It is said that the first win is the hardest. Damon Paul proved the old adage correct as he drove to his second Spirit Speedway win in the Ace Overhead Door Company 600 Micro Sprints after earning his first win just one week earlier. Ken Andreas raced to his third win of the season in the Ace Overhead Door Company 270 Micro Sprints while Sami Schenck picked up a win as the 250 Micro Sprints made their first appearance at Spirit since 2012.
Seventeen year old Damon Paul and his dad make the drive from their Stoney Point, NY home to race at Spirit Speedway on a Friday night. Paul has been in the hunt all season long but finally broke into the winner’s circle during the Four Dozen event one week earlier. This week, Katelyn Calvert volunteered to draw for Paul’s starting position and picked the pole for the young driver.
Paul had his hands full in the early going with a really loose race car and plenty of pressure from Mike Rutherford, and PJ Williams who started second and third. Williams and Rutherford traded the runner-up spot back and forth during the first few cautions before contact took the two drivers out of contention on a lap eight restart.
Gary Bozowski took over second until just past halfway when Mike Linderman powered into second. Kyle Spence made an early pit stop to change the set-up on his No. 25K and raced through the field to overtake Bozowski for third on the final lap.
Paul sailed to his second win over LInderman, Spence, Bozowski and Steve Bracall who battled within the top five throughout the twenty lap event. Brandon Pavel, Jim Tippen, Jermain Godshall, Mike Rutherford and Joe Dopke completed the top ten at the checkered flag.
Matt Davis picked up his fIfth win of the season in the REMAX Connection 600 Novice Feature over Kristy Hicks.
Ken Andreas powered by race leader Nick Skias on a lap eleven restart to earn his third 270 Micro Sprint win of the season.
Polesitter, Skias led the race for the first ten laps as Andreas worked his way into second from his sixth place start. Alex Swift kept the championship chase interesting as he raced behind Skias in third until a restart with just one lap to go as he lost several positions on the one lap race to the checkered.
Andreas took the checkered over Skias, Mike Rutherford, Andrew Locuson and Swift. Lee Reinhardt, Tom Landwher, Luke Fogg, Sean Huesser and Cody West rounded out the top ten at the finish.
Sami Schenck won a three wide battle to take the lead on lap nine to pick up the win in the 250 Micro Sprint feature event. Johnny Trendler finished second after challenging for the lead with Will Maurer, Madison Savaren and Deanna Cogdill completing the top five.
Mark Ludwig led from the green flag to the checkered to take the win in the Mini Late Models over Jason Dunkelberger and Tucker Gordner.
John Carey Jr. raced his dad for the win in the i2M 4 Cylinder Enduro event after holding off the advances of Scott Miller in the early going.
The Spirit Speedway will be idle this Friday night in preparation for the Poker Series event to be held on Sunday when the 270 & 600 Micros, Slingshots and Xcel 600 Modifieds see action with racing getting underway at 6:30pm.
ACE OVERHEAD DOORS 600CC MICRO SPRINTS (20 laps) – 1. Damon Paul, 2. Mike Linderman, 3. Kyle Spence, 4. Gary Bozowski, 5. Steve Bracall, 6. Brandon Pavel, 7. Jim Tippin, 8. Jermain Godshall, 9. Mike Rutherford, 10. Joe Dopke, 11. Ed Barber III, 12. Mark Landwher, 13. Dave Damaio, 14. Joe Bednarek, 15. Tyler Lindsay, 16. Nick Haven, 17. Matt Davis, 18. Colin Bustard, 19. Matt Smith, 20. Jon Keller, 21. P.J. Williams, 22. Billy Calvert, 23. John Barnett, 24. Travis Hill, 25. Kristy Hicks, 26. Corey Andersen, DNQ – Dom Hinrichsen
ACE OVERHEAD DOORS 270CC MICRO SPRINTS (20 laps) – 1. Ken Andreas, 2. Nick Skias, 3. Mke Rutherford, 4. Andrew Locuson, 5. Alex Swift, 6. Lee Reinhardt, 7. Tom Landwher, 8. Luke Fogg, 9. Sean Huesser, 10. Cody West, 11. Brandon Shipley, 12. Jonathan John, 13. Kyle Weiss, 14. Ryan Wozunk, 15. Billy Gray, 16. Ryan Krushinski, 17. Will Maurer, 18. Buddy Schweibinz, 19. Junior Ramer, Jr., 20. John West, DNS – Kristen Landwher
250CC MICRO SPRINTS (20 laps) – 1. Sami Schenck, 2. Johnny Trendler, 3. Will Maurer, 4. Madison Severen, 5. Deanna Cogdill, 6. Matt Andrews, 7. Ron Ford, 8. Jaden Foster, 9. Donald Bouchelle, 10. Matt Hoffman, 11. Junior Ramer, 12. Tyler Tank, DNS – Alex Funari.
MINI-LATE MODELS (15 laps) – 1. Mark Ludwig, 2. Jason Dunkelberger, 3. Tucker Gordner, 4. Randall LeMaster
i2m FOUR CYLINDER ENDUROS (15 laps) – 1. Joe Garey, Jr., 2. Joe Garey, Sr., 3. Scott Miller
Upcoming events
Friday, August 24 – No Racing
Sunday, August 26 – Poker Series – 600 & 270 Micros, Slingshots and Xcel 600 Modifieds, racing at 6:30pm
Friday, August 31 – Micro Sprint Championship Night – 600 & 270 Micro Sprints plus 600 Novice, 4 Cylinder Enduros, Slingshots & Mini-Late Models, racing at 8pm
Friday, September 21 – Skyscraper Qualifier for 270 & 600 Micros, Championship Night for 4 & 8 Cylinder Enduros and Slingshots, racing at 8pm
