Woodard Wins Factory Stock Invitational at Winston Speedway

Friday, August 10
Woodard Wins Factory Stock Invitational at Winston Speedway

The Port City Racing and Integra Racing Shocks and Springs Factory Stock Invitational highlighted the Friday night race program on August 10th at Winston Speedway. The night could have been called “Band of Brothers” night as two brothers battled for a division leading fifth win in the Sportsman division and another brother loaned his car to his sibling to win the Factory Stock Invitational. Ninety-seven racecars entertained the fans on a track that provided two and three abreast racing.

The center of attention of the night was on the 25 lap, $400 to win Factory Stock Invitational. Kurt Woodard started on the pole and looked to dominate early. Only a caution on lap seven slowed Woodard. On the restart Woodard maintained a commanding lead. Fans watched battles all over the track but there was one car that stood out. Jerry Fairchild was on a mission as he worked his way from his eighth place starting spot. Racing on the high side of the track Fairchild patiently made his way to second with ten laps to go. With five laps to go Woodard and Fairchild showed who were the class of the field by outdistancing their nearest competitors by over ten car lengths. The crowd was brought to their feet as Fairchild closed what seemed an impossible lead to rear of Woodard’s bumper. On the last lap Fairchild made an inside move going through turns one and two. With Fairchild pulling to the door of Woodard down the backstretch Tony Weinrick and Chuck Smith made contact on the frontstrech resulting with Weinrick resting along the wall and setting up a one-lap shoot out. On the restart Woodard did a great job of staying in the middle groove. Fairchild’s last-ditch effort at the flagstand came up a little short as he settled for second. Woodard normally drives in the Sportsman division, but when his little brother Kyle asked him to drive his car tonight he did not hesitate. The entire Woodard family has reason to celebrate their $400 winners share. After battling for the lead early Brad Bates completed his run with a solid third place finish. Tim Epplett raced his way through the consolation feature to garner a fourth place. Veteran racer Scott Varney completed the top five. Besides Epplett, Matt Haight, Al TenBrink, Derek Passenier and Frank Harris earned transfer spot in the Consolation Feature. Rafeal Moreno was credited with the Consolation win. Heat races winners were Troy Marciniak, Joe Ferrier, and Chuck Smith.

2006 Late Model Champion Kevin Nelson continues to battle the bad luck bug while points leader Tom Sprague Jr is on the top of his game. Sprague tripped the clock as the fastest Integra Racing Shocks and Springs Late Model. Sprague then proceeded to draw the one chip out of the can for the second week in a row. Nelson was placed to his right on the front row and immediately put his car in the lead. Running on the top edge of the track Nelson looked well on his way to a win when he slipped off from turn two. Nelson was placed to the rear and Sprague was placed at the point. Sprague did not let Nelson’s misfortune damper his efforts. Sprague went onto win his forth Main event of the season, and his third in a row. Rich Neiser raced his way into the second spot followed by Tom Dusen, Rob Taylor and Matt Pickard. Heat Race winners were Eddie Reyes and Kevin Nelson Jr.

After a 2006 season in which Mike Wilbern dominated in winning a track and state points titles, it would be and understatement to say his 2007 season has been a struggle. Wilbern’s season has been filled with broken parts and being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Tonight that changed as Wilbern started up front in the 23-car field and stayed there for all twenty laps. Wilbern’s win was his second of the season. The race for second was entertaining as three different drivers shared the spot. The final turn saw Andy Spargue hold onto second place over Greg Smith, Rich Neiser and Derek Poland. Winners of Heat races were, Jeremy Holman, Fran Couch, and Rich Neiser.

The Port City Racing Sportsman division continues to be a playground for the Sternberg brothers. Both Rob and Ralph Sternberg entered the night with four main event wins under their belt. Both would lead laps tonight but Rob’s pass of Ralph on lap seven turned out to be the pass for the win. Dan Wilson made his first visit to Winston Speedway a strong one. Wilson was able to make his way by Ralph Stenberg on the last lap to finish second. Kyle Borgman and Mike Anderson completed the top five. Borgman and Harvey Gould won Heat races.

Luke Near continued his dominance as of late in the Sprague’s Auto Parts Mini Stock division. Near won both the Main event and Heat races. Near’s Main Event win was another standout effort as head led every single lap. Don Keech was second followed by April Spriggs, John Foss and Adam Spencer.

CJ Rector wishes he had started the season on opening night. At his present pace he would definitely be the Points leader. Rector has been the class of the field in the Young Gun division over the last 6 weeks picking up his fourth Main event win. Rector also won the Heat race. Andrew Bartozsek raced his way to second in the main event followed by Seth Moody, Glen Parker and Eric Harrald.

Friday August 17th will be the Sportsman and UMP Modified Season Championship races. All six divisions of racing will be back in full force. The Season is winding down but the action is heating up. The race for track championship titles is on the line. For the best in Family Entertainment along the Lakeshore make your way to Winston Speedway.

Circle track racing no drag for Heskett

Thursday, August 09, 2007
By Scott Brandenburg
Chronicle correspondent

C.J. Heskett has made the move from drag racing to circle track racing and he isn't looking back.

Heskett, a 34-year-old Muskegon resident, had been a fixture on the local drag racing circuit for half his life before calling it quits.

At the end of last year an opportunity to try something new -- circle tracks -- presented itself and Heskett has been hooked ever since.

"I just got burned out on drag racing," said Heskett. "For the most part it's you racing against the clock and yourself and it's 10 seconds and you go into the pit and wait until your next 10 seconds.

"On the circle track you get to race against yourself and 15-20 other racers every time and I like that."

Even though the love of his new sport has blossomed quickly Heskett's execution on the dirt hasn't morphed overnight.

Heskett's best finish at either Winston Motor Speedway or Thunderbird Race Park is ninth this season and the adapting process has been slowed by a lack of race time for the Orchard View graduate.

"We started really late this season and then I messed my knee up and had to get that taken care of," said Heskett, who plans on competing again at Winston Friday. "I've only had 13 or 14 feature races this season and I really need the time behind the wheel to get better. I'm getting there though."

Last year Heskett was talking to John Hammerle about how Hammerle had a car no one was driving.

Pretty soon Heskett and Hammerle, who works at J. and J. Machine, came to the conclusion they'd give racing with the 2002 Masters Built car powered by Ford a try.

Since then the team, which is helped by Fran Couch, has put it's time and energy into getting the Late Model car to race as well as possible.

"We've still got a ways to go," said Heskett. We can definitely get more out of the car and I'm still learning. I learn a lot just by watching these guys and trying to do what they do."

The No. 5 car has had its moments this season, turning in the fastest time once and coming close several times.

Heskett knows a top 5 finish could be possible but he doesn't want to speculate.

Once the experience is in place Heskett hopes there will be nothing holding him back."

......and they walked away

Sunday, August 5

Sportsman drivers #16 Cody Weisner and #55 Harvey Gould had a violent crash Friday August 3rd. Gould hit Weisner at almost full speed right in front of the flagstand causing his car to clip another car and fliping his. Both Drivers walked away much to the awe and delight of the fans