Kevin Nelson “ The Man” at Winston Motor Speedway

Friday, June 16
Kevin Nelson “ The Man” at Winston Motor Speedway

Winston Motor Speedway continued their run of Mid-Season Championship races Friday June 16th. The Late Model and Mini Stock divisions were the center of attention as they lined up for their championship races by points. A hot summer night brought out some great racing, a nice crowd and unfortunately a violent wreck that brought a hush over the crowd.In the thirty lap Late Model Midseason Championship race Kevin Nelson continued to shine. Nelson brought the field to the green lined up in the pole position. Tom Dusen was flanked to his right. Dusen’s own car had suffered motor problems in a heat race. In a great show of sportsman ship Scott Wenell gave up his ride to let Dusen have a shot for the win from his outside front row starting spot. At the Start of the race Dusen and Nelson were side by side until the first caution flew on lap three for Matt Pickard spinning in turn two. On the restart Dusen was off pace and quickly fell back to the fifth spot. Nelson was at the point with Rich Neiser, and Eddie Reyes on his bumper. Dusen’s night would get worse as he spun in turn four relegating him to the rear of the field on lap seven. At the half waypoint all eyes were on Rob Taylor as he was moving to the front from his eighth place starting position. Taylor rode on the highest point of the track picking off cars one by one. With ten laps to go Taylor was in second. The only question was there enough time for Taylor to catch Nelson who was still ten car lengths ahead. Nelson’s run into lapped traffic helped Taylor close the gap with five to go, but Nelson was able to hold on as he continues to be the man to beat in the Late Models at Winston. Nelson’s win was the sixth for him this season. Taylor’s run was the best for him this season and brought out a loud cheer for his efforts. Rich Neiser, Eddie Reyes and Kevin Nelson Jr completed the top five. Denny Lynn Jr. and Neiser won Heat Races. Tim Stott took Dash honors. Nelson tripped the clock as the fastest in Time Trials.

Mini Stock driver Mark Farber continues to work his way up the point standings at Winston. Farber entered the evening leading the points at Thunderbird Racepark and in the runner –up position at Winston. Starting on the outside of the front row, Farber was able to gain the advantage over points leader Carl McCann and never look back. McCann and Farber raced each other way out in front of the pack hard and clean the entire event. Ultimately McCann would have to settle for second. Farber’s Midseason Championship race win was his third of the season. Zak Rounds, Brad Bates and Carl Califf rounded out the top five. Rounds won the Heat Race. Bates took Dash event honors. McCann was the fastest in Time Trials.

The Michigan Modified Division started out their evening on a rough note. Michigan Modified driver and fan favorite Julie Taylor was part of one of the most violent wrecks ever witnessed at Winston in her heat race. Coming out of turn four Taylor’s left front tire made contact with the outside front tire of Roger Flinn III causing her car to go airborne and then straight into the end of the turn four wall. Taylor’s car then flipped into oncoming traffic where she was narrowly missed by the rest of the field. You could have heard a pin drop until Taylor was safely removed from the car shaken but with no major injuries. Taylor’s car was not as fortunate as her 2006 Bob Peirce Chassis will need a lot of work before she races again. In the Michigan Modified feature Fast Qualifier and Dash event winner Andy Sprague made a pass of points leader Mike Wilburn for the lead on lap thirteen. Sprague’s decision to change lines half way through the race was the right one as he made high side passes to make his way to the front and capture his first main event win of the season. Wilburn held onto second over a hard charging Rich Neiser. Scott Presley and Harry Wilson completed the top five. Ray Wiggers and Wilburn won Heat races.

“Back to Front” was the theme of the Sportsman main event. Contact between Greg Smith and Jamie Gilmore in turn two saw Gilmore head to the pits on a wrecker and Smith put to the rear of the field. Leaders Vinny Homan and Mike Welch saw their lead evaporate as Mike Lynn had worked his way from his ninth place starting position to second with seven laps to go. With five to go Lynn took the lead from Welch. Charging through the field was Smith. A restart with three laps to go had the fans on their feet. In a sign of respect for both drivers’ fans gave a loud cheer as Mike Lynn held off the Four-time Sportsman track champion Smith for his second win of the season. Heat Race winner Welch held onto third followed by Chad Weinrick and Joer Near. Gilmore was the Dash winner. Lynn was the fastest in Time Trials.

The Bomber Division continues to provide some of the best racing action at Winston Motor Speedway. Kyle Borgman was the man of the hour this night as he won the Dash and Qualifying events and was able to hold off the field the entire fifteen-lap feature to capture his second main event win in three weeks. The race for second was exciting as Jerry Fairchild made his way from sixth to second. Point Leader Mike Epplett rough week continued. Epplett’s roll over last Saturday night at Thunderbird Race Park was followed tonight with a broken rear end. Epplett’s misfortune brought out the last caution of the night. On the final restart Fairchild headed a freight train of cars to the high side of the track making passes of then runner up Sadie Klien. Fairchild earned second followed by Stan Dodds, Nathan Walton and Klien. Heats were won by Keith Chrysler and Epplett.

Blake Meyering continues to be the “Bully on the Block” in the Young Gun Division. Meyering backed up his win in Time Trials with his sixth feature win. Kiley Kennedy finished a strong second ahead of Tyler Wagner, Adam Spencer, and Corey Davis. Wagner swept the Dash and Heat race events.

Friday June 23rd the Sportsman and Bombers will have their Mid-Season Championship races. Chad Weinrick, Mike Welch and Mike Lynn hope to prove that Greg Smith is really human win it comes to running at Winston. The five-time winner and four time Sportsman track champion will be on the pole for their championship race. The normal “Lets race and have fun” Bomber division has changed into “Rubbings Racing”. The gloves will be off as Points Leader Mike Epplett will try to change his recent string of bad luck and stay atop the point standing from his pole starting position. Jerry Fairchild, Sadie Klein, Nathan Walton and Stan Dodds will not be content to run second. It should make for some great racing. For the best in Family Entertainment along the Lakeshore make your way to Winston Motor Speedway.