Photo Credit: Ashley McCubbin
Billy Schwartzenburg has committed to a partial Mini Stock schedule across the province, while focusing on a full pro late model program. Despite that fact, fans shouldn’t take their eyes off of the No. 86 Mustang as he is just as fast as the regulars. He was quick enough on Sunday afternoon as he scored the victory in the Hoosier Spring Velocity Graham Landscape Ltd. Mini Stock 35-lap feature at Sunset Speedway.
The night didn’t start off smoothly as Chandler Bos and Kevin Bridge would make contact in turn three, ending Bridge’s afternoon early. Defending division champion Brandon McFerran took the victory ahead of Warren Paxton, Andy Kamrath, Charlie Smith, Danny Benedict, Jordan Howse, Terry Woodley, Paul Boyd, Branden Bullen, Travis McLean, Rich Schwartzenburg, Stefan Woyslaw and Bos.
The second heat didn’t go smoothly either, as Andy Kamrath would make contact with Nick Clarke as he slowed in turn three. The race would get restarted, with Clarke heading down pit road with problems at lap five. Sunset Speedway regular Jake Watson (pictured left) went on to score his first career heat victory ahead of Spira Racing teammate Samantha Shaw, Brandon Crumbie, Kamrath, Kendra Adams, Billy Schwartzenburg, Miles Tyson, Ben Melenhorst, Billy Melenhorst, Bob Phinnemore and James Cairns.
The third heat saw a quick spin by Bullen following contact with Paxton. Danny Benedict took the heat after winning the feature the previous night at Peterborough Speedway. Howse finished second ahead of McFerran, Woodley, Kamrath, Boyd, Smith, Paxton, Bullen, Woyslaw, Rich Swartzenburg, McLean and Bos.
The fourth heat didn’t start off well for Crumbie as he’d blow the motor at lap four. Then on the restart, Clarke, Adams and Watson went three-wide, resulting in Clarke and Adams going for a spin. The bad luck continued for Adams as she’d go around by herself a couple laps later. Last week’s Sunset Speedway feature winner Andy Kamrath picked up the heat victory ahead of Billy Schwartzenburg, Billy Melenhorst, Tyson, Ben Melenhorst, Phinnemore, Watson, Adams and Cairns.
Come feature time, Billy Schwartzenburg would start on pole ahead of Jordan Howse, Bobby Tolton, Danny Benedict, Andy Kamrath, Brandon McFerran, Samantha Shaw, Warren Paxton, Jake Watson, Charlie Smith, Terry Woodley, Ben Melenhorst, Miles Tyson, Billy Melenhorst, Phil Boyd, Bob Phinnemore, Kendra Adams, Jamie Cairns, Branden Bullen, Rich Swartzenburg, Travis McLean, Stefan Woyslaw and Chandler Bos.
Billy Schwartzenburg would immediately put the No. 86 Spira Fire Protection, Fleet Image, Artik Ice, Cambridge Source for Sports, Chetty’s Hot Sauce, Conestoga Roofing, Dave Frank’s Photos, Dominion Sure Seal, Eastside Auto Service, Erb & Erb Insurance Brokers, Wix Filters and Gunk Mustang ahead of the field, leading Jordan Howse while Tolton and Benedict battled for third. Tolton would get the spot, getting alongside Howse for second. Tolton would grab second, but lost it a lap later as Kamrath would get by.
With five laps in the books, Schwartzenburg led Kamrath and Tolton as Benedict and McFerran battled for fourth. McFerran would get the spot ahead of Benedict, while Paxton and Howse completed the top seven. McFerran would continue his charge to the front, passing Tolton to move into the third spot at lap 10, while Smith and Watson both got by Howse for seventh and eighth. Benedict would then pass Tolton, moving into fourth at lap 13. Paxton tried to follow suit next, but wasn’t able to complete the pass before the caution flew at lap 19 for Rich Schwartzenburg going around. With 17 laps to go, Billy Schwartzenburg led Kamrath, McFerran, Benedict, Tolton, Paxton, Smith, Watson, Howse, Woodley, Billy Melenhorst, Shaw, Tyson, Ben Melenhorst, Phinnemore, Boyd, Adams, Cairns, Bullen, Rich Swartzenburg, McLean, Woyslaw and Bos.
The restart brought forth a second caution as Woyslaw spun in turn four.
The second restart went smoothly with Billy Schwartzenburg and Kamrath battling side-by-side for the lead. The pair continued to battle side-by-side, with McFerran and Benedict side by side behind them, till lap 25 when Schwartzenburg was finally able clear Kamrath. McFerran would then get alongside Kamrath for second, but was unable to complete the pass. Benedict held down fourth ahead of Paxton and Tolton while Watson and Smith battled back and forth for seventh.
At the front of the field, though, it was all Billy Schwartzenburg as he held on to score the victory. Andy Kamrath finished second, followed by Brandon McFerran, Danny Benedict, Warren Paxton, Bobby Tolton, Jake Watson, Billy Melenhorst, Charlie Smith, Miles Tyson, Jordan Howse, Terry Woodley, Samantha Shaw, Bob Phinnemore, Phil Boyd, Kendra Adams, James Cairns, Stefan Woyslaw, Travis McLean, Rich Schwartzenburg, Chandler Bos and Branden Bullen.
