I-96 Speedway to host the Only Michigan Appearance of 2011 for the World of Outlaws Sprints!
By Matt Prieur / Chris Fobbe – I-96 Speedway
Lake Odessa, Michigan (Thursday, December 30th, 2010): I-96 Speedway Owners / Promoters, Mike and Sarah Mouch are busy preparing for the upcoming 2011 racing season at the Lake Odessa, Michigan speed plant. The husband and wife team, now in their seventh season as Promoters of the facility, are aggressively working on an action packed 2011 schedule for the Most Exciting Dirt Track in the State of Michigan!
While the 2011 Schedule is very close to becoming finalized and will be released soon afterwards, one date on the calendar is confirmed and it’s one of the many highlights of the 2011 racing season and one of the biggest races in the state of Michigan as the highly touted World of Outlaws Sprints will make their Only appearance in the state of Michigan on Saturday, May 21st, 2011.
The Ultra Fast, Fire Breathing, Winged Warriors will challenge the lightning quick ½ (0.500) mile semi-banked dirt oval for the fifth season in a row and in their only appearance in the Great Lakes State in 2011! Legendary 20-time Series Champion Steve Kinser, and Defending Series Champion, and Two-Time Defending I-96 Race Winner, Jason Meyers headline the stellar field of the best Sprint Car Drivers in the World!
In addition, Four-Time Series Champion Donny Schatz, as well as Danny Lasoski, Joey Saldana, Jason Sides, Chad Kemenah, Kraig Kinser, Kerry Madsen, Tim Shaffer, Lucas Wolfe, Randy Hannigan, Paul McMahan, and the rest of the best Sprint Car drivers in the World are just some of the top Sprint Car drivers anywhere who’ll be making their one and only Michigan stop of the 2011 season at I-96.
In 2010, Defending Series Champion, Jason Meyers in his #14 GLR Investments machine scored his second consecutive win at I-96 in front of the biggest crowd in the tracks long history as the Clovis, California native took over the top spot after race long leader, Danny Lasoski lost a rear end while leading with just six laps to go. From their, Meyers withstood two more late restarts and held off late charges from Craig Dollansky and Jason Sides to score the win in the 30-lap Feature!
Earlier in the evening, Joey Saldana was one of four drivers to break the track record and he also became the first driver ever in I-96 Speedway history to break into the 14-second barrier as he toured around the ½ mile at a lap measured at a 14.834 which equals out to a wicked fast 121.343mph.
Joining the World of Outlaws Sprints will be a special UMP Modifieds event also on the ½ mile as the only Open-Wheeled division within the United Midwestern Promoters (UMP) sanctioned tracks’ Weekly Divisions will move up to the ½ mile for a night.
The World of Outlaws Sprints have made 10 career appearances with the first ever show back in 1995. Kinser leads the way with Four (4) career victories while Meyers has won the last two races held in Lake Odessa, Michigan. Picking up single wins over the years includes; Dollansky, Saldana, Sammy Swindell, and Stevie Smith.
The World of Outlaws are the premier sanctioning body for winged sprint car racing in the world, and are comprised of sprint car drivers from across the country and the world. The series was founded by the late Ted Johnson in 1978, giving winged sprint car racer’s somewhere to compete with uniform rules and guaranteed purse money.
For more information about the World of Outlaws Sprints, go to their website at: www.worldofoutlaws.com/sprint
The 2010 I-96 Speedway Awards Banquet will be held on Saturday, February 19th, 2011 at the Steel Street Hall, located on 115 South Steel Street in Ionia, Michigan. More Details with regards to Ticket Prices, Times, and more will be Available very soon.
I-96 Speedway’s 2011 season will start off with Two Pre-Season Test and Tunes with the first one set for Saturday April 9th from 11:00a.m. – Dark on the 3/8s mile. The second and Final Test and Tune is on Saturday, April 16th from 11:00a.m.-5:00p.m., as cars will Practice on the 3/8s mile while the District 14 Flat Track Motorcycles will start their 2011 racing season with Practice on the ½ mile and then it’s Opening Night 2011 for the two-wheeled machines starting at 5:30p.m.
After taking the Easter Holiday Weekend off, Opening Night 2011, the 6th annual Ice Breaker is set for Saturday April 30th headlined by the UMP Late Models who’ll go for $1,200 to Win while the UMP Modifieds race for $800 to Win. The UMP Street Stocks will be racing for $300 to Win and Four-Cylinders will be fighting for $150 to Win. All Four Weekly Divisions will be taking on the fast 3/8s (0.375) mile semi-banked dirt oval and beginning each respective chase for their 2011 Track Championships.
Joining the I-96 Speedway staff for the 2011 racing season is the highly regarded announcing tandem of Matt Prieur and Chris Fobbe. Prieur (Pronounced Pre-Err), who at 36-years-old is already a 21-year veteran Public Address Announcer, started his career at just 15-years-old. Originally from Flint, Michigan, he calls Ovid, Michigan home.
Prieur comes to I-96 after spending his entire career on pavement tracks and various asphalt traveling series’, including the old ASA National Tour, the ICEMAN Super Car Series and the ASA Late Model Series. More recently, Prieur was the Voice of the Dixie Motor Speedway as well as Owosso Speedway along-with Fobbe.
Fobbe (Pronounced Foe-Bee) began his racing career in 2002 at just 12 years old and his announcing career started in 2009 as he joined Prieur at Dixie and Owosso. The 20-year-old Fobbe, who calls Holt, Michigan home, is widely regarded as a future star on the rise in the world of Short Track Racing Announcers.
Both Prieur and Fobbe will serve in the dual roles as Co-Director of Media / Public Relations and Co-P.A. Announcers as well as performing all of the tasks associated with keeping the I-96 Speedway Website constantly updated throughout the off-season as well as the upcoming 2011 racing season in all capacities.
