Ganus Wins Thrilling Shifters 50 at Kalamazoo
Jeff Ganus made the winning pass on 12-time champion Andy Bozell with two laps remaining in Saturday night’s Shifters 50 at Kalamazoo Speedway to pick up his first victory of the season. Bozell finished 2nd and remains winless in 2012, but does still hold the point lead. Defending champion Phil Bozell finished 3rd ahead of fast qualifier Brian Bergakker and Luke Krick. Billy Shannon, Mark Shook, Jeff Bozell, Randy Chupp and Rick Senneker rounded out the top ten. Notable finishers included Trent Hellenga, who was involved in a scary wreck and finished 16th. Doug Rodenhisler and Senneker won the heat races.
Ryan Wheeler challenged Chris Orr all the way to the end of the Super Stock feature but came up just short as Orr picked up his second victory of the season. Chris Shannon finished a solid 3rd ahead of Dave Simpson and Tim Stuart. Rick VanHouten, Lindsey Katz, Darren Lane, Kenny Head and Kelli Jo Hofacker completed the top ten. Notable finishers included point leader Brandon Lyons in 11th and Matt Corliss in 14th. Lyons did set fast time while heat races were won by Corliss and Mickey Cornwell.
The Pro Stocks had double features Saturday night with point leader Lloyd Brooks collecting the first one. Brent Hook finished a solid second ahead of Tyler Hufford, Keith Wilfong and former champion Greg Haynes. Zack Cook led the second half of the top ten over Bryan Noble, Jim Wheaton, Danny Oxford and Shawn Misak.
In the second feature Haynes picked up the victory over Cook while Brooks could do no better than third. Brent Hook and Tyler Hufford finished 4th and 5th beating Noble, Wheaton, Wilfong, Oxford and Christina Rantz. Brooks did set quick time while Hook and Wilfong won the heats.
The Mini Stock Nationals presented by Best Way Disposal saw Billy Bussema set quick time, start dead last and drive through the entire field to pick up the victory over Bobby Blount. Noah Gallandt ran third ahead of Chaz Hook, making his first ever start. Donnie Brest made his return to the seat with a fifth place finish beating Rick VanCleave, Larry Fullbright, point leader Frank Stager, Ben McCallum and Doug Smith. Bussema and Stager won the heats.
The always exciting Cyber Stocks did not disappoint as they put on a great race which was won by Wayne Stack in a close finish with Logan Knight. Point leader Dale Leonard finished third ahead of Jerry Jansen Jr., Barry Jenkins, Walter Nielson IV, Jerry Jansen III, Felicia Meade, Nick deLongpre and Mark Campbell. Notable finishers included Jack Cook, who ran only three laps and finished 17th. Jansen Jr. was the fastest of the 28 qualifiers while heats were won by Travis Krum, deLongpre and Leonard. Jason Ratashak won the ‘B’ Feature.
This Saturday night features another full 5 in 1 show featuring the Team Spirit Custom Trailers 50 for the Outlaw Super Late Models. Brain Bergakker and Phil Bozell will continue to try and cut into 12-time champion Andy Bozell’s point lead. Also in action will be the Super Stocks, Pro Stocks, Mini Stocks and the Cyber Stocks running their biggest race of the year, the Cyber Stock Nationals presented by LKQ. The event will pay $250 to win for the Cyber Stocks.
For more information on Kalamazoo Speedway visit www.kalamazoospeedway.com.
