Hartford Speedway
Hotovy captures tribute race for father-in-law
J.R. Hotovy heads to victory at Hartford's half-mile oval. (John Berglund)
HARTFORD, Mich. (June 28) — A race held in memory of late track owner Jim Borden was fittingly won by his son-in-law Friday at Hartford Motor Speedway.
Allstar Performance Michigan Dirt Cup points leader J.R. Hotovy of Covert, Mich., married to Borden’s daughter Becky, earned $1,500 for the victory after overtaking Brandon Thirlby of Traverse City, Mich., before the halfway point. | Slideshow
Brian Ruhlman of Clarklake, Mich., took the checkers behind Hotovy, who also won the Michigan Dirt Cup opener June 14 at Winston Speedway in Rothbury. Rich Neiser of Fruitport, Mich., was third followed by Ryan VanderVeen of Six Lakes, Mich., and Chad White of Benton Harbor, Mich.
In trying to catch Hotovy, Thirlby climbed the turn-one wall and rolled his No. m14; he wasn’t injured but his race was over.
Notes: Hotovy’s No. 13 is sponsored by S&S Agriculture, Borden’s Blueberry Farms, Founders Brewing and Allstar Performance. ... Hartford, now open only for special events under the promotership of the Hotovys, was formerly owned by the winner’s father-in-law Jim Borden, who died May 24 after a long battle with cancer. He was 63. ... In tribute to Borden, Rick Beebe pointed skyward while waving the checkered flag and all the cars stopped on the track following the feature. ... Hotovy’s wife Becky and mother-in-law Patti Borden were among those in victory lane. ... Hotovy was also leading the modified feature when a broken radiator hose forced him out. ... The Michigan Dirt Cup takes a break before returning to action with a two-race weekend July 12-13 at Mount Pleasant (Mich.) Speedway and I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa.
Michigan Dirt Cup @ Hartford: (1) J.R. Hotovy, (2) Brian Ruhlman, (3) Rich Neiser, (4) Ryan VanderVeen, (5) Chad White, (6) Guy Volk, (7) Bret Darling, (8) Steve Ausra, (9) Herb Reich, (10) Bill Bray, (11) Keith Gentz, (12) Mark Wagner, (13) Doug Austra, (14) Brandon Thirlby, (15) Alan Vochaska, (16) Phil Ausra, (17) Dan Vance, (18) Chris Nash. Heat race winners (among 18 cars): Vochaska, Volk, Ruhlman.
