Friday, May 11
Dusen “Wows” them at Winston Speedway
Winston Speedway fans were treated to the best Late Model race of the season and possibly the best race ever at Winston. The Late Model Main event saw a driver go from his sixteenth position starting spot to take lead and the win in the last 100 feet. There was not a fan in the stands that was not on their feet. The last three laps of this race were worth the price of admission.With the father/son tandem of Kevin Nelson and Kevin Nelson Jr on the front row for the start of the Late Model main event, not many fans gave anyone else a chance for the win. The Nelson’s have a lot of laps around Winston with a lot of success. At the start of the race they did not disappoint as they raced side-by-side swapping the lead 4 times in the first 12 laps. While the Nelson’s battled up front Matt Pickard and Elex Leyton were also in a heated battle for third. Leyton managed to get to the third spot on lap 10 and found himself in second after Nelson Jr slid off the top of the track in turn two. Nelson Jr would exit the track a lap later. Leyton continued his charge to the front taking the lead from Nelson with three to go. What Nelson and Leyton did not know was their toughest challenge of the night was yet to come. The fans that focused their attention on Tom Dusen saw one of the best efforts ever in a Late Model. After starting sixteenth Dusen skillfully worked the high side groove. With three laps to go you could have thrown a blanket over Leyton, Nelson and Dusen. With two laps to go Dusen edged his way by Nelson at the line. When the white flag waved for Leyton, little did he know when he was going to finish third. Dusen made his final move of the night coming off from turn two when he pulled even with Leyton. As they entered turn three Dusen made his final pass of the night. Dusen would lead one lap; the most important one. Nelson followed Dusen in tow and edged Leyton by a bumper. Dusen’s win was very rewarding. He spent the first three weeks of the season racing a car that he had passed down to his son because he blew a motor during test and tune. Tonight Dusen was very happy to be back in his own car, and boy did it show. Matt Pickard and Bob Finley rounded out the top five. Heat races were won by Roger Brooks, Dusen and Nelson Jr. The transfer spots in the “B” feature were earned by Dean Huizenga and Wagner. Ken Lynn would be credited with the “B” Main win. Nelson was the Quick Qualifier on the night in a time of 16.242 seconds.
The Modified division saw a rookie driver make his way to victory lane. It only took Greg Smith four weeks to show that he will be a force to be reckoned with in this open wheel division. Smith is a five-time track champion of the Sportsman division and is proving early that he belongs in the ultra tough modified class. Smith used his inside starting position in the second row to make early passes of Scott Presley and Derek Poland. From lap four until the checkered flag was waved Smith used the low line hitting all of his marks to lead the rest of the way. Rich Neiser charged his way to the second spot followed by Andy Sprague, John McCaul and Dan Dykman. Neiser and Dykman earned Heat race wins. John McCaul swept the Dash and Time Trial events.
The Sportsman division continues to be a brotherly affair. Rob and Ralph Sternberg were the stars of the night in this division. Early in the evening it was Ralph who shined winning the Dash and a Heat race. In the Sportsman main event Ralph led early but it was brother Rob who garnered top honors at the end of the night. With seven laps to go Rob Sternberg used a great restart after a caution to make his way by Jamie Gilmore and his brother to take the top spot. Once out front Rob Sternberg pulled away to take the win and even the score with his brother for feature wins. They both now have one. Gilmore also had a great race as he was able to edge Heat race winner Mike Welch and Ralph Sternberg for the second spot. Chad Weinrick completed the top five.
The Bomber division saw veteran driver Tim Epplett make his way to the front on lap four and never look back. Epplett’s win was by almost half the track after starting from the sixth position. Jamie Lorenze, Devin Vanderstelt, Robert Erickson, and Joe Ferrier rounded out the top five. Erickson won both the Dash and Heat race events.Luke Near earned his second feature win of the season in the Mini Stock division. Near drove his way to the lead on lap four of their twelve-lap event and never relinquished it. Carl McCann and Don Keech battled each other hard the whole race before McCann had the final say on the last lap. Nate Tarte and Aprill Spriggs completed the top five.
In the Young Gun Division Glen Parker swept the feature and heat race events. Seth Moody won the Dash.Friday May 18th Winston Speedway will return with six classes of exciting racing. Saturday May 19th Mudd Drags will entertain area fans and then on Sunday May 20th Mudd Boggs will make their way to Winston. For the best in Family Entertainment along the Lakeshore make your way to Winston Speedway.
