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From Bob Fricke, Mike Campbell photo

A large throng of fans convened at the Limaland Motorsports Park to celebrate motorsports with NASCAR icon Kenny Wallace and NHRA Top Fuel Dragster Terry McMillen on St. Rita’s Medical Center and the “Are You Tough Enough to Wear Pink” campaign night of racing. Both Wallace and McMillen were piloting wrapped in pink-colored modified race cars to draw attention to the battle against breast cancer. Both cars were prepared and crewed by members of the University of Northwestern Ohio motorsports athletic teams.

Following an enthusiastic reception for Wallace, McMillen and all of the Limaland Motorsports Park racers during a Meet the Drivers Night autograph session, a brief but powerful rainstorm forced track officials to undertake a near ninety minute dry-out effort on the high-banked ¼-mile oval.

The night’s opening feature was the ultra-competitive K & N UMP Modifieds with a 20- car field set to battle for 20 laps. Kenny Wallace started near the tail after a thrilling effort by the SPEED TV commentator that saw him finish third in the B-Main and transfer to the finale. McMillen was unable to advance and did not compete after hot laps and the rain delay. Although having driven his 7,000 horsepower Amalie Oil UNOH Top Fuel Dragster at nearly 318 mph, he had never driven on a dirt oval previously and it proved to be quite the challenge.

Pole starter and student Kody Weisner, in a UNOH Racers entry, led the opening circuit before a spinout allowed Indiana’s Tommy Beezley to gain the lead position as he started from the outside of the front row. Beezley, in only his third Limaland Motorsports Park appearance, was passed by Clint Reagle for the feature’s third lap, but he then re-established front-runner status by the fifth lap and never surrendered.

The opening weekend winner Terry Hull was a constant thorn for Beezley as he worked different lines in trying to get around the lead #69 car. 2010 track champion Todd Sherman and Jerry Bowersock kept it virtually a four car nose-to-tail affair for the final 15 laps. For Tommy Beezley it marked his first feature win at Limaland Motorsports Park. “I saw him (Hull) there with about four or five to go so I thought I need to ramp up the pace,” said a humble Beezley in the winner’s circle. “I was just lucky enough to get away from him. I know how good Terry Hull is here. I’m real fortunate to be in this position. Paul Reed does my engines and I need to thank him.”

The first appearance at Limaland Motorsports Park of the season for the touring Engine Pro NRA Sprint Invaders proved to be a thriller from start to finish. It was three-wide at the line after the opening lap. Randy Hannagan took the lead for the second lap after starting on the inside of row three. The red-colored #22H was very fast throughout the 25-lap main with the previous week’s winner Kyle Sauder and all-time Limaland feature winner’s leader Tim Allison pressuring Hannagan.

Kyle Sauder apparently was too high in the cushion and stuck his 7K AAA machine in the turn one wall ending his evening on lap four. The re-start then setup a thrilling battle as Hannagan and Allison dueled ferociously. Allison tried to go high and low on the track to find a way around Hannagan as both drivers masterfully drove through lapped traffic. With three laps remaining Allison took the lead, held it for just two trips around and then Hannagan took it back from the outside on the white flag circuit to post the thrilling win.

“The track was gripping the front wheels out of my hand,” said Hannagan. “I knew Tim Allison and the 7K (Sauder) were gonna be tough cars. I thank Dennis Yoakam for giving me the opportunity to run one of his race cars. Racing hasn’t been that fun for me the past few years, then I teamed up with Dennis last year and he has brought the fun back. This one’s for him and his brother-in-law (Jim) who passed away a month or so ago.”