Friday, May 4
Matt Pickard Garners Top Honors at Winston Speedway
Friday May 4th Winston Speedway fans witnessed the coming of age by a Late Model driver who has been around the race scene since he was a toddler. The racing was great as much of the night saw two and three abreast battles all over the track. Fans were also treated to double features in the Bomber, Mini Stock and Young Gun division.
The Integra Racing Shocks & Springs Late Model division started 20 cars for their 25 lap main event. Front row starter Rich Neiser was the early leader. Nesier’s reign up front was challenged many times in the early going by the father/son duo of Kevin Nelson Jr and Kevin Nelson Sr. Neiser used the high line of the racetrack while the Nelson’s altered between the high and low lines swapping positions with each other many times throughout the event. It appeared that one of these three drivers would win, but somebody forgot to tell Matt Pickard that he was not experienced enough to pass these three veterans of the Late Model Division. Pickard started in the eighth position and committed himself to the bottom of the track. Pickard's patience found himself on the bumper of all three with seven laps to go. Nelson Jr was the first to see the rear of Pickard's Bumper. By lap five Pickard had moved his way by 2006 Track Champion Nelson Sr. and the 2005 Track Champion Neiser to take the top spot. Pickard maintained his lead up front after a late race caution and picked up his first Feature win of the season. Neiser was able to hold off Nelson Sr and Nelson Jr for the second spot after racing through turns three and four three abreast on the last lap. Shawn Reed rounded out the top five. Mick Latch and Nelson Sr took Heat race wins. Tom Sprague Jr was the Fast Qualifier of the night.
Fans of Winston Speedway and Thunderbird Race Park have watched Matt Pickard grow up. Pickard has been around the West Michigan race scene doing everything from selling racing papers in the stands to crewing for his father Mike and being a tag along crew member with Matt Sprague’s racing team. From the first time he jumped in a Bomber car fans new that Matt was going to be a great driver, they just did not know how soon it was going to be. Matt Pickard proved tonight that he has the ability to challenge for the 2007 Track championship. It is ironic it will be at the same track he was this little boy who was always asking questions and the first one who wanted to grab a wrench whether he new what he was doing or not. Look for more feature wins from Pickard this season.
The UMP Integra Shocks & Springs Modified division saw the return to victory lane by 2006 Modified Track Champion Mike Wilbern. An impressive run was made by Ninth place starter Rich Neiser. Neiser made his way to the front running the low line. Neiser was even able to lead lap fourteen before coming up on a lapped car that slowed his pace and took away his opportunity to challenge for the win. Wilbern consistently hit his marks throughout the event even under the heated pressure of Neiser to make his way to victory lane. John McCaul, Greg Smith and Andy Sprague completed the top five. Heat races were won by Julie Taylor and Neiser. Steve McClees was the Quick Qualifier of the night.
The Port City Racing Sportsman Division had a first lap caution that saw a five car pile up in turn two before they got one lap in the record books. Pole sitter and last weeks winner Kyle Borgman was part of the melee that took out David Flannery and Stan Dodds. On the complete restart it was very apparent that Borgman’s car was not the same as outside front row starter Ralph Sternberg pulled away from the field and cars stacked up behind Borgman. Once out front Sternberg was not going to be caught. Mike Welch battled to the second spot but was never able to seriously challenge Sternberg for the win. Chad Weinrick garnered the third spot. Borgman found a groove that his car liked to finish fourth. Mike Anderson rounded out the top five. Brothers, Rob Sterberg and Ralph Sternberg were the winners of the Heat races.
Not too many drivers can say they won two feature events in one night. Port City Racing Bomber driver Robert Erickson can now make that claim. In the make-up feature event from April 27th Erickson started on the outside pole and led every lap to take the win. Tony Weinrick chased him to a second place finish over Justin Gilland, Tim Epplett and Joe Ferrier. In tonight’s main event Erickson repeated his early evening feat again by leading every lap from his pole position to take the win. Jamie Lorenze showed his driving talents as he charged his way two second from the rear of the field. Tim Epplett, Derek Passenier, and Devin Vanderstelt completed the top five for the Bombers second main event of the night. Chad DeHaan and fourteen year old Justin Gilland picked up their first checkered flags of their career in the Heat races.
The Sprague’s Auto Parts Mini Stocks and Young Guns also had double features. The make up Mini Stock main event was won by Adam Spencer over Amanda Roland, Jerry Meyering, and Nate Tarte. Their second Feature was taken by April Spriggs. Spencer came home second followed by Meyering, Roland and Tarte. The Heat race was won by Spriggs. Young Gun Driver Seth Moody was able to take both main event wins for this 13 to 15 year old division. Moody beat Glen Parker, Eric Harrald and Andrew Bartoszek to the line to win their make up feature. Later Moody would do the same edging Harrld, Parker, Kiley Kenndy and Bartoszek for his second feature win of the night. Kiley Kennedy won the heat race.
Fans can look forward to another exciting night of racing on Friday May 11th. Winston Speedway’s six divisions will be back in full force providing the nights excitement. For the Best in Family Entertainment along the Lakeshore make your way to Winston Speedway.
