Onaway Speedway

Owosso Speedway saw the 2010 season close in remarkable fashion as the previously rained out Season Championships were combined with the annual season ending Owosso Nationals in a 3 day event of speed, suspense and spectacular racing.

Owosso racing legend Tim Felver would capture the Pro Late Model win.  Tommy Hernly Jr would capture his first Owosso Nationals victory in the Modified division.  Don Riley capped his 2010 season with his 13th feature win as he captured checkers in the Pro Stock Feature. Midland's Bob Robinson would find victory lane in the Pure Stock feature, also claiming the 2010 track championship.  Spartan Speedway invader Todd Metz Jr was the class of the field as he brought home his first Owosso National's win.

Affordable Tire and Service Center Pro Late Models

The first 15th annual Owosso Fall Nationals / 2010 Season Championships Feature of the night was for the first of two co-headlining divisions within the Weekly Local Racing Series as the 50-lap main event for the Affordable Tire and Service Center Pro Late Models and the stellar 23-car field was led to Chief Starter, Jeremy Slayden’s green flag by Three-Time Pro Late Models Track Champion at Owosso’s sister track to the Northeast, the Dixie Motor Speedway and 2008 Rookie of the Year, Ryan Etchison.

Etchison grabbed the lead when chaos ensued on lap two when 14-year-old Erik Jones was involved in an incident and spun, forcing the field to take evasive action. Jones, the Rookie of the Year Points Leader in the ASA Late Model Northern Series was tagged by Novak and fellow Rookie, Chet Allen, while other cars also suffered some damage. Jones, Novak, and Allen were done for the night.

On the restart, Etchison jumped out to a comfortable advantage while Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame driver and Three-Time Super Late Models Track Champion, Tim Felver maneuvered his way up to second place and would follow in Etchison’s tire tracks. Several cautions flew for spins and the last caution flew on lap 17 when Leeck and Marty England collided going into turn one ending both of their nights.

On what would be the final restart, Felver began searching for a way around Etchison as soon as the green flag came back out. In the meantime, Welch and Smith were jockeying for position behind Young Jr., with Welch not pressing the issue with the bigger picture in mind. Young Jr., pulled away from his fellow Track Championship title contenders and began chasing down Etchison and Felver.

With 10 laps to go, Felver pulled up along-side of Etchison and the battle was on for the lead. The two drivers bumped more than once before Felver finally escaped with the lead on lap 42. Three laps later, Young Jr., also got by Etchison and began chasing down Felver for the lead. Young Jr., the Two-Time and Defending Track Champion coming into the race needed to win and get help for a chance at the title!

In the end though, Felver would be able to fight off Young Jr., and the Owosso, Michigan veteran in his Outdoor Plus 3D Indoor Archery Pontiac would hang on to score his first Feature Win of the season and ironically his first career Owosso Fall Nationals title! With the win and despite limited appearances, Felver climbed into the final Top 10 in the season long points chase!

Young Jr., settled for second over Etchison while Welch would pass Smith for fourth and Officially wrap up the 2010 Track Championship for the Fenton, Michigan veteran in his Scooter’s Bar and Grill Chevrolet. This is Welch’s second career Owosso title as he also won the 2007 Championship, and third overall of his stellar career as he was also the 1988 Track Champion at Owosso’s sister track to the Northeast, the Dixie Motor Speedway.

Welch’s final margin in the points over Smith was 11 markers as Smith finished off the Top Five in the Feature and finished second in the points chase by just six points over Young Jr. Defending Owosso Fall Nationals Champion and 2010 Whittemore Speedway Late Model Track Champion, Cale Wiltse finished sixth over Bigos, Kyle Hayden, David McManus, and Doutre Jr., finished off the Top 10.

Earlier in the afternoon, Welch Won the NorthsideTowing.net Challenge the Clocks Fast Qualifier award, his second Fast Time honor of the 2010 racing season as he toured the 3/8s mile at a 16.172. Felver won the Dash while Doutre Jr., and Etchison scored the Qualifier Heat Race victories.

Drive Train Specialists Modifieds

The second of two co-headlining divisions with the Weekly Local Racing Series, the Drive Train Specialists Modifieds were up next for their 50-lap 15th annual Owosso Fall Nationals / 2010 Season Championships Feature. The front row that led the field across the D-L Auto Sales start / finish line to start the Feature would be Larry Wallace and Jordan Pruitt.

Ovid’s own, Bill Luckhurst, the most successful driver in Owosso Speedway's 69-year history, has already wrapped up an unprecedented Eighth Consecutive and 12th Overall Championship as the Ovid, Michigan veteran already clinched the Championship as he accomplished the feat back on September 4th with a second place finish in the Modifieds Feature that night!

