Friday, May 9, 2008

Sternberg Wins the "Kenny B" Memorial Race at Winston Speedway


Friday, May 9
Sternberg Wins the "Kenny B" Memorial Race at Winston Speedway

Winston Speedway drivers, crews, and fans were all anxious to get back to racing after Mother Nature had taken away the previous two race programs. One hundred nineteen racecars were on hand to entertain the fans. The racing was great all night with two and three wide action. This night was special as the Winston Speedway racing family honored one of it fallen family members. The Sportsman division ran an Invitational feature race in memory of Kenny Blondeel who had succumbed to cancer in January. Kenny was a long time driver and car owner around the West Michigan race community. When you said the name “Kenny B” as he was known, everyone knew who you were talking about. Kenny was known just as much for his ability to make his friends laugh as he was for his competiveness on the track. In his honor the race lasted 55 laps which represented the car number that was associated with his name. Kenny will be sorely missed but not forgotten.

In the Kenny Blondeel Memorial event for the Port City Racing Sportsman division Ralph Sternberg led from start to finish. Starting on the outside pole, Sternberg held off charges by numerous drivers who had made their way to the second spot. Sternberg’s patience and his familiarity with Winston Speedway proved to be the key. Once he was out front he never missed a mark. The race for second was finally won by Jamie Gilmore with nine laps to go as he passed Kyle Borgman. Rob Sternberg and Chad Weinrick also got by Borgman in the final five laps to garner the third and fourth positions. Borgman settled for fifth. Heat Races were won by Dan Hekkema, Borgman, and Weinrick.

The Integra Racing Shocks and Springs Late Model field at Winston continued to be strong in numbers as 32 Late Models were on hand to battle. Rich Neiser was man of the hour as paced the field for he entire 25 lap event. Neiser was able to hold off a hard charging Matt Pickard and Tom Sprague Jr. for top honors. Bob Findlay and “B” Feature winner Tim Stott completed the top five. Rob Taylor, Jim Fairbanks, Tom Dusen, and Pickard were Heat Race winners. Dashes of the Week honors were taken by Matt Pickard.

One name has risen to the top of the UMP Modified field thus far at Winston. John McCaul is two for two. It only took three laps to see the former two time track champion at the head of the field. McCaul again proved to be dominating once out front leaving the rest of the pack to battle for second. Randy Whitten was the only other driver to lead a lap in his second place finish. Troy Marciniak was third followed by Dan Dykman and Dean Wilkerson. Heat races were won by McCaul and Wilkerson.

The Factory Stock division saw one of its drivers make the move of the night before he reached the flagstand on the first lap. Starting in the in the sixth position Keith Chrysler did not hesitate one bit when saw the flag being waved coming out of turn four. By the time he reached turn one he was in the lead. While other drivers were caught sleeping he was racing. Once out front Chrysler opened up a lead that was insurmountable. The race for the runner-up spot saw some hard racing as Jerry Fairchild bested Kurt Woodard for a second place finish. Bill Delong and Tony Weinrick rounded out the top five. Delong, Chrysler and Woodard all took checkered flags in their respective heat races. John Pierson earned the top spot in the “B” Feature earning him a transfer spot into the “A” main.

The Sprague’s Auto Parts Mini Stock Division had double the fun as they made up their feature that was delayed from opening night due to curfew and ran their night’s main event. In the make-up feature youngster CJ Rector proved that he is going to fit in nicely with his competitors. Rector led every lap in his first Mini Stock win of his career. Winston’s 2006 Track Champion Carl McCann finished second ahead of Mark Farber, John Foss, and Glen Parker. In second feature event of the evening McCann made amends taking top honors. Parker, Seth Moody, Farber and Rector completed the top five. Heat Race honors went to Farber and McCann.

Next Friday May 16th will be the make-up event for the “Player Hater 50” Late Model Invitational. The $2500 top prize looks to lure some of the best Late Model drivers in the state to Winston Speedway. With car counts reaching 120 and packed grand stands fans of West Michigan racing have realized Winston Speedway is the place to be on Friday nights. For the best in family entertainment along the Lakeshore make your way to Winston Speedway.