The Complete 2011 Schedule for I-96 Speedway will be released very soon, For more information about the 2010 Awards Banquet as well as the 2011 racing season at I-96 Speedway, please call: 1 (616) 642-0555 or visit the soon to be new and improved website at: www.i96speedway.com
Friday, December 31, 2010
Sunday, December 26, 2010
New Announcer at I-96 Speedway
Veteran track announcer Matt Prieur looks forward to new challenges at I-96 Speedway
By Steve Kaminski
The Grand Rapids Press
One of the most familiar voices in Michigan short-track racing will be coming to the I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa next season.
I-96 promoter Mike Mouch said veteran track announcer Matt Prieur of Ovid will be joining the track’s staff in 2011. Prieur will serve as the track announcer and be responsible for I-96’s media and public relations.
Prieur has spent recent seasons working at Dixie Motor Speedway in Birch Run and Owosso Speedway before stepping down at the conclusion of the 2010 season. Prieur said he is looking forward to his next challenge at I-96, which offers three-eighths and half-mile dirt ovals.
“This will be my 22nd year in racing, but this will be my first year on dirt. All of my previous years have been on pavement,” Prieur said. “I think the entire realm of dirt-track racing presents a new challenge to me. The terminology and the learning of brand new drivers and teams and a totally different fan base than I’m used to is going to be a lot of fun.
“I’m excited about the new chapter in my career. Mike and (wife) Sarah (Mouch) have the premier dirt track in Michigan, and I want to help them keep that going.”
Prieur said that Chris Fobbe of Holt will be joining him at I-96. Fobbe, 20, and a student at Baker Community College in Owosso, worked with Prieur at Dixie and Owosso.
Prieur was a teenager when he got his first announcing gig back in the late 1980s. He has gone on to call the action at approximately 80 different tracks across the Midwest.
“I started as a track safety worker in 1989 (at Dixie) when I was 15 years old,” Prieur said. “The owner didn’t have anyone to announce the races over Labor Day Weekend, and I always wanted to be an announcer, so I stepped up and said I would do it. The first race I called was September 3, 1989, and it was a SOD Sprints Series race. Gary Fedewa won the first race I called.
“They ended up hiring me for the rest of the year. I announced at Dixie and Auto City (Speedway in Flint) in 1990.”
Prieur later worked at Toledo Speedway, covering the Iceman Super Series. He also worked with the ASA Late Model Challenge Series from 2004-2008, which gave him the opportunity to announce at the famed Bristol Motor Speedway in August of 2007. It was the first race run on the track after it was resurfaced. Prieur worked at Dixie and Owosso the past two seasons.
I-96 continues to finalize its 2011 schedule. The World of Outlaws will return May 21.
“It is the only World of Outlaws date in Michigan next year,” Prieur said. “I-96 not only has weekly short-track racing, but they are bringing in a variety of racing action, and they have a few weekends where they will be hosting events like concerts, which makes it a multipurpose facility.”
By Steve Kaminski
The Grand Rapids Press
One of the most familiar voices in Michigan short-track racing will be coming to the I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa next season.
I-96 promoter Mike Mouch said veteran track announcer Matt Prieur of Ovid will be joining the track’s staff in 2011. Prieur will serve as the track announcer and be responsible for I-96’s media and public relations.
Prieur has spent recent seasons working at Dixie Motor Speedway in Birch Run and Owosso Speedway before stepping down at the conclusion of the 2010 season. Prieur said he is looking forward to his next challenge at I-96, which offers three-eighths and half-mile dirt ovals.
“This will be my 22nd year in racing, but this will be my first year on dirt. All of my previous years have been on pavement,” Prieur said. “I think the entire realm of dirt-track racing presents a new challenge to me. The terminology and the learning of brand new drivers and teams and a totally different fan base than I’m used to is going to be a lot of fun.
“I’m excited about the new chapter in my career. Mike and (wife) Sarah (Mouch) have the premier dirt track in Michigan, and I want to help them keep that going.”
Prieur said that Chris Fobbe of Holt will be joining him at I-96. Fobbe, 20, and a student at Baker Community College in Owosso, worked with Prieur at Dixie and Owosso.
Prieur was a teenager when he got his first announcing gig back in the late 1980s. He has gone on to call the action at approximately 80 different tracks across the Midwest.
“I started as a track safety worker in 1989 (at Dixie) when I was 15 years old,” Prieur said. “The owner didn’t have anyone to announce the races over Labor Day Weekend, and I always wanted to be an announcer, so I stepped up and said I would do it. The first race I called was September 3, 1989, and it was a SOD Sprints Series race. Gary Fedewa won the first race I called.
“They ended up hiring me for the rest of the year. I announced at Dixie and Auto City (Speedway in Flint) in 1990.”
Prieur later worked at Toledo Speedway, covering the Iceman Super Series. He also worked with the ASA Late Model Challenge Series from 2004-2008, which gave him the opportunity to announce at the famed Bristol Motor Speedway in August of 2007. It was the first race run on the track after it was resurfaced. Prieur worked at Dixie and Owosso the past two seasons.
I-96 continues to finalize its 2011 schedule. The World of Outlaws will return May 21.
“It is the only World of Outlaws date in Michigan next year,” Prieur said. “I-96 not only has weekly short-track racing, but they are bringing in a variety of racing action, and they have a few weekends where they will be hosting events like concerts, which makes it a multipurpose facility.”
Friday, December 17, 2010
Kyle Busch Returns to Berlin in 2011
Return of NASCAR Sprint Cup star Kyle Busch highlights Berlin Raceway's 2011 schedule
By Steve Kaminski
The Grand Rapids Press
Berlin Raceway’s 2011 game plan calls for more emphasis on its weekly classes, so expect fewer special events during the track’s 61st season.
One of NASCAR’s biggest names will be back, though.
Track promoter Mike Blackmer announced Wednesday that NASCAR superstar Kyle Busch is expected to compete in the Rowdy 251, a June 21 Tuesday night special. Busch won the template-bodied Late Model stock car race in June at Berlin and will be back to defend his title.