In the chase for the 2010 Rookie of the Year title, 16-year-old Kyle Feeney came into the night with a healthy lead in the freshman title chase over 14-year-old Alex Donnert and fellow rookie, Dave Parisian. After preliminaries were completed, the Rookie title was all Feeney’s for his second such award of the season after wrapping up the same title as Owosso’s sister track to the Northeast, the Dixie Motor Speedway in Birch Run, Michigan last month.

So all that was left to decide for the only open-wheeled weekly division at the Big “O” was the 15th annual Owosso Fall Nationals title as Wallace jumped out to the early lead over Pruitt and the rest of the field. Just a single caution flew on lap six when Defending Owosso Fall Nationals Champion, Travis Eddy spun in turns three and four. No damage was done and he would head to the back of the pack.

On the restart, Wallace maintained the lead while 19-year-old John King, the 2009 Nationals Runner-Up, worked his way past Pruitt for second and set his sights on the veteran Wallace. On lap 12, King would work his way around the crafty veteran to take over the lead. Soon Tom Hernly Jr., in his first appearance of the season, would also get by Wallace and set his sights on King.

Before long, the two competitors commenced to an epic battle all over the 3/8s mile as Hernly Jr., the 2001 Super Late Models Owosso Fall Nationals Champion, would pull up along-side of King and for several laps they battled side by side for the top spot.

2002 Track Champion, Harry Parish, also making his first appearance of the season and first race anywhere in 2010 for the last track champion at the Big “O” not named Luckhurst joined the battle up front. Hernly Jr., officially took the lead for himself on lap 32 while King was left to fight off Parish as well as Luckhurst who started 10th and Fast Qualifier, 2010 Kinross Speedpark Modifieds Track Champion, Todd Jackson, who was making his first ever start at the Big “O”

All the while, Hernly Jr., would slowly pull away from the rest of the field and in the end, the Lansing, Michigan veteran in his Wild Child Chassis Chevrolet would pull into the D-L Auto Sales victory lane after winning the Modifieds portion of the Owosso Fall Nationals!

King held off all challenges to finish second for the second year in a row in the Nationals while Parish fought off Luckhurst and Jackson to finish in the last podium position in third. Luckhurst finished fourth and Officially wrapped up his Eight Consecutive and 12th Overall Track Championship in his Jet’s Pizza of Owosso Chevrolet and the Ovid, Michigan veteran received a standing ovation for his efforts.

Jackson completed the Top Five as Wallace finished sixth over Steve Bates Jr., Pruitt, 1995 Track Champion Todd Matheson, and Rod Laney, who would finish off the final Top 10.

Jackson won the Onaway Speedway Challenge the Clocks Qualifying award for his first Fast Time honors of the 2010 racing season as he went a 16.097 over the 35-car field as King won the Dash with Wallace, Pruitt, and Robbie Johnson winning the Qualifier Heat Races.

2010 Kalamazoo Speedway Modifieds Track Champion, Mike Brooks triumphed in the B Main over Mike Piette and Rookie Kyle Drake who all transferred to the 50-lap Feature. Adam Hudson and 17-year-old Megan Carpenter were Awarded the two (2) Fast Track Promotion Inc., Provisional's and made up the 11th row in the Feature.

Shiawassee Shores Pro Stocks

The next Weekly Local Racing Series Track Championship to be decided during the 15th annual Owosso Fall Nationals was for the Shiawassee Shores Pro Stocks and their 50-lap Championship Feature saw a front row of 2005 Track Champion, Tom Stone and Rookie Cory Robinson lead the huge 25-car starting field to the D-L Auto Sales start / finish line to start their main event.

Earlier in the day, Tony Basalone clinched his second consecutive Track Championship after Qualifying fourth as he only needed to Qualify eighth or better to wrap up the title and becoming the first driver in 24 seasons to repeat as Track Champion dating back to the days of when the division was known as Street Stocks and going back even further to the days before the current 3/8s mile configuration, which was constructed in 1989.

Prior to this season, there have been 24 different Track Champions in 24 consecutive seasons and by Basalone repeating as Champion, that streak is now over. In addition, 15-year-old Travis Skarvi already locked up the 2010 Rookie of the Year title as the Durand, Michigan teenager clinched it over a month ago.

