Smith, Laney, Basalone, Cords and Slagle Crowned Champions

All five divisions were on the schedule for the first time in 2011 for Season Championship Night. All of the Track Champions and Rookies of the Year would be crowned.

 
The Affordable Tire and Service Center Pro Late Models were first up, with Two-time and defending Track Champion Mark Welch starting on the pole. Welch would be overtaken on lap one by Russ Cords, who was looking to pick up the Pure Stock Championship later in the night. Cords would pace the field in early going, but Blake Childers would stick right with him. After a bobble out of the corner, Childers would take the lead, bringing 2003 Track Champion Tony Hoose with him. Hoose and Childers would battle, with the inside groove allowing Hoose to power past down the back stretch. Hoose would lead, as Leo Smith got to his back bumper. Hoose would do a valiant job holding off Smith, but Leo Smith was not to be denied as he took the lead on lap 27 and picked up his fourth feature win of 2011. Hoose was second with Childers, Welch and Cords rounding out the top five. John Forsythe III and Childers claimed heat wins with Jimmy O. Smith setting the pace in qualifying with a 16.296. Thanks to his win Leo Smith would be crowned 2011 Track Champion, to go along with his 2008 Pro Stocks Track Championship. John Forsythe III would claim Rookie of the Year honors.

Dan Loughan lead the field to the green for the 30-lap Drive Train Specialists Modifieds feature, but it would be Megan Carpenter taking the lead on lap one. Carpenter did everything in her power to hold off the veteran Loughan. It would take just a slight bobble off of the corner to allow the veteran Loughan to reclaim the top spot with just 10 laps to go. Carpenter would stay within striking distance, but it would be Loughan claiming his second win of the 2011 season. Carpenter was second 1995 Track Champion Todd Matheson, 12-time Champion Bill Luckhurst and West-side invader Brian Bergakker would round out the top five. Damian Lytle, Steve Rollins and Laci Donnert would claim heat wins, with Rod Laney setting fast time at a 16.322. By virtue of his seventh place run, Rod Laney would claim the 2011 Track Championship, the first in his 30-plus year career. Damian Lytle would be crowned 2011 Rookie of the Year.

Travis Skarvi would set the pace down to Jeremy Slayden’s green flag for the 25-lap Shiawassee Shores Pro Stocks Feature. Nick Burd would jump out to lead lap one. Tony Basalone would be the car to watch, as he sliced and diced his way to fourth. A daring three-wide move would put the Two-time defending Champion in a position to get around Burd after a restart. Basalone would take the top spot and claim his fourth feature win of the 2011 season. Billy Hagon came home second with Burd, Kevin Harder and 2005 Track Champion Tom Stone rounding out the top five. Jeff Jostock and Harder took heat wins with Basalone setting fast time with a 17.249. Tony Basalone would claim his third consecutive track championship, the first driver since Al Kukla in 1963-1965 to win three consecutive in what is now the Shiawassee Shores Pro Stocks division. Justin Holloway would win the 2011 Rookie of the Year award.

The Shattuck Specialty Advertising Pure Stocks had the closest points chase coming into the night, with Dave Parisian 18 points behind Russ Cords. Rick Gokee Sr. would lead the field to the green. Vinnie Miller would lead lap number one, but Jim Gokee would get by one lap later. Gokee would pace the field as Dave Parisian made a furious charge to the front. Parisian would have to win and have Russ Cords finish outside of the top five to claim the title. Parisian would do everything in his power to get around Gokee, and Defending Track Champion Bob Robinson would join the battle as well. A three-wide pass around Gokee would give Parisian the lead and Robinson would try and chase him down. Parisian would go on to take his third feature win of the season. Robinson came home second with Jim Gokee, Russ Cords and Eric Lake rounding out the top five. Jim Gokee and Robinson would claim the heat wins. Bob Elliott set fast time with a 19.319. By a margin of just three points Russ Cords would claim the Track Championship. Mark Dawson would be the 2011 Rookie of the Year.

The Sport Stocks would be the final feature of the evening. JT Leach lead the field down to the green, and Jeremy Donnert would be able to lead the first lap. 2010 Track Champion Kyle Crump, who picked up the win the previous Monday down at the Winchester Speedway in Winchester, Indiana, would lead the next pass around the 3/8s (.375) mile oval. Crump would hold the point for the rest of the 20-lap event, with Amber Slagle able to get to him, but not able to get by. Slagle was second with JT Leach, Billy Luckhurst and Clint Chambers rounding out the top five. Amber Slagle took the heat and set fast time with a 19.856. Slagle was crowned 2011 Track Champion with Jeremy Donnert taking Rookie of the Year Honors.

This Saturday night will see the Outlaw Super Late Models return for the final time in 2011 for the third running of the Heritage 100. 100 laps of green flag racing at the Speedway. The Shiawassee Shores Pro Stocks, Shattuck Specialty Advertising Pure Stocks and Owosso Speedway Sport Stocks will also be on the card. Racing begins at 7pm. The next weekend, September 23-25 is the 16^th Owosso Nationals, one of the biggest year end shows in Michigan. 

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