Friday, June 23, 2006
Smith and Epplett Take Home the Hardware at Winston Motor Speedway
Winston Motor Speedway continued their run of Mid-season Championship races on Friday, June 23rd. The Sportsman and Bombers divisions were the headliners for the evening racing for trophies and summer bragging rights. A veteran in the Sportsman Division showed why he already has five track championships at Winston while a young gun in the Bomber division continues to stay at the top of the point stands with his aggressive style.The Sportsman Division for the last five years can be summed up with one name, Greg Smith. The quiet, mild mannered Smith does all of his talking with his right foot. Drivers in the Sportsman Division cannot wait for the day that Smith makes the move to a higher division. Smith’s Sportsman class dominance is reaching its fifth season. Smith started on the pole position based upon his top spot in the point standings. When the first caution flew on lap six Smith had already a fifteen-car length lead over second place runner Mike Lynn. No other caution flags were waved the rest of the race. Smith put an exclamation point on his 6th win of the season beating Lynn to the line by five car lengths. Chad Weinrick edged Mike Welch for third after the two had swapped the position on four different occasions. Jeremy Holman made an impressive run to the fifth position after starting last. Heats were won Bud Steinman and Welch. Lynn was the fastest in Time Trials. Smith won the Dash event.The Bomber Division continues to bring excitement in many forms to the fans of Winston Motor Speedway. This division has provided some of the most heated competition so far this season. The Bombers did not disappoint their fans. On the parade lap of their 20 lap Mid-Season Championship race front row starter Jerry Fairchild had his tire flattened by pole sitter and Points leader Mike Epplett as he swerved back in forth to heat up his tires. Track officials immediately Red Flagged the field while Fairchild made his way to the pits to get his tire changed and return to the starting position he had earned based upon the Point standings. When the field finally went to green all eyes were up front. Heading into turn one Epplett proved that eight tires are better than four as he put a power slide into Fairchild through turns one and two. Epplett came out in front coming out of turn two while Fairchild fell back in the field. Stan Dodds and Sadie Klien quickly moved to the second and third positions. A caution on lap seven for Justin Gilland’s encounter with the front stretch wall brought out a caution and reset the field. On the restart Epplett and Dodds battled for the top spot. Oakridge High School classmates Sadie Klien and Kyle Borgman also were putting on a great show for the fans in their effort to capture third. As laps wound down racing throughout the field was two and three abreast. With two laps to go Dodds made his way under Epplett in turn three only to see Epplett change his line to protect his lead pinching Dodds to the lowest part of the track. Epplett did everything in his power to protect his lead. At the finish line Epplett held Dodds off by a half car length for his third feature win of the season. Sadie Klien’s drive for the third position was just as close as she edged Borgman by a fender. Nate Walton rounded out the top five. Heats were won by Justin Gilmore, Eric Wadkins, and Borgman. Klien was the Dash event winner. Borgman was the fastest in Qualifying.Late Model driver Kevin Nelson continues to be pretty selfish when it come to victory circle at Winston Motor Speedway. Nelson did not let his fifth place starting position put a damper on his night. By lap four Nelson made his way by then leader Rob Taylor and put on a clinic. Nelson continues to have the rest of the Late Model drivers at Winston scratching their heads as he dominated the rest of the way to pick up his seventh feature event in nine tries. Tom Sprague Jr moved from his seventh place starting position to the runner-up position in a strong effort. Tom Dusen finished third and maintained his spot in the point standings with a car loaned to him by Jim Fairbanks for the night while his power plant is getting fixed. Rob Taylor and Matt Pickard completed the top five. The Father/Son duo of Fred and Scott Wenell won Heat races along with Sprague. Fred Wenell was also credited with the win of the “B” Feature after the four transfer spots into the “A” main. Tim Stott took Dash event honors. Dusen tripped the clock as the fastest Late Model in Time Trials.Michigan Modified driver John McCaul has had an up and down season based upon his previous two Championships seasons. McCaul hopes to turn his season around. He made great strides tonight with a Heat race win and a Feature win. McCaul led every lap of both races. In the Feature event Rich Neiser chased McCaul to a second place finish ahead of Mike Wilbern, Ray Wiggers and Derek Poland. Scott Presley was the fastest Qualifier. Poland won the Dash race.Zak Rounds won in impressive fashion in the Mini Stock Division. Starting up front Rounds was able to fend off the challenges of Brad Bates, Carl McCann, Mark Farber, and Jared Guinn to pick up his first win of the season. Rounds also won the Heat Race. Bates won the Dash event. McCann took home Time Trial honors.It was just a matter of time before Young Gun Driver Blake Meyering made a sweep of his divisions events. Meyering has been dominating all season long. Tonight was no different as Meyering took home his seventh feature win of the season and won the Dash, Heat Race and Qualifying events. Eric Harrald, Kiley Kennedy, Andrew Bartoszek, and Corey Davis rounded out the finishers.Next Friday night June 30th will again have all six divisions running. A fireworks show will also highlight the night’s events. For the best in Family Entertainment along the Lakeshore make your way to Winston Motor Speedway.
