, and the victory. After some daring moves to get into position, Lagrange, Ohio’s JJ Henes would snatch the lead away while on his way to his first victory of the year over Stout. The top finishing Michigan driver would be Andrew Bogusz completing the podium positions. Joshua Sexton and Charlie Schultz would complete the top five. Schultz and Bogusz would take heat race wins, while Henes established the Sprint Lights track record with a 13.466.
30 Valley Truck Center Modifieds would show up for a 35 lap race that would serve as an unofficial tune up for the Wheeler Trucking Firecracker 50 for the Midwest Modifieds Series that is coming to town July 1st. Three-time Track Champion Jason Parish would start the race off up front. Parish would set a torrid pace, before being challenge by Tim Lahar, fresh off his victory earlier in the evening. Lahar would get the lead and drive out to a very significant lead, but a caution would erase the advantage. Lahar would then have his hands full with David McManus who was the winner last time the Modifieds were out. After taking the white flag, Lahar and McManus would tangle, sliding up the track. Blake Rowe would find himself in the catbird seat as he dove underneath the two leaders, going on to claim victory in his first 2023 start at the Owosso Speedway. Lahar and McManus would settle for second and third respectively. Curtis Spencer and Jason Parish would finish out the top five. Rowe would establish a new track record in qualifying with a 15.141.
The Must See Racing National Sprint Cars would be the penultimate event of the night with a lightning fast, exciting feature event. South Carolina pilot Bobby Komisarski would lead the field down to the start. The stars of the show however would be Jimmy McCune and Davey Hamilton Jr. Toledo veteran McCune would jump out to the lead, but while negotiating lapped traffic, it would allow Hamilton to get within striking distance multiple times. While Hamilton would give it a look multiple times, in the end it was McCune taking his second victory of the season. Hamilton was second with Charlie Schultz, Komisarski, and Massachusetts’ own Bobby Santos III completing the top five. Komisarski and Canadian Ryan Litt won the heat races, while Rick Holley was quickest in qualifying 13.066. The Sprinters return to Owosso Speedway for the second and final time over Labor Day weekend.
The final event of the evening would see the stars of the M&K Truck Center Pure Stocks competing for the Koegel Cup in the return of the George Harris Memorial, honoring the late Hot Dog Race Champion. The race was one of the most hotly contested of the year. Lonnie Saumier would get the lead early, but he would have no chance to rest being challenged first by Jake Pearson and later two-time Champion Bob Elliott. In the end Saumier would just barely hang on to keep his winning streak alive. Elliott was second, over Jason Spencer, Pearson, and Jim Miller Jr. Todd Binkley, Jim Miller Jr., and Saumier would win heat races. Elliott was fast time with a near track record 18.177. Ricky Moore would come out of retirement to win the Hot Dog race, driving the same car George Harris won his final hot dog race in.
Submitted By: Chris Fobbe