4/17/2016
Baer Field Speedway
CAPACITY CROWD ON OPENING DAY GIVES BIG MOMENTUM FOR SEASON
A capacity crowd on “Fan Appreciation / Opening Day” is just what was needed for the historic Fort Wayne race track as over 3,800 cheering fans were thrilled by fast cars, fireworks and ideal weather conditions throughout the day that saw several returning faces back to Baer Field Motorsports Park for another season of competition.
After dominating the Front Wheel Drive class in 2013, Brian Janes moved on to Street Stocks in 2014 and had thrilling battles with several drivers, including a strong rivalry with young Austin Coe in 2015. For 2016 both Janes and Coe have moved up to the Grote Automotive Late Model Sportsman and it was Janes claiming the first feature win of the season after a fierce battle with multi-time track champion, Tommy Cook as the two even saw contact and spins in the early stages of the 25-lap event but it was the New Haven, Indiana rookie taking the win over Cook, Billy Hutson, Shawn Bonar, and Neal Richardson completing the top five. Cook was best in the early part of the day, setting a new 1/2-mile track record in qualifying with a lap of 18.410 seconds. Neal Richarson and K.C. Spillers took the win in the heat races held earlier prior to the feature events.
A full field of 20 Prepper 4 Open Wheel Modifieds were on hand for their 25-lap feature event that was filled with close racing, including a couple of hard hits into the wall by drivers like young Jonathan Gatton, and even two-time Baer Field Track Champion Scott Coe taking a trip through the grass in turn one. At the end of the event, New Bremen, Ohio invader Jason Timmerman took the feature win over Bud Adams, Tony Dager, Russ Miller, and Mike Bufink completing the front five. Timmerman’s accolades started early on the day as he also posted fast time for the event with a qualifying lap of 18.302. Russ Miller and Brad Springer both claimed heat race wins earlier in the day.
The King’s John Service Street Stocks are often regarded as some of the best racing on the Baer Field 3/8-mile, and Saturday was no different as veteran driver Chad Richardson took the win in a car he recently purchased from long time Street Stocks racer Josh Perkins. J.J. Schafer, Casey Nash, Bryce Schafer, and Tyler Clark completed the top five. J.J. Schafer claimed top honors in qualifying on the 3/8-mile track with a 17.677, and the heat race wins were claimed by Bobby Comer and Tyler Clark.
Two others claimed feature wins on the day as Keith Barker dominated the field in the combined race among the AFDENT Mini Stocks and Coe Heating & Air Sport Compacts, while Chris Clark took the first win of the year in the Indiana Racing for Autism Awareness Stock Compacts.
This weekend the action will be focussed on the Grote Automotive Late Model Sportsman and Prepper 4 Firearms Open Wheel Modifieds as they will both be bakc in action on the 1/2-mile track, while the King’s John Service Street Stocks, AFDENT Mini Stocks, Coe Heating & Air Sports Compacts, and Indiana Autism Awareness Stock Compacts will all be in competition on the 3/8-mile track in what is going to be a fun filled fast day at the track.
Competitor gates will open at 10 A.M. as cars will begin arriving and going through the inspection process, before getting on track for practice at 11 A.M. Spectator gates and Time Trials for the event will begin at 2:30 P.M. with the opening ceremonies and preliminary racing action set to begin at 4 P.M. Admission for the event is just $13 for adults, $6 for kids ages 8-12
Baer Field Motorsports Park is located at 4331 Winters Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46809. More information about the event as well as all other track events are available on the website, www.baerfieldmotorpark.com, by calling the track office at 260-668-4912, clicking “Like” on Facebook by searching for Baer Field Motorsports Park, or by following all the news from the track on Twitter @BFMotorPark.
Submitted By: Anthony Boyd
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