Friday, August 15, 2008
Sprague and Lynn Take Championship Races at Winston Speedway
Friday August 15th saw the final stretch of the race season begin at Winston Speedway. It was the start of Season Championship races. The Integra Racing Shocks and Springs Late Model Division and Port City Racing Sportsman division were the center of attention on the night as they were the first of the five divisions at Winston to battle for bragging rights and trophies. Fans witnessed 104 race cars compete under perfect weather conditions. Patrons of Winston Speedway continue to show their support for the efforts of owners Tom & Lois Sprague. Finding a place to sit at Winston has been a pleasant problem. Dirt Track racing at Winston is alive and well!
Twenty-eight Late Models were on hand to battle in their 30 lap Season Championship race. The starting grid for their main event was based upon the top twenty drivers in points, and two transfer spots from a consolation feature. Earning the right to be on the first row were Rich Neiser and Matt Pickard. Neiser jumped to the early lead, but it was not long before Tom Sprague Jr from his third starting position was up front. On Lap three Sprague Jr used the high side grove going down the backstretch to take the lead. By lap twelve Sprague Jr was making his way through traffic a half lap in front of his brother Andy Sprague who had battled his way by Pickard and Neiser. Only two cautions in the last four laps slowed Sprague Jr. Each restart Sprague was able to pull away from the pack. Sprague willingness to run right on the edge of the high side paid off tonight as he picked up his division leading 5th feature event win this season. Andy Sprague held onto the second spot over Neiser and Pickard. Kyle Borgman completed the top five. Heat race winners were Andy Sprague, Jim Fairbanks, and Brian McQueen. The top transfer spot in the consolation feature was won by Roger Brooks.
The Sportsman division for the last two seasons has seen the brother team of Ralph and Rob Sternberg grab many headlines. The brothers lined up side by side at the start of the 25 lap Sportsman Championship race. Ralph Sternberg gained the early lead after the two raced into turn one battling door to door. Contact between the two turned out to be the demise of Rob Sternberg as a tire would go flat on lap two while running second. Ralph’s luck was no better as he spun out in turn two handing the lead over to Chad Weinrick. Staring in the eleventh position Mike Lynn was on the move. Lynn proved it did not matter what line he ran. His car was the fastest of the night. Lynn was able to pass Weinrick running low with twelve laps to go only to see a caution wave resulting with the lineup to revert to the previous lap. Weinrick switched grooves in an effort to maintain the lead, only to see Lynn go around him on the outside with four laps to go. Once out front there was no stopping Lynn. He picked up his first win of the season and claimed the Trophy as Season championship winner. Chad Weinrick’s second place helped him make up some ground in a points battle that looks to go down to the final night of racing. Mike Anderson was third followed by Larry Passenier and Points Leader Ralph Sternberg. Heat races were won by Dan Wilson and Weinrick.
When the racing flag is waving green, there is no change foreseen in the Modified division. John McCaul has been brutal on his competitors. Mike Wilbern had the best race of his season going until he saw McCaul on his outside making a pass with five to go. McCaul had charged his way to the front for the thirteenth time this season in fourteen tries. With just two weeks of the regular season left, could the one other winner (Greg Smith) this season be a trivia question for the future. Wilbern was able to hold onto second over a hard charging Greg Smith. Dan Dykman and Derek Poland completed the top five. Dykman and Wilbern garnered heat race wins.
Veterans Bill May and Scott Erickson raced each other hard and clean out front for the Factory stock win. This not could be said for the rest of the field as seven cautions flew behind them in their fifteen lap event. When you combine experience with inexperience, it can make for very entertaining racing. Scott Erickson knows that no one wants to lose worse than Bill May. As the two drivers raced lap after lap many were wondering when May was going to force the issue to get to the front. It was not until the final lap when May left the rear of Erickson’s bumper to dive inside. May’s efforts came up a foot short at the finish line, but his actions proved him as a champion. Erickson’s win was his first of the season. Completing the top five were Tony Weinrick, Derek Passenier and Mike Pickard. Heat race wins went to Erickson, Chuck Smith and Robby Sternberg. Passenier earned the top spot in the Consolation Feature to transfer to the Main event.
Luke Near continues to be the man to beat in the Sprague’s Auto Parts Mini Stock division. Starting in the tenth position Near was out front by lap five and never looked back. Near also won his heat race and the “Dash for Cash” event. Carl McCann was the best of the rest finishing ahead of CJ Rector, Brandon Tramper and Colen Parker in the Main event. Brandon Tramper was also a Heat Race winner.
Just two weeks remain for Track Champions to be crowned. Other than John McCaul in the Modifieds there is no clear front runner. Look for the action Friday August 22nd to be fast and furious as the headline events include three Season Championship races. Mini Stock, Factory Stock, and Modified divisions will be the center of attention. For the best in Family Entertainment along the Lakeshore make your way to Winston Speedway.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
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.
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.
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