By Dusty Wiegert
SALINA, Kan. — An invasion of Street Stocks from the South was the story of the night at the Salina Speedway but when the battle was over Salina driver Scot Granzella sat at the top and fended off the invaders on this special night.
Granzella took control of the race from Terry Franz and led easily to take yet another win at the Speedway and further increase his points lead on the season in the Coors Light Stock Car division. Franz would have his own problems and finish further back in the pack. Newcomer Keith Riley finished second with Bryan Hickman third and the highest finishing invading Street Stock Brandon Miller finishing fourth. Granzella was also the hard charger of the race after starting seventh. Eighteen Stock Cars checked in for the night with six of them being Street Stocks from Hutchinson Raceway Park in a very evenly matched race. Riley, Granzella, and Milholland won the heat races.
Earlier in the night Tony Milholland took the win in the make-up feature for the Stock Cars from July 15. A wild crash stopped the action during the event with Robbie Ferris, Levi Wiggans, and Tony Humphries all sustaining considerable damage. Milholland was able to hold off Brian Ryff, Granzella, and Riley for the win. Granzella was the Hard Charger in the make-up feature also after starting eighth.
Darrick Klima left a vapor trail in his wake as he walked away with the win in the Belleville Motorsports Modified division. Klima easily took command of the event from Shannon Johnson and dominated en route to the win. Troy Johnson was the Hard Charger of the night finishing second after starting fourteenth. Shannon Johnson finished third with Kurt Johnston fourth. Jesse Richter, Klima, and Petersilie won the heat races.
Josh Rice took his #8J to Victory Lane once again, this time by working past Shane Meeks in the closing laps to score win number 4 on the year at the Speedway in the Xtreme Motorsports B-Modified class. Tyler Sutton also got past Meeks for second with Meeks in third and Seth Schroer fourth. Rice was also the Hard Charger after starting eighth. Sutton and Chad Markley won the heat races.
Earl Kinderknecht waited patiently for his chance and then walked away from the rest in the Auto House Mod Lite feature. Dustin Forsberg came home second with Brandon Gray third and Justin Kinderknecht fourth. Earl Kinderknecht was also the Hard Charger after starting eighth. Gray and Ryan Ayers won the heat races.
Wayne Juenemann used his unique shifting approach to win yet again in the Accurate Electric Front Wheel Compact division, while also wrapping up the Hard Charger award after starting eighth. Brandon Lobdell drove to second with Justin Betzner third and Cody Johnson fourth. Johnson and Juenemann won the heat races.
The biggest special event of the year takes place next Friday night as the MidwestDirt Late Model Series rolls into town for their only appearance of the year, and the first time in five years Late Models have visited Salina. Also in action will be the Belleville Motorsports Modifieds, Xtreme Motorsports B-Modifieds, Auto House Mod Lites, and Accurate Electric Front Wheel Compacts.
For more information on the Salina Speedway please visit www.racesalinaspeedway.com or call 785-914-5141
RESULTS (Top 5’s, full results can be seen on www.racesalinaspeedway.com)
Coors Light Stock Cars A Feature (Make-up from July 15)
1. 12 Tony Milholland, Glasco
2. R99 Brian Ryff, Abilene
3. 91E Scot Granzella, Salina
4. 55 Keith Riley, Larned
5. 7 Bryan Hickman, Minneapolis
Coors Light Stock Cars A Feature
1. 91E Scot Granzella, Sailna
2. 55 Keith Riley, Larned
3. 7 Bryan Hickman, Minneapolis
4. 24 Brandon Miller, Hutchinson
5. R99 Brian Ryff, Abilene
Heat winners: Keith Riley, Scot Granzella, Tony Milholland
Belleville Motorsports Modifieds
1. 2 Darrick Klima, Belleville
2. 88J Troy Johnson, Concordia
3. 819 Shannon Johnson, Salina
4. 77K Kurt Johnston, Concordia
5. 93B Brandon Massey, Valley Center
Heat winners: Jesse Richter, Darrick Klima, Mike Petersilie
Xtreme Motorsports B-Modifieds
1. 8J Josh Rice, Minneapolis
2. 3G Tyler Sutton, Beloit
3. 26X Shane Meeks, Abilene
4. 15 Seth Schroer, Cottonwood Falls
5. 36 Chad Markley, Abilene
Heat winners: Tyler Sutton, Chad Markley
Auto House Mod Lites
1. T1T Earl Kinderknecht, Salina
2. 3G Dustin Forsberg, Bel Aire
3. 48B Brandon Gray, Bennington
4. 51 Justin Kinderknecht, Salina
5. 19 Ryan Ayers, Salina
Heat winners: Brandon Gray, Ryan Ayers
Accurate Electric Front Wheel Compacts
1. 4 Wayne Juenemann, Salina
2. 63 Brandon Lobdell, Lindsborg
3. J5 Justin Betzner, Brookville
4. 28 Cody Johnson, Salina
5. 3CG Allen Rice, Minneapolis
Heat winners: Cody Johnson, Wayne Juenemann