Hess, Chasteen Jr, Hagerdorn, Biswell, Farris, and Mackey win on 2016 Norwood Pub-N-Grub Season Opener.
With more than 90 drivers competing in 20 races across six divisions, the 2016 season’s first night of racing threatened to become a two-day event as cold winds and caution flags teamed up to create an endurance test for those both in the car and out. But after the first three feature events produced more delays than drama, Charley Hess got the night back on track with a quick run to the checkered flag in the 25-lap Late Model Feature. Hess, a two-time winner in the division last season, clinched his first victory of the new year by surpassing Randy Manos Jr. on Lap 16 and never looking back. Richie Bell and Todd Bennett each made late pushes toward the front, but neither managed to find a way past the leader. A second-place finisher to Manos in the 10-lap heat race, Hess set himself up for victory long before he surpassed Manos with nine laps remaining. “Richie Bell actually showed me that the top was going pretty good,” Hess said. “I was better when I could roll in on the corner pretty hard and keep the car pinned down. I took the top line, and it was pretty good. “We’ve done a little practicing down here the last couple of weeks and worked on a few different setups and I think I’ve found one I like.” Jim Hagerdorn won the 18-lap Steel Block Feature in wire-to-wire fashion, holding off James Carmody despite having to endure caution flags on Laps 10, 11, 12 and 14, the last of which involved a lengthy delay while track personnel removed Zac Kuhel’s car from on top of the wall between turns 3 and 4. Mike Chasteen won the 20-lap Modified Feature after moving to the front on the 10th lap when front-runners Rodney Bowman and Nathan Balensiefen both suffered damage and had to exit the race. Chasteen had some resistance from runner-up Allen Weisser, who kept on Chasteen’s bumber until the end. John Farris took the checkered flag in the 15-lap Stree Stock Feature, beating Jake Miller for the win. Richie Biswell won the 16-lap Crate Model Feature, while Matt Mackey closed the night by winning the 12-lap Hornet Feature race. April 9th will be the Gary Cook Jr Memorial paying $2064.00 to win the 40 lap UMP Modified feature.
April 9th Prices
General Admission – $18.00
Kids $10.00
Pits – $35.00
Kids – $20.00
