By Mike Bozich, Hazel Park Track Announcer

The first annual Michigan Legends Driving Competition was held this past Tuesday evening at Hazel Park Raceway in Hazel Park, Michigan. Some of the top drivers of the state’s glorious past of harness racing were on hand to do battle once again in a three division point series.

In the first division, driver Jeff James took them gate to wire with four-year old mare Crossing Jordan. James teamed up with an old friend in trainer Paul Kennedy JR to notch career win number 4,809. In the second division, it was veteran pilot Chris Boring who upset the field at odds of 29-1 with Bob Zubkoff trainee Building Wealth. In the third and final division, Driver Ron Wrenn drove three-year old filly Blue Dahlia to a lifetime best of 1:57.1.

In the end however, it was Jeff James who was declared the winner with 55 points, followed by Boring and Wrenn with 50 each. Other Michigan driving legends that competed were Dan Johnson, Lee Sattelberg, Frank O Mara, Tom Merriman, Merritt Dokey, and Ed Morgan Jr. Those that were honored but did not drive were George Ursitti, Bobby Williams SR, Ted Taylor, Bill Gale, Leroy Copeland, and honorary Team Captain Doug Ackerman. Each Michigan legend was awarded with a commemorative plaque highlighting their career achievements.

Special thanks to emcee Jack Craig, Taylor and Ann Currier, and Wendy Cox for all of their efforts. Also special thanks go out to Denny Walton, Asst Racing Secretary of Hazel Park Raceway. Without him, this would not have been possible. Finally thank you to the legends themselves, who donated the prize proceeds to Randy Kerr, who is ill with cancer.