Friday, May 23
It was "Near" Perfect at Winston Speedway
Winston Speedway continues to show the fruits of labor from owners Tom and Lois Sprague. It has not been since the mid 90’s that Winston has experienced car counts of over a hundred. Every race program this season has met the century mark of competitors. Friday May 23rd saw another 105 racecars entertain the race fans of West Michigan. The “Build it and they will come” philosophy is paying of for the Sprague’s. Drivers, crews, and fans are appreciating their hard work. Drivers have been provided with a great racing surface and fans get to witness a fast paced program in a family atmosphere. The crowds have been steady and Tom and Lois will be the first one’s to tell their drivers and fans how much they appreciate their patrons.
The center of attention on Friday was on the Sprague’s Auto Parts Mini Stock division. Their Invitational saw 22 cars show up to compete for the $300 to win purse. John Foss led the first three laps from his pole position, but after that if was all Luke Near. Starting in the sixth position Near showed why he is a former three-time Winston Speedway track champion. The only things that slowed Near and closed the gap with his competitors in the twenty-five lap main event were late race cautions. Carl McCann was the best of the rest as he secured the runner-up spot over CJ Rector, Foss, and April Spriggs. Heats were won by Near and McCann.
The Intergra Racing Shocks and Springs Late Model Division continue to bring a strong field of competitors. Twenty-six cars competed for top honors. In the Late Model 25 lap feature it was all Sprague’s. First it was Andy Sprague grabbing the point on the first lap from his third place starting spot. By lap three Tom Sprague Jr joined his brother at the front. For the rest of the race the two siblings battled each other. Andy Sprague led the first five laps but gave way to Tom Sprague Jr on the front stretch of lap six. These two put on a great show for the fans as they worked their way through lapped traffic pulling away from the rest of the field. Tonight it would be the older brother Tom Sprague Jr getting the best of his younger brother Andy Sprague. Their one-two finish was the best for both of them this season at Winston. Grabbing the third position was Tim Stott followed by Bryan McQueen and Tom Dusen. Late Model heat races were won by McQueen, Tom Sprague Jr, and Andy Sprague. Frank Morrison garnered the top spot in the ‘B” feature.
Andy Sprague, John McCaul and Dean Wilkerson had the fans on the edge of their seats in the UMP Modified division. These three drivers midway through the race went three abreast for an entire lap for the top spot. At the end of the race it was McCaul and Sprague who brought the fans to their feet. With McCaul out front coming out of turn four Sprague powered to the inside of him only to come up short by less than a foot. McCaul became the first three time winner in the Modifieds at Winston while Sprague backed up his Late Model run with another runner-up spot. Dean Wilkerson, Brian Lasak and Jeremy Ferguson rounded out the top five. Heat Races were won by Derek Poland, Brian Lasak, and Mark Anderson.
The Port City Racing Sportsman division brought out the best and worst in drivers for their twenty lap event. Front row starters Rob Sternberg and Larry Passenier livened up the action late in the race. Sternberg and Passenier raced door to door banging each other for the lead heading into turn one. Coming out of turn two Cody Weisner made his way inside both of them to grab the top spot. It only lasted for a second as Passenier clipped Weisner in the right rear quarter panel after contact with Sternberg. Weisner went flying over the backstretch embankment bringing out the caution. Sternberg and Passeneir were both black flagged for rough driving and sent to the pits. Fortunately for Weisner minimal damage was done to his car and he was placed back at the point. The task at hand for Weisner did not get easier as Ralph Sternberg was placed on his bumper for the restart. Weisner rose to the occasion down the stretch holding off the hard charging Ralph Sternberg to pick up his second feature win in as many weeks. Chad Weinrick, Robert McDonald, and Mark Ransom completed the top five. The Heat race was won by Ralph Sternberg. Weinrick won the Dash for Cash event.
Youngster Derek Passeneir had a night of racing that he will never forget. The Oakridge High School student led every lap of the Factory Stock main event to pick up his first Feature win ever at Winston Speedway and also supported that with a heat race win. The race for second in the main event was won by Paul Tenbrink over Scott Erickson, Justin Gilland, and John Person. Other Heat race winners included Bill Delong and Robby Sternberg.Next Friday May 30th all five classes return to action. It will be I-96 Speedway “Challenge Night”. I-96 Speedway drivers will join forces with Winston’s in the Late Model and UMP Modified divisions. The competition looks to be great. For the best in Family Entertainment along the Lakeshore make your way to Winston Speedway.
