Van Wormer Wins “Player Hater 50” at Winston Speedway

Friday, April 27 2007
Van Wormer Wins “Player Hater 50” at Winston Speedway

Winston Speedway fans witnessed some of the fastest laps ever turned in a Late Model Friday April 27th, 2007. The Integra Shocks & Springs” Player Hater” 50 Late Model Invitational was the highlight of the night’s events. Although top Late Model drivers across the state made up a 31 car field, there was clearly one Late Model driver who was the class of the field.Twenty four late models started the main event with a bang; literally. Five cautions in the first five laps saw eight cars leave the field. The most damaging in the early going was a 13 car pile up on the front stretch that took out 2006 Winston Speedway track champion Kevin Nelson and former Thunderbird Track Champion Eddie Reyes. The Red Flag was waved and clean up took just over 20 minutes. When racing resumed there was not doubt who was the driver to beat.When you looked over the star studded Late Model field you would never have envisioned such a dominating performance by one driver. With names like Grega, Spangler, Seaver, Olger, etc., no fans envisioned what they witnessed on this night. Jeep Van Wormer out of Pinconning, MI not only dominated the 50 lap event, he embarrassed the field. When the checkered flag was waved Van Wormer had lapped everyone in the field up to 4th place finisher Kurt Spalding. Spalding’s “Fast Qualifying” honors earlier in the evening are a good indication just how good Van Wormer was on this night. Van Wormer started on the pole position and led all 50 laps. Van Wormer’s 5th place qualifying time was a little misleading. Van Wormer was the last Late Model driver to arrive at Winston and turned his Qualifying laps after only a couple of hot laps. It would be his only misfortune of the night. The race for second was won by Rusty Seaver over Eric Spangler. Spalding and Tom Sprague Jr rounded out the top five. The second half of the top ten was made up of by Dave Hilliker, Troy Vanderveen, Kevin Nelson Jr, Rob Taylor and Rich Neiser. Heat Races were won by Neiser, Hilliker, Nelson, and Ricky Whipple. The transfer spots in the “B-Main was earned by Nelson Jr and Steve Zakarajsek. Elex Leyton was credited with the B- Main win. Spalding tripped the clock with a new Late Model track record of 13.889 to earn the $100 bonus from Integra Shocks & Springs.VanWormer not only did himself proud, he did Integra Racing Shocks proud. Van Wormer’s $1500 winners check was not the only one he received for his efforts. Because Van wormer was racing with “Integra Racing Shocks” he claimed additional bonuses of $500 for winning, $100 for leading half way and also received a brand new set of racing shocks from Integra.

In the Integra Racing Shocks & Springs UMP Modified division Andy Sprague and John McCaul battled from start to finish. Sprague was able top earn top honors after making a high side pass of McCaul on lap five after a restart. McCaul was relentless in his pursuit to gain back the lead but Sprague hit all his marks and went on to win the 20 lap main event. Dan Dykman, Steve Hilliker and Tim Tuttle rounded out the top five. Heat races were won by Brandon Tailpulus, Mike Wilbern, and Rich Neiser. The “B” Main transfer spots were earned by Randy Whitten, Fran couch, and Daryl Woodring. Brian Keister was credited with the win for the “B”Feature. Sprague won the Dash event and McCaul took Fast time honors with a Modified track record 14.496 second trip around Winston’s 3/8ths mile oval.

In the Port City Racing Sportsman division it was Oakridge High School senior Kyle Borgman taking his first win of the season. Borgman used his outside front row position to the fullest. After completing a pass of Mike Anderson on lap one, Borgman held off the charges of second place finisher Chad Weinrick and third place finisher Ralph Sternberg to take the win. Bud Steinman and Sadie Klien rounded out the top five. Heats were won by Steiman and Weinrick. Dash honors were also claimed by Weinrick.

The Port City Racing Bomber, Sprague Auto Parts Mini Stock and Young Gun division features were all delayed until next Friday because of Winston’s curfew. They will be running double features next week. These divisions did get their dash and heat race events in on the night. In the Bombers Jamie Lorenze and Robert Erickson were heat race winners. Tony Weinrick won the Dash event.

The Mini Stock heat race was won by Nate Tarte and their Dash event was won by Adam Spencer. Seth Moody picked up the Heat race win for the Young Guns and Eric Harrald took Dash honors.

Next weekend Friday May 4th will see all six divisions of Winston Speedway hit the track for more exciting racing. On Saturday May 5th fans will be treated to the first Lakeshore Demolition Derby of the season. For the Best in Family Entertainment along the Lakeshore make your way to Winston Speedway.