SHORS04

16 drivers braved an Ohio snow and ice storm to make the trek to Mark's Model World for the Midwest SHORS race. Several drivers arrived Friday
night to get in some needed practice and the power was hot as ever with the SHORS S/S times dropping nearly into the Modified range. Saturday
dawned a new day and the doors and practiced started opened at 8:00 AM.

  Several regulars were on hand early to offer their Tyco NASCAR rides to out of town amatuers who didn't have a car for the class and racing kicked
off at 11:00.   8 drivers took part in the class and after the first heat, Canton youngster Cory Hosner set a high mark with 170.38 laps followed by
Charlie Benson at 143.43. The rest of the "A" main was filled by drivers in the 2nd qualifier with Ben Crute 161.9 and Johnny "Gman" Richardson at
157.71 filling in the final 4. From the first tone in the "A", Ben Crute flexed his muscle taking a 3 lap lead after the first segment and extending it to
10 after the 2nd segment. Cory Hosner made a late charge and Ben slipped some in the final segment but in the end, it was Ben Crute with a 3 lap win
and a run of 232.40 laps over Cory's 229.67. Johnny "Gman" Richardson also made a late charge but finished 3rd at 227.72 with the final position being
taken by Charlie Benson at 206.44.

  Next up was S/S and 15 racers hooked up looking for the big win. Heat #1 kicked off and quickly youmg Cory Hosner set a good total turning 192.65.
Cory only held the top spot for one round when Jay Jaap blistered the track in heat #2 turning 199.73 laps just falling sections short of that elusive 200
lap run. Jay looked confident but heat #3 had two local fast guys in it with current track record holder Greg Fox and Paul "FLASH" Reeve ready to
qualify. After the dust settled and the laps were added up, it was Paul "FLASH" Reeve taking the TQ honors with a big 205.43 lap run. Jay's heat #2
total was good enough for 2nd qualifier, Greg Fox turned in a 3rd place run with 194.27 and the kid, Cory Hosner, made his 2nd main of the day from
heat #1. The first two segments of the main went back and forth between "FLASH" and Jay with Jay taking a 1 lap lead after two segments. After the
start of the 3rd, it was all "FLASH" who looked determined as he cruised to the win turning a near record 297.16 total. Jay slipped but still finished 2nd
at 282.4 followed by Greg Fox at 250.27 and Cory Hosner at 245.50.

  After snow and ice fell most of the day, 8 drivers stuck it out to race modified. Heat #1 started and it was the young kid again, Cory Hosner, burning
up the track setting a great time with a 234.65 lap run followed by Jay Jaap at 222.54 and Greg Fox at 221.50. Heat #2 started off with Bill Graffius and
Johnny "Gman" Richardson setting a fast pace staying one lap within each other other. Winner of the last Ohio State Series Modified race, Paul
"FLASH" Reeve was behind a little but still on pace to make the "A" and getting faster. The 3rd segement proved disaster for both "Gman" and
"FLASH" as gear and axle problems slowed them both and dropped them from contention. In the end it was Bill Graffius taking the TQ spot with a
238.59 run with Cory, Jay and Greg filling out the main.

  When the modified main started, Cory Hosner jumped all over the pro's and took the early lead. Jay and Greg struggled a little and fell back and Bill
stayed well within reach waiting for his moment to pounce on the young Cory. After two segments, Bill had closed back to within 3 laps of Cory and was
looking to put the pressure on and rattle the teenager but Cory had nothing to do with it and ran a near flawless final lane to pull away to a 7 lap win
with a 349.37 lap total followed by Bill Graffius at 342.84, Greg Fox at 309.75 and Jay Jaap with a 308.73 lap run.

  Congrats to Amamtuer Cory Hosner for what I know is his biggest win and the fact he made all three mains and won Modified. Thanks need to go out
to Slottech Racing, Holeshot Painting and John Mullen of J & S Contollers for providing some wonderful race prizes. I would also like to thank Mark
Kitto of Mark's Model World in Canton Ohio for being a great host and those that helped run the race, "FLASH", Jay Jaap, "Gman" and Mark.