Busch, who won a combined 24 races in NASCAR’s top three divisions in 2010, still enjoys grassroots racing.
“Kyle isn’t going to race as many Super Late Model races this year, but one of the ones he did pick was the Rowdy,” Blackmer said. “He has really enjoyed coming to Grand Rapids. We have a good relationship with him, and he enjoys the fans here and the race. It’s pretty exciting to have him back.”
The cost to put on high-dollar shows is just too much in these tough economic times, Blackmer said, and that’s why he is cutting back on specials. Berlin’s weekly classes will race more often next season, and that will enable him to cut general admission prices for the regular shows from $12 to $10.
Berlin’s Late Model division will run at least 14 times, while its Super Stocks, Pro Stocks, Modifieds and 4 Cylinders will go a minimum 17 nights. In addition, the track is introducing the Premier Boyne Machine Super Lates, and that class will race six times.
Look for the traveling Vintage Racing Organization of America to join the track’s weekly ranks as well. The VROA, which has run on Berlin’s anniversary night in the past, has signed on for eight races.
“The only way to run this track in the black is to make sure the weekly show is affordable,” Blackmer said. “Some of these series travel so far and the purse is so high, and right now, the economic times don’t support it. I can’t get enough people in to support these type of events.
“I need my divisions here. Last year, 14 of our 22 events had outside series racing here. The race fan didn’t know who was racing from week-to-week.”
Berlin’s 2011 season will open April 23, with test and tune sessions scheduled for April 8 and 16. Special events include the ARCA Series on July 9. The Must See Racing Xtreme Sprint Series returns June 4, and the Auto Value Super Sprint Series competes Sept. 3.
The season will conclude with a Sept. 24 program featuring the CRA Super Series and the Great Lakes Outlaw Late Models.
By Steve Kaminski
The Grand Rapids Press
Berlin Raceway’s 2011 game plan calls for more emphasis on its weekly classes, so expect fewer special events during the track’s 61st season.
One of NASCAR’s biggest names will be back, though.
Track promoter Mike Blackmer announced Wednesday that NASCAR superstar Kyle Busch is expected to compete in the Rowdy 251, a June 21 Tuesday night special. Busch won the template-bodied Late Model stock car race in June at Berlin and will be back to defend his title.
Busch, who won a combined 24 races in NASCAR’s top three divisions in 2010, still enjoys grassroots racing.
“Kyle isn’t going to race as many Super Late Model races this year, but one of the ones he did pick was the Rowdy,” Blackmer said. “He has really enjoyed coming to Grand Rapids. We have a good relationship with him, and he enjoys the fans here and the race. It’s pretty exciting to have him back.”
The cost to put on high-dollar shows is just too much in these tough economic times, Blackmer said, and that’s why he is cutting back on specials. Berlin’s weekly classes will race more often next season, and that will enable him to cut general admission prices for the regular shows from $12 to $10.
Berlin’s Late Model division will run at least 14 times, while its Super Stocks, Pro Stocks, Modifieds and 4 Cylinders will go a minimum 17 nights. In addition, the track is introducing the Premier Boyne Machine Super Lates, and that class will race six times.
Look for the traveling Vintage Racing Organization of America to join the track’s weekly ranks as well. The VROA, which has run on Berlin’s anniversary night in the past, has signed on for eight races.
“The only way to run this track in the black is to make sure the weekly show is affordable,” Blackmer said. “Some of these series travel so far and the purse is so high, and right now, the economic times don’t support it. I can’t get enough people in to support these type of events.
“I need my divisions here. Last year, 14 of our 22 events had outside series racing here. The race fan didn’t know who was racing from week-to-week.”
Berlin’s 2011 season will open April 23, with test and tune sessions scheduled for April 8 and 16. Special events include the ARCA Series on July 9. The Must See Racing Xtreme Sprint Series returns June 4, and the Auto Value Super Sprint Series competes Sept. 3.
The season will conclude with a Sept. 24 program featuring the CRA Super Series and the Great Lakes Outlaw Late Models.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Engine Building Legend Ray Baker Passes
Muskegon native and longtime engine maker Ray Baker dead at 68 after accidental injuries
Steve Kaminski
The Grand Rapids Press
Longtime Berlin Raceway official Bob Marz of Walker recalls a time during the 1970s when he would walk up and down pit road, and nearly every stock car had one thing in common.
“At one time, just about everyone had a Baker Engine sticker on their car,” said Marz, whose career includes heading Berlin’s tech crew. “Guys had to have a Baker Engine. That was the place to go for your motor.”
Ray Baker, who founded Baker Engineered Racing Engines of Spring Lake in 1968 and ran it through 1989, died Friday of accidental injuries sustained while building a shop in Mooresville, N.C. Mr. Baker, a Muskegon native who lived in Mooresville with his life, Linda, was 68.
Mr. Baker graduated from Reeths-Puffer High School and Ferris State University, where he studied automotive technology. He worked at General Motors after college, then started building engines for short-track standout Bob Senneker of Dorr.
Senneker entered the 1968 Daytona 500, and finished 13th using a Baker Engine. Baker then opened his business, and it grew quickly. Prominent area drivers, including John Benson Sr. and Butch Miller, raced with Baker Engines, as did rising stars in the traveling American Speed Association, including Mark Martin and Darrell Waltrip.
In addition, he build engines for drag cars and offshore race boats. Buick even hired him to build its pace car engines that were used in the 1981 Indianapolis 500.
"Ray did a lot for the racing community with all of his innovations,” Marz said. “He knew how to make those engines livable without exploding. He was great on headwork and engine designs. He was just good at.”
Mr. Baker employed nearly 30 people. But life became so hectic that it took a toll on his health, and he eventually sold his business.
Mr. Baker continued to be spotted in the pits in recent years, giving a hand to his son, Joel Baker, who has competed at Berlin. He was inducted into the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Berlin Raceway Hall of Fame in 2008.
