Sprague, McCaul, Lynn, Erickson and Near winners at Winston Speedway

Saturday, August 22, 2008

Sprague, McCaul, Lynn, Erickson and Near winners at Winston Speedway

Friday August 22nd Winston Speedway fans were treated to three Season Championship races as part of a full racing program. The Integra Racing Shocks and Springs Modified, the Port City Racing Factory Stocks and the Sprague’s Auto Parts Mini Stock division were the headline divisions for the evening. With one week left in the battle for Track Championship point titles two were crowned a week early.

In the Late Model division Tom Sprague Jr would win the battle, but Rich Neiser would win the war. For 2007 Late Model track champion Tom Sprague the 2008 season has seen its ups and downs. Going into the last week of points racing for the Late Model division Sprague entered the evening in the third position behind point leader Rich Neiser and Matt Pickard. Sprague proved tonight that he was not going to go down without a fight. Early in the race Andy Sprague set the early pace from his pole position. Sibling rivalry was fun to watch as Andy and Tom Sprague Jr battled side by side midway through the race. Andy had just cleared Tom coming out of turn two only to go off the embankment in turn three bringing out the caution. On the restart Tom Sprague Jr was placed on the point with Rich Neiser on his bumper. The final laps saw Sprague Jr pull away while Neiser battled eleventh place starter Jim Fairbanks. When the checkered flag was waved Sprague Jr had picked up his fifth win of the season, the most of any Late Model driver. The last turn saw Fairbanks get under Neiser for the second position. Neiser’s third place finish was enough for him to claim his second Track Championship in the past three years at Winston. Rounding out the top five were Kevin Nelson Jr and Brian McQueen. Heat Race winners were Tom Sprague Jr. Andy Sprague, and Scott Wenell. Kevin Juusola was the winner of the Consolation feature.

When the twenty-one Modified lined up by points for their Season Championship race everyone assumed that point leader John McCaul would run way from the field. McCaul has been in his own league this summer winning all but one feature at Winston. For twenty four of the twenty five laps the best racing was well behind McCaul who again was dominating. The last lap proved that even when McCaul has bad luck it strikes at the appropriate time. As McCaul entered turn three of the final lap fans could tell that McCaul’s car was off pace. Closing the gap fast in one of his best runs of the season was youngster Jeff Erickson. McCaul had lost fuel pressure. As McCaul headed for the finish line under powered he was able to get help from lapped traffic. Erickson had no lane to pass and was left pushing McCaul to his 14th win of the season. Greg Smith finished third ahead of Mike Wilbern and Jacob Poel. Heat race winners were McCaul and Derek Poland. McCaul's win assured him of title of UMP Modified Track Champion at Winston.

Sportsman driver Mike Lynn made it back to back wins. Fresh off his Season Championship race win a week ago Lynn proved his previous win was no fluke. Starting in the sixth position Lynn held off a late race charge by Derek Poland. The finish was the closest of the night as Poland made his way inside of Lynn at the finish line losing by one foot. Jeremy Holman, Dan Wilson, and Chad Weinrick rounded out the top five. Poland and Brad Afton were Heat Race winners. This division will be worth the price of admission alone next week as the front three in points, Ralph Sternberg, Rob Sternberg, and Chad Weinrick will not know who is the Sportsman Champion until the final checkered flag is waved in this division. The Points battle is that close.

Factory Stock point leader Scott Erickson had taken a ten year layoff from racing. To say he has returned in full force would be an under statement. Starting from the pole position for their Season Championship race Erickson was able to lead every lap to take the win. The win was his second of the season and the second in two weeks. Erickson’s win was not easy as youngster Derek Passenier pressured him for most of the race to finish in the runner-up position. Bill Delong edged Bill May and Tony Weinrick for the third position. Heat Races were won by May, Delong and Weinrick. Passenier won the “Dash for Cash” event. Robert Erickson earned the top transfer spot in the Consolation Feature.

Mini Stock driver Luke Near continues to be the class of the field as of late. Near started on the outside of point’s leader CJ Rector. Near wasted no time getting to the front. While Near’s stock is rising CJ Rector has seen his points lead dwindle. Near left Winston with his eighth win of the season and a five foot trophy. Rector was hauled off on a wrecker after an accident in turn four. Rector still holds the upper hand for a track championship but he cannot afford any more bad luck. Following Near across the line were Carl McCann, Brandon Tramper, John Foss, and Paul Rice. Heat Race winners were Near and Tramper.Friday

August 29th Winston Speedway will end their regular race season with an appearance of the ground pounding Sprints on Dirt series. The Late Model division will not be on hand but all of Winston Speedways other divisions will be fighting for their final spots in the point standings. The racing will be fast and furious. For the best in Family Entertainment along the Lakeshore make your way to Winston Speedway.