The second night of racing Saturday at the Emo Speedway showcased virtual end-to-end leads in all three features.
Steve Arpin returned to the winners’ circle with a new car and a close win in his first modified feature victory of the season.
Gavin Paull finished second but was right behind Arpin for the entire race. The pair of 17-year-olds shook hands afterwards, with Paull shaking his own head, admitting he just couldn’t get the key pass.
Defending modified champ Mark Davis came in third.
After failing to place in the opener two weeks ago, Arpin said he and his pit crew simply had to regroup.
“We were better prepared, we had an extra week to go over the car,” he said, referring to the previous weekend’s rain-out. “It’s a new car. We’re still getting the kinks out.”
He added an early-season win is important, especially with no make-up dates scheduled, which may hurt a driver’s chances in the points race come September.
“[Good starts] plays a big part at the end of the year, especially if you run into some bad luck [then],” said Arpin, the 1999 modified champ.
There were three caution flags during the race, with Rod Angus and Dwayne Pelepetz failing to finish.
“On a track like that, [the number of caution flags] is pretty good,” noted Arpin on the chilly grounds. “It’s just like ice out there and hard to drive on.”
Arpin had won the first heat earlier in the evening. Victor Larson won the second one but ended in a disappointing sixth place in the feature after getting tangled up with Phil Gavel in the opening moments.
In the street division, Denny Trimble hung on to edge heat two winner Kendal Gamsby and Jake Hassbargen. The Devlin resident had finished in fourth in heat one.
Anthony Visser, who won the first heat, was seventh in the feature.
Drivers not finishing included Chris Shine, who was towed off the track after losing a wheel, and Ron Westover, who sprung over the edge during a turn.
Meanwhile, defending mini-sprint champ Ken Perry Sr. continued his winning ways Saturday night by taking the checkered flag in the feature race.
Perry quickly grabbed the lead and never let go, holding as much as a two-car lead over runner-up Jason Strom. Gerald Hatlestad came in third.
The three had finished in the same order during the lone heat.
“I just worked my way up with the lead,” said Perry, who missed the May 19 opener nursing car problems.
Kenny Perry Jr., who narrowly missed winning this race two weeks ago, finished fourth. Perry said his son will have to work hard for his wins now that he’s back in the field.
This week’s racing action gets underway at 7 p.m. at the Emo Speedway. Hot laps are at 6:30.
June 2 results
Mini Sprint
-Heat #1 — 1. Ken Perry Sr. (24) 2. Jason Strom (1) 3. Gerald Hatlestad(23)
– Feature — 1. Ken Perry Sr. 2. Jason Strom 3. Gerald Hatlestad
Streets
– Heat 1 — 1. Anthony Visser (11) 2. Richard Visser (25) 3. Kevin Lowe(14)
– Heat 2 — 1. Kendal Gamsby(29) 2. Wes Morriseau(5) 3. Ron Westover(15)
– Feature –1. Denny Trimble(66) 2. Kendal Gamsby (29) 3. Jake Hasbargen (14) 4. Wes Morriseau(5) 5. Richard Visser(25)
Modifieds
– Heat #1 — 1. Steve Arpin (00) 2. Mark Davis (85) 3. Len Allen (4A)
– Heat #2 — 1. Victor Larson (91) 2. Gavin Paull (16) 3. Kevin Randell (89)
– Feature — 1. Steve Arpin (00) 2. Gavin Paull (16) 3. Mark Davis (85), Kevin Randell (89) 5. Len Allen(4A)
