Craig Daily Press

Photo by Drew Turner

Billy Bingham waves the checkered flag at the conclusion of a race Saturday evening at the Hayden Speedway.

Photo by Drew Turner

Harlan McElroy faces his competition from atop the guardrail Saturday evening after being bumped from behind. McElroy, of Parachute, was uninjured in the modifieds class race at the Hayden Speedway.

Hayden — Maybe 7-7-07 wasn’t so lucky after all.

A week removed from a full moon, and with $2,500 on the line for the modifieds show, the Hayden Speedway was full of thrills, chills and crashes galore Saturday night.

After all the dust had settled, Aaron Spangler of Dove Creek was $2,000 richer for his modifieds main event victory.

The remaining $500 was divided among a number of modifieds heat class and main event winners.

The event-filled night also featured sport stocks, street stocks and super streets classes.

Harlan McElroy of Parachute brought the crowd to its feet during one heat of the featured modifieds races on the evening.

“I got sideways, a car hit me and I landed on the guard rail,” McElroy said.

McElroy climbed out of his multicolored car on his own power and was taken into an awaiting ambulance for precautionary reasons.

“I wasn’t scared at all,” he said. “I thought the whole thing was rather wild. There were no injuries, but I’m going to be sore as all hell in the morning.”

Chance Harms of Hot Sulphur Springs was victorious in one of the five modifieds heat races.

“This is the first time I’ve actually done good this year,” he said.

Harms is in his second year of racing, won a trophy dash and finished 2006 third in points.

Shortly after the modifieds main event was delayed due to a crowd disturbance, the race continued and cars piled on top of one another.

In the end, the 30-lap race was halted after 25 laps due to having no ambulance on site, and Spangler was declared the winner.

Racing continues July 21 with the featured Street Stock Showdown round two, sponsored by Harms and Sons Excavating.

Drew Turner can be reached at 824-7031, ext 211, or aturner@craigdailypress.com