“A few years ago, we were teching motors (at Berlin), and he lent his expertise for what to look for,” Marz said. “Ray was all about helping the racer. He made a living off it, but his heart and soul was in it.
“He touched a lot of lives in racing. If anyone had any problems, he would jump right in and go to work for them. You would usually see him working under the hood on pit road.”
Visitation is scheduled for Dec. 18 and 19 at Sytsema Funeral Home, 6291 South Harvey Street in Norton Shores, with a memorial service scheduled for Dec. 20. Times are pending.
Steve Kaminski
The Grand Rapids Press
Longtime Berlin Raceway official Bob Marz of Walker recalls a time during the 1970s when he would walk up and down pit road, and nearly every stock car had one thing in common.
“At one time, just about everyone had a Baker Engine sticker on their car,” said Marz, whose career includes heading Berlin’s tech crew. “Guys had to have a Baker Engine. That was the place to go for your motor.”
Ray Baker, who founded Baker Engineered Racing Engines of Spring Lake in 1968 and ran it through 1989, died Friday of accidental injuries sustained while building a shop in Mooresville, N.C. Mr. Baker, a Muskegon native who lived in Mooresville with his life, Linda, was 68.
Mr. Baker graduated from Reeths-Puffer High School and Ferris State University, where he studied automotive technology. He worked at General Motors after college, then started building engines for short-track standout Bob Senneker of Dorr.
Senneker entered the 1968 Daytona 500, and finished 13th using a Baker Engine. Baker then opened his business, and it grew quickly. Prominent area drivers, including John Benson Sr. and Butch Miller, raced with Baker Engines, as did rising stars in the traveling American Speed Association, including Mark Martin and Darrell Waltrip.
In addition, he build engines for drag cars and offshore race boats. Buick even hired him to build its pace car engines that were used in the 1981 Indianapolis 500.
"Ray did a lot for the racing community with all of his innovations,” Marz said. “He knew how to make those engines livable without exploding. He was great on headwork and engine designs. He was just good at.”
Mr. Baker employed nearly 30 people. But life became so hectic that it took a toll on his health, and he eventually sold his business.
Mr. Baker continued to be spotted in the pits in recent years, giving a hand to his son, Joel Baker, who has competed at Berlin. He was inducted into the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Berlin Raceway Hall of Fame in 2008.
“A few years ago, we were teching motors (at Berlin), and he lent his expertise for what to look for,” Marz said. “Ray was all about helping the racer. He made a living off it, but his heart and soul was in it.
“He touched a lot of lives in racing. If anyone had any problems, he would jump right in and go to work for them. You would usually see him working under the hood on pit road.”
Visitation is scheduled for Dec. 18 and 19 at Sytsema Funeral Home, 6291 South Harvey Street in Norton Shores, with a memorial service scheduled for Dec. 20. Times are pending.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
World of Outlaw Late Models Coming to Winston Speedway in 2011!
2011 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Schedule Released At Performance Racing Industry Trade Show
CONCORD, NC - Dec. 10, 2010 - An exciting mix of stalwart tracks, new venues and lucrative, high-profile events will comprise the 2011 World of Outlaws Late Model Series schedule, which was released on Friday during the Performance Racing Industry trade show in Orlando, Fla.
Forty events covering 46 race dates at 33 tracks in 20 states are currently confirmed as part of the national tour’s 2011 slate, including a half-dozen extra-distance blockbusters highlighted by the $50,000-to-win USA Nationals on Aug. 5-6 at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis., the fifth annual Firecracker 100 on June 23-25 at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa., and the second annual Commonwealth 100 on April 15-16 at Virginia Motor Speedway in Jamaica, Va.
The eighth consecutive WoO LMS season under the World Racing Group banner kicks off on Feb. 17 and 19 with a pair of 50-lap A-Mains during the 40th annual DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. It will conclude for the fifth straight year with the World of Outlaws World Finals on Nov. 3-5 at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C.
“Another spectacular year of World of Outlaws Late Model Series action is in store for fans across the country,” said series director Tim Christman. “We’re proud to be working with some of dirt Late Model racing’s top racetrack operators to provide teams and spectators a schedule that’s filled with thrilling, can’t-miss events from February through November.
“As the dramatic 2010 battle for the World of Outlaws championship proved, every lap of every race counts. There’s no doubt fans are going to once again see the sport’s best drivers racing all-out every night in search of that big $100,000 prize that’s waiting for the champion.”
Christman said he expects to add at least five more events to the schedule released on Friday, potentially pushing the total number of races and host tracks in 2011 to historic high-water marks. The WoO LMS currently boasts alltime single-season highs of 44 A-Mains (2007 and 2010) and 38 different tracks (2010).
The centerpiece of the WoO LMS’s attractive special-event schedule remains Cedar Lake Speedway’s 100-lap USA Nationals on Aug. 5-6. The crown-jewel program, which returned to the WoO LMS schedule last year for the fifth time overall in its 24-year history, holds the status as the richest race on the ’11 sked with a purse of nearly a quarter-million dollars.
Lernerville’s fast-growing Firecracker 100, meanwhile, will again boast three full nights of competition after its popular expansion in 2010. The early-summer festival of speed at the sparkling four-tenths-mile oval kicks off with 30-lap, $6,000-to-win preliminary features on Thurs., June 23, and Fri., June 24, before ending with the traditional 100-lap headliner offering $30,000 for first place on Sat., June 25.
Returning to the WoO LMS slate after a successful debut in 2010 is the Commonwealth 100 at Virginia Motor Speedway, a $25,000-to-win springtime biggie set for April 15-16. The event at Bill Sawyer’s pristine half-mile oval carries the third-largest winner’s share on the 2011 schedule.
