Friday , June 2 2006
Wilbern and Kennedy Capture Mid-Season Championship Races at Winston
Winston Motor Speedway started a streak of Midseason Championship races that will take them to the end of June. The Michigan Modifieds and Young Guns were the two divisions running for Mid Season bragging rights on Friday June 2nd. Fans also were treated to witnessing two of the hottest Late Model drivers in the State of Michigan battle at Winston.
The Michigan Modifieds lined up for their Mid-Season Championship race by point standings. Mike Wilbern had earned the right to start on the pole and he made it pay off in a big way. Wilburn has dedicated his race season to long time racer and friend Tim Johnson who lost his life earlier this year. With Johnson’s son in the pits to root Wilbern on he was able to lead every lap and win his fourth Main event of the season. It did not come easy though as Rich Neiser and John McCaul pressured him throughout the race only to settle for the second and third positions. Veteran Scott Presley garnered the fourth position. Julie Taylor had the best run of her season finishing in the fifth position. Taylor also took home a Heat race win along with McCaul. Neiser took Qualifying honors. Wilbern won the Dash.
The Young Gun division saw the continued dominance from Blake Meyering. Meyering was the fastest in Qualifying, won the Heat race and for fourteen of the fifteen-lap Mid-Season Championship race looked unbeatable. Unfortunately heading for the white flag coming out of turn four Meyering’s car spun and caught on fire. Meyering was left scrambling out of his car to safety wondering what could have been. With one lap to go Kiley Kennedy and Dash winner Jordon Praay was now the center of attention. Kennedy assumed the point and held her line hitting all of her marks to take home the Trophy over a hard charging Praay. Adam Bartoszek finished third ahead of Meyering and Adam Spencer.
In the Late Model Division Kevin Nelson has been nothing less than spectacular at Winston Motor Speedway this season. Nelson last week alone took home wins from Winston and Crystal Motor Speedway. Eric Spangler’s appearance at Winston had the fans buzzing. Spangler’s season also has been top notch with wins at Thunderbird and I-96 Speedway recently. Twenty-one Late Models took to the track for the green flag. On the start Eddie Reyes was the early leader but it was Nelson who quickly moved to the point with a high side pass. Elex Leyton also powered his way to second only to see his hopes for a win dashed with mechanical failure on lap seven. It was obvious to fans that when all was said and done it was going to be Spangler or Nelson in the winner’s circle. Spangler had moved his way from his seventh place starting position to second by lap eight making passes high and low on the racetrack. With four laps to go a caution flag put the fans on the edge of their seats for the finish. On the final restart Nelson chose the high line and Spangler battled in the low line of the racetrack. When the checkered flag was waved Nelson had won his fifth feature at Winston. Spangler’s strong second place finish showed why he is one of the best Late Model drivers in the state of Michigan. The race for third was won by Tom Sprague Jr. over Kevin Nelson Jr and Rich Neiser. Heat Race honors were taken by Scott Wenell and Spangler. Brian McQueen’s absence from racing for four years did not show as he was clocked as the fastest Late Model in Time Trials. Spangler took home Dash event honors.
The Sportsman Division continues to provide great racing. Two and three abreast racing saw Mike Lynn battle his way to the front and hold off Mike Welch and Jamie Gilmore for his second Feature win of the season. Joe Near and Mike Peterson rounded out the top five. Bud Steinman took the checkered flag for the Heat race. Mike Peterson took home Qualifying honors. Greg Smith won the Dash.
The Bomber Division continues to be the most even leveled playing field. Another first time winner makes this division have only one two time winner this season. Kyle Borgman started his season with nothing but heartache. The seventeen-year-old driver suffered through two blown motors. Tonight his luck would change. After an inversion draw put his #72 Camaro on the outside pole Borgman was on a mission. Borgman was able to lead every lap and take the win. Stan Dodds chased Borgman to a second place finish. Mike Epllett and Jerry Fairchild each moved up six spots to capture the third and fourth place positions. Jamie Woodring completed the top five. Sadie Klien and Woodring were the Heat Race winners. Epplett won the Dash event. Fairchild tripped the clock as the fastest Bomber in Time Trials.
Former Mini Stock track champion Luke Near let the rest of the field know that he can still turn the wheel. Near won every event of the night including the Dash, Heat, Qualifying and Main events. In the Main event Near started deep in the field but yet was able to grab the lead on lap six of the twelve lap main event. Near proceeded to pull away and pick up his first feature win in only his second appearance this season at Winston. Runner-up honors went to Mark Farber followed by Zak Rounds, Carl McCann, and Nathan Tarte.
Friday June 9th Winston Motor Speedway will host the Sprints on Dirt Series. If you want to see the fastest laps of the season mark your calendars. You will not want to miss it. Five other divisions (No Late Models) of racing will also be there to entertain the fans. For the best in Family Entertainment along the Lakeshore make your way to Winston Motor Speedway.
