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On a night when racing had to walk hand in hand with Mother Nature, records would fall and their were first times a plenty.  Saturday night was a night of none stop action with only limited amounts of rain interfering with the program.  Over the long week before race night, Galesbug officials had put down chemicals to the track surface to make the track stick a little more.  Drivers, officials, and fans weren't certain of what this would bring.  As it turns out, Galesburg Speedway would see track records brake in record pace.

The Late Models would see the track record shattered four times on Saturday afternoon.  Ed Santora Jr. (No.5) would be the first to break the record ( 13.953 ), only to have Jeff Bozell (No.63) take it from him ( 13.951 ).  Bozell's glory was also short lived as previous record holder Luke Krick (No.9) would come back to recapture it (13.911).  Krick would lose it again, as Todd Foote (No.10) would claim the track record at a time of 13.896.

The record braking wouldnt stop with the Late Models, as 2008 Sportsman Points Champion, Jim Woodin (No.32) would break the track record held by Todd Foote.  Woodin set fast time and new track record of 14.694.

Street Stock points leader John Foote would also have to steal back his track record, as visiting driver Stephen Casterline (No.10) would break Foote's record.  Foote would come back just one car later and out qualify Casterline with a new track record of 15.710.

With the crowd already up and roaring just after qualifying, the night began as racing action would be fast and furious all night long.

In the Mini-Stock division, Jeremy Collins (No.5) would continue his dominating way, taking his ride to the front of the dash and capturing his third dash win of the season and his fifth overall victory.

In the only Mini heat race of the night, common sense fell amok, as a few drivers ( on and off the track ) decided to take the law in their own hands, launching race leader Joe Gonzales (No.29) off the track, and almost into the woods.  Gonzales would get his position back, and ultimately pull out his second heat win of the season, with Thomas Wildsmith Jr. (No.54) finishing as the runner up.

Cooler heads and smarter driving would prevail in the feature, but the results would be the same.  Jeremy Collins once again would get the jump on the rest of the pack, and make his way to the front.  Collins would do battle for the top spot with fast qualifier Mike Govier (No.46), but eventually Govier would fall back and have to settle for second, as Collins would win his third feature of the season and sixth win overall.  A vastly improving Garry Janow II (No.50) would hang on to a third place finish over Rick Gale (No.0), with Rick Mann Sr. (No.51) rounding out the top five.

" I don't try to wait, I try to get through the bull as soon as I can ", said Collins.  He went on to talk about the track conditions, " The tires still look new, their not getting eat-in up out there, top side is still slick though ".  Collins wanted to thank his crew for all the hard work, and his sponsors ( Tim Talent, Big Dog, Pro 1 Cycle, and Muffler Man ).

After the joy of his new track record, John Foote Jr. and crew would once again be celebrating.  Foote Jr. would maneuver his high powered Chevy machine o the front of the dash to capture his third dash win of the season, and sixth overall victory.  Kevin England (No.1) would keep the lead warm for Foote, until the closing laps when Foote past.

Heat one had the always exciting Mike Kerber (No.83), take his ride to the front, from the seventh place starting position.  Kerber would do battle with yet another Kerber ( Robert Kerber No.70 ) for the win. Mike would go on to win his second heat win in as many weeks.

Heat two had another driver who was no stranger to the winner circle.  Doug Wilhelm (No.3) held off a strong challenge from Red Green (No.68), to get his third victory in as many weeks.

Accidents occurred often and early in the feature as two earlier race winners ( Mike Kerber, John Foote Jr. ) would be taken out of contention for the win in less than a five lap old feature.  John Foote Jr., after setting a new track record in qualifying, and then taking the dash, would succumb to engine problems.  This, and the absence of Donnie Ritter, would set the stage for a first time feature winner in the Street Stock division.

Three drivers would fight their way from the back to take the lead.  Kevin England would push through Travis Loop (No.27) to take the lead at the mid-way point of the race.  With a charging Stephen Casterline, England and Ron Bresett (No.55) would do battle down to the closing laps.  Casterline would get past England just past the white flag for second, trying to take the lead down the backstretch from Bresett.  Casterline would get the unbelievable victory coming out of four as the two cars would collide, collecting England.  All three cars would cross the line spinning.

