Crystal Motor Speedway opened its 2009 season Saturday with racers from six classes looking for their first win of the season.
In the Pro Trucks division, Scott Nieman, No. 40, was able to do just that, winning the first Pro Truck A-Feature of the season after finishing third in the qualifying heat. After the race, the Ithaca, Mich. driver was very pleased with the performance of his newly acquired truck and his third feature victory.
“It’s been a great adventure,” Nieman said. “I got a brand new truck here. I got it last year, and got some bugs out of it and man it ran great.”
In the Pro Stocks division, Cheaney Newland, racer of the No. 54 car, took control of the points lead after winning the season’s first Pro Stock feature race. Jeff Riest, No. 9, and Mike Husted, No. 45 took second and third respectfully. Vern Buskirk, No. B76, led 22 laps of the Pro Stock feature, before a tire got loose on his car leaving him thirteenth in the point totals.
Jimmy Hale Jr., No. 7M, won the season’s first IMCA Modified feature after finishing third in his qualifying heat. Hale said that he did a lot of preparation for this season in hopes for it to be a successful one.
“Hopefully we can get on a roll this season and make people want our motors,” Hale said. “That’s what this is all about.”
Chad Cochran, another Modified racecar driver, got more than he could have bargained for during his very first race when his son and future step-daughter were both junior fan club winner’s and got the opportunity to be driven around the track by him before the A-Features began. Catherine Goetterman, Cochran’s fiancée, thought the experience for her and her family made it a night to remember.
“This was the most awesome night ever,” Goetterman said. “This is just great. It’s such a good night.”
Cochran, No. 58C, finished fourth in one of the B-Feature IMCA modified races, which put him in fourteenth in the IMCA modified point totals.
The A-Feature Flinn Stock Race was won by Ashlee Scott, No. 7S, the 13-year-old out of Vestaburg, Mich. Lee Zahm, No. 48 and Cory Burch, No. 8R, finished in second and third, respectfully.
Will Stanley, No. 02, of Lake, Mich., won the first Street Stock Feature of the season, after also winning his qualifying heat earlier that evening. Gary Buskirk, who finished second in the same qualifying heat as Stanley, also finished in second behind Stanley in the A-Feature. Mark Lamb, No. 69, finished third.
The Late Models first A-Feature win of the season was captured by Tim Stott of Fruitport, Mich. after finishing third in his qualifying heat. Matt Pickard, No. 55 finished second and Kyle Borgman, No. 72, finished third. After the race, the No. 11S race car driver expressed his satisfaction for racing at Crystal.
“I love this place,” Stott said. “I started coming down here last year, and I love this place. It’s real fun.”
The excitement at Crystal Motor Speedway continues Saturday with all six classes competing again starting at 7:30, and in two weeks, Crystal will also present SOD Sprints and a Side-by-Side race. For more information, go to www.crystalmotorspeedway.com.
