12-Time Wins Again @ the Zoo
12-time Outlaw Super Late Model champion Andy Bozell picked up another victory Saturday night at Kalamazoo Speedway and in doing so closed in on his son Phil in the championship battle. Phil finished 2nd on Saturday night and will now bring a slim 40 point advantage over his father into next week’s championship deciding event. Jeff Bozell completed the “Bozell 1-2-3” with a third place finish ahead of Billy Shannon and Todd Dougherty. Tom Thomas, who also is still in championship contention, finished 6th and will enter the final night just 87 points out of the top position. Both Thomas and Phil Bozell are looking for their first Kalamazoo Speedway championship, while Andy Bozell is looking for his unprecedented 13th. Mark Shook finished 7th on Saturday night in front of Randy Day, John Chapman and Todd Harrington. Among the notable finishers was Adam VanAvery, who finished 19th and moved one step closer to clinching the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Michigan State Rookie of the Year title for 2011. Thomas set quick time while Rick Senneker and Randy Chupp won the heats.
Mike Brooks made a statement that he is not going down without a fight in the battle for this seasons Modified championship as he won the feature and closed to within 49 points of Ben Raber in the championship battle. Matt Bainbridge, who is also still in contention for the title, finished 2nd ahead of Lindsey Katz, Brent Hook and Raber. Notables included rookie point leader Matt Frazier, who finished 8th. Raber did set quick time and will try and hold on for his first Modified championship next Saturday night.
Jake Hopwood picked up the win in the Super Stock feature but the main story was the second place finisher Buddy Head, who cut Matt Corliss’s point lead to a mere 6 points with one event left. Cory Kruzel finished 3rd ahead of Mickey Cornwell and fast qualifier Brandon Lyons. Notables included Eric McGlothlen in 6th, Kenny Head in 7th, Corliss in 9th and Chris Shannon in 18th. Corliss, Buddy Head, Kenny Head and McGlothlen will all go into next Saturday with a mathematical shot at winning the Super Stock title for 2011.
Lloyd Brooks stayed alive in the battle for the Pro Stock title with his feature win on Saturday night. Toby Montgomery set quick time and drove to a second place finish. Montgomery will bring a 22 point lead into next Saturday’s championship event. James Wheaton finished 3rd ahead of Bob Metheny and Tyler Hufford. Notables include Keith Wilfong, who finished 6th and stayed alive in the championship battle.
Doug Smith made it very clear why he is the championship point’s leader as he drove through the field to win the Cyber Stock Nationals. Smith beat out Dan DenBraber, Cliff Lambert, Nick Layman and defending champion Dale Leonard for the victory. Notables included Bryen Pion in 10th and Jerry Jansen III in 16th. Jansen III did set quick time. Smith will now bring a 40 point advantage into next Saturday’s championship deciding event with Layman and Pion also still in championship contention.
Next Saturday all five divisions will decide their champions for 2011. Unofficially 17 drivers still remain eligible to win the five championships. In addition to the great point battles the Outlaw Super Late Models will run 100 laps in their feature event. For more information on Season Championship Night 2011 and all things Kalamazoo Speedway visit www.kalamazoospeedway.com.
