Twenty-nine Outlaw Super Late Models took to the track last Saturday night at the Kalamazoo Speedway with Steve Needles emerging victorious in the season opener for the second season in a row.  This week the Outlaw bodied machines return to the Zoo with a fifty lap main event on the schedule.  Jeff Ganus, who set quick time on opening night, enters the event as the track point’s leader and is expected to try to build on his lead.  Other drivers expected to challenge Ganus for the victory include Mike “Bubba” Brooks, defending champion Brian Bergakker, Billy Shannon and Mark Shook.

The battle for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series state championship also begins this Saturday as the season opening Intimidator 100 was a non-NASCAR event.  This Saturday drivers will begin collecting points in hopes of becoming this season’s state champion.  Brian Bergakker was the 2012 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Michigan State champion.

If you plan on attending the Little Caesars 50 this Saturday night make sure to stop by the Little Caesars Pizza Barn, located on the midway.  You can purchase pizza by the slice, a whole pizza and/or bread sticks.  Little Caesars Pizza is the official pizza of the Kalamazoo Speedway.  For more information on Little Caesars Pizza visit www.littlecaesars.com.

For more information on the Little Caesars 50 and Kalamazoo Speedway visit www.kalamazoospeedway.com.

Titan Equipment will be the presenting sponsor of this week’s Outlaw Super Late Model feature, called the “Little Caesars 50 Presented by Titan Equipment”.  The event will kick off the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series season and will come just one week after twenty-nine Outlaw Super Late Models participated in the season opening Intimidator 100.  Driver expected to challenge for victory include point leader Jeff Ganus, former Modified champion Mike Brooks, defending Outlaw Super Late Model champion and NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Michigan State champion Brian Bergakker, 1995 Super Stock champion Billy Shannon and Mark Shook.

Titan Equipment is locally owned and operated and is your number one source for sales, service, parts and rentals of lifting equipment.  Since 2005, Titan has offered all your equipment needs – ranging from electric booms to scissor lifts and forklifts.  For more information on Titan Equipment visit them online at www.titaneq.com.

For more information on the Little Caesars 50 Presented by Titan Equipment and Kalamazoo Speedway visit www.kalamazoospeedway.com.

The Saturday Kalamazoo Speedway’s Pro Stock division will run a 35 lap feature paying $500 to win, courtesy of Cool 101.  Brent Hook enters the event fresh off of his victory in the season opener last Saturday night.  Hook holds a slim four point lead over Toby Montgomery, who is just two points ahead of a third place tie between Bud Hybels and Brad VanAvery.  Other drivers expected to challenge for the $500 include John Foote and Travis Hall.

For more information on Cool 101 visit them online at www.wqxc.com.

For more information on the Pro Stock Spring Fling 35 Presented by Cool 101 and Kalamazoo Speedway visit www.kalamazoospeedway.com.

For the second consecutive season Steve Needles started the season in victory lane by winning the Intimidator 100 Presented by Boyne Machine at Kalamazoo Speedway.  Twenty-nine Late Models filled the pit area Saturday night at the Zoo, with several heavy hitters included but when the smoke cleared it was Needles, driving for car owner Terry Gentry that emerged victorious.  Tyler Roahrig made a late charge but came up just short by finishing in the second position ahead of fast qualifier Jeff Ganus, who came all the way from 14^th starting position to finish third.  Twelve time Kalamazoo Speedway Outlaw Super Late Model champion Andy Bozell came home in fourth position ahead of his son and 2011 Outlaw Super Late Model champion and Intimidator 100 winner Phil Bozell.  JR Roahrig, Jeff Bozell, former Modified champion Mike Brooks, Matt Frazier and Randy Day completed the top ten finishers.  Defending champion Brian Bergakker was involved in an accident and finished a disappointing 15^th.  Dick Bissett won the Last Chance race.  Ganus leaves the season opener as the point leader ahead of Tyler Roahrig by just four points.  Needles (-8), Phil Bozell (-12) and Andy Bozell (-18) complete the top five.

Super Stock Pre-Season Testing at Kalamazoo Speedway saw Buddy Head put his machine at the top of both sessions this season but there were some that questioned whether he could back it up on Opening Night.  Head turned the doubters to believers on Saturday with a win in the season opening “Super Stock Mania Presented by Hayes Jeep”.  Chris Shannon finished second ahead of fast-qualifier and defending champion Kenny Head.  Kellie Jo Hofacker finished a strong fourth ahead of TK Whitman.  Bryan Noble, Larry Hollenbeck, former champion Matt Corliss, Tyler Hufford and Chris Orr completed the top ten.  After opening night Buddy Head sits atop the standings by just two points over his brother Kenny Head.  Hofacker (-8), Shannon (-18) and Whitman (-20) round out the top five.