So all that was on the line was the big Trophy for winning the 15th Annual Owosso Fall Nationals / 2010 Season Championship Feature as two quick cautions before a lap was even completed forced the field to line back up for ensuing restarts. Once the field finally settled down, Stone would grab the early lead from Robinson who slipped back in the field. Stone was immediately hounded by 2008 Dixie Motor Speedway Pro Stocks Track Champion, Kevin Harder who would eventually work his way by for the lead on lap five.

He brought Defending Owosso Fall Nationals Champion, Jon Giffel with him. Soon Fast Qualifier and 2010 / 2009 Dixie Motor Speedway Pro Stocks Track Champion, Don Riley joined the duo up front. Soon the trio of Dixie competitors pulled away from the rest of the field and rehashed old battles of Friday night up in Birch Run, Michigan on the 3/8s mile in Ovid, Michigan.

Giffel would manage to drive around Harder on lap 18 to take the lead. Soon Riley also got by Harder and then those two pulled out to battle. Harder then had to deal with Dave Buswell and newly crowned Two-Time Champion, Basalone leaving Giffel and Riley to settle everything amongst themselves.

Riley searched high and low trying to figure out a way around Giffel and finally on lap 35, he was able to get by to take over the lead. Giffel, who was searching for his second straight Feature Win at the Big “O” in 2010 as well as his second straight Nationals title, didn’t give up and threw every trick he had in his arsenal at Riley.

However, when all was said and done, Riley was able to fight off the constant attacks from Giffel and Riley in his Stevens Cycle Sales Chevrolet would collect his Fifth Feature Win of the 2010 campaign and between Dixie and Owosso, the Bay City, Michigan driver ended the year with a whopping 13 Feature victories!

Giffel settled for second with Harder claiming third over Buswell and Basalone. For Basalone, his second straight track championship was official as the Gaines, Michigan driver in his Ken Lee Well Drilling Chevrolet would enjoy the accolades of winning his second straight crown on Nationals Weekend!

Jim Severn finished sixth while Dennis Roys grabbed seventh over Stone who slipped back to eighth in the final run down. Gary Shank Jr., finished ninth in his Owosso Speedway debut while Skarvi finished off the Top 10.

In Mr. Asphalt Challenge the Clocks Qualifying, Riley won his third Fast Time award of the 2010 racing season as he stopped the clocks with a lap measured at a 17.092 while Harder won the Dash as Stone and Robinson won the Qualifier Heat Races.

Shattuck Specialty Advertising Pure Stocks

The 35-lap Owosso Fall Nationals / Season Championship Feature for the Shattuck Specialty Advertising Pure Stocks rolled out next as Veterans, Rick Gokee Sr., and Leroy Whitaker started on the front row of the massive 25-car field and it would be Gokee Sr., leading the field into the first corner while the rest of the pack jockeyed for position.

Bob Robinson clinched the 2010 Track Championship earlier in the day as 2008 Track Champion Kevin Adkins sold his equipment just days before the Nationals Weekend and was without a car for the Nationals, so Robinson won his first Track title in his first full season of racing at the Big “O” and continuing a unique streak in the process.

In 2009, Jimmy Stratton scored the Track Championship after winning the 2008 Owosso Fall Nationals in his first ever appearance at the Big “O”. He became a regular in 2009 and was justly rewarded for his efforts. Then Robinson made his debut in the ’09 version of the Nationals and although he didn’t win, he became a regular for the 2010 racing season and will be rewarded with the 2010 Track Championship.

Also, Steve Pelky II clinched the 2010 Rookie of the Year title over the Labor Day Holiday Weekend despite being absent that evening as his closest competitor, his Uncle, Gary Pelky was also absent that night, thus securing the Freshman title for the 20-year-old from Durand, Michigan.

The Owosso Fall Nationals / 2010 Season Championship Trophy was staring straight at the starting line-up and since the Track Championship and Rookie of the Year titles were decided, it was all about pride and the coveted 15th annual Owosso Fall Nationals title for the Pure Stocks and it would be Gokee Sr., leading the massive field into turn one to take the early lead. He was pressured by fellow front row starter, Whitaker and Jim Bollinger, who would get by Whitaker and set his sights on Gokee Sr.

The first of several cautions flew on lap seven when Bollinger and Gokee Sr., collided in turn three. Both went to the rear of the field giving the lead to Whitaker. Just a lap later, Whitaker and Stratton got together in turns three and four and for the second straight time, the top two cars both went to the tail.

This would hand the lead to Pat Standley and the 2009 Runner-Up in the points standings immediately was hounded by 2010 Track Champion Robinson and for the next 10 laps, they battled side by side for the lead trading the lead back and fourth on several occasions and despite the numerous amount of cautions that plagued the middle stages of the Feature.

