Friday, August 28
Rutan "Flips" his way to Victory at Winston Speedway
Winston Speedway fans were treated to one of the most exciting finishes of the season when the ASCS Sprints on Dirt series visited Friday August 31st. It is a rarity to see the winner of a race bring out the red flag during an event. Ben Rutan managed to do both on Friday night winning the Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt main event. Rutan slid high on the last corner of the last lap and had his right rear tire tag the wall. Steve Irwin quickly gained on Rutan. Rather than lose the race, Rutan stood on the throttle and rode the wall entire down the front stretch and crossed the finish line flipping end over end and resting upside down.
Brett Mann and Irwin started on the front row for the 25-lap main event. Irwin jumped into the lead while Dustin Daggett and Mann battled. Daggett looked to be the class of the field as he powered his way to the front before a caution. After a caution Daggett’s restart was determined to be questionable after the field stacked up behind him causing damage to Mann who would have to exit the event with front-end damage. To the dismay of many fans Daggett was black flagged for not going to the rear of the field and his scoring card was pulled.
During the restart with just seven laps to go Rutan and Irwin raced side by side for the lead. Rutan eventually took the top spot when Irwin slipped off turn four. Rutan was coming out of turn four with the checkered flag in sight when he pounded the front stretch wall, allowing Irwin to catch up. Rutan then stood on the throttle and tumbled across the finish line.
The rest of the field did a remarkable job of avoiding Rutan in the middle groove of the front stretch. Nobody else was swept up in the incident. Rutan emerged from his car to a standing ovation from the ruckus capacity crowd. Victory lane ceremonies were conducted with Rutan’s car being lifted off the race track by the roll cage with heavy damage.
“The car didn’t feel right going into the corner,” said Rutan after the feature. “Then I ended up in the wall, and I could see (Irwin) there. So I just stood on the gas, and that’s when things got really wild.” The Main Event win was Rutan’s first of the 2007 season.
Rounding out the top five in “A” Main event were Gregg Dalman, Tim Norman, and Dain Naida. Heats were won by Dain, Rutan and Mann.
Fans were also treated to the Mini Stock and Factory Stock Season Championship races. Tim Epplett had earned the right to pace the Port City Racing Factory Stock main event with his lead in the point standings While the thirty year veteran ended up with a sixth place finish on the night, his steady runs resulted with him claiming the 2007 Factory Stock Season championship. Epplett’s season was special as he also picked up his first feature win of his career and later followed with two more main event wins. Janie Lorenz was winner of bragging rights and the night’s trophy. Lorenz entered the night second and points and was able to lead from start to finish. A hard charging Tony Weinrick was second. Robert Erickson, Bill Delong, and Justin Gilland completed the top five. Heat races were won by Delong, Erickson, and Joe Ferrier.
Don Keech turned fifty this week but that did not slow his efforts. Keech wrapped up the Spragues’s Auto Parts Mini Stock Division Point title by winning the season championship race. The main event win was not easy as Luke Near pressured Keech all night. Near and Keech raced side by side before encountering lapped traffic late in the race. Near edged ahead of Keech only to back off as a lapped car blocked him. It was the advantage Keech needed as he went on to celebrate in Victory lane. The race for third was won by Adam Spencer over Glen Parker, and Joe McCormick. Heat races were won by Keech, and Andrew Bartoszek. Seth Moody claimed the 2007 Young Gun Season Point title.
How fitting that the two drivers who have shared the Point lead all season long would be line up next to each other in the Integra Racing Shocks and Springs UMP Modified Main event. John McCaul and Andy Sprague see each other more than their own family members. McCaul's two draw after his fast Qualifying effort put Sprague to his inside of the front row. While McCaul was dominant early in the season, it has been all Sprague late in the season. Tonight that did not change as Sprague led the field from start to finish. Sprague’s eighth win of the garnered him his first Track Championship of his career. John McCaul finished second ahead of Dan Dykman, Rich Neiser, and Steve McClees. Zak Rounds picked up his first checkered flag of the season picking up a Heat race win along with Greg Smith.
The Sportsman division saw Chad Weinrick power his way to victory lane. Weinrick held off Rob Sternberg late in the race by protecting the low groove. Weinrick’s win solidified his second place in the standings, but it was Ralph Sternberg who wrapped up the Sportsman Track title with a fifth place finish. Finishing in third and fourth positions in the main event were Jamie Gilmore and Larry Passenier in their main event. Heat races were won by Weinrick and Ben Falbe.
Next Weekend September 7th & 8th marks the “Fourth Annual Fall Spectacular” at Winston Speedway. It is a weekend for all race fans. Powder Puff, Mechanic races along with the Late Model Season Championship race highlight Friday Nights events, while Saturday is wall-to-wall action taking place for the “Keith Sokolowski Memorial” race program. Five divisions will be vying for huge trophies and racing purses. For the best in Family Entertainment along the Lakeshore make your way to Winston Speedway.
