Kalamazoo Track Champions Crowned In 76th Season
Kalamazoo, MI - Kalamazoo Speedway crowned track champions for their 76th season last Friday night after a season full of close races and tight championship battles.
History was made as Mason Metzger became the youngest driver in Kalamazoo Speedway history to win a championship in the track’s premier division when he was crowned Late Model champion at 14-years-old. In a division that never saw a repeat winner in nine races, Metzger won his first-career feature on Memorial Day weekend and beat out Lane Head and Jared Blanchard for the title. He joins a long list of Bozell family members who have won a championship at Kalamazoo Speedway.
After winning two consecutive Limited Late Model track championships at Galesburg Speedway, Jerry Osterhouse added Friday nights at Kalamazoo with the Limited and ended the year as the Outlaw Limited Late Model track champion. He won the first three features of the year and only finished outside the top-five once (which was dropped due to the drop rule the track introduced in 2026). He was down just three points to Josh Frye going into the finale, but Frye was unable to compete that night due to obligations at Berlin Raceway and Osterhouse was able to earn his first track championship over Frye and Jerry Pierman.
The ultra-competitive Street Stock division also saw a first-time champion with Jeffery Town. After finishing fourth in points last year, he won five features on the year, with no finishes outside the top-five counting towards the end of year standings on his way to his first track championship ahead of 2025 champion, Kyle Ribble.
Once again, three separate track champions were crowned in the Front Wheel Drive division. More history was made with Matthew Elsey Jr.’s fourth consecutive track championship, joining Andy Bozell (8, Outlaw SLM) and Buddy Head (7, Late Model) as just the third driver in the history of Kalamazoo Speedway to win four consecutive track championships. He won half of the ten FWD A features and led off a three-generation Elsey podium ahead of his father Matthew Sr. and grandfather Scott.
Meanwhile, a pair of first-time champions were crowned in the FWD B and C divisions. James McDonald won his first-career race on opening night and used it to power his way to the FWD B championship over Steve Thomson and Desmond Watkins. Just like McDonald, Dayton Brady also won on opening night on his way to the FWD C championship ahead of Calvin Forney and Brandon Tripp.
Three events remain on the Kalamazoo Speedway calendar for 2026. It starts on Saturday, September 12 with the Legendary Night of Destruction. Two weeks later is the ultimate party weekend on Ravine Rd. with the Super Shoe Nationals. The season concludes on Saturday, November 28 with the Bad Santa Enduro promoted by Great Lakes Racing Promotions.
For more information on the Kalamazoo Speedway, find them on Facebook or go to their website at www.kalamazoospeedway.com.
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