OWEGO, NY

The event at Champion Speedway on June 5 looked doubtful early on, as showers hit the Southern Tier earlier in the afternoon, but by race time, the track surface was fine and the skies were clear.

The first Handicap heat race was won by Tuff McBride, with Adam Mittl (above) close behind in second. Keith Hawkins looked solid as he took third, with Shawn Engel breaking down behind him.

Dave Clark also took a win in Handicap action, coming from the 40-yard marker. Young Jesse Diem grabbed second from the 30. It was "Jammin' Jeff" Garlinghouse in third and Casey Donholt ending up in fourth.

Before the heats had finished, Jerry "Buford" Harman had come through traffic from a 40-yard disadvantage to score a victory over Josh Carr, Russ Cornell and Brian Bailey.

In the tough six-rider semis, Clark clicked off a win, with McBride just behind and Harman in third for the last transfer. Cornell was fourth, Carr fifth and Engel sixth.

In the other semi, Donholt, Diem and Mittl scored transfers as well, with Garlinghouse, Hawkins and Bailey in fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively.

Donholt made a great start to win his Scratch heat, with Mittl and McBride staying in close range. Diem was fourth.

Hawkins was very strong the next time out and beat Harman and Clark, the latter tallying a DNF.

Bailey ended up winning the final Scratch heat. Cornell was second, Engel third and Cole Farwell last.

The first Scratch semi was a good race, with Mittl taking the lead and not looking back. Clark and Harman diced for second; Clark won out and got a transfer to the final. Diem was fourth and Carr fifth.

McBride was hot and got the best of Donholt in his semi. Donholt kept second and a direct transfer through to the main. Third- and fourth-placed Hawkins and Cornell would transfer to the last-chance qualifier, while Engel was last and out of the running.

Hawkins was on fire in the LCQ and blasted out of the start and went on to win. Harman fought hard but had to settle for second.

Fans expected a tough Scratch final, but Mittl gated like a GP rider from gate three and was gone on his JBR/Justice Brothers/Polito/Oury/NGK-backed Jawa. His win marked his second Scratch main-event victory of the year. McBride had second in hand until he hit a hole on lap four and got wide enough for Donholt to move by for a place. McBride was third, Clark fourth and Hawkins fifth.

Diem stole the show in the Handicap finale, as he held off the heavy hitters who came from the 50-yard line. He rode off his 30-yard mark and got out front and stayed there for the full six laps to take top honors. Clark was second, Donholt third, Mittl fourth, McBride fifth and Harman sixth.

Results

SCR MAIN: 1. Adam Mittl; 2. Casey Donholt; 3. Tuff McBride; 4. Dave Clark; 5. Keith Hawkins.

HDCP MAIN: 1. Jesse Diem; 2. Dave Clark; 3. Casey Donholt; 4. Adam Mittl; 5. Tuff McBride.

SUP: 1. Cole Farwell; 2. Jeff Garlinghouse; 3. Dan Horengic; 4. Brian Bailey.

JR: 1. Spencer Portararo.

DIRT/BK: 1. Roger Roberts; 2. Spencer Portararo.