By Kevin Busse, Correspondent

The third and final round of the Dodge Challenge Series had the drivers ready to race Aug 24, at Raceway Park in Shakopee.

The Hobby Stock feature was a powerhouse of performance and skilled racing with Jeff Partington of Farmington coming out on top in the 50-lap feature.

Other feature race winners included Northfield’s Gordy Swanson in Late Models, Shakopee’s Paul Haeg in Short Trackers, Shakopee’s Terry Hawes in Bombers, Burnsville’s Todd Wilson in the first Figure Eights race and Lakeville’s Danny Johnson in the second Figure Eights feature.

Racing action will continue Sunday, Aug. 31 starting at 6 p.m. For more information, go to www.goracewaypark.com.

Partington grabbed the opening lap lead, and was building it two laps into the run as Shakopee’s Mark Hawes moved ahead to second.  Jeremy Wolff of Chaska was the driver on the move early on, working his way up to fifth with 43 laps to go.

With 13 laps to go, caution flew as Chaska’s Lucas Grosinger tangled with Bud Remer of Bloomington sending both cars spinning. At the restart, it was Partington alongside Bill Woodworth of Chanhassen with Chris Marek of Lakeville making a move at the leaders.

With four laps to go, Partington and Marek were pulling away from the pack, finishing one-two, respectively, with Woodworth taking third.

In Late Models, Swanson took advantage of a crash after lap 29. He was joined by Matt Dickey of Shakopee at the restart for a battle for the lead.

Swanson took the lead with 25 laps to go and was pulling away from the pack until more collisions slowed the field. With four laps remaining, Eagan driver Ryan Johnson made several attempts to pass Dickey for second, but couldn’t.

Johnson ended up third behind Dickey, who was second, behind Swanson.

In Short Trackers, Haeg and Shakopee’s Charlie Pehrson took control of the race with 14 laps remaining. Prior Lake’s Dave Auringer was moving up through the field, and pulled in alongside Dan Dimmick of Lake Elmo in a run for fourth with Todd Kamish of Elko with eight laps remaining. The three-way battle for third was won by Kamish, while Pehrson was second.

In Bombers, Hawes assumed the lead early on as Burnsville’s Drew Skaja blew a tire and spun in turn one after contact with Eric Prindle of St. Louis Park.

Skaja worked his way back in the race, powering to second behind Hawes with four laps to go. With the white flag in the air, Skaja made a charge for the lead. As they came up to the line, Hawes crossed first less than a fender length ahead of Skaja. Hopkins driver Nick Lewis finished third.

In the first Figure Eights race, Wilson took the lead early, while a wild, three-wide display of racing and bumping developed mid-pack just two laps into the race.

With 12 laps to go, Shakopee’s John Lebens moved to second, followed closely by Ricky Martin of Farmington moving up to third. As the field of drivers was spreading out with nine laps to go, Wilson had a solid lead. Lebens ended up second, while Martin was third.

In the second Figure Eights run, Johnson passed Minnetonka driver Louie Ansolabehere with 13 laps to go and held the lead to the checkered flag.

Ansolabehere was trying to reel in Johnson in the final four laps, but couldn’t close the gap. Ansolabehere ended up second, while Phil Haluptzok of Fridley was third.