Sprague, Sternberg and Rector Take Home Trophy Honors

Friday, August 15
Sprague, Sternberg and Rector Take Home Trophy Honors

It was the start of Season Championship races at Winston Speedway on Friday August 17th. The UMP Modified, Sportsman, and Young Gun Divisions were the focus divisions of the night. Five-foot trophies, bragging rights and an increased pay off had drivers pushing their cars to the limit.


In the Integra Racing Shocks and Springs UMP Modified Division Andy Sprague entered the evening as the Points Leader for the first time this season. Sprague’s three-point advantage over John McCaul placed him on the pole for the start of their Season Championship race. All season these two drivers have shared the spot light. Most nights Sprague and McCaul were nose to tail for a win. That changed tonight as Sprague made a mockery of the rest of the field winning by almost a half-track. McCaul will stay on the heals of Sprague in the Points chase as he finished second over Greg Smith, Rich Neiser and Mike Wilbern. James Peery and Wilbern were Heat Race Winners. Sprague was the Fastest Modified in Qualifying.


It was Ralph Sternberg who entered the night at the top of the Point Standings for the Port City Racing Sportsman division Championship race, but it was his brother Rob Sternberg who left with all the accolades for the evening. Starting in the fifth position Rob Sternberg made his way to the front and beside his brother on lap two. By Lap three the brothers were swapping paint coming out of turn two for the lead. On lap four Rob Sternberg muscled his way inside of his sibling and grabbed the point. Once out front Rob Sternberg showed why he leads the Sportsman Division in Main event wins. Tonight he earned his sixth. An equally strong run was put on by runner-up Jamie Gilmore. The fact that Gilmore started eighth and charged to the front was impressive. More impressive was the fact that ten days prior Gilmore had two stints placed in his heart. Gilmore exemplified the phrase “You can’t be so afraid of dying that you are afraid to live”. Mike Anderson, Larry Passenier and Ralph Sternberg rounded out the top five. Passenier and Rob Sternberg won Heat Races.


The Sprague’s Auto Parts Young Gun Championship race also saw a driver win for the sixth time. A huge trophy had these 13-15 year old drivers racing fast and furious, but one driver continues to be the cream of the crop. Points Leader Seth Moody paced the field early but it was CJ Rector who the fans were watching charge his way to the front. Rector was able to make his way by Moody on lap four and never look back. The race for second was won by Moody over Andrew Bartoszek, Glen Parker and Eric Harrald. The Heat race was also won by Rector.


Late Model Driver Tom Sprague Jr continues to be the hottest driver in Winston’s top division. Sprague led every lap of the 25 lap main event. Sprague’s win made it five on the season at Winston and his fourth in a row. Sprague’s win tonight guarantees him a starting spot in the pole position for August 24ths Season Championship race and puts him in the drivers seat to win the 2007 Points Title. Tim Stott, Rich Neiser, Kevin Nelson Jr, and Rob Taylor completed the top five. Heat races provided some of the best action of the night as Eddie Reyes and Sprague Jr both captured checkered flags winning by less than a foot at the flagstand. Rob Taylor was the Fast Qualifier on the night.


The Factory Stock division had their fun doubled on the night with a make-up feature along with their regular main event. In the make-up feature from August 3rd Tony Weinrick led all 15 laps to take to the win. Jamie Lorenz, Brad Bates, Tim Epplett, and Justin Gilland rounded out the top five. In their second main event of the evening it was points Leader Tim Epplett leading the entire race and picking up his third Main event win of the season. Weinrick was second followed by Lorenz, Justin Gilmore, and Jerry Fairchild. Gilland, Bates and Fairchild all garnered Heat Race wins.


Don Keech was the best of class in the Mini Stock division. Keech swept both the Main Event and Heat Race events. John Foss was second in the Feature followed by Adam Spencer, Jerry Meyering, and Kyle Hulett.


Friday August 24th the Late Model, Factory Stock and Mini Stock Season Championship races headline the night’s events. Can Tom Sprague Jr win his fifth feature in a row in the Late Models? Can thirty-year racing veteran Tim Epplett win his first Points title in the Factory Stock? For answers to these questions, Winston Speedway is the place to be next Friday. For the best in Family Entertainment make your way to Winston Speedway.