Smith and Meyering Dominate at Winston Motor Speedway

Friday, August 11
Smith and Meyering Dominate at Winston Motor Speedway

Winston Motor Speedway started a string of season championship races on Friday August 11th. Championship races for each division will take them through the month of August as drivers, fans and crews look forward to Winston Motor Speedway’s 3rd Annual Fall Spectacular on the September 8th & 9th weekend. Familiar faces in the Sportsman and Young Gun Divisions claimed the championship races. The weather was perfect for a great night of racing and the driver’s did the weather justice by putting on a great show.

Although many Sportsman drivers are aware that Greg Smith is tediously putting together a Modified for 2007, they wish it had been this season. Starting on the pole based upon his top spot in the point standings Smith quickly cleared outside pole sitter Chad Weinrick and immediately jumped to the high side of the track and pulled away. If it were not for cautions no other driver could have seen Smith’s bumper let alone get to it. Smith’s win was his eleventh of the season and continues to put him well on his way to his fifth Sportsman Track Championship at Winston. Mike Lynn earned the runner-up spot over a hard charging Bud Steinman who had come from his eighth place starting spot. Jamie Gilmore and Mike Anderson rounded out the top five. Heats were won by Bob Shirk and Jamie Gilmore. Bud Steinman won the Dash. Smith was the fastest in Time Trials.

Cadilac High School sophomore Blake Meyering did not let four hours worth of football practice each day during the week take away his winning edge. Meyering took the Season Championship Trophy back to Cadilac in dominating fashion by leading every lap and picking up his twelfth win on the season. The race for second was won by Adam Spencer over Jordon Praay, Tyler Wagner, and Andrew Bartoszek. Jordon Praay won the Heat race. Tyler Wagner took Dash event honors. Meyering was the quick Qualifier.

Twenty-two Late Model started their Main event, but it was one driver who clearly shined tonight. Starting in the eighth position Rich Neiser made his way by pole sitter Kevin Nelson Jr on lap seven. Using the low side of the track advanced Neiser quickly to the front. Lapped traffic late in the event along with Kevin Nelson flying on the high side groove almost took away Neiser’s celebration. At the Flag Stand Neiser held on by half a car length to take his second Feature win of the season. Nelson finished second followed by his son Kevin Nelson Jr. The fourth and Fifth place finishers were Matt Pickard and Josh Slade. Heats were won by Larry Passenier and Rob Taylor. Tim Stott won the Dash event. Carl Ries was the fastest Qualifier.

Double Duty driver Rich Neiser had his chance for two main event wins on the night taken away with a slight bobble in turn two. After leading the first ten laps of the twenty lap main event Neiser’s mistake was quickly taken advantage of by Fast Qualifier Andy Sprague. Sprague was a rocket the rest of the way and picked up his third feature win of the season. Point’s leader Mike Wilburn’s night started out rough as his motor went sour after qualifying. Fellow competitor John McCaul kept Wilbern at the top of the standings by loaning him a motor for the rest of the night. Not only did Wilbern run, he was able to make his way to the runner-up spot in the Main event by passing Neiser and McCaul late in the race. Tim Tuttle completed the top five. Daryl Woodring and Neiser won Heat Races. Gary Starkweather took Dash honors.

Mike Epplett continues to be the Top Gun in the Bomber division. Epplett’s charge to the front from his eighth place starting position was completed with a pass of his uncle Tim Epplett with six laps left in the race. Mike Epplett’s win was his sixth of the season and keeps him at the top of the point standings. Tony Weinrick charged his way to a second place finish over Tim Epplett, Nathan Walton and Devin Vanderstelt. Vanderstelt and Sadie Klien garnered Heat race wins. Weinrick won the Dash. Mike Epplett took Time Trial honors.

Mark Farber pulled off a sweep of the Main event and Heat race events for the Mini Stock division. In the Main event Farber held of Jared Guinn, Carl McCann, and Brad Bates for his sixth win of the season. McCann took Dash race honors. Zak Rounds was the fastest in Mini Stock in Qualifying.

Winston Motor Speedway continues Championship races on Friday August 18th. The Michigan Modifieds and Mini Stocks will be the center of attention as the race for the Trophy hardware and bragging rights. For the best in Family entertainment along the Lakeshore make your way to Winston Motor Speedway.