John Lowe "Sprints" His Way to Victory at Winston Speedway

Friday, July 18
John Lowe "Sprints" His Way to Victory at Winston Speedway

Drivers can always tell you where and when they picked up their first main event win. For one Michigan Traditional Sprint Car Series driver he will remember Friday July 20th, 2007 and Winston Speedway. After nearly an hour and numerous cautions including a red flag John Lowe found him self on the front stretch celebrating his first sprint car win of his career.

The Michigan Traditional Sprint Car Series started their main event four different times before the first lap was taken off the record book. The longest stop in racing action happened when Muskegon driver Nate Bostrom rode up on top of another competitors wheel on the front stretch. Bostrom’s car flipped and twisted with a hard impact right in front of the stands. Bostrom’s hit was so hard his fuel cell came loose from his racecar. Bostrom was able to exit his car very gingerly on his own, but was taken by ambulance for further evaluation. When racing action resumed it looked like Mike Astrouskas was going to lead from start to finish from his pole starting position. Astrouskas set a torrid pace on the low groove of the track while John Lowe and Nick Landon kept working the high groove. As laps wound down fans witnessed Lowe’s and Landon’s efforts come to life. With six laps to go Lowe, Astrouskas and Landon had the fans on their feet as they came out of turn two three abreast. By the time they completed the lap Astrouskas had fallen from first to third and Lowe and Landon were racing side by side. Lowe finally gained a comfortable lead with three laps to go. Landon’s effort to grab the point away from Lowe resulted with him sliding to the top of the track in turn two on the white flag lap. Landon’s error cost him as Astrouskas took advantage grabbing the runner-up spot. Landon settled for third. Steve Irwin was fourth followed by Tim Evilizer. Heat Race winners were Steve Irwin and Mike Astrouskas.

Many of the Integra Racing Shocks and Springs UMP Modified drivers have to be scratching their heads. It seems every week Andy Sprague and John McCaul are out front racing for the win by nights end. Tonight was no different. Sprague started on the outside front row with McCaul right behind. Sprague made his way to the point quickly on the high groove while McCaul cleared traffic and jumped to the low groove. With eight laps to go Sprague came out of turn four deciding to change his racing line. Coming down the front stretch McCaul and Sprague made contact with each other all the way past the grandstands. The resulting contact left Sprague spinning and McCaul being sent to the rear after the yellow flag was waved. Sprague held onto the lead for two more caution restarts to pick up his sixth feature win at Winston. Greg Smith continues to show his poise in his rookie Modified season coming from his tenth place starting position to finish second. Steve McClees was third followed by Derek Poland and Jeremy Holman. After his mishap racing for the win Points Leader McCaul charged his way from the rear of the field to finish eleventh. Heat Races were won by Smith and Randy Whitten. Sprague Swept the Qualifying and Dash events.

The Port City Racing Sportsman division saw their part of the race program cut short. A 30-minute red flag caution in the Sprint car race main event along with a lengthy Factory Stock feature were the main culprits for Winston reaching its 11:30 PM curfew. The Sportsman division will run two features on Friday July 27th. In Heat race action Stan Dodds and Rob Sternberg took wins. Sternberg also claimed Dash event honors.

It the Factory stock division Jerry Fairchild held off a hard charging Robert Erickson to claim his first main event win of 2007. Fairchild started on the outside pole and stayed there for the entire fifteen lap event. After eight cautions, a red flag for a roll over and nearly 50 minutes Fairchild had his photo taken in the Port City Racing victory lane. Jamie Lorenz, Tony Weinrick and Tim Epplett rounded out the top five. Weinrick, Erickson, and Derek Passenier won Heat races. Erickson claimed the Dash event.

Luke Near showed fans why he was a three- time track champion in the Mini Stocks at the turn of the century. Near has only raced part time since 2004 but he has not lost his touch. The Rothbury native swept every event in the Sprague’s Auto Parts Mini Stock Division claiming wins in the Dash, Heat Race and Main event. Carl McCann raced his way to second in the feature followed by Don Keech, Don England and April Spriggs.

The Young Gun division continues to see their drivers get better each week. CJ Rector in particular has found himself up to speed. After starting the season late Rector has been on a terror the last month. For the third time in four weeks Rector raced his way to the win. Andrew Bartoszek was second followed by Glen Parker, Seth Moody and Eric Harrald.

Next Friday July 27th is Mittler Welding Supplies Night. All six Winston Speedway divisions will be back in action. All of the racing divisions have tight point battles. Who will rise to the top and claim the 2007 Track championship? For the Best in Family Entertainment along the Lakeshore make your way to Winston Speedway.