Veteran driver Brent Hook took the season opening win in the Pro Stock division, coming out on top of a late race duel between himself and Brad VanAvery.  Travis Hall, Tony Montgomery and fast qualifier Bud Hybels completed the top five.  John Foote finished sixth ahead of Jerry Pierman, Keith Wilfong, Greg Brown and Mark Flierman.  Hook’s win propels him to the early season point lead, just four points ahead of Montgomery.  VanAvery (-6), Hybels (-6) and Hall (-14) complete the top five after one event.

Nineteen Mini Stocks made the call for opening night with Bobby Blount emerging victorious over Jim Newman.  Shane Clark finished a solid third ahead of Jerime Damron and Dustin Kline.  Defending champion Frank Stager led the second half of the top ten over Noah Gallandt, Doug Smith, Rick Gale and Brian Echtinaw.  Chaz Hook was the fastest qualifier but was involved in an accident and finished a disappointing 17^th.  Blount takes the point lead after opening night with Newman (-6), Clark (-6), Damron (-16) and Stager (-16) completing the top five.

The Cybernetic 25 Presented by McDonald’s Towing ironically saw a lot of carnage, resulting in several cars needing to be towed off the track.  When the smoke cleared Walter Nielson IV collected his first ever Cyber Stock victory holding off a head charging Barry Jenkins.  Tyler McGhan finished a strong third ahead of Jerry Jansen III and Dion Vrooman.  Walter Nielson III finished sixth ahead of Joel Ritsema, Jason Ratashak, Matt Majewski and Josh Roberts.  Notable finishers included former champion Dale Leonard in 16^th and defending champion as well as fastest qualifier Jerry Jansen Jr. in 23^rd. 

Next on the schedule is another Full 5-in-1 Show coming up this Saturday night, May 4^th.  The evening will be highlighted by the “Little Caesars 50 Presented by Titan Equipment” for the Outlaw Super Late Models.  Also on hand will the Super Stocks and Pro Stocks, who will be running the “Pro Stock Spring Fling 35 Presented by Cool 101”.  The Mini Stocks and Cyber Stocks will complete the program.  It will also be Autograph Night and Scout Night, making this an evening you won’t want to miss!  For more information on Kalamazoo Speedway visit www.kalamazoospeedway.com.

This Saturday, all drivers from the Little Kalamazoo Speedway are welcome to partake in our Autograph Session at the Big Kalamazoo Speedway. Kids should congregate with their cars and their crews/parents outside of the top drive thru pit gate at around 5:30-5:45. As soon as qualifying is completed, all cars will be allowed to be pushed down on to the track (no trailers or vehicles in the pits)to participate in the hour long Autograph Night at the Races! Any Quarter Midget driver wearing their fire suit will get admitted to the big track for a free night of fun and entertainment!!

On this week’s version of “Call of the Wild”, Kalamazoo Speedway’s internet radio show, you can listen to interviews from last Saturday’s Super Stock winner Buddy Head and Cyber Stock winner Walter Nielson IV.  Jason Seltzer and Ben Raber also field calls from a few surprise callers and make their picks for this weekend’s event.

Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. is the place to be on BlogTalkRadio.com! We invite you to call in to the show, give us your thoughts, let us know who you think will win in our Pick ‘Em round, and have some fun!

We will invite drivers on the show as well to discuss their current season, and talk about upcoming events at the races!

We look forward to talking to you all!

To listen to a replay of the May 1^st show click here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/cotw/2013/05/02/call-of-the-wild

After postponing the 64^th consecutive opening night last Saturday due to cold weather conditions, Kalamazoo Speedway’s season opener, the Intimidator 100, might possibly have the nicest weather ever for the early Spring event.  Over 100 race teams and nearly 3-4000 race fans have waited all winter long for the Intimidator 100 and after a one week delay, Mother Nature looks to be blessing us with sunny skies and temps near 70 degrees!!

Pits will open at Noon, hot laps will begin at 2:30 and the red hot racing action will kick off at 7PM sharp.  Bring out the entire family for the Michigan’s Saturday Night Entertainment Hot Spot…….Kalamazoo Speedway!

Also, Saturday is Alamo Township Night!  Any residents of Alamo Township will be admitted free to this week’s races simply by showing you voter ID card or your property tax statement.