Despite rain most of the day and just prior to the start of the event, the staff at Champion Speedway worked feverishly to save the track; and despite starting nearly two hours late, was able to put on a successful Patrick Ahlund East Coast Spring Classic. <\/p>\n
The “Doctor of Dirt”, Russ Cornell, bladed off all the mud from the top surface of the track and about 15 vehicles wheel packed for about 30 minutes to get the track race-able. By mid program the track was in excellent shape and produced some quality racing.<\/p>\n
Casey Donholt of Port Crane used his strong starting skills to grab the gate, and although pursued by Adam Mittl the last three laps, was able to hang on for the win in the Scratch Main event and put his name on the Patrick Ahlund Trophy, dedicated to a former rider from Sweden and Canada who used to race at Champion and lost his life years ago in a car accident in Sweden.<\/p>\n
Keith Hawkins from Nichols put in a great ride from the 40-yard line to win the evening’s Handicap Main with former track Champion, Lenny McBride, taking second.<\/p>\n
Jonathan Scheg of Rochester took the checkers in Division Two while newcomer, Ray Schweiger of Candor, edged out former crowd favorite from 35 years earlier, “Krazy” Kraig Moss, in Division Three. Moss, who only practiced once prior to the race, made some very smooth laps for not having been on a bike in 20 years.<\/p>\n
Tobey Relyea and Hunter Singer were dominant in Quad Pro and Am classes. <\/p>\n
The next event at Champion for motorcycles is June 9 at 7 p.m. The track’s dirt go-kart race series began June 3, and will run the off weekends of the motorcycle and ATV program.<\/p>\n