Thursday, July 19
Turning up the heat - #20 Chad WeinrickTurning up the heat
Scott Brandenburg Chronicle correspondent
Three years ago, Chad Weinrick wasn't even on the local auto racing radar. Today, the Twin Lake resident has his name listed with some of the top local racing drivers in the nation. In just his second full season of racing, Weinrick has raced well enough to move into the top five in the nation in the UMP points standings for the Sportsman class. Despite a relative lack of experience, Weinrick has his sights set high for the remainder of the season as well. "I'd love to win the points race nationally," said Weinrick. "That's what I'm shooting for. I think I can do it."
The national points winner will be awarded to the person who accumulates the most points out of 25 feature races. If a driver competes in more than 25, only the best 25 will be counted. Weinrick is having such a steady season at both Winston Motor Speedway and Thunderbird Raceway that he has totaled the fourth-best total in points in the nation at 1,343 -- only 138 behind leader Greg Kimmons of Illinois.
According to Weinrick, he isn't worried too much about catching Kimmons because there's several tracks to choose from around the Chicago area and Kimmons' likely has more races finished than he does. In fact, the top three in the standings are from Illinois. Weinrick is also leading the way at Winston with 611 points in the Sportsman series, 10 points ahead of Ralph Sternberg. "The first thing I think about when I get in the car and start driving is getting to the front," said the 34-year-old Orchard View graduate. "I'm very aggressive when it comes to trying to move up." Turning up the heat For several years, Weinrick's race of choice was drag racing. However, three years ago he traded his dragster to his friend Dean Wilkerson for a race car and competed for half a season in the Bombers class.
Weinrick immediately decided he wanted to move up and bought a 2006 Monte Carlo, which looks more like the Winston Cup cars than what many local competitors drive. He's looked awfully comfortable in his No. 20 car ever since. Last year, Weinrick won the Mid-Michigan points series and finished runner-up at Winston. This year could be even better. "I'm having a blast," said Weinrick. "Everything's been going great and I got a lot of people rooting me on and helping me out and a very supportive family.
I'd like to thank my wife, Christy, for being so understanding." C.J. Heskett's the engine builder behind the Weinrick team, Fran Couch helps work on the car and Brandon Olsen serves as the crew chief. Together, the team, which has sponsors from Vor-tech Heating and Cooling, Four Seasons Home Crafters, Fairfield Dentral, Old Clover Bar and Mossy Oak Builders, is speeding toward a possible points title. So far, Weinrick has three feature wins -- two at Winston and one at Thunderbird. His best race may have been in this past Saturday's 75-lap Quad Memorial at Thunderbird. In that race, Weinrick started 15th, sat in 20th at the halfway point and roared back to take third. "I cleaned the radiator off and they made me go to the back of the pack," said Weinrick. "It helped though. "I can't really explain how I've done so well so quickly. Things have just clicked."
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
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.
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.
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