" It was our first time in this division ", said a very excited Casterline.  He went on to say, " what an exciting race, I enjoyed every minute.  The car was a little free in the open track, and we have been fighting carburetor problems.  We threw the kitchen sink at this car tonight, a lot of adjustments ".

The Late Models would roll out next and try to out do the Street Stocks, only to have Mother Nature postpone the race for about twenty minutes, as the track had to be dried.  During the early race caution, 2008 Points Champion, Scott Rugg (No.49) would have his night end due to mechanical issues with the right front.  When the race went green flag again, Pole-sitter Marc Casey (No.09) would take off, and never look back.  Casey raced his way to the checker for his first ever Late Model feature win.

" The car handled great, we had a shock and spring change, and the car handled better than it handled all season long ", said an overexcited Casey.  " I was waiting for the rest of the pack to come blowing by, but they never came.  I drove the car as hard as I could the whole time ", he added.  Casey wanted to thank his dad ( Rich), brother ( Jeremy ), and grandfather ( James), for all their help and support on the car.

Ottis Jennings (No.11) would bounce back from last weeks disappointment to get his best finish of the season in second, holding off teammate Todd Foote.  Luke Krick would hold on to fourth over Jeff Bozell.

Before Scott Rugg's early exit in the feature, he did have things going his way as he beat out John "Torch" Osterhouse (No.27) to get his second dash win of the season, and third win overall.

Heat race winner was Bob Metheny (No.15).  Metheny held off a very strong one, two punch of VanAvery firepower, with Jesse VanAvery (No.38) finishing second, and Adam (No.2) finishing third.  The heat win was Metheny's first of the season, and second win overall.

Not to be outdone by the Street Stocks, Late Models, or Mother Nature, the Sportsman division would put on a race for the ages.  The feature race pulled out just after 10 p.m., with Mother Nature lurking, and not afraid to rear her head.  When the green dropped, you could tell that the drives knew it could get called at any moment.  Rick McMullen (No.9) would get to the front first, and start rolling out a lead for himself.  Th fans were being treated to another great race, as Josh Trammell (No.82) drove his way into second.  McMullen would hold off Trammell for about seven laps before Trammell made a move underneath, taking the lead away.  Fast qualifier and new track record holder Jim Woodin would get caught up by Matt Frazier (No.97), as the two did battle to the front and fought for the lead as well.  Trammell held off McMullen and company til just seven laps to go, when the race was put under caution, due to the rain.  After parading around for about ten laps, the race would be checker flagged.  Trammell would break up the two horse show ( Woodin, and Frazier ) that has been the Sportsman division, getting his first feature victory in two seasons.  McMullen would get the runner up spot for his best finish of the season as well.  Points leader Matt Frazier, would finish third, ahead of Jim Woodin.  Rookie of the Year contender Chris Garrett (No.31) would round out the top five in one of the best rain shortened races in a long time.

" We have had a problem with our trailing arm angle, and made some changes.  The car was hooking up great, we knew we were fast ", said a jubilant Josh Trammell.  Trammell went on to say, " We have had a lot of strong finishes this season, I was just praying for the rain ".  Not trying to take all the credit, Trammell wanted to thank his family, crew chief Bob Brown, and Jason Carter.

" Its racing, its fun...we were still working on the set-up for the track here.  We can still be better, our car is set up for Kalamazoo (Speedway), but the track is getting better ", said Rick McMullen.

Simmie Hicks Jr. (No.10) got his first win of the season over Brent Webster (No.88XL) in the dash race.  Russell Richter (No.96) would also get his first win of the season, holding off a hard charging Rick McMullen.

The dampened night ended with alot of questions, as the points race in each division is starting to really heat up.

In the weeks to come, Galesburg Speedway will have Fan Appreciation Night ( June 13th ), this is also autograph night, a night to get up close and meet your favorite drivers, plus a full 5-in-1 show.

June 20th will be Power ball Night.  the Street Stocks will run their 50 lap spectacular, plus Late Models, Sportsman, Mini-Stocks, and Burg Stocks, all on hand.

June 27th will have another full 5-in-1 show.

Come out to the Galesburg Speedway every Saturday night for some of the best racing action in Michigan, see the racing in each division, as the points race starts to take shape.