Friday, June 27
Taylor, Gilmore and McCann Win at Winston Speedway
Winston Speedway fans saw two drivers make it into victory lane for the first time this season and also witnessed one diver win two main events on the night. The weather was perfect for another great crowd and the 85 drivers who entertained them Friday June 29th.
Nineteen cars were on hand in the Integra Shocks and Springs Late Model division to take the green flag for their main event. For five laps the front row of Rob Taylor and Tom Sprague Jr rode side by side. It was not until lap six that fans saw a clear leader in Taylor. The low side had gained bite and Taylor began to pull away. By lap ten Taylor was fighting his way through lapped traffic. All the stars aligned right for Taylor as he combined a fast car with a caution free main event. When he received the checkered flag runner-up Sprague Jr was twenty car lengths behind. The win was Taylor’s first main event win of the season. Matt Pickard, Tom Dusen and Kevin Nelson rounded out the top five. John McDonald and Nelson won heat races. Taylor was the quickest in Time Trials with a time of 15.647 seconds around the 3/8ths mile oval of Winston Speedway.
UMP Modified driver John McCaul continued his strong hold on the top of the Point Standings. Starting seventh McCaul was able to track down leader Rich Neiser on lap seven and pass him on the front stretch on lap eight. From there McCaul was untouchable. Andy Sprague muscled his way by Neiser entering lapped traffic with four laps to go to gain the runner-up spot. Neiser held onto third over Greg Smith and Derek Poland. Sprague and Tim Tuttle won Heat races. McCaul was the quick qualifier.
In the Port City Racing Sportsman division Jamie Gilmore found himself on the point after pole sitter Mike Peterson brought out the caution with a spin in turn two. Gilmore had been applying pressure to Peterson at the time and proved it was not if he was going to be the leader but when was he going to be the leader. Gilmore has been steady all season long but tonight once he was out front he was not going to be caught. Gilmore was the winner by ten-car lengths when the checkered flag was waved. The Main event win was the first of the season for Gilmore. Points Leader Chad Weinrick showed his strength by coming from eighth to second. Bob Shirk, Mike Wiseman and Ralph Sternberg completed the top five. Sternberg and Stan Dodds won Heat Races.
Factory Stock driver Jamie Lorenz continued his winning ways. After a tough loss in the mid-season championship race last Friday night Lorenz again proved why he is at the top of the point standings. Lorenz led every lap of their fifteen lap main event to win his fourth feature event of the season. Tim Epplett held off a hard charging Jerry Fairchild for the second spot. Duane Townsend and Devin Vanderstelt were credited with fourth and fifth place after two drivers were docked positions for jumping restarts during the race. Frank Harris and Fairchild won Heat Races.
It is not to often a driver has bragging rights of winning two features in one night. Sprague's Auto Parts Mini Stock driver Carl McCann did exactly that. McCann went from sixth to first on lap one of their make-up Mid Season Championship. Once out front McCann hit all of his marks and took home Trophy honors. Don Keech was second followed by April Spriggs, Jerry Meyering and Don England. The second Mini Stock feature of the night again saw McCann flex his muscle. This time Keech was glued to his bumper for most of the event but was not able to make the pass. April Spriggs again finished third followed by Don England and Randy Larabee. Spriggs was the Heat Race Winner.
Next weekend Winston Speedway is packed full of entertainment. Friday night July 6th Port City Racing will be sponsoring an Invitational for the Sportsman Division along with our regular racing division action. Saturday night the Lakeshore Demolition Derby Association will be holding their third event of the summer. Both Friday and Saturday programs will also be highlighted with “July 4th” Fireworks. For the best in family entertainment along the Lakeshore make your way to Winston Speedway.
