[17B]

The first race is history! The weekend wrapup!

Opening night of the MMSA series has come and gone.
It was refreshing to me, the smell of racing fumes, the first night out having a respectful car count of 25 mini sprints on hand at Brownstown. Although this is race one of 27, I whole heartly feel that with 25 of the best mini sprints, we will see this number grow as several racers just were not quite ready yet.

Seeing two sets of hot laps to start the evening, speeds were in fine shape. Some teams unload with the right setup would show greatly in hot laps. Some had to return to their trailers for major changes. For some the hot laps ended their evening, including the Henchcraft , EMI 10D of Drew Dorsett had mechanical issuses that would sideline him for the evening. Also the 45 hot rod of Brandon Griffitts would take on the same feel ,of parking it for the night due to electrical issues. The final hot lap victim was the 76H of Mike McIntosh had injector issuses.

Heat one rolled onto the racing service, with 9 cars to start, but the for mentioned hot lap victims were to be in heat one, therefore heat one was cut to 6 cars. Not be overlooked still had some top quality cars to battle for the first heat win of 2017. The hot shoe from New Palestine IN, Danny Fitzgerald piloting his OSR Racing engines entry, would take the first checkers followed by Mike Miller, Cindy Chambers, Keith Arvin, Cory Meadows, and young Korbyn Hayslett. We will hear more on Danny here shortly.

Heat two had 8 cars take the green, seeing second year racer Kyle Hathaway lead at the green for a few laps, till the Hoosier Speed entry driven by Andy Bradley would take full control over the race by lap 3. Hathaway would finish second followed by, last years sportsman of the year Brandon Smith, Bradley Ashford, Dean Parker, Jessie Vermillian, Dustin Griffits and Bod Griffits.

The third and final heat also had 8 cars to hit the track running, but only 7 would finish. The Ohio Bandit, Ty Tilton was on a rail with his sight set on the checkers in a hot battle with 77 Justin Lewis when Tilton's Benic Shocks, Hyper Racing entry went down on power with just a lap to go. Thus allowing young Lewis to take home the heat win, followed by Rod Henning, Cody Trammell, Tim Light, Colin Miller, Blake Vermillian, Luke Easton and Ty Tilton.

With a few scratches for the night, the MMSA series decided not to run a B-main, instead would start the balance of entries, 22 strong for the 20 lap A-Main.

The feature rolled off the starting shoot with Kyle Hathaway leading the field to the green. Hathaway benefited from the point inversion that put him on the pole, and having the 6th starting spot to the passing point leader for the night Danny Fitzgerald.

Taking the green flag, almost all cars got through turns one and two with the exception of two. Getting the worst was the 73 of Blake Vermillian geting turned and bouncing off the tractor tire putting him on his lid. They would clear the track and racing would continue. Hathaway would bring them to green for a second go around. Kyle would lead lap one with Henning, Smith, Lewis, and Bradley in tow.
Rod Henning would eventully make his way around the young racers to claim the top spot for the next 4 laps. The race would be halted with the spin of 18C Cindy Chambers in turn one. Leading to the restart Henning, Bradley, Smith, and company, racing resumed Henning and Bradley dualing it out for the lead, seeing the 86 Bradley take the top spot for several circuits. Getting into heavy lap traffic was exciting for the fans, Bradley, Henning, inside, outside of traffic. Bradley on the low side and Henning on the high side. The racing would be halted another time for a spin of a back marker. Coming to green was Bradley, Henning, Fitzgerald and Lewis...
12 laps down 8 to go, once again seeing the top 3-4 checking out, but we would lose one of those 4, Danny Fitzgerald would push it to the limits in turn four and laying his machine over on its side. He would restart last and still finish a respectful 8th. The final restart would be Bradley, Henning, and Lewis with a handful of laps left the top three flat out got it on. Running down the back of the field in 4 laps, the race would get very exciting for the final two circiuts. Bradley was focused on the low line Henning and Lewis battleing the lap traffic on the middle of track. This left the top line open for the last lap of dash to the finish, with lapped cars abroad Justin Lewis went for broke passing the Henning machine with one lap to go. His focus was on the leader Bradley one car length in front, coming to the checkers Lewis had a run on the highside out of 3 and 4 but Bradley nibbed him by a wing!
The race took 21 minutes, 2 yellows and 2 reds would fly!
Next race will be Friday April 14th at Bloomington, non wing style then Saturday April 15th at Lincoln Park with the tin tops back on!
See ya at the track!