Matt Pickard Garners Top Honors at Winston Speedway
Friday May 4th Winston Speedway fans witnessed the coming of age by a Late Model driver who has been around the race scene since he was a toddler. The racing was great as much of the night saw two and three abreast battles all over the track. Fans were also treated to double features in the Bomber, Mini Stock and Young Gun division.
The Integra Racing Shocks & Springs Late Model division started 20 cars for their 25 lap main event. Front row starter Rich Neiser was the early leader. Nesier’s reign up front was challenged many times in the early going by the father/son duo of Kevin Nelson Jr and Kevin Nelson Sr. Neiser used the high line of the racetrack while the Nelson’s altered between the high and low lines swapping positions with each other many times throughout the event. It appeared that one of these three drivers would win, but somebody forgot to tell Matt Pickard that he was not experienced enough to pass these three veterans of the Late Model Division. Pickard started in the eighth position and committed himself to the bottom of the track. Pickard's patience found himself on the bumper of all three with seven laps to go. Nelson Jr was the first to see the rear of Pickard's Bumper. By lap five Pickard had moved his way by 2006 Track Champion Nelson Sr. and the 2005 Track Champion Neiser to take the top spot. Pickard maintained his lead up front after a late race caution and picked up his first Feature win of the season. Neiser was able to hold off Nelson Sr and Nelson Jr for the second spot after racing through turns three and four three abreast on the last lap. Shawn Reed rounded out the top five. Mick Latch and Nelson Sr took Heat race wins. Tom Sprague Jr was the Fast Qualifier of the night.
Fans of Winston Speedway and Thunderbird Race Park have watched Matt Pickard grow up. Pickard has been around the West Michigan race scene doing everything from selling racing papers in the stands to crewing for his father Mike and being a tag along crew member with Matt Sprague’s racing team. From the first time he jumped in a Bomber car fans new that Matt was going to be a great driver, they just did not know how soon it was going to be. Matt Pickard proved tonight that he has the ability to challenge for the 2007 Track championship. It is ironic it will be at the same track he was this little boy who was always asking questions and the first one who wanted to grab a wrench whether he new what he was doing or not. Look for more feature wins from Pickard this season.
The UMP Integra Shocks & Springs Modified division saw the return to victory lane by 2006 Modified Track Champion Mike Wilbern. An impressive run was made by Ninth place starter Rich Neiser. Neiser made his way to the front running the low line. Neiser was even able to lead lap fourteen before coming up on a lapped car that slowed his pace and took away his opportunity to challenge for the win. Wilbern consistently hit his marks throughout the event even under the heated pressure of Neiser to make his way to victory lane. John McCaul, Greg Smith and Andy Sprague completed the top five. Heat races were won by Julie Taylor and Neiser. Steve McClees was the Quick Qualifier of the night.
The Port City Racing Sportsman Division had a first lap caution that saw a five car pile up in turn two before they got one lap in the record books. Pole sitter and last weeks winner Kyle Borgman was part of the melee that took out David Flannery and Stan Dodds. On the complete restart it was very apparent that Borgman’s car was not the same as outside front row starter Ralph Sternberg pulled away from the field and cars stacked up behind Borgman. Once out front Sternberg was not going to be caught. Mike Welch battled to the second spot but was never able to seriously challenge Sternberg for the win. Chad Weinrick garnered the third spot. Borgman found a groove that his car liked to finish fourth. Mike Anderson rounded out the top five. Brothers, Rob Sterberg and Ralph Sternberg were the winners of the Heat races.
Not too many drivers can say they won two feature events in one night. Port City Racing Bomber driver Robert Erickson can now make that claim. In the make-up feature event from April 27th Erickson started on the outside pole and led every lap to take the win. Tony Weinrick chased him to a second place finish over Justin Gilland, Tim Epplett and Joe Ferrier. In tonight’s main event Erickson repeated his early evening feat again by leading every lap from his pole position to take the win. Jamie Lorenze showed his driving talents as he charged his way two second from the rear of the field. Tim Epplett, Derek Passenier, and Devin Vanderstelt completed the top five for the Bombers second main event of the night. Chad DeHaan and fourteen year old Justin Gilland picked up their first checkered flags of their career in the Heat races.
The Sprague’s Auto Parts Mini Stocks and Young Guns also had double features. The make up Mini Stock main event was won by Adam Spencer over Amanda Roland, Jerry Meyering, and Nate Tarte. Their second Feature was taken by April Spriggs. Spencer came home second followed by Meyering, Roland and Tarte. The Heat race was won by Spriggs. Young Gun Driver Seth Moody was able to take both main event wins for this 13 to 15 year old division. Moody beat Glen Parker, Eric Harrald and Andrew Bartoszek to the line to win their make up feature. Later Moody would do the same edging Harrld, Parker, Kiley Kenndy and Bartoszek for his second feature win of the night. Kiley Kennedy won the heat race.
Fans can look forward to another exciting night of racing on Friday May 11th. Winston Speedway’s six divisions will be back in full force providing the nights excitement. For the Best in Family Entertainment along the Lakeshore make your way to Winston Speedway.
