By DUSTY WIEGERT

Special to The Hays Daily News

SALINA, Kan. -- With only two races remaining in the Championship chase at the Salina Speedway competitors turned up the wick on an exciting night to cap it off with a last lap pass for victory.

Salinan Corey Lagroon accomplished that feat as he drove underneath leader Brandon Massey entering turn 3 on the final lap and held on to record a victory. Brian Knoell led early in the race until Massey took over after a slew of cautions. Lagroon worked around Knoell and was there on the white flag lap to make his move and it paid off. Massey would cross the line sideways at the stripe for second with Jeff Welsh beating out Brian Knoell for third and fourth. The start of the race had a huge pileup in turn 2 that involved twelve out of the twenty cars. Points leader Danny Morrison Jr. was one of those involved and had significant damage but was able to make it out later in the race enough for one lap and enough to finish sixteenth and clinch the Championship in the Belleville Motorsports Modifieds. Jeremy Massey was the Hard Charger after starting nineteenth and finishing fifth. Warren Huffman, Danny Morrison Jr., and Jesse Richter won the heat races.

Seth Schroer picked up his second win in a row in the Xtreme Motorsports B-Modified division. The race was halted with a red flag on the first lap as Tim McBurney spun exiting turn two and was then hit hard by Brandon Bellville, who then got drilled by Bob Dauer. Bellville was transported to the hospital but was awake and speaking with emergency personnel. Chad Markley held the lead early with Kurtis Pihl pulling alongside briefly before Seth Schroer rocketed to the front. Pihl finished second followed by Josh Rice and Jesse Levin. Eric Cross was the Hard Charger after starting eleventh and finishing fifth. Chad Markley and Jacob Schmutz won the heat races.

Points leader Justin Kinderknecht and his closest challenger Dustin Forsberg locked themselves into a great battle for the lead in the Auto House Mod Lite feature. Kinderknecht made a courageous move exiting turn 4 by the wall to get around Forsberg for the win and eventual win. Forsberg would finish second, followed by Chris Unruh and Tyler Bradshaw. Forsberg was the Hard Charger after starting eighth. Austin Russell and Chris Unruh won the heat races.

A first time winner emerged in the Coors Light Stock Car division as Rick Slothower drove his Smokey Yunick replica Mercury Cougar to Victory Lane. Slothower grabbed the lead from the start and never let go in the feature event. Levi Wiggans finished second, Bob Arnold third, and Jim Stolzenburg fourth. Stolzenburg was the Hard Charger after starting sixth.

Another great race up front ended in Shannon Johnson collecting the hardware for his second win in a row in the Blind Pig Sports Lounge Hobby Stocks. Johnson was able to hold off a hard charging Mike Traskowsky, who started seventh, and Duane McAnarney for the win. Johnson clean swept the evening by also winning his heat race earlier in the night.

Branston Arnder drove to a popular win in the Accurate Electric Front Wheel Compacts after leading every lap. Arnder was followed by Brandon Lobdell, Wayne Juenemann, and Kevin Hackett. Dallas Dunn won the heat race.

Next Friday night September 30 is Championship Night at the Salina Speedway with all six divisions competing for the final points event for the season.

Make plans now to attend the Salina Speedway Fall Fling set on October 7-8, 2011 that will feature over $30,000 in prize money for all six divisions.

For more information on the Salina Speedway please visit www.racesalinaspeedway.com or call 785-914-5141.

RESULTS (Top 5, full results can be seen on our official website)

Belleville Motorsports Modifieds

A Feature

1. 24 Corey Lagroon, Salina

2. 93B Brandon Massey, Valley Center

3. 59W Jeff Welsh, Abilene

4. B6 Brian Knoell, Falun

5. 93 Jeremy Massey, Park City

Heat Winners: Warren Huffman, Danny Morrison Jr., Jesse Richter

Xtreme Motorsports B-Modifieds

A Feature

1. 15 Seth Schroer, Cottonwood Falls

2. 3K Kurtis Pihl, Lindsborg

3. 8J Josh Rice, Minneapolis

4. 11J Jesse Levin, Salina

5. 57JR Eric Cross, Salina

Heat Winners: Chad Markley, Jacob Schmutz

Auto House Mod Lites

A Feature

1. 51 Justin Kinderknecht, Salina

2. 3G Dustin Forsberg, Bel Aire

3. 88C Chris Unruh, Galva

4. 15B Tyler Bradshaw, Salina

5. 6 Trace Ayers, Salina

Heat Winners: Austin Russell, Chris Unruh

Coors Light Stock Cars

A Feature

1. 13 Rick Slothower, Gypsum

2. 84W Levi Wiggans, Herington

3. A55 Bob Arnold, Salina

4. 5 Jim Stolzenburg, Clifton

5. 91E Scot Granzella, Salina

Heat Winner: Levi Wiggans

Blind Pig Sports Lounge Hobby Stocks

A Feature

1. 19 Shannon Johnson, Salina

2. 23 Mike Traskowsky, Woodbine

3. 72D Duane McAnarney, Salina

4. 82 Mark Normandin, Salina

5. 2 Ron Rouse, Salina

Accurate Electric Front Wheel Compacts

A Feature

1. 8 Branston Arnder, Salina

2. 63 Brandon Lobdell, Lindsborg

3. 4 Wayne Juenemann, Salina

4. 29 Kevin Hackett, Minneapolis

5. J5 Justin Betzner, Brookville

Heat Winner: Dallas Dunn