9/1/2023
Owosso Speedway
Phil Bozell Wins 12th Annual Ron Hauser Memorial
A near capacity crowd was on hand to pay tribute to former racer and track owner Ron Hauser for the 12th time, in what was also the third leg of the Michigan Kenworth Quad Crown for the Outlaw Super Late Models.
The first features of the night were a trio of MacAllister Rental Sport Compacts features. Current points leader Nicholas Murdock claimed the victory, his third of the season in a hotly contested race over Ira Hosner. Blake Gokee brought it home in a strong third, while Oliver Kuchar had a career best night finishing third with Randy Moore fifth. The B Feature was a competitive race as well with Mike Westphal taking his first win of the season after struggling all year long with car issues. He was able to hold off points leader Jeffrey Asmus, while Dominick Salander, Dan Hassard, and Daniel Abercrombie claimed the rest of the top five. The C Feature was a physical affair. Chad Baker would claim victory in the time limited event. Corbin Kelley came home a season high second, while Josh Shiver was third. 12 year old Kamille Fitzpatrick and Phoebe Hosner secured the final top five spots. Heat races were claimed by Bryson Hosner, Damian Watters, Jeff Asmus, and Chad Baker. Murdock was quickest qualifier with a 17.549.
After all the pomp and circumstance, the 12th Annual Ron Hauser Memorial would begin. 32 cars were on grounds, 26 starting the feature event. Chad Finley would dominate the opening portion of the race, the former ARCA Menards Series winner teaming with the Rosebrugh Racing team to make his return to the Outlaws. FInley would look to have the race in hand, but a puff of smoke out of the back of the car soon turned into a gigantic plume as the engine gave up, forcing Finley to retire from the event. This would put things in the hands of Steve Needles, the 2020 Winner of the Hauser Memorial. Needles would look strong until he reached lapped traffic, slowing him up to allow four-time Hauser Memorial winner Blake Childers to get to his back bumper. Unfortunately, Needles car would also give up, leaving Childers nowhere to go as he piled into the back of Needles machine, eliminating your top two. In the waning stages of the event, this would see Phil Bozell inherit the lead. Before more bad luck could strike, Bozell would cross the line taking the victory. Mark Shook would come home second after a couple challenges to the leader. Kyle Drake came home third, with Scott Hantz and Buddy Gray taking the remainder of the top five spots. 2016 Hauser Winner Austin Fredwall would win the B-Main to transfer to A-Feature. Blake Childers smashed the track record in qualifying with a 13.826.
The M&K Truck Center Pure Stocks would be next up. This was an epic race between friends and teammates. Chris Stearns would take the lead after Landon Hidy was sent to the rear for breaking out of his qualifying time. Stearns would soon have current points leader Lonnie Saumier all over his back bumper. Saumier would throw everything he had at Stearns, trying to take the victory for himself, but it was not to be as Stearns took his first win of the season over Saumier. Behind them was a hornets nest with Jason Spencer leading home a resurgent Landon Hidy and Nick Johnston at the back half of the top five. Vinnie Lello and Kyle Callahan took the heat race victories. Spencer was fastest in qualifying with a 17.896.
The Reefer Peterbilt All-American Trucks would line up next for an elbows out style of race. With lots of beating and banging, Brad Reseigh’s truck would make it back to the line first for the second straight race. This time, Reseigh would actually be driving, after fill-in driver Darren Burton took the track to victory lane the week prior. Greg Long Jr. would manage to come home second with Jeremy Neph, Ricky Gillett, and Josh Shaw locking down the top five. Shaw and Long Jr. took heat race wins. Zane Cruz would lower his own track record with a lap of 18.579.
The Durotech Automotive Street Stocks were the final race of the night. Ron Hart would end up back in victory lane after a hard fought race to extend his advantage in the points chase as we close in on Season Championship night. Tim Lahar would wind up second over Joe LaLonde’s career best Owosso finish. Kenny Stevens and Johnny Hayden closed out the top five. Stevens and Hart took heat race wins, while Lahar posted another new track record in qualifying with a 16.038
Article Credit: Chris Fobbe
Submitted By: Chris Fobbe