GROSS, SKIAS, LAUREIGH & MORRISON GRAB SPIRIT VICTORIES

2021 Champion, Connor Gross won the drag race with defending track champion, Matt Smith in the Hyper Racing 600 feature event.  Nick Skias found a new zip code in his win in the 270 micro sprint feature.  In what looks to be the 2025 version of the Family Feud, Chris Laureigh picked up his first Speedway Entertainment All Star Slingshot win over brother, Jonathan while David Morrison became Spirit’s first repeat winner with his back-to-back wins in the Junior Slingshots.

Unfortunately, for Tommy Kunsman, Friday night’s event closely resembled the opener.  Kunsman drew the pole and the field recognized the challenge with the formidable opponent leading the field to the green flag.  Again, Kunsman led through the first half of the race – this time with a very determined Connor Gross hot on his heals.  As the leaders approached halfway, they found themselves racing through heavy traffic after all green flag racing.  Gross closed in on Kunsman and the two drivers sliced and diced their way through traffic.  Gross took the lead in traffic but Kunsman raced back into the lead on the next circuit.

It was “edge of your seat” kind of racing until the red flag came out on lap nineteen when Kunsman ran into trouble and the No. 21K ended up on its side.  For the second time of the season, Kunsman headed pitside before the checkered flag.

Gross now led the field as Billy Koch, Kenny Miller III and Matt Smith raced for second.  Positions changed on every lap – sometimes more than once.  Miller pulled off the track just laps before the checkered.  Smith moved in to second and chased Gross in the final laps.  Coming to the white flag, Smith looked to the outside.  Coming to the checkered, Smith went to the inside, racing to the line side-by-side with Gross for the win.  The victory went to Gross with Smith as close a second as you can get.  Billy Koch scored a strong third with Dan Leaper taking fourth over Sam LaMothe.  Julian Rexrode finished sixth ahead of Luke Thomas, Kyle Spence, Korey Inglin and Wayne Scott rounding out the top ten.

Nick Skias might have been winded at the end of the 270 Micro Sprint feature but not before he raced to his first win of the season over defending champion, Alex Swift.

Luke Fogg led lap number one before Skias powered into the lead in the Palmucci No. 16P.  Skias never looked back as he easily raced through the halfway mark over Lee Nardelli, Tyler Grau, Swift and Fogg.

Swift continued to pick his way forward as Skias raced away from the field but never reached second until lap nineteen.

Skias raced to the win over Swift, Grau, Nick Walton and Nardelli.  Billy Gray finished sixth ahead of Luke Fogg, Josh Anderson, Dylan DeVault and Jake LeRoy.

The Speedway Entertainment Slingshots showed strong car counts in both divisions with both races action packed.

The All Star Slingshots saw a three way battle for the win between the Laureigh brothers, Jonathan and Chris and Brett Bieber.

After Jonathan Laureigh picked up the win in the season opener, brother, Chris was looking for his win, taking the lead on the start as Jonathan and Bieber batttled for second.  The leaders had reached lapped traffic right before the caution waved on lap nine.  Bieber took the lead on the restart, leading lap ten before the caution waved again.

Bieber led the way for five laps before Chris Laureigh took the lead on a lap fifteen restart.  Jonathan Laureigh eventually took second with Bieber in third followed by Austin Walls and Tyler Lilick.  Gary Bozowski finished sixth in Pop Schurr’s No. 31m followed by Joe King, Brendan Lilick, Matthew Lashley and James Mueller.

David Morrison started on the inside of the fifth row but made his way through the field to capture his second Junior Slingshot win of the season.

Landon McNichol led lap one before Anna Strachko took over on lap two.  Lap three saw Lilly Esterly out in front.  Strachko was back out in front when things erupted mid-race.  Strachko slowed on a restart.  Esterley had a front flat and cars scattered everywhere as George Taylor got airborne in turn one and two.  It was the wildest ride for several of these young drivers but everyone escaped unscathed.

Morrison drove into the lead on the restart and never looked back.  Kenna Evans finished second followed by Hannah Korman, Danny Kurtz and Landon McNichol.  Cameron Thompson, Jack Bray, Kylin Evans, Lilly Esterley and Anna Strachko.

1. Connor Gross, 2. Matt Smith, 3. Billy Koch, 4. Dan Leaper, 5. Sam LaMothe, 6. Julian Rexrode, 7. Luke Thomas, 8. Kyle Spence, 9. Korey Inglin, 10. Wayne Scott, 11. Geordan Marrero, 12. Lukas Kostic, 13. Steve Fleetwood, Jr., 14. A.J. Chvostal, 15. Rebecca Lamothe, 16. Sean Case, 17. Kenny Miller, III, 18. P.J. Williams, 19. Jake Mitchell, 20. Tommy Kunsman, 21. Quinn Llewellyn, 22. Olivia Haworth, 23. Cody Rose, 24. Josh Conover, DNS – Ethan Bill, Dustan Tyler, Matt Peck, Jason Rush, Chris Turner

1. Nick Skias, 2. Alex Swift, 3. Tyler Grau, 4. Nick Walton, 5. Lee Nardelli, 6. Billy Gray, 7. Luke Fogg, 8. Josh Anderson, 9. Dylan Devault, 10. Jake LeRoy, 11. Charlie Chance, 12. Tyler Gent, 13. Cole Wyers, 14. Jake Gent, 15. Ian John, 16. Dominic Pomponi, 17. Mark Landwher, 18. James Miller, 19. Mckenzie Hixon

1. Christopher Laureigh, 2. Jonathan Laureigh, 3. Brett Bieber, 4. Austin Walls, 5. Tyler Lilick, 6. Gary Bozowski, 7. Joe King, 8. Brendan Lilick, 9. Matthew Lashley, 10. James Mueller, 11. William Evans, III, 12. Emily Suhr, 13. Gage Marrero, 14. Gavin Marrero, 15. Ken Matthews, 16. Charlie Moore, 17. Nick Tomlinson, 18. Mackenzie Leary, DNS – Noah Hoskins, Scott Philipp

1. David Morrison, 2. Kenna Evans, 3. Hannah Kormann, 4. Danny Kurtz, 5. Landon McNichol, 6. Cameron Thompson, 7. Jack Bray, 8. Kylin Evans, 9. Lilly Esterly, 10. Anna Strachko, 11. Danica Banks, 12. Bradley Dennis, 13. Carl Taylor, 14. Logan Showers, 15. Khloe Dennis, 16. Casey Peck, 17. Nate Kampe, 18. Waylon Wolf.