The list of century-grind events also includes the fourth annual Illini 100, which moves to La Salle (Ill.) Speedway on April 1-2 after three seasons at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway; an inaugural early-season 100-lapper on March 18-19 at Columbus (Miss.) Speedway, which hosts the WoO LMS for the first time since 2007; and the brand-new ‘Outlaw Sizzler 101’ on July 2-3 at Tazewell (Tenn.) Speedway, which will dominate the Independence Day weekend landscape by presenting its biggest dirt Late Model race ever. All three races will pay $20,000 to win.
Other multi-day programs featured in 2011 include February’s DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH; the RaceFest World Championships on May 28-29 at West Virginia Motor Speedway in Mineral Wells, which will reprise its successful ’10 Memorial Day weekend program with a 30-lap A-Main for $8,000 to win on Saturday night and a 40-lap headliner offering a $10,000 top prize on Sunday evening; the Oil Region Labor Day Classic on Sept. 3-4 at Tri-City Speedway in Franklin, Pa. (two 50-lap, $10,000-to-win cards for the sixth consecutive year); and the World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, which will pack the house for a season-ending tripleheader weekend on Nov. 3-5 that also includes the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and the Super DIRTcar Series for big-block Modifieds.
The season’s longest – and perhaps most critical – swing will be mid-July’s ‘Wild West Tour,’ which expands to an ambitious stretch of at least seven races over a 12-day period after being condensed to a more modest four events over consecutive nights in 2010. After the western trek kicks off with a Sooner State doubleheader at Outlaw Motor Speedway in Muskogee, Okla. (July 8) and Tri-State Speedway in Picola, Okla. (July 9) – the tour’s first visit to Outlaw since 2004 and Tri-State since 2005 – successive races will be contested on July 12 at Independence (Iowa) Motor Speedway (first-ever WoO LMS event); July 13 at Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn. (the ‘Gopher 50’ makes it seventh straight appearance on the series); July 14 at Superior (Wis.) Speedway, which hosted the tour for the first time in 2010; July 15 at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D. (sixth straight year on the schedule); and July 19 at Gillette (Wyo.) Thunder Speedway, which returns to the tour after a one-year hiatus.
The WoO LMS will close out the busy month of July with another regional swing that begins on July 27 at Central PA Speedway in Clearfield, Pa., and ends on July 31 at Eriez Speedway in Hammett, Pa. The Keystone State tracks will sandwich two additional dates that are still to be announced.
Other highlights of the 2011 schedule include:
* An early-season tripleheader weekend in the Southeast, with events on March 25 at Ocala (Fla.) Speedway, March 26 at Screven Motor Speedway in Sylvania, Ga., and March 27 at Needmore Speedway in Norman Park, Ga. Ocala (2010) and Screven (2010 and 2009) have previously hosted the tour, while Needmore is new to the schedule.
* A Midwestern weekend to close out the month of April. The tour’s return engagement to Bluegrass Speedway in Bardstown, Ky., on April 30 anchors the doubleheader, which will visit a still-to-be-determined track the previous night.
* Spring dates on May 6 at Fayetteville (N.C.) Motor Speedway and May 7 at Swainsboro (Ga.) Raceway. The two tracks paired up on the WoO LMS schedule for the first time in 2010.
* The traditional spring midweek event at Delaware International Speedway in Delmar, which hosts the WoO LMS for the seventh time in eight years on Thurs., May 12. The trip to the First State will be followed by a first-ever visit to Winchester (Va.) Speedway on Sat., May 14.
* Beckley (W.Va.) Motor Speedway hosts the tour for the first time on Fri., May 27, as a lead-in to the Memorial Day weekend doubleheader at West Virginia Motor Speedway.
* A pre-Firecracker 100 event on Tues., June 21, at Brewerton (N.Y.) Speedway – the only WoO LMS event currently scheduled in the Empire State during the 2011 season.
* A midweek date on Wed., Aug. 3, at Shawano (Wis.) Speedway that precedes the USA Nationals. The WoO LMS appeared at the half-mile oval outside Green Bay last year for the first time since a 1989 event there during the first incarnation of the tour.
* A first-ever WoO LMS event at Winston Speedway in Rothbury, Mich., on Aug. 19. The race, which brings the tour to the Wolverine State for the first time since 2007, will be paired with another event on Aug. 20 that series officials will soon announce.
* Hartford (Mich.) Motor Speedway will host the tour for the first time on Sept. 16 – the eve of the Pepsi Nationals on Sept. 17 at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo., which has become a popular stop on the series itinerary.
Just five tracks are scheduled to host multiple WoO LMS A-Mains in 2011. Leading the group with three races apiece are Lernerville and The Dirt Track at Charlotte, which also presents the mid-week World of Outlaws Late Model Showdown on Oct. 12 at part of Charlotte Motor Speedway’s NASCAR weekend; Volusia, West Virginia Motor and Tri-City will also hold two events each as single-visit doubleheaders.
The series is currently scheduled to visit six tracks for the first time.
WoO LMS officials expect to announce additional dates in the near future.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.
CONCORD, NC - Dec. 10, 2010 - An exciting mix of stalwart tracks, new venues and lucrative, high-profile events will comprise the 2011 World of Outlaws Late Model Series schedule, which was released on Friday during the Performance Racing Industry trade show in Orlando, Fla.
Forty events covering 46 race dates at 33 tracks in 20 states are currently confirmed as part of the national tour’s 2011 slate, including a half-dozen extra-distance blockbusters highlighted by the $50,000-to-win USA Nationals on Aug. 5-6 at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis., the fifth annual Firecracker 100 on June 23-25 at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa., and the second annual Commonwealth 100 on April 15-16 at Virginia Motor Speedway in Jamaica, Va.
The eighth consecutive WoO LMS season under the World Racing Group banner kicks off on Feb. 17 and 19 with a pair of 50-lap A-Mains during the 40th annual DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla. It will conclude for the fifth straight year with the World of Outlaws World Finals on Nov. 3-5 at The Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, N.C.
