Metzger Continues Bozell Family Tradition With First Kzoo Feature Win

📸 KG Media

KALAMAZOO, MI - Last Friday night, Mason Metzger won his first-career feature in a full-sized car at Kalamazoo Speedway.  That win came in the track’s premier division – the Late Model division, with names such as seven-time track champion Buddy Head, perennial hot shoe Jeff Ganus, and veterans Jared Blanchard, Colin Bozell and much more in the field.

Firstly, he joins cousin Bryce Bozell as a fourth generation member of the Bozell family to find victory lane at Kalamazoo, joining uncle Phil, grandfather Andy, and great-grandfather Gordy in that feat.  Other Bozell family members that can be seen battling for wins throughout the southern Michigan/northern Indiana area include Jeff Bozell and kids Colin and Valerie; and Tyler and Ryan Hufford, and Tristan Crago.

By virtue of his win Friday night, Metzger also became the youngest driver to win a feature in the premier weekly division in Kalamazoo Speedway’s 76 year history at 14 years old.  

He started 14^th in the feature after qualifying third, a normal thing seen at Kalamazoo by virtue of their frequent large inverts.  A late restart gave Metzger a chance to pounce for his first victory.

“I was fifth on the restart and I was pretty gripped up on the outside line.  I picked the outside lane and Zachary Maynard took off on the outside lane,” Metzger said on the Horsepower Happenings Podcast.  “I think Buddy Head and Jared Blanchard got together on the frontstretch and I saw a hole and I floored it.”

“It’s pretty heavy traffic back there but normally you just have to be patient and wait for a gap.  Make holes when you can.”

The victory celebration was complete with a tribute to his long-time favorite NASCAR driver, Kyle Busch.  Uncle Boo (Andy Bozell Jr) offered up a Kyle Busch No.18 flag to take for a victory lap around the 3/8^ths mile oval before climbing out of the car and giving a bow to the fans in attendance.

After receiving the news of his passing on Thursday, the idea for the celebration immediately took hold if he were to win Friday night.

“I’m a real big Kyle Busch fan.  I’ve been a Kyle Busch fan since I was a little kid and after we heard about the passing of him I thought of the race on Friday.  I was like, if I win I’m going to do the Kyle Busch bow for him.”

His win comes not long after making his Outlaw Super Late Model debut at Owosso Speedway in his grandpa’s famous No.83 on May 9.  What started as a last-minute decision to originally put him in the car for what was supposed to be the Reveal The Hammer season opener at Berlin Raceway the week before has now turned into a potential run at the Rookie Of The Year title, a feat accomplished by cousin Bryce Bozell in 2025.

“We were getting my car ready for Kalamazoo Speedway that week and it rained out and my grandpa said hey Mason, get my car out, you’re going to run it this week.  I had the biggest smile I’ve ever had on my face.  My cousin helped me get that thing out and the next week we went to Owosso and I just went there to get some laps and learn some stuff.”

As the Bozell family dynasty continues to grow, the Portage, MI race shop does as well.  It now features a pair of LeClair Racing Outlaw Super Late Models and a Modified for Phil drives, an Outlaw, Limited, and template Late Model for Bryce, another template car for Mason, and an Outlaw for Andy that Mason will drive in select shows in 2026.

With a fleet of racecars to prepare for races throughout the state of Michigan, Metzger says it’s all hands on deck with every car in the shop.

“We talk about racing every day.  Our rule at our race shop is if you don’t work on the car, the car doesn’t get worked on.  I’m responsible for cleaning the car, nut and bolting it, and making sure it’s ready to go to the racetrack.  Every racecar we have we work on.”

“I’m so grateful for everybody, especially for my grandpa, my uncle and all of them.  Ever since I was kid I just wanted to race after I saw my grandpa race.”

For the full interview, visit Horsepower Happenings on Facebook or find Horsepower Happenings anywhere you get your podcasts.

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