Friday, July 21, 2006
Reyes and Weinrick Garner Wins at Winston Motor Speedway
It was “Kids Night” and “Fan Appreciation Night” at Winston Motor Speedway on Friday July 21st. Families came out to see great racing and children received gifts from local merchants, drivers, crewmembers and fans. It was Christmas in July. Every child walked away with something, including bicycles, Toys, and T-shirts. Children also had the chance to get autographs and photos from their favorite drivers on the front stretch an hour before the race program began. In racing action two dominate race leaders saw checkered flags taken away because of mechanical failures. Fans also were treated in witnessing two first time winners this season in the Late Model and Bomber divisions.
Kevin Nelson looked to keep his name at the top of the point standings in the Late Model division. For all but two laps Nelson held the point with Eddie Reyes chasing him from the runner-up spot. The unthinkable happened as Nelson drove down the backstretch coming for the white flag. A puff of smoke out of his #17 saw his car coast into turn three and bring out a caution. Nelson’s night was over and Reyes was now in the lead. With two laps left Reyes was able to hold off Brain McQueen who had charged his way to the front from his 9th place starting position. It was Reyes first main event win of the 2006 season at Winston Motor Speedway. Tom Sprague Jr., Tim Stott and Rich Neiser. The Heat race winners were Stott and Reyes. Kevin Nelson Jr won the Australian Pursuit event.
In the Michigan Modifieds cautions were the theme of the night. Eight times the yellow flag flew to reset the field. When the Main event reached the half waypoint Andy Sprague was dominating the field. Unfortunately his demise came the same way as Late Model driver Kevin Nelson. A puff of smoke out of #18 saw his car come to a rest in the infield. The lead was handed to Rich Neiser, but the man on the move was Mike Wilbern. Starting from the seventh position Wilbern sliced and diced his way to Neiser’s door with two laps to go. On the white flag lap Wilbern completed his mission with an inside pass down the front stretch. Wilbern’s win was his fifth of the season and will keep him at the top of the point standings. Neiser finished second. Nate Bostrom’s charge out of turn four saw him edge Ray Wiggers by a foot at the finish line to capture third. Derek Poland rounded out the top five. Julie Taylor and Sprague won heat races. Wilbern won the Australian Pursuit.
Sportsman drivers Greg Smith and Mike Lynn have been the two top drivers of late in this very tough class. The two drivers had the fans on their feet again this week in a close finish. Smith led the first ten laps of the main event. Out of nowhere Lynn had pulled door to door with the leader with five laps to go. A caution flag with two laps to go played into Smith’s hands. A single file restart gave Smith the edge he needed. Smith was able to hold onto pick up his seventh win of the season. Lynn was second followed by Chad Weinrick, Mike Anderson and Bud Steinman. Tom Sprague sported his 1957 Chevy to a Heat Race win. Smith was the winner of the Fast Heat. Weinrick won the Australian Pursuit.
In the Bomber Division Tony Weinrick has shown that he is going to be a force to be reckoned with the second half of the season. Weinrick started on the pole, but left no doubt in anyone’s mind that he was the fastest Bomber on the night. Weinrick led every lap to pick up his first Feature win of the season. Mike Epplett, Jerry Fairchild, Tim Jeffries and Stan Dodds completed the top five. Heats were won by Weinrick and Fairchild. Dodds took Australian Pursuit honors.
In the Mini Stocks Mark Farber led every lap to take his fifth feature win of the season. Carl McCann was second followed by Zak Rounds and Brad Bates. McCann won the Heat Race.
In the Young Gun Division Blake Meyering bested the eight-car field to win his tenth Main event of the season. Tyler Wagner backed up his Heat Race win with a strong second place finish. Kiley Kennedy, Jordon Praay and Corey Davis rounded out the top five.
The Winston Motor Speedway racing family would like to thank all the volunteers, businesses, drivers and fans for making the 2006 “Kids Night” a success. There is nothing more special than seeing smiles and hearing laughter from children. Six classes of racing will be back in action next Friday night July 28th. For the best in Family entertainment along the Lakeshore make your way to Winston Motor Speedway.