“Another spectacular year of World of Outlaws Late Model Series action is in store for fans across the country,” said series director Tim Christman. “We’re proud to be working with some of dirt Late Model racing’s top racetrack operators to provide teams and spectators a schedule that’s filled with thrilling, can’t-miss events from February through November.
“As the dramatic 2010 battle for the World of Outlaws championship proved, every lap of every race counts. There’s no doubt fans are going to once again see the sport’s best drivers racing all-out every night in search of that big $100,000 prize that’s waiting for the champion.”
Christman said he expects to add at least five more events to the schedule released on Friday, potentially pushing the total number of races and host tracks in 2011 to historic high-water marks. The WoO LMS currently boasts alltime single-season highs of 44 A-Mains (2007 and 2010) and 38 different tracks (2010).
The centerpiece of the WoO LMS’s attractive special-event schedule remains Cedar Lake Speedway’s 100-lap USA Nationals on Aug. 5-6. The crown-jewel program, which returned to the WoO LMS schedule last year for the fifth time overall in its 24-year history, holds the status as the richest race on the ’11 sked with a purse of nearly a quarter-million dollars.
Lernerville’s fast-growing Firecracker 100, meanwhile, will again boast three full nights of competition after its popular expansion in 2010. The early-summer festival of speed at the sparkling four-tenths-mile oval kicks off with 30-lap, $6,000-to-win preliminary features on Thurs., June 23, and Fri., June 24, before ending with the traditional 100-lap headliner offering $30,000 for first place on Sat., June 25.
Returning to the WoO LMS slate after a successful debut in 2010 is the Commonwealth 100 at Virginia Motor Speedway, a $25,000-to-win springtime biggie set for April 15-16. The event at Bill Sawyer’s pristine half-mile oval carries the third-largest winner’s share on the 2011 schedule.
The list of century-grind events also includes the fourth annual Illini 100, which moves to La Salle (Ill.) Speedway on April 1-2 after three seasons at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway; an inaugural early-season 100-lapper on March 18-19 at Columbus (Miss.) Speedway, which hosts the WoO LMS for the first time since 2007; and the brand-new ‘Outlaw Sizzler 101’ on July 2-3 at Tazewell (Tenn.) Speedway, which will dominate the Independence Day weekend landscape by presenting its biggest dirt Late Model race ever. All three races will pay $20,000 to win.
Other multi-day programs featured in 2011 include February’s DIRTcar Nationals by UNOH; the RaceFest World Championships on May 28-29 at West Virginia Motor Speedway in Mineral Wells, which will reprise its successful ’10 Memorial Day weekend program with a 30-lap A-Main for $8,000 to win on Saturday night and a 40-lap headliner offering a $10,000 top prize on Sunday evening; the Oil Region Labor Day Classic on Sept. 3-4 at Tri-City Speedway in Franklin, Pa. (two 50-lap, $10,000-to-win cards for the sixth consecutive year); and the World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, which will pack the house for a season-ending tripleheader weekend on Nov. 3-5 that also includes the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and the Super DIRTcar Series for big-block Modifieds.
The season’s longest – and perhaps most critical – swing will be mid-July’s ‘Wild West Tour,’ which expands to an ambitious stretch of at least seven races over a 12-day period after being condensed to a more modest four events over consecutive nights in 2010. After the western trek kicks off with a Sooner State doubleheader at Outlaw Motor Speedway in Muskogee, Okla. (July 8) and Tri-State Speedway in Picola, Okla. (July 9) – the tour’s first visit to Outlaw since 2004 and Tri-State since 2005 – successive races will be contested on July 12 at Independence (Iowa) Motor Speedway (first-ever WoO LMS event); July 13 at Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn. (the ‘Gopher 50’ makes it seventh straight appearance on the series); July 14 at Superior (Wis.) Speedway, which hosted the tour for the first time in 2010; July 15 at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D. (sixth straight year on the schedule); and July 19 at Gillette (Wyo.) Thunder Speedway, which returns to the tour after a one-year hiatus.
The WoO LMS will close out the busy month of July with another regional swing that begins on July 27 at Central PA Speedway in Clearfield, Pa., and ends on July 31 at Eriez Speedway in Hammett, Pa. The Keystone State tracks will sandwich two additional dates that are still to be announced.
Other highlights of the 2011 schedule include:
* An early-season tripleheader weekend in the Southeast, with events on March 25 at Ocala (Fla.) Speedway, March 26 at Screven Motor Speedway in Sylvania, Ga., and March 27 at Needmore Speedway in Norman Park, Ga. Ocala (2010) and Screven (2010 and 2009) have previously hosted the tour, while Needmore is new to the schedule.
* A Midwestern weekend to close out the month of April. The tour’s return engagement to Bluegrass Speedway in Bardstown, Ky., on April 30 anchors the doubleheader, which will visit a still-to-be-determined track the previous night.
* Spring dates on May 6 at Fayetteville (N.C.) Motor Speedway and May 7 at Swainsboro (Ga.) Raceway. The two tracks paired up on the WoO LMS schedule for the first time in 2010.
* The traditional spring midweek event at Delaware International Speedway in Delmar, which hosts the WoO LMS for the seventh time in eight years on Thurs., May 12. The trip to the First State will be followed by a first-ever visit to Winchester (Va.) Speedway on Sat., May 14.
* Beckley (W.Va.) Motor Speedway hosts the tour for the first time on Fri., May 27, as a lead-in to the Memorial Day weekend doubleheader at West Virginia Motor Speedway.
* A pre-Firecracker 100 event on Tues., June 21, at Brewerton (N.Y.) Speedway – the only WoO LMS event currently scheduled in the Empire State during the 2011 season.
* A midweek date on Wed., Aug. 3, at Shawano (Wis.) Speedway that precedes the USA Nationals. The WoO LMS appeared at the half-mile oval outside Green Bay last year for the first time since a 1989 event there during the first incarnation of the tour.
* A first-ever WoO LMS event at Winston Speedway in Rothbury, Mich., on Aug. 19. The race, which brings the tour to the Wolverine State for the first time since 2007, will be paired with another event on Aug. 20 that series officials will soon announce.
