Tom Fedewa scores Spartan Speedway Sprint Car Victory

Tom Fedewa in Spartan Speedway Victory Lane

Photo Galleries are here:http://www.apexonephoto.com/Spartan-Speedway-Mason-MI
August 20, 2010 - A Friday night race is a rare treat at times. So when I realized Spartan Speedway in Mason, MI was running non-wing sprint cars every other weekend, I decided I needed to check it out. A new car division at any track is a daunting venture, but this is a track with a new owner, and some regional misfits in non-wing sprints. So I approached this event with an open mind. Looking through the track results at www.spartanspeedway.com, I noted what would seem like a 12 car field. After leaving the Ambassador Bridge, making my way East on I-96 I arrived to see 16 sprint cars signed in for the nights action. A late arriving Ed Lute would take that number up to 17.


My last trip to Spartan Speedway was for a Sunday afternoon Superpro race won by Rob Buckley back in June 24, 2007. The biggest improvement I immediately noticed was "new" aluminum grandstands recycled from nearby Michigan International Speedway. In this economy, and times of environmental concern, I feel this is a very green move for a racetrack. As a photographer track lighting is also a concern, and I was glad to see come feature time that the track was adequately lit.


A decent field of Modifieds had a heavy caution count during their 50 lap feature won by Travis Eddy son of Michigan Motorsports Hall of Famer Mike Eddy.


Heat race wins went to Taylor Ferns and Charlie Schultz. This would be Schultz first run at Spartan since a 2001 entry in a winged car.


Mike Austrauskas would take the field to the green flag, with Jimmy McCune taking the lead on lap two. A spin by Hettinger and Ferns would bring out the caution and send McCune back to second. On the restart McCune would make it back to the front and hold the point until lap seven when Heeney would get by him in turn one, and Fedewa would push McCune back to third. Fedewa would move into the lead on a lap 21 outside pass and hold off a now second place Schultz until the checkers fell.


1.- 42 Tom Fedewa 2.- 50 Charlie Schultz 3.- 17 Jim Heeney 4.- 70 Jimmy McCune 5.- 5 Tommy Hurley 6.- 35 Chris Hettinger 7.- 41 Troy Underwood 8.- 4 Tyler Underwood 9.- 10 Davey Brown 10.-23 Matt Kinzinger 11.- 55 Taylor Ferns 12.- 8 Ed Lute 13.- 0 Doug Dietsch 14.-3a Mike Austrauskas 15.- 31 Craig Curtis 16.- 69 Tracy Rice 17.- 95 Gary Hollis