It was "Near" Perfect at Winston Speedway
Winston Speedway continues to show the fruits of labor from owners Tom and Lois Sprague. It has not been since the mid 90’s that Winston has experienced car counts of over a hundred. Every race program this season has met the century mark of competitors. Friday May 23rd saw another 105 racecars entertain the race fans of West Michigan. The “Build it and they will come” philosophy is paying of for the Sprague’s. Drivers, crews, and fans are appreciating their hard work. Drivers have been provided with a great racing surface and fans get to witness a fast paced program in a family atmosphere. The crowds have been steady and Tom and Lois will be the first one’s to tell their drivers and fans how much they appreciate their patrons.
The center of attention on Friday was on the Sprague’s Auto Parts Mini Stock division. Their Invitational saw 22 cars show up to compete for the $300 to win purse. John Foss led the first three laps from his pole position, but after that if was all Luke Near. Starting in the sixth position Near showed why he is a former three-time Winston Speedway track champion. The only things that slowed Near and closed the gap with his competitors in the twenty-five lap main event were late race cautions. Carl McCann was the best of the rest as he secured the runner-up spot over CJ Rector, Foss, and April Spriggs. Heats were won by Near and McCann.
The Intergra Racing Shocks and Springs Late Model Division continue to bring a strong field of competitors. Twenty-six cars competed for top honors. In the Late Model 25 lap feature it was all Sprague’s. First it was Andy Sprague grabbing the point on the first lap from his third place starting spot. By lap three Tom Sprague Jr joined his brother at the front. For the rest of the race the two siblings battled each other. Andy Sprague led the first five laps but gave way to Tom Sprague Jr on the front stretch of lap six. These two put on a great show for the fans as they worked their way through lapped traffic pulling away from the rest of the field. Tonight it would be the older brother Tom Sprague Jr getting the best of his younger brother Andy Sprague. Their one-two finish was the best for both of them this season at Winston. Grabbing the third position was Tim Stott followed by Bryan McQueen and Tom Dusen. Late Model heat races were won by McQueen, Tom Sprague Jr, and Andy Sprague. Frank Morrison garnered the top spot in the ‘B” feature.
Andy Sprague, John McCaul and Dean Wilkerson had the fans on the edge of their seats in the UMP Modified division. These three drivers midway through the race went three abreast for an entire lap for the top spot. At the end of the race it was McCaul and Sprague who brought the fans to their feet. With McCaul out front coming out of turn four Sprague powered to the inside of him only to come up short by less than a foot. McCaul became the first three time winner in the Modifieds at Winston while Sprague backed up his Late Model run with another runner-up spot. Dean Wilkerson, Brian Lasak and Jeremy Ferguson rounded out the top five. Heat Races were won by Derek Poland, Brian Lasak, and Mark Anderson.
The Port City Racing Sportsman division brought out the best and worst in drivers for their twenty lap event. Front row starters Rob Sternberg and Larry Passenier livened up the action late in the race. Sternberg and Passenier raced door to door banging each other for the lead heading into turn one. Coming out of turn two Cody Weisner made his way inside both of them to grab the top spot. It only lasted for a second as Passenier clipped Weisner in the right rear quarter panel after contact with Sternberg. Weisner went flying over the backstretch embankment bringing out the caution. Sternberg and Passeneir were both black flagged for rough driving and sent to the pits. Fortunately for Weisner minimal damage was done to his car and he was placed back at the point. The task at hand for Weisner did not get easier as Ralph Sternberg was placed on his bumper for the restart. Weisner rose to the occasion down the stretch holding off the hard charging Ralph Sternberg to pick up his second feature win in as many weeks. Chad Weinrick, Robert McDonald, and Mark Ransom completed the top five. The Heat race was won by Ralph Sternberg. Weinrick won the Dash for Cash event.
Youngster Derek Passeneir had a night of racing that he will never forget. The Oakridge High School student led every lap of the Factory Stock main event to pick up his first Feature win ever at Winston Speedway and also supported that with a heat race win. The race for second in the main event was won by Paul Tenbrink over Scott Erickson, Justin Gilland, and John Person. Other Heat race winners included Bill Delong and Robby Sternberg.Next Friday May 30th all five classes return to action. It will be I-96 Speedway “Challenge Night”. I-96 Speedway drivers will join forces with Winston’s in the Late Model and UMP Modified divisions. The competition looks to be great. For the best in Family Entertainment along the Lakeshore make your way to Winston Speedway.