Finally once the field settled down, the battle between Standley and Robinson resumed and again they went back and fourth with the top spot while Dave Parisian, who was doing double duty during the Nationals weekend in both a Pure Stock and a Modified, began lurking behind the two leaders.

With just three laps to go, Robinson made the final pass for the lead as Parisian also drove by Standley and set his sights on Robinson. Despite the late charge by Parisian, it would be Robinson who would hang on as the 2010 Track Champion stamped an exclamation point on the 2010 racing season in his Columbia Pipe and Supply Chevrolet as the Midland, Michigan veteran would score his Fifth Feature Win of the season and the biggest win of his career in the 15th annual Owosso Fall Nationals!

Parisian finished second in ironically his Pure Stocks debut while Bollinger had a great run as he worked his way back through the field after going to the back of the pack to finish third. Standley slipped to fourth with Gokee Sr., rounding out the Top Five. Ricky Moore was sixth as Pelky II, 13-year-old Rookie Vinnie Miller, another Rookie Bob Elliott, and Gary Dabney would wrap up the final Top 10.

Earlier in the day, Stratton won the Calendar Club Challenge the Clocks Fast Qualifier award, his first Fast Time of the year as he tripped the clocks at a 19.272 with Bollinger winning the Dash while Gokee Sr., and Whitaker collected Qualifier Heat Race wins.

Okemos Auto Service Sport Stocks

The final race of the night was for the Okemos Auto Service Sport Stocks as their 35-lap Owosso Fall Nationals / 2010 Season Championships Feature was brought out of turn four by the front row of Patrick McNamara and 16-year-old Marisa Jones who led the strong 24-car field to the D-L Auto Sales start / finish line and it would be McNamara beating Jones heading into the first corner to grab the early lead.

Going into the Feature, 15-year-old Kyle Crump, who already clinched the 2010 Rookie of the Year title back on September 4th with his fourth Feature Win of the season, was going for the bigger prize this night as the Overall Points Leader, carried a 26-point lead over 16-year-old Matt Vainner going into the night. After Qualifying and the Dash that lead was 30 markers in the chase for the 2010 Track Championship.

So Crump needed to finish 18th or better and the Brighton, Michigan teenager, in his first season behind the wheel of a full-sized stock car would sweep both the Track Championship and Rookie of the Year title in the same season becoming the first driver to do so in the tracks “Beginners” division since an 11-year-old Alex Donnert accomplished the feat in 2007.

McNamara led the first four laps before 2010 Spartan Speedway Pony Stocks Track Champion, Todd Metz Jr., in his first appearance of the season at the Big “O”, motored by McNamara’s Nissan Altima on lap five. From their, Metz Jr., would then go on and set a torrid early pace around the 3/8s mile high-banks while the rest of the field battled behind him.

Darren Wright managed to escape from the battles behind him and slowly began reeling in Metz Jr., while 15-year-old Billy Luckhurst also emerged from the pack and tried to reel in both traveling invaders. Metz Jr., and Wright put on an epic battle for the top spot as four cautions were the only things slowing down the pace set by Metz Jr., and Wright. One final caution came out on lap 31 setting up a four lap shootout to decide it all.

On that final restart however, Metz Jr., jumped out ahead of Wright and the rest of the field while Luckhurst, who was battling Transmissions problems on each restart, slipped back allowing Metz Jr., and Wright to decide the win amongst themselves.

Metz Jr., was up to the challenge though as the Charlotte, Michigan driver in his Beacon Sales and Service Dodge would take home the biggest win of his career by winning the Sport Stocks portion of the 15th annual Owosso Fall Nationals!

Wright finished second over Luckhurst while McNamara, and Jones were the Top Five as Crump finished sixth and officially would complete the clean sweep of both the 2010 Track Championship and the 2010 Rookie of the Year title for the 15-year-old Brighton, Michigan teenager in his Little Wings Aviary Dodge!

Vainner, who was Crump’s only other competitor in the chase for the 2010 title, finished right behind Crump in seventh and wrapped up the 2010 Runner-Up spot in the final points standings! 14-year-old Amber Slagle grabbed eighth ahead of Todd Metz Sr., as 18-year-old Marq Eaton, in his first appearance of the year, completed the Top 10.

Crump was on top of the LearnToStayFit.com Challenge the Clocks Qualifying, his fourth Fast Qualifier award of the season as he navigated around the historic Ovid, Michigan speed plant at a 19.509 as Wright won the Dash with McNamara and Jones scoring the Qualifier Heat Race triumphs.