by Jeff Teusink, MHHA Field Rep

Hazel Park, MI — Eric Goodell used his versatile driving style to win four races at Hazel Park Raceway on Monday night (August 22). Goodell, who currently has a Universal Drivers Rating of .315, continues to be Hazel Park’s leading driver.

Goodell got the night started in the third race aboard Skid Row, an eight-year-old gelding by Village Jiffy. Goodell’s blue and white colors left from post position six with Skid Row and found an early seat in fourth through the halfway point which came in :58. Goodell pulled on the right line and began to move first over as the field went past the three-quarter pole in 1:28.1. Skid Row closed in :29.3 for the win in 1:58 for owner Dianne Schneider.

Goodell didn’t have a mount in the fourth race, but he didn’t cool down as he came back and won the fifth, sixth, and seventh.

In the fifth he won with Caprice Classic for owner/trainer Gerald Malady. Goodell gave Caprice Classic a perfect two hole trip as the four-year-old Cam’s Card Shark mare stepped the last quarter in :29.4 in earning her 12th victory in 23 starts this year.

In the sixth race Goodell didn’t have quite as much patience as he settled in second off the gate with Lula’s First Cadet for LRL Racing, but he moved her to the front just past the quarter pole. The early move paid off as the three-year-old Armbro Cadet filly won in 1:58.4 for trainer Marie St. Charles.

Goodell’s final win of the night came in the seventh with Mutual Funs for trainer Sherif Cunmulaj. Goodell used yet another driving style here in the seventh as he left with Mutual Funs from post position one for owner Ida Adams, but then cut Carolina R M (Brad Kramer) loose going to the half-mile marker. Goodell tipped back out going to the three-quarter pole as Carolina R M began to fade. Mutual Funs held off the competition down the stretch to win in 2:00.1.