INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Friday night racing at the Blossom Chevrolet Indianapolis Speedrome kicks off a busy weekend for short track fans. Veteran Jim Begley Jr., rebounded from a severe crash at the last run to win the Indy Sod Winged Modified main. "Heavy Metal" Herb Carson padded his points lead in the Yardarm Marine Products Bomber Figure-8 division with another trophy. Ricky Martin and Cordell George Jr., shook up the points chase in the Roadrunners and Hornets, respectively.

Jim Begley left the track on a forklift the last time he raced the Speedrome's tough fifth-mile oval. Friday night he left with the winner's gold. Begley survived a pre-start melee that damaged half the field and held off Michael Hadley for the distance. Ray Evert, defending series champ Johnny Hargraves and Max Olmsted followed. Timothy George was fastest in the time trials but was sidelined by the opening pile-up. Rob McCalister, Sr., took the dash and Begley and Hadley split the heat wins.

Herb Carson added to his points lead in the Yardarm Marine Products Bomber Figure-8 division with a win in the 20-lapper. Former champ Rick Howard debuted a new replacement machine in second place and was pressuring Carson hard at the checkers despite having no practice time in the car. Defending champ Barry Tabor, Herbie Conrad and new addition Dustin Sapp followed for the Top Five. Tabor was best in qualifying with Carson and Howard getting heat wins.

Ricky Martin tightened up the Roadrunners championship chase when current leader Kevin Smith slipped high while leading the 20-lap main. Martin snuck in under Smith for the win, Smith held onto the runner-up spot with Mike Gulley, Mike Adams and Nick Moore under a blanket right behind. Smith and Adams were tops in the qualifying heats.

Cordell George Jr., once known around the track as "PeeWee" showed his skills in the Hornet main, holding off championship contenders Terri Popielarz, Brad Brooks, Josh Goodin and Terry Pierson for the win. It was George's first career feature win despite a long career at the track crewing his father's, uncle's and cousins' cars. Michael George, Louis Kropp and Gene Moncel Jr., were winners in the qualifying races.

The Late Models roll into action tomorrow night with another thrill-a-minute Figure-8 feature plus a full card of oval runs. Curtis McMurtrey continues to lead the division but Bruce Tunny and Doug Greig have been lighting up the "W's" lately. Corey Turner leads the rest of the Chuck's Race Car Parts Stock class to a night of oval chases. Kevin Smith and the Roadrunners plus the unrelated Mike Smith, Sr., and the Hornets round out the night. Sunday we bring the Stocks back for a Half-Hour Figure-8 Endurance for WFMS Wild Night #2. The Hornets, Spectator Oval Drags, "He/She" races and the World's Loudest Car Stereo contest top off the evening's fun. For both nights we open the gates at 5PM and go racing at 7PM.

RESULTS

INDY SOD FARMS WINGED MODIFIEDS
FAST QUALIFIER - Tim George 12.653
TROPHY DASH - Rob McCalister Sr.
HEAT RACE WINNERS - Jim Begley Jr., Mike Hadley Jr.
35-LAP FEATURE -
1. Jim Begley
2. Mike Hadley
3. Ray Evert
4. Johnny Hargraves
5. Max Olmsted
6. Charlie Hargraves
7. Scott George
8. Rob McCalister Sr.
9. Scott Keen
10. Timothy George

YARDARM MARINE PRODUCTS BOMBER FIGURE-8 CARS
FAST QUALIFIER - Barry Tabor 20.846
HEAT RACE WINNERS - Herb Carson, Rick Howard
15-LAP FIGURE-8 FEATURE -
1. Herb Carson
2. Rick Howard
3. Barry Tabor
4. Herbie Conrad
5. Dustin Sapp
6. Jerry Givens
7. Tony Hackney
8. Shawn Chapman
9. Scott Tabor
10. Arnold Sosbe

ROADRUNNERS
HEAT RACE WINNERS - Kevin Smith, Mike Adams
20-LAP FEATURE -
1. Ricky Martin
2. Kevin Smith
3. Mike Gulley
4. Mike Adams
5. Nick Moore
6. Shawn Eastridge
7. Buddy Tabor
8. Toby Eads
9. Frank Hardcastle
10. David Lee Byrd
11. Frank Turpin
12. Randy Moon

HORNETS
HEAT RACE WINNERS - Michael George, Louis Kropp, Gene Moncel Jr.
20-LAP FEATURE -
1. Cordell George Jr.
2. Terri Popielarz
3. Bradley Brooks
4. Josh Goodin
5. Terry Pierson
6. Brian Cooper
7. James Curry
8. Gene Moncel Jr.
9. Louis Kropp
10. Eric Kropp
11. Jimmy Carson
12. DeWayne Armour
13. Donnie Scurry
14. Mike Smith Sr.
15. Milburn Green
16. Randy Ahaus
17. Darrel Keith
18. Michael George