By: SMS correspondent, Michelle Sprague

   The 2008 racing season at the Springport Motor Speedway got underway, after a rain-out delayed the season opener for one week. The MCR Dwarf traveling series made a stop at the big 3/8-mile high-banked oval to kick off their season. Jim Miller and Craig Curtis, both veterans of the division, saw the fruits of their labor over the winter, as both captured heat wins, but it was Eric Hoffman who took command, as the green flag waved to signal the start of the 20-lap feature. Mike McManman Jr. wove his way through the pack, setting his sights on Hoffman, the leader. McManman Jr. caught Hoffman in the early laps and set sail for the easy win, having opened up a two-second lead over Curtis, in second, by the halfway point. Curtis whittled away at McManman Jr.’s lead, ever so slightly closing the gap between them until laps ran out. Jumpin’ Junior Gould had a stellar run from the rear of the field to finish fifth behind McManman Jr., Curtis, Dave Wylie and Mike McManman Sr.

   Scott Sigman, of Mason, made it a clean sweep in the Performance NW Automotive Sportsman division, tallying both the heat and feature win. Sigman started mid-pack for the 20-lap feature and took charge on the first lap. Stockbridge’s Bubber Patrick gave chase, with Steve Oberst, of Okemos, and Jimmy Johnson, of Stockbridge, right behind him. Sigman put some major real estate between himself and Oberst in second, cruising to the easy win. At the line, it was Sigman, Oberst, Patrick,Johnson, and Charlotte’s Matt Kirchen. Horton’s Dennis Rockey rounded out the class.

   The Pure Stock division saw a number of drivers opt to do double duty, racing both at Springport and the sister track, Spartan Speedway. Jeremy Lutz, of Jackson, picked up right where he left off last season by scoring the heat win, but it was Kyle Drake, of Dimondale, who drove into the Winner’s Circle after the 15-lap feature. With the win pretty much sewn up early on, the second place was hotly contested, with Dansville’s Mark Carson and Lutz slugging it out. Lutz retired to the pit in the closing laps, moving Lansing’s Ian Schafer into the third spot behind Carson. The only front wheel drive car to finish in the top five was driven by Charlotte’s Josh Sattler, and he was nipped by Munith’s Matt Patrick, for the fourth position, on the next to the last lap.

   Nine rookies took to the track, making the Boss Snow Equipment Pony Stock division grow in leaps and bounds. With a 16-car field, the veterans had their work cut out for them, and the rookies did a whale of a job. Rookie Misty Allen, of Lansing, scored first her heat win of the season, while J.T. Leach, of Eaton Rapids, took top honors in the second heat. It was Edson Rowley III, flexing his Pony Stock muscle though, as he drove to the win in the 20-lap feature. Leach led the most laps though, as Rowley, a non-qualifier, had to start from the rear of the field and work his way to the front through heavy traffic. Once Rowley grabbed the lead from Leach, Leach was able to keep Rowley in his sights, but couldn’t reel him in. Three rookies rounded out the top five, Charlotte’s Todd Metz Sr., MI Center’s Marq Eaton and Charlotte’s Tony Sanfilippo.

   Please join us each and every Saturday night at the Springport Motor Speedway for exciting racing action in a family-friendly atmosphere. The May 17th show will feature the Valvoline Instant Oil Change Modifieds, Performance Automotive NW Sportsmans, Pure Stocks, Boss Snow Equipment Pony Stocks, and the Mini-Cups. Our May 24th show will feature Valvoline Instant Oil Change Modifieds, Performance Automotive NW Sportsman, Pure Stock and Boss Snow Equipment Pony Stocks. Qualifying begins at 5 P.M. with racing at 7 P.M. Check out our website at www.springportmotorspeedway.com for more information. As always, we’ll see you at the races.