Nelson Jr, Wilbern and Lynn are “Spectacular” at Winston Motor Speedway

Saturday, September 9
Nelson Jr, Wilbern and Lynn are “Spectacular” at Winston Motor Speedway

Winston Motor Speedway concluded the 2006 season with their 4th annual “Fall Spectacular” on Friday September 8th and Saturday September 9th. The weekend started with a bang literally as Friday night qualifying and racing was interrupted more than once with lighting and rain. Qualifying, Fast Car Dashes and “Dash for Cash” races were the only events able to be run on Friday. The scheduled heat races were put off until Saturday. It was a weekend of camaraderie and great racing in Rothbury.

The Late Model feature saw two drivers battle up front for most of the 50-lap feature. Matt Pickard made what could have been seen as the move of the race as he entered turn one on the first lap. Pickard was able to get his car inside of pole sitter and former Fall Spectacular winner Tom Sprague Jr and take the point. Pickard pulled away from the field running right on the bottom of the track. Outside pole sitter Tom Dusen brought out a caution on lap ten when he was off pace in turn three resulting with his Late Model being spun to the infield. On the start fans were quick to notice that Kevin Nelson Jr was working his way through the field. By lap Twenty Nelson Jr had made his way to second working the inside groove past Spargue Jr and his father Kevin Nelson. As laps wound down Nelson and Pickard ran nose to tail in the second groove. Nelson was waiting for the slightest error or mishandle by Pickard. With four laps to go Nelson found it. Exiting turn two Pickard pushed high allowing Nelson Jr to get under him and complete the pass on the backstretch. Nelson Jr than pulled away slightly in his Nelson Speed Shop/ Village Hobbies sponsored Late Model and went on to take the win. Nelson Jr’s $1500 winners share was the largest of his racing career.

“I really thought I was just going to have to settle for second,” stated Nelson Jr. “Matt was very fast and we both shared the same line” “I noticed late in the race he was losing a little bit of handle but I did not know if I could make the pass” “It was a lot of fun”

Pickard, Tim Stott, Kevin Nelson, and Rich Neiser completed the top five for the main event. Friday Night saw Tom Dusen win Time Trails. Tom Sprague Jr won the “Dash for Cash” and Pickard won the Fast Car Dash. Denny Lynn Jr. and Kevin Nelson won Saturday Heat races. Australian Pursuit honors were taken by Nelson Jr.

The Modified division continued to see one driver exhibit a great deal of patience. It seemed all summer long Mike Wilbern found a racing groove and kept working it until he found his way to the front. Tonight was no different as Wilbern waited until lap 23 of their 40 lap main event to make a pass of then leader Andy Sprague. Wilbern’s win comes on the heals of winning the 2006 Michigan Modified State Points title as well as the Winston Motor Speedway Track Title. Wilbern’s Ruby Creek Tavern sponsored Modified visited victory lane at Winston for the 12th time this season. The runner-up position was not decided until the final straight away when John McCaul completed a pass of Sprague on the inside. Dan Dykman was fourth followed by Rich Neiser. Heat races were won by Randy Whitten and Sprague. “Dash for Cash” and Qualifying honors were taken by Sprague. Tim Tuttle won the Pursuit. Rich Neiser took the Fast Car Dash win.

The Sportsman/Street Stock division provided one of the best races of the weekend. Outside Pole sitter and Thunderbird Race Park manager Troy Marciniak set the pace from the early going. Youngster Kyle Borgman was right on Marciniak's bumper for the first half of the 40-lap feature. Multi-time Thunderbird Race Park Champion Mick Latch waited in the wings while Mike Lynn worked his way to the front from his 8th place starting position. A broken rear suspension part resulted in the demise of Borgman and helped Lynn into the runner-up position. With Seventeen laps remaining Lynn and Marciniak began to run side by side. Lynn raced in the low groove. Marciniak raced on the high line. It continued this way until the very end. It seemed as though they swapped the lead at the Flagstand every lap. The fans were on there feet for most of the event. Lynn finally led by a car length with one to go and went onto take the $500 winners share. Marciniak settled for second followed by Latch, Bob Shirk and Mike Anderson. Borgman won the “Dash for Cash” and Qualifying events. Anderson and Lynn won Heat races. Brian Juusola won the Pursuit. Marciniak won the Dash event.

Bomber drive Stan Dodd has had a great month of racing. Fresh off a Bomber Track Championship at Thunderbird Race Park and a season ending Championship Race win at Winston, Dodd’s proved he was the man to beat. Dodd used a fast car, a front row starting position and smart racing down the stretch to take home the $300 payday. While seemingly on an easy cruise to a win Dodds realized that the low groove was slowing and promptly slid up to the high side. It was the move of the race as Tony Weinrick and Sadie Klien were gaining ground and undoubtedly looking to make a pass for the win. Instead Weinrick and Klien were left battling for second. Weinrick earned the second spot over Klien. Fourth place went to Bill Delong followed by Robert Erickson. Tony Weinrick’s strong weekend runs included wins in the Dash, the “Dash for Cash” and Time Trial events. Delong won the Pursuit. Erickson won the Heat race.

Mini Stock driver Brad Bates will have bragging rights all winter long, as he was able to win three of the four events for the four-cylinder cars on the weekend. Bates wins included the Feature, Dash and Time Trail events. Bates battled with Zak Rounds in the Feature event before gaining the final advantage with 10 laps to go. Mark Farber and Jared Guinn rounded out the field. Farber won the Heat race.

Another race season has come and gone at Winston Motor Speedway. It will be remembered for having five first time track champions and one who repeated for the fifth time. It will also be remembered for an outstanding race surface that was aided by Wilkerson Excavating out of Muskegon. Most importantly it will be remembered as one that was safe, competitive and enjoyable for the drivers, crews and fans of Winston Motor Speedway. The 2006 Winston Motor Speedway Banquet will be held October 21st at Muskegon Harbor Holiday Inn. For ticket information contact owners Mike and Judy Goodwin at (231) 206-1508 For the best in Family Entertainment make your way to Winston Motor Speedway.