Owosso Speedway test notes 2005-04-16

Owosso (MI) Speedway holds test and tune, now prepares for the 2005 season.

Saturday afternoon, an all day test and tune commenced at the Owosso (MI) Speedway as the 2005 season began with the practice session that saw many new faces and new paint schemes filling up the Big "O" pit area. After the test and tune session was completed, the teams then turned their focus on their respective 2005 track championships.

In the Baker Engineering Super Late Models, Scott Giroux will pull in as the defending track champion. During the afternoon test session, Ed Young Jr., was amongst the fastest around the 3/8s mile paved oval while Jason Felver and 2004 Owosso Fall Nationals champion, Jon McNett were both on hand getting their machines dialed in. Rookie contenders, Kris Henderson Morgan Keil, and Curtis Anderson were also on hand shaking down their new rides in anticipation of their upcoming Freshman seasons' in the premiere division at the Big "O".

Known throughout the Midwest as the leader in high performance racing engines, Baker Engineering, located in Nunica, Michigan, offers complete engine development, including custom high performance engines and racing engines for auto and offshore racing. Engine upgrades, dyno testing, engine component manufacturing, plus engine design, prototyping and testing for the US military. For 2005, Baker Engineering is the proud divisional sponsor of the Owosso Speedway's premiere division, the Super Late Models.

Tom Hoose, who won his second championship in three years in 2004, comes in as the defending track champion for the Bigos Precast Late Models. Hoose has won two of the last three championships while his son, Tony Hoose took the title in 2003. The elder Hoose, and his brother, Steve Hoose were two of the faster machines in practice all afternoon. While Mike Shouse Jr., and 2004 Rookie of the Year, Ron Hauser were getting dialed in as well.

Based in Fowlerville, Michigan, Bigos Precast offers a wide range of construction products and services including: Septic Tanks Manufacturers, Concrete Products Except Block & Brick, Ready Mixed Concrete Producers, Construction Materials, Concrete-Ready Mixed, Masonry Materials & Supplies, Septic Tanks & Systems Wholesale, Tanks (Wholesale), Building Materials, and Concrete Products. For the second year in a row. Bigos Precast proudly sponsors the Late Models division for the 2005 season.

Six-time and defending track champion, Bill Luckhurst will be back to defend his Young Chevrolet-Olds-Cadillac Michigan Modifieds title. The Ovid, Michigan veteran, as has been the case in this division the past several seasons, will be the man to beat all season long as he gears up for a run at an unprecedented seventh championship at the Big "O" in 2005. Up and coming Modified pilots, Laci Donnert and Mark Abee were both on hand and both looked strong all afternoon during the test session.

Young Chevrolet-Olds-Cadillac, located in Owosso, Michigan is the leading Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, and Cadillac dealer in the Shiawassee County and surrounding areas. Young Chevrolet is located 12 miles East of the Owosso Speedway on M21 just outside of downtown Owosso. They come aboard for the 2005 season as the proud divisional sponsor of one of the most exciting divisions at the Owosso Speedway, the Michigan Modifieds.

John Forsythe rolls into 2005 as the defending Performance Tire Street Stocks track champion and reigning Owosso Fall Nationals champion. The Corunna, Michigan veteran looked awfully strong all afternoon during the test and tune sessions and will be tough to unseat from his perch on top of the proverbial mountain. Veteran Steve Pelky is back in the division after a year in the Late Models division while second year driver, Matt Puskarich looks to improve on his rookie season. Veteran driver, Dan Baker returns to the fold after a 12-year absence and looks to make some noise in 2005.

Performance Tire is located in St. Johns, Michigan, eight miles West of the Owosso Speedway. Mike Basalski, a lifelong race fan and sponsor of various cars throughout the years, owns and operates his tire store just outside of downtown St. Johns. Performance Tire has come on board for the 2005 season as the proud divisional sponsor of the Street Stocks division.

Chris Trinklein, will come into the 2005 season as the defending racesontheweb.com Mini Stocks titlist, after winning the 2004 Big "O" Four-Cylinders Five-Star Shootout series championship. Darren Bohne and rookie, Russ Potter IV, were amongst the fastest machines in testing while another rookie, Ryan Allen looked impressive in his first outing in any type of race car.

www.racesontheweb.com is the internet's leader in in-car cameras and streaming video for local and national short track racing. Verwayne Greenhoe and his hard working staff are an asset to the racing community as the hard working Greenville, Michigan native is also the Owosso Speedway's official photographer and videographer for the 2005 season. Racesontheweb.com also provides in-car cameras and other video equipment to the ASA Late Model Series. Racesontheweb.com is the proud divisional sponsor of the Mini Stocks division.

The KP Auto Body and Collision Pure Stocks are a brand new division for the 2005 racing season. The speedway brings back a class to the fans and drivers alike where you simply knock the windows out of the cars, install a roll cage and go racing. This is strictly a beginners division and other than safety issues, no modifications are allowed at all to the cars! Chris Lee and Quincy Cummings were amongst the drivers on hand shaking down their new rides in anticipation of becoming the first ever event winners in the Big "O" newest class of cars.

KP Auto Body and Collision is located in St. Johns, Michigan. Owner, Kevin Personious, a former Street Stocks pilot at the Owosso Speedway, offers free estimates and expert color matching on all makes and models. As they say, accidents happen, so call KP for the service you deserve. They are the proud divisional sponsor of the Big "O"'s newest division.

This Saturday night is the 2nd annual Big "O" Preseason Preview Presented by Cutting Edge Graphics too kick off the 2005 racing season. The Baker Engineering Super Late Models, Bigos Precast Late Models, Young Chevrolet-Olds-Cadillac Michigan Modifieds, Performance Tire Street Stocks, racesontheweb.com Mini Stocks, and KP Auto Body and Collision Pure Stocks will all be in action for the first time this season in race conditions for a huge six in one show to start the season off. As a bonus for showing up for the preseason preview, drivers that show for this event will receive 15 show-up points and get a jumpstart in the points standings.

The official opening night for the 2005 season is set for Saturday April 30th. Wednesday Night Test and Tunes begin on Wednesday April 20th and will run throughout the 2005 season from 3-9pm. For more information please call (989) 834-5948 or (517) 851-4743. You can also log onto the website at: www.owossospeedway.com So come out and watch all the cars and stars at Central Michigan's only home for family fun and entertainment every Saturday night, the Owosso Speedway.

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