Racing season off to fast start
The Daily Inter Lake
For just the second time in six seasons, the Coca-Cola Spring Opener was actually opening day at Montana Raceway Park.
It wasn't snowed out, or rained out. Instead, sunshine and chilly temperatures signaled the start of new auto racing season last Saturday with six classes debuting on the short track.
Second year driver Jordan Franklin swept the Bandoleros action by winning the trophy, heat and main.
Rookie driver Michael Hilliker crashed during a practice session and was unable to continue racing.
Jacob Morris and Giles Thorton II, both under the age of 10, did a great job for the very first race of their young careers.
The Hornets, a four-cylinder front wheel drive class introduced last year, saw Dirk Meyer turn in the fast time, 18.84. Josh Davis then took top honors in the trophy dash, heat race and main event.
For the compacts, Gene Streitz came in with the fast time at 16:11. Russell Smyth took the win in the B heat and Streitz, 2005 season points champ, won the A heat and took the checkered flag in the main event.
Preston Kinnison had the hot time of the night 16:70 in the bombers and finished it off by winning the main event. Lanny Fry won the trophy dash with the heat race going to Don Denning.
In the hobby stock division, Jed Shue dominated, winning all events along with posting a fast time of 15:02.
The limited sportsman showed just how competitive this class will be as three different drivers were able to celebrate. Alex Lessor had the fast time, 14.12, Jason Robinson won the trophy and heat races and Micah Sampson the main event.
Finishing off the night were the Flathead Legends. Jake Grossweiler posted the fast time, 15.021, and won the main event. John Hillicker won the trophy dash, Lonnie Barnett the B heat and Bryce Hilliard the A heat.
Racing continues Saturday with super late models, limited sportsman, hobby stock and compacts. For more information log onto www.montanaracewaypark.com or call 257-RACE.
Time trials are at 6 p.m. with racing at 7.
Race Results
Bandoleros
Fast Time
#5 Jordan Franklin 16:95
Trophy Dash
1. #5 Jordan Franklin; 2. #12 Giles Thorton; 3. #3 Jacob Morris
Heat
1. #5 Jordan Fanklin; 2. #12 Giles Thorton; 3. #3 Jacob Morris
Main
1. #5 Jordan Franklin; 2. #3 Jacob Morris; 3. #12 Giles Thorton
HORNETS
Fast Time
#61Dirk Meyer 18:84
Trophy Dash
1. #25 Josh Davis; 2. #61 Dirk Meyer; 3. #68 Silvia Meyer; 4. #00 Travis Cannon
Heat
1. #25 Josh Davis; 2. #61 Dirk Meyer; 3. #4 Peter Aimsback; 4. #00 Travis Cannon; 5.#68 Silvia Meyer
Main
1. #25 Josh Davis; 2. #68 Silvia Meyer; 3.#61 Dirk Meyer; 4. #00 Travis Cannon; 5. #4 Peter Aimsback
Compacts
Fast Time
#5 Gene Streitz 16:11, 16.70
Trophy Dash
1. #47 Jeremy Hayes; 2. #9 Joe Davis; 3.#23 Jeff Kikendall; 4. #22 Dan Demars
B Heat
1. #28 Russell Smyth; 2. #9 Joe Davis; 3. #65 Jeff Carter; 4. #44 Bill Mitchell; 5. #23 Jeff Kikendall; 6. #22 Dan Demars DNS
A Heat
1. #5 Gene Streitz; 2. #15 Adam Kinkle; 3. #71 Tim Davis; 4. #00 Jeff Denton; 5. #87 Chris Pederson; 6. #47 Jeremy Hayes
Main
1. #5 Gene Streitz; 2. #15 Adam Kinkle; 3. #00 Jeff Denton; 4. #71 Tim Davis; 5. #28 Russell Smyth; 6. #9 Joe Davis; 7. #44 Bill Mitchell; 8. #23 Jeff Kikendall; 9. #65 Jeff Carter; 10. #87 Chris Pederson; 11. #22 Dan Demars
BOMBERS
Fast Time
#79 Preston Kinnison
Trophy Dash
1. #43 Lanny Fry; 2. #2 Chris Nelson; 3. #0 Mike Rowe; 4. #7 Mike Slough
Heat
1. #33 Don Denning; 2. #79 Preston Kinnison; 3. #43 Lanny Fry; 4. #38 Jon Davisson; 5. #8 Bill McCallum; 6.#0 Mike Rowe; 7. #42 Zach Mongan; 8. #2 Chris Nelson; 9. #7 Mike Slough
Main
1. #79 Preston Kinnison; 2. #42 Zach Mongan; 3. #43 Lanny Fry; 4. #38 Jon Davisson; 5. #8 Bill McCallum; 6. #33 Don Denning; 7. #7 Mike Slough; 8. #2 Chris Nelson; 9. #0 Mike Rowe
HOBBY STOCK
Fast Time
#23 Jed Shue 15:02
Trophy Dash
1. #23 Jed Shue; 2. #8 Corey Pilsch; 3. #74 Dan Lewis; 4. #35 Mike Rowe
Heat
1. #23 Jed Shue; 2. #8 Corey Pilsch; 3. #74 Dan Lewis; 4. #35 Mike Rowe
Main
1. #23 Jed Shue; 2. #74 Dan Lewis; 3. #8 COrey Pilsch; 4. #35 Mike Rowe
Limited Sportsman
Fast Time
#44 Alex Lessor 14:12
Trophy Dash
1. #74 Jason Robinson; 2. #08 Darrell Hegel; 3. #14 Zach Havens; 4. #4 John Ellis
Heat
1. #74 Jason Robinson; 2. #7 Micah Sampson; 3. #6 Dan Morris; 4. #44 Alex Lessor; 5. #08 Darrell Hegel; 6. #14 Zach Havens; 7. #4 John Ellis
Main
#1. #7 Micah Sampson; 2. #6 Dan Morris; 3. #44 Alex Lessor; 4. #74 Jason Robinson; 5. #14 Zach Havens; 6. #4 John Ellis; 7. #08 Darrell Hegel
Flathead LEGENDS
Fast Time
#48 Jake Grosswiler 15:021
Trophy Dash
1. #8 John Hillicker; 2. #19 Rick Semminick; 3. #36 Wrango West; . #83 Tyfini West
B Heat
1. #79 Lonnie Barnett; 2. #72 Frank Stainbrook; 3. #01 Joe Topel; 4. #8 John Hillicker; 5. #19 Rick Semminick; 6. #36 Wrango West; 7. #83 Tyfini West; 8. #53 Mark Gallager
A Heat
1. #29 Bryce Hilliard; 2. #48 Jake Grosswiler; 3. #11 Cliff Nelson; 4. #5* Spike Schultze; 5. #56 Tyler Corpron; 6. #51 Corey Siderius; 7. #H20 Darrell; Buckingham; 8. #4 Brad Sentell
Main
1. #48 Jake Grosswiler; 2. #H20 Darrell Buckingham; 3.#72 Frank Stainbrook; 4. #29 Bryce Hilliard; 5. #56 Tyler Corpron; 6. #11 Cliff Nelson; 7. #51 Corey Siderius; 8. #79 Lonnie Barnett; 9. #4 Brad Sentell; 10. #01 Joe Topel; 11. #36 Wrango West; 12. #19 Rick Semminick; 13. #8 John Hillicker; 14. #53 Mark Gallager; 15. #83 Tyfini West; 16. #5* Spike Schultze