The weather finally cooperated and allowed the Kinross Speedway to open the local stock car race season on Friday night.
Todd Jackson (pictured) opened his season on a high note by capturing his first career late model feature at the quarter-mile oval track.
Sault, Ontario's Nick Guerriero also had a big opening night by claiming his first career late model race with the checkered flag in the four car dash.
Guerriero, who also captured top honours for the best-looking car, followed with a win in the heat race and a third place finish in the feature.
The following is a full recap of the entire night's program provided courtesy of the Kinross Speedway's Gerry Liscumb Jr.
************************************************************ Jackson wastes little time to grab 1st career Late Model feature win
By Gerry Liscumb Jr.
It was one week later than anticipated, but the Kinross Speedway defied Mother Nature to get its 2004 season underway this past Friday night.
Despite threatening skies above the Speedway and surrounding areas, along with cool and damp conditions, track promoters went ahead with their scheduled race program.
It turns out they would be rewarded.
Not only did Mother Nature co-operate, a great season opening crowd and higher car count made for an exciting night of short track racing.
The Nyberg Lettering and Embroidery Late Model Division would see 7 of the 8 cars down pitside make a qualifying run, with Rudyard, MI native Dave Vansloten (33) setting fast time at 13.900.
2004 Rookie pilot and Soo, Ontario native Nick Guerriero (4) would grab the checkered flag in his first career Late Model race in the 4-car dash before backing that performance up with yet another win in the 10-lap heat race.
The 25-lap feature would take the green flag minus 1 car as Mark Howland would have to retire for the night following engine problems under the hood of his #59 car.
The front row would see Guerriero and Dennis Aho (75) setting the pace but it would take less than 1 lap before Todd Jackson (21) and Vansloten would make the passes needed to be sitting first and second respectively.
Your top two qualifiers would run side-by-side and within lengths of each other the complete duration of this one before Jackson would grab his first career Late Model feature win after leading every lap.
Vansloten would settle for 2nd while D. Aho, Guerriero and Rick Ellis (5) would round out your top 5.
Word around the Speedway has Sam Bohling (45) and George Wilson (67) readying their cars to compete at Kinross full-time … stay tuned!
After one of their most competitive seasons ever, the Northside Used Auto Factory Stock division is looking to hold the same competitive edge in 2004.
All of the drivers but one, from one year ago have made their return this season, although three have found new rides.
Opening night would see defending track champion Jerry Ball (8) set fast time at 15.380.
Paul Fox (36) would grab the four car dash honours before Kevin Johnson would reel in the checkered flag in the division's lone heat race.
In what can be best described as a night of attrition, the Feature would be minus 4 regulars when they took the green flag.
Jared Nightlinger (48), Dave Devine (4), Cecil Piche (88) and Josh Ware (7) would all experience various car problems that would relegate them to the trailer early.
Luckily for Ware, he would be offered Paul Fox's ride for night and would strap into the newly-build Camaro.
Despite the lower car count, all cars on the Speedway would run bunched up like bananas from the green to white to checkered flags.
Strongs, MICHIGAN native Kevin Johnson would take the win with Ball and Ware completing the top 3.
A field of 17 cars would dawn the Consigment Store Pure Stock Division for this full show of racing.
The lone Ford in the field would set the fastest lap when Brimley, MICHIGAN's Bob Laphew (99) recorded a lap of 16.930.
Larry Young Jr. (25) would take the early bragging rights following his 4-car dash win while Korey Lavigne (60) and Larry Young Sr. (26) were victorious in their respective Australian Pursuits.
2003 runner-up Ben Huyck (28) and Sault Ste. Marie, MICHIGAN native Paul Little (24) would take home the divisions 2 heat races.
All seventeen cars would be intact for the division's final race of the night when starter Al Kogan would drop the green flag for the A-Main.
The final five laps would see a change throughout many of the top positions except for first, as Little took home the feature win.
2001 division champion Barry Glenn (55), Al Odbert III (32), Terry Johnson (11), Chuck Johnson (5R), Ray Golladay (22), Golladay Jr., Young Jr., Young Sr. and Miller would cap off the top 10.
The kinrossspeedway.com Four Cylinders would see their largest field ever make its way to the Kinross Speedway.
John Clawson (35) would set fast time along with a new track record when he came in under the lights in a mere 17.990 seconds.
Former track champion John Mayer (9) took home the 4-car dash win while newcomer Scott Marshall (7) was the winner of Australian Pursuit #1.
Australian Pursuit #2 would be conquered by the 17 car of Chris Brady while another rookie, Kenny Nayback (43) would win heat race #1 before Clawson would win his respective heat race.
Nine rows of cars would roll out from down pitside as the 18-car field was ready to cap off the night with another entertaining affair.
When the checkered flag flew it was Mayer taking the first 4-Cylinder feature win of the season edging Clawson by a few car lengths.
Johnny Fountain Jr. (2), Chris Brady (17) and Soo, Ontario's Nick Jobst (74) capped off the top 5 positions.
Also on this night the Best-looking car awards were handed out to one driver in each of the four respective divisions.
The winners were: #4 Nick Guerriero (Late Models), #37 Kevin Johnson (Factory Stocks), #25 Larry Young Jr. (Pure Stocks, 3rd year in a row) and #35 John Clawson (Four Cylinders).
The action returns to the Kinross Speedway for week #2 this coming Friday, May 28th.
The schedule includes a full 4-in-1 show along with Rookie Flagman Night, a Powder Puff Race and Pure Stock Feature sponsored by Auto Value Parts Stores.
Time trials are at 6:00 p.m. with racing to follow at 7:30 p.m.
For more information on the track "Where action is the attraction!" check us out online at www.kinrossspeedway.com or contact us at 906-647-3405.
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PHOTO: Feature winner Todd Jackson. (Photo courtesy of Rod Aubertin of www.saultracers.com)