Rob Hiiemaa made his stock car return to Laird International Raceway in fine fashion by capturing the inaugural late model feature race on Thursday night.
Running his car for the first time this season, Heyden's Hiiemaa took advantage of an collision on the eighth lap which put him in first place on the restart. Hiiemaa, who left Laird mid-way through last season, continued to expand his lead for the rest of the race to win the 20 lap feature.
The race marked the first ever feature for the newly formed late model division which combined the super late models and super stocks from a year ago.
As the the late model field continues to grow in the coming weeks, the action will become more intense. Although only eight cars entered the pits and five lined up for the feature, the racers were bumping for position. LIR officials expect 10 to 12 cars next week with the field potentially growing to 16 to 20 cars.
Rick Ellis and Terry McClelland were involved in the eighth lap crash on turn three that sent Ellis to the pits for the night and McClelland to the back of the pack for causing the collision.
Ellis won the first late model heat while McClelland captured the second heat in front of nearly 1,500 fans.
In the factory stock division, Jason Praysner won a pair of races including the feature and first heat. Defending track champion Parker Brockelbank from Echo Bay won the second heat.
A pair of Michigan Sault racers dominated the pure stock class on opening night. Norm Miller won the feature while Barry Glenn captured both heat races.
In the four cylinder division, William Butler emerged victorious in the feature and first heat. Mike McCarthy won the second heat. LIR is also expecting a large turnout in the coming weeks with the four cylinders.
Racing continues next Thursday beginning at 7 p.m.
* RAIN DATES: LIR has announced that all rain dates will be held on Friday nights. Should weather force the cancellation of the Thursday night program, the race will be held the following night. In the past, LIR has run make-up dates on Sunday afternoons.