Friday, September 12
Taylor wins the Battle; Sprague wins the War at Winston Speedway
Winston Speedway concluded their race season Friday September 14th with the running of their Integra Racing Shocks and Springs Late Model Season Championship race. This make-up event was combined with Winston’s annual “Fun Day” that included Mechanic, Powder Puff, and a Four Cylinder reverse race.
When the Late Models started their Championship event all Muskegon’s Tom Sprague Jr needed was to start the race to complete his quest for his first track championship. Luckily for Sprague his strong efforts throughout the season carried him to the title because his luck changed tonight. Starting on the pole Sprague was the early leader but snagged an inside tire barrier. The handle on Sprague’s car went away and he dropped through the field quickly. Sprague ended with a seventeenth place finish. Matt Pickard took advantage of Sprague’s demise and became the leader on lap four. A caution on lap seven took out top contenders Kevin Nelson Jr and Jim Fairbanks as well as placing Rich Neiser to the rear of the field. Pickard maintained the point through for four more cautions and 25 more laps. With what looked like Pickard’s race to win the fifth caution turned out to be a charm for Muskegon driver Rob Taylor. After starting fifth Taylor had worked the high side to the second position and put himself within striking distance. Pickard’s last restart saw him make one mistake with a push in turn one. Taylor made him pay as he stood on the gas with Kevin Nelson glued to his rear. Both drivers cleared Pickard by the flagstand and finished in the number one and two positions. Taylor’s run marked his second feature win of the season. Taylor was all smiles as he accepted his huge trophy for the nights Main event win. Pickard was third followed by Dean Huizenga, and Scott Wenell. The second half of the top ten consisted of Tom Dusen, Andy Sprague, TJ Heskett, Dale Sheehy and Lowell Webster.
In the Four Cylinder reverse race Dan Hilliard bested the five-car field as he picked up the checkered flag racing in a counter clockwise direction instead of the traditional clockwise. In the Late Model division Mechanics race Jake Johnson bested the other 8 competitors driving Kevin Nelson’s Late Model. Randy Neiser raced his brother Rich Neiser’s car to a win in the Modified mechanics event. Larry Passeneir was the winner in the Sportsman Mechanics race. Joe Carmean was the best of the class in the Factory Stock Mechanics. Vito Crudle won the Four Cylinder mechanics event.
Powder Puff event wins were taken by Lisa Wenell in the Late Models, Katie Locke in the Sportsman/Factory Stock and Brittany Platt in the Four Cylinders. Tom Spoon raced his way to the winner’s circle in the Spectator’s Stock car race.
The Last event will be a wild one on Saturday, October 6th. The final demolition derby in the Lakeshore Demolition Derby’s “Summer Smash” events will take place. Mark your calendars as usually the best is saved for last when it comes to crowning a Demolition Derby Champion.
The Winston Speedway Track Champions will be crowned at the 2007 Winston Speedway Banquet on October 27th. The banquet will be held at the VFW on Apple Ave. in Muskegon. Tickets for the event can be purchased by contacting Owners Lois and Tom Sprague at: (231) 719-0326 also you can find information regarding the banquet on the Winston Speedway website in the near future.
