A wild night of racing capped a full day of events at Laird International Raceway on Saturday.
At the first annual LIR Summer Extravaganza, fans were treated to live music, food, and entertainment for the kids, a demolition derby and a full stock car race card. By the time racing began, nearly 3,000 people packed the track for the event which LIR officials are calling a huge success.
For the special Saturday race card, fans were treated to a special 50 lap pure stock feature that attracted the attention of area drivers. Some 15 cars lined-up for the race, after an onslaught of pure stocks filed into the LIR pit area before feature time following the race program at the Kinross Speedway.
Norm Miller, who has stepped up his performance in the second half of the season, out ran the competition for the win in the 50 lap race followed by division points leader Ray Golladay in second. Bill Cryderman won the opening heat race while Joe Addison won the second heat.
The late model feature treated fans to a pair of black flags and a free ticket off the property for the winner of the water bottle toss. During the feature, both Dan Desjardins and Lorne "Spanky" Robinson were sent pit side after being blacked flagged by the starter for erratic driving. Then, an angered Dave Archibald fan tossed a water bottle in anger at the flag stand.
After the fan had been asked to leave, Archibald's car owner intervened and was subsequently ejected as well. The owner then tried to re-enter through the pits and officials delayed action until the owner eventually took his car and left.
The entire incident drew a huge ovation from the crowd when the ejections were announced and left several scratching their heads as Archibald was struggling and nowhere near the leader all evening.
On the track, no one could match Robert Hiiemaa as the division points leader took the checkered flag in the feature. George Wilson won the opening heat, Rod Bolduc Jr. won the second heat while Michael Gold won the fast car dash.
Factory stock leader Jason Praysner chose Laird over Kinross and claimed both heats and the feature. Praysner also led the Kinross factory stock division heading into action on Saturday.
Jamie Coccimiglio won his first ever race in the stock four division feature while heat races were won by Scott Syrette and Matt Huber. Huber was disqualified in the feature event.
The afternoon demolition derby was won by Robert Bolduc, the brother of late model driver Rod Bolduc Jr.
Racing continues next Thursday night at Laird with qualifying beginning at 6 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m.
(With files from George Pinder)