* Hartford (Mich.) Motor Speedway will host the tour for the first time on Sept. 16 – the eve of the Pepsi Nationals on Sept. 17 at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo., which has become a popular stop on the series itinerary.
Just five tracks are scheduled to host multiple WoO LMS A-Mains in 2011. Leading the group with three races apiece are Lernerville and The Dirt Track at Charlotte, which also presents the mid-week World of Outlaws Late Model Showdown on Oct. 12 at part of Charlotte Motor Speedway’s NASCAR weekend; Volusia, West Virginia Motor and Tri-City will also hold two events each as single-visit doubleheaders.
The series is currently scheduled to visit six tracks for the first time.
WoO LMS officials expect to announce additional dates in the near future.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Teen Phenom Coming to Race in Grand Rapids
Chase Elliott, 15, among confirmed competitors for Arena Racing's AMP Energy 150 at DeltaPlex
Steve Kaminski
The Grand Rapids Press
West Michigan stock car racing fans saw just how talented Chase Elliott is when the teenage sensation competed at the Berlin Raceway this past spring.
Fans will get a second look at the 15-year-old rising star next month.
Arena Racing of Grand Rapids officials announced Thursday that Elliott will participate in the AMP Energy Drink 150 at the DeltaPlex Arena in Walker.
Elliott, the son of 1988 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Bill Elliott, was runner-up in Berlin’s June 17 CRA Super Series Rowdy’s Revenge 251 to Kyle Busch.
Elliott’s competed in 12 races in 2010, including the prestigious Winchester 400. He also won this past weekend’s Snowflake 100 at 5 Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla.
“It is good to see someone like Chase and the Aaron’s team starting their 2011 with us here at Arena Racing Grand Rapids,” said race director Jack Gritter in a press release. “With $1,000 to win the feature and the fact that we are allowing both Arena cars and Mini Cup cars to participate, it should be a great night of racing for everyone.
“We also have the Quarter Midgets racing so you will see a lot of racing from both young and old that night.”
Arena Racing officials announced this past October that it was canceling its third season of competition. However, drivers and officials have worked together to bring racing back for the Jan. 8 special event. In addition, a title sponsor in AMP Energy Drink has been secured for the program.
“We are excited to announce that Pepsi will sponsor the Jan. 8 race with their energy drink AMP,” said Arena Racing general manager Peter Jackson.
Tickets are available for $10 and can be purchased at the DeltaPlex box office or online at ticketmaster.com. Race cars also are available. Contact Jackson at (616) 364-9000 for more information.
Steve Kaminski
The Grand Rapids Press
West Michigan stock car racing fans saw just how talented Chase Elliott is when the teenage sensation competed at the Berlin Raceway this past spring.
Fans will get a second look at the 15-year-old rising star next month.
Arena Racing of Grand Rapids officials announced Thursday that Elliott will participate in the AMP Energy Drink 150 at the DeltaPlex Arena in Walker.
Elliott, the son of 1988 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Bill Elliott, was runner-up in Berlin’s June 17 CRA Super Series Rowdy’s Revenge 251 to Kyle Busch.
Elliott’s competed in 12 races in 2010, including the prestigious Winchester 400. He also won this past weekend’s Snowflake 100 at 5 Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla.
“It is good to see someone like Chase and the Aaron’s team starting their 2011 with us here at Arena Racing Grand Rapids,” said race director Jack Gritter in a press release. “With $1,000 to win the feature and the fact that we are allowing both Arena cars and Mini Cup cars to participate, it should be a great night of racing for everyone.
“We also have the Quarter Midgets racing so you will see a lot of racing from both young and old that night.”
Arena Racing officials announced this past October that it was canceling its third season of competition. However, drivers and officials have worked together to bring racing back for the Jan. 8 special event. In addition, a title sponsor in AMP Energy Drink has been secured for the program.
“We are excited to announce that Pepsi will sponsor the Jan. 8 race with their energy drink AMP,” said Arena Racing general manager Peter Jackson.
Tickets are available for $10 and can be purchased at the DeltaPlex box office or online at ticketmaster.com. Race cars also are available. Contact Jackson at (616) 364-9000 for more information.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Eighth Annual Michigan Short Track Racing Club Bowling Tournament is Set
Eighth Annual Michigan Short Track Racing Club Bowling Tournament is Set
Event Raises Money for Racing Families in Need
The Michigan Short Track Racing Club (MSTRC) is proud to announce details regarding the 8th annual MSTRC Bowling Tournament! The widely popular fundraising and short track racing event will once again be held at the immaculate Capitol Bowl in downtown Owosso, Michigan on Saturday, February 12th, 2011.
The annual bowling tournament and bench racing extravaganza for the short track racing community in the state of Michigan was started in 2004 as a way for the racing community in the great auto racing state of Michigan to get together over the winter and bowl for a great cause.
The MSTRC Bowling Tournament is now one of the biggest fundraisers dedicated to the short track racing industry in the State of Michigan for racing families in need. This year's tournament will once again benefit two well known family members of the racing community in the Great Lakes State.
The first beneficiary of the 8th annual MSTRC Bowling Tournament will be Brock Cogswell, a regular Super Late Models competitor at the 3/8s (0.375) mile semi-banked dirt oval of the Crystal Motor Speedway in Crystal, Michigan. The Davisburg, Michigan driver was involved in an on track accident which resulted in him breaking his foot and ankle. Since the accident, Cogswell has been unable to work due to complications from those injuries.
The second beneficiary will be Dick LaPratt, a former Modifieds competitor at the 1/4 (0.250) mile semi-banked paved oval of the Spartan Speedway in Mason, Michigan. LaPratt, who resides in Mason, worked at the Lansing Board of Water and Light and over the years, has had significant Shoulder Problems which has required Two surgeries. Later, more serious concerns with such problems as Lung Problems and Kidney Failure have slowed LaPratt.
