By Bob Buffenbarger
MudclodBob photo
Mason Mi.- Leroy Ellis drove to his first Spartan Speedway sprint car feature win Friday night taking the 30 lap main event. The initial start saw several cars tangle in turn one with Jay Rohrback getting a bit of air time and coming down on the 12 car of John Turnbull. After separating the cars, all but Rohrback were able to re-start. That was a tough break for Rohrback as he fought mechanical woes early on in the evening but looked strong in his heat race.
As the green appeared again, racing was fast and furious with Cody Hoover leading the first lap and on the second circuit Jim Heeney who started in the 5th spot moved into second. With five laps in Heeney had taken the lead over Hoover, Ellis, who was on the prowl and quickly picking off cars, Doug Dietrich and a very quick John Turnbull.
Lap seven saw Ellis slide into second and put pressure on Heeney. Ellis nearly pulled even with Heeney several times in the next few laps and meanwhile, Hoover and Turnbull were racing tooth and nail with the 25 car of Greg Taylor gaining on these two cars. Now on lap fifteen, Turnbull had claimed 3rd and now the top three cars were virtually running under a blanket. This racing continued and Ellis took the lead on lap twenty two over Heeney and Turnbull.
After a re-start for a spin by the 31 of Don Hamilton action resumed again. Two more cautions slowed racing but only briefly with Ellis stretching his lead but Heeney reeled him in several times. Meanwhile Dietsch and Greg Taylor were waging a terrific battle for the fourth position. Ellis gained a slight advantage in the final lap and took the checkers ahead of John Turnbull after a daring inside pass of Heeney on the final turn, Dietsch, Taylor, Hoover and Tom Patterson.
Jim Heeney and Jay Rohrback captured the two heat races.