06/18/2026
REED "OUTSPARKLES" FIELD
July 3, 1985 4,675 eager race fans were on board this week for the annual "Firecracker 100" as Rip Van Winkle lit the fuse on the nights action by winning the hobby heat, while Prank Macken and Norman David took the dash honors. Ed Brown and Stove Riley hecame the final two transfers to the main by going 1-2 in the send main over runner up Tony Posada.
In a special $500, 20 lap hobby main, Larry Shafer held offRoger Bents, Hacken, Carl Pearce, and Rich Langman to take the winners share and increase his point lead for the season title.
With $1,500, going to the winner, and a $15,716 purse up for Erabs, 20 drivers lined up to do battle after the fireworks display.
Dan Reed, who had broken a timing chain in his Regal, sat on the pole in Tim Gillit's borrowed racer and jumped into the lead over John Unger, A first of six yellows and three red flags fell on lap 6 as Don Hicks suffered a fat tire out of turn 2; As Reed continued to lead, the next "cool it flag" dropped on the 15th eircuit as A1 Gard and Ed Brown hooked up and spun in turn two. The next yellow came out on the 24th go-round as Doug Biggs and Frog Trent smashed together coming out of turn 4, with Buzz Devore and Bob Strandwold getting the worst end as they crashed avoiding the mess, putting Strandwold on the trailer for the night, and bringing out the red flag on the event.
With a 27th lap restart, Reed Led Ken Boyd, David, and Ron Strmiska in a fast freight train to a 46th lap yellow for a spinning John Unger.
It became Reed, Boyd, and Straiska for four more laps with Troy Beebe passing Strmiska on lap 51. All went smooth and in order until lap 78 when Don Hicks "pulled the pin" and exploded the motor on the #82 backup car of Strandwold's and was in turn hit by Ed Brown as he spun in Hick's oll, bringing out the final red flag on the night. The final yellow was exposed on lap 86 as Strmiska blew a tire and forced both himself and Boyd into the outside wall in turn two. Harry Belletto snookered Reed on the 91st lap restart and was credited with the lead on the 92nd go-round with Reed regaining the front spot on the backchute.
Reed led Beebe, Belletto, Trent, and Boyd to the checkered flag winning a total on the night of $2,770 for car owner Gillit and 26 points to retake the season point lead.