The 8th annual MSTRC Bowling Tournament will begin with Sign In and Lane Assignments at "High Noon" 12:00p.m., with Optional "Hot Laps" / Practice beginning at 12:30p.m. Practice will end at 1:15p.m. Then after the random drawing for partners, followed by an Invocation and National Anthem, bowling will start at approximately 1:30p.m.
A $10.00 donation is all it costs to join in on the fun and all participants will bowl Two (2) Games. Participants don't even have to bowl with their partner! Everyone can still bowl with the group you came with on one or more lanes.
In addition, you don't even have to bowl to participate! Everyone is encouraged to come out and support this annual event. Their will be numerous door prizes to be given away throughout the afternoon as well as 50/50 drawings and several special prizes to be distributed.
Following the bowling tournament, the MSTRC Bowling Tournament Awards Ceremony will be held approximately 45-60 minutes after the completion of Bowling in the bowling alleys' adjacent lounge, "The Capitol Bowl Hot Spot."
After the Awards Ceremony, the ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards 2011 Season Opener, the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 will be shown live on SPEED from Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida on the surrounding televisions throughout the massive bowling alley and inside the Capitol Bowl Hot Spot. Then later in the evening, the Budweiser Shootout for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will be LIVE on the televisions as well!
Capitol Bowl is located at 219 South Washington Street behind the J.C. Penny's store and Roma's Back Door Pizzeria and directly across the street from Jumbo's Bar and Grill in Downtown Owosso, Michigan. For more information about Capitol Bowl and the surrounding downtown attractions as well as hotel accommodations, log onto their website at: www.capitolbowl.net
During the seventh edition of the tournament back on February 13th, 2010, Capitol Bowl was once again packed as the tournament benefitted two family members of the racing community; Jake Dickman of the Mt. Pleasant Speedway in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan and Alan Taft of A.T. Racing Engines in Ovid, Michigan.
As for the award winners of the 7th annual MSTRC Bowling Tournament, Kris Hudson and Jeremy Kelley were crowned the overall winners as they combined to roll a 716 in the two games bowled to win the Team High Series Award over Erin Kline and Matt Prieur, who finished just nine pins behind with a 707.
For the individual award winners, Ed Inloes rolled the highest game of the tournament with a 245 to win the Men's High Game while Denny Smith won the Men's High Series title with a 457 series. For the women, Erin Kline was the most successful bowler of the entire tournament as she finished second with her partner, Matt Prieur in the Team High Series. She was the winner of the Women's High Game Award with a 237 and she also rolled a high series of 411.
In MSTRC Bowling Tournament tradition however, no one bowler can win more than one award, so Teresa Beckner was awarded the Women's High Series trophy with a 396 series to keep the streak alive of a Beckner winning at least one award in the Bowling Tournament at four consecutive years.
Arlee Jenkins picked up the Greg Yost Memorial Never Give Up Award for rolling a "new record low" game of a 40. The award was renamed the Greg Yost Memorial Never Give Up Award in 2009 in honor of the late Greg Yost, a benefactor during the 3rd annual tournament, who passed away in August of 2006.
Dave and Eldora Howe of Beacon Sales and Service in Charlotte, Michigan were the winners of the 2009 / 2010 Chris Throgmartin Dedication and Spirit Award for their continuous efforts and support of weekly short track racing in Michigan.
"Team Big Mouth" took home the special Traveling Team Award pitting them against Team Gone Fishin. Team Big Mouth consisted of; Ed Inloes, Dave Kennedy, Matt Prieur, Shaun Whitney, and Roger Williams. Members of Team Gone Fishin included; Brandon Curtis, Chuck Darling, Brian Howey, Ken Shook, and Kyle Trinklein. Team Big Mouth won the special Five-Man Team Award as they defeated Team Gone Fishin 1454-1260 to take home the Special Traveling "We Whipped Your A$$ Award for the fourth year in a row.
The MSTRC Bowling Tournament was started in 2004 and for the first three years, was held at Nic's Restaurant & Bowl (Formerly Tri-Ami Lanes) in Ovid, Michigan. In 2007, a decision was made to move the tournament to a bigger facility and the newly renovated Capitol Bowl in downtown Owosso, Michigan and since then, Capitol Bowl has been the home of the MSTRC Bowling Tournament and will continue to be for the foreseeable future.
Past beneficiaries of the MSTRC Bowling Tournament include; Buck Harsen (2004), Michael Putnam (2005), the Crook Family (2005), the Bouwman Family (2006), the late Greg Yost (2006), Verwayne Greenhoe (2007), the Persails Family (2007), Chad Faur (2008), Matt Schindewolf (2008), the Newman Family (2009), Daniel "Doc" Dutton (2009), Jake Dickman (2010), and Alan Taft (2010).
As in years past, the beneficiaries were decided on by the membership of the Michigan Short Track Racing Club as Nominations were presented on the MSTRC message board and decided on by the senior members of the MSTRC Bowling Tournament Committee. That committee consists of; Brenda and Chuck Darling, Linda and Ed Inloes, Elaine and Matt Prieur, and Verwayne Greenhoe.
For more information about the 8th annual MSTRC Bowling Tournament, and to make a donation to the tournament with door prizes, or if you can't make it to the tournament and would like to donate anyways; Please e-mail the following committee members;
For MSTRC Founder, Chuck Darling, you can e-mail him at; mstrc_ceo88@yahoo.com For MSTRC President, Verwayne Greenhoe, you can e-mail him at: bmoc66@gmail.com For Ed Inloes, his e-mail address is; gb48507@yahoo.com and for Matt Prieur, you can reach him at: mprieur@mph-promotions.com
You can also log onto the Michigan Short Track Racing Club Website at: www.mstrc.com Then click on "Michigan Auto Racing Discussion" and scroll down for the Thread titled "Official 8th annual MSTRC Bowling Tournament Information"
Event Raises Money for Racing Families in Need
The