7/2/2025
Owosso Speedway
Hunter Jack Takes the Sportsman Showdown Crown, Lechota Wins Adkins Memorial!
Close to 100 cars piled into the pit area for another great night of racing. A double-header main event race night was in store with both the Sportsman Showdown, pitting Owosso Speedway’s Alderman’s Kubota Late Model Sportsman taking on the Vore’s Welding CRA Late Model Sportsman, and the 4th Annual Kevin Adkins Memorial for the Meyer Electric Pure Stocks!
The Sportsman Showdown would be the first feature to hit the track, with the two competing classes going 75-laps. Nate Walton looked to be in a great position to finally claim his first Owosso win after several near-misses this season. While leading the event, unfortunately Walton would get caught up in an unrelated wreck which would retire him from the event. This would lead to Hunter Jack inheriting the top position. His father Brent would run second, and throw the kitchen sink at it, but would not be able to overtake, as Hunter Jack would pick up his first win of 2025. Brent Jack would settle for second over Brandon Barcus, Tanner Jack, and Nash Engdahl. Engdahl was the top finisher for the CRA Late Model Sportsman. Buddy Head was fast qualifier with a lap of 15.320 (88.12 MPH). Matt Postma got the hard charger bonus points advancing 10 spots.
The Kevin Adkins Memorial was next up, taking the Meyer Electric Pure Stocks on a 40-lap adventure to the finish. The annual event is in memory of Kevin Adkins, the 2008 Pure Stock Track Champion who passed away in 2022. Ricky Moore would lead the opening pair of laps before being overtaken by 2022 race winner Hunter Doutre. Doutre would lead the next eight circuits before Jordan Lechota wrestled the lead away. Lechota, already on a two race winning streak, would jump out to a commanding lead, taking the victory in dominating fashion. Winner of the last two Kevin Adkins Memorials, Jim Miller Jr. came up one spot shy of the three-peat. Nick Johnston, Doutre, and Defending Champion Jason Spencer completed the top five. Ricky Moore, Talen Diehl, and Hunter Doutre won the heat races. Lechota was quickest in qualifying with a 17.964 (75.15 MPH). Lechota also earned the bonus points for Hard Charger, advancing 13 positions.
A special challenge was made for the Michigan Paving and Materials All-American Trucks by track owner Rex Wheeler. Darren Burton, who has won all five features up to this point, and Mark Wilcox, the only driver who has beaten Burton in qualifying, would start a half and quarter lap behind the field respectively. Luck was on the side of Burton and Wilcox as a caution would come out early, allowing them both to catch up to the field. Burton would work his way up from there, driving up to a sixth straight feature win, plus a $200 bonus for taking Rex’s challenge. Charles Hamilton finished second, with Mark Wilcox, Greg Long Jr., and Michael Dvorscak completing the top five. Michael Dvorscak and Burton would win the heat races, with Mark Wilcox setting fast time with a 17.930 (75.29 MPH). Burton would take Hard Charger honors with 13 positions gained.
The Flory Crane Rental Sport Compacts were the final event of the evening with a barn burner of a feature! Nicholas Murdock was the fast qualifier, and accepted the Kimball Midwest Challenge. The Challenge is that the fast qualifier of a randomly selected division can elect the start at the tail of the field. If they are able to get to the front and win, they will get a rolling bonus that increases $100 every week it is not claimed. Murdock was working towards a $200 bonus. Oliver Kuchar would lead in the early runnings, before Defending Track Champion Damian Watters wrestled the lead away. Murdock would run down Watters, the two having an elbows-out fight for the win. However, they would make contact, forcing both drivers to the tail of the field, although Murdock would be forced to retire from the event, missing out on the Kimball Midwest Challenge. This would result in Randy Moore and David Simpson battling it out in an instant classic battle. They would slice and dice around the Speedway, but Simpson held out to win. Moore was second, with Connor Hoag having a career best third. Dan Hassard was fourth over Caden Comer. James Lohrke, Bobbi Jo Jernigan, Brian Barden, Josh Harmon, and Damian Watters took heat race wins. Dustin Workman was the B Feature winner. Murdock was fast qualifier with a 17.133 (78.80 MPH). Randy Moore was hard charger with 11 spots advanced.
Submitted By: Chris Fobbe
