OVID, Mich. — Former Owosso Speedway winner and two-time Must See Racing Sprint Car Series champion Brian Gerster led the way during the opening practice session for the Firecracker 50 on Saturday afternoon.
Gerster posted a top time of 13.480 seconds (100.148 mph) around the three-eighths-mile, progressively banked oval that hosts the series’ fourth race of the season.
From Fishers, Ind., Gerster was the only driver to break the 100 mph barrier. He won at Owosso during the 2014 season.
The No. 50m RAM Engineering mount that Gerster drives for Dick Myers Racing also holds the all-time Owosso track record of 12.565 seconds (107.441 mph), set on Aug. 6, 2005 by Cameron Dotson.
Two-time defending series champion Jimmy McCune was second-fastest in the opening practice round, laying down a lap of 13.736 seconds (98.282 mph) in the No. 88 Abe’s Auto Parts & Sales/B&B Machinery Movers sprinter.
McCune is the defending Firecracker 50 winner, surviving a late-race duel with Jason Blonde one year ago to take what was his fifth and final win of the season.
Local favorite Derek Snyder (14.090/95.813) ended the session third overall, followed by 2015 series Rookie of the Year Anthony McCune and 2013 National Sprint Car Hall of Famer Jeff Bloom.
Ten cars took time during the first practice session.
Final practice for the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series at Owosso Speedway is slated for 3:30 p.m.
RESULTS: Must See Racing Sprint Car Series; First Practice; Owosso Speedway; July 1, 2017
- #50m – Brian Gerster, 13.480
- #88 – Jimmy McCune, 13.736
- #22 – Derek Snyder, 14.090
- #8 – Anthony McCune, 14.184
- #26 – Jeff Bloom, 14.558
- #7 – Tom Jewell, 14.613
- #97 – Ike Beasley, 14.758
- #44A – Teddy Alberts, 14.771
- #72s – Joe Speakman, 15.604
- #13 – H.D. Carter, 18.593
- #35 – Chris Randolph, NT
CREDIT: Must See Racing