Wilbern and Kennedy Capture Mid-Season Championship Races at Winston
Winston Motor Speedway started a streak of Midseason Championship races that will take them to the end of June. The Michigan Modifieds and Young Guns were the two divisions running for Mid Season bragging rights on Friday June 2nd. Fans also were treated to witnessing two of the hottest Late Model drivers in the State of Michigan battle at Winston.
The Michigan Modifieds lined up for their Mid-Season Championship race by point standings. Mike Wilbern had earned the right to start on the pole and he made it pay off in a big way. Wilburn has dedicated his race season to long time racer and friend Tim Johnson who lost his life earlier this year. With Johnson’s son in the pits to root Wilbern on he was able to lead every lap and win his fourth Main event of the season. It did not come easy though as Rich Neiser and John McCaul pressured him throughout the race only to settle for the second and third positions. Veteran Scott Presley garnered the fourth position. Julie Taylor had the best run of her season finishing in the fifth position. Taylor also took home a Heat race win along with McCaul. Neiser took Qualifying honors. Wilbern won the Dash.
The Young Gun division saw the continued dominance from Blake Meyering. Meyering was the fastest in Qualifying, won the Heat race and for fourteen of the fifteen-lap Mid-Season Championship race looked unbeatable. Unfortunately heading for the white flag coming out of turn four Meyering’s car spun and caught on fire. Meyering was left scrambling out of his car to safety wondering what could have been. With one lap to go Kiley Kennedy and Dash winner Jordon Praay was now the center of attention. Kennedy assumed the point and held her line hitting all of her marks to take home the Trophy over a hard charging Praay. Adam Bartoszek finished third ahead of Meyering and Adam Spencer.
In the Late Model Division Kevin Nelson has been nothing less than spectacular at Winston Motor Speedway this season. Nelson last week alone took home wins from Winston and Crystal Motor Speedway. Eric Spangler’s appearance at Winston had the fans buzzing. Spangler’s season also has been top notch with wins at Thunderbird and I-96 Speedway recently. Twenty-one Late Models took to the track for the green flag. On the start Eddie Reyes was the early leader but it was Nelson who quickly moved to the point with a high side pass. Elex Leyton also powered his way to second only to see his hopes for a win dashed with mechanical failure on lap seven. It was obvious to fans that when all was said and done it was going to be Spangler or Nelson in the winner’s circle. Spangler had moved his way from his seventh place starting position to second by lap eight making passes high and low on the racetrack. With four laps to go a caution flag put the fans on the edge of their seats for the finish. On the final restart Nelson chose the high line and Spangler battled in the low line of the racetrack. When the checkered flag was waved Nelson had won his fifth feature at Winston. Spangler’s strong second place finish showed why he is one of the best Late Model drivers in the state of Michigan. The race for third was won by Tom Sprague Jr. over Kevin Nelson Jr and Rich Neiser. Heat Race honors were taken by Scott Wenell and Spangler. Brian McQueen’s absence from racing for four years did not show as he was clocked as the fastest Late Model in Time Trials. Spangler took home Dash event honors.
The Sportsman Division continues to provide great racing. Two and three abreast racing saw Mike Lynn battle his way to the front and hold off Mike Welch and Jamie Gilmore for his second Feature win of the season. Joe Near and Mike Peterson rounded out the top five. Bud Steinman took the checkered flag for the Heat race. Mike Peterson took home Qualifying honors. Greg Smith won the Dash.
The Bomber Division continues to be the most even leveled playing field. Another first time winner makes this division have only one two time winner this season. Kyle Borgman started his season with nothing but heartache. The seventeen-year-old driver suffered through two blown motors. Tonight his luck would change. After an inversion draw put his #72 Camaro on the outside pole Borgman was on a mission. Borgman was able to lead every lap and take the win. Stan Dodds chased Borgman to a second place finish. Mike Epllett and Jerry Fairchild each moved up six spots to capture the third and fourth place positions. Jamie Woodring completed the top five. Sadie Klien and Woodring were the Heat Race winners. Epplett won the Dash event. Fairchild tripped the clock as the fastest Bomber in Time Trials.
Former Mini Stock track champion Luke Near let the rest of the field know that he can still turn the wheel. Near won every event of the night including the Dash, Heat, Qualifying and Main events. In the Main event Near started deep in the field but yet was able to grab the lead on lap six of the twelve lap main event. Near proceeded to pull away and pick up his first feature win in only his second appearance this season at Winston. Runner-up honors went to Mark Farber followed by Zak Rounds, Carl McCann, and Nathan Tarte.
Friday June 9th Winston Motor Speedway will host the Sprints on Dirt Series. If you want to see the fastest laps of the season mark your calendars. You will not want to miss it. Five other divisions (No Late Models) of racing will also be there to entertain the fans. For the best in Family Entertainment along the Lakeshore make your way to Winston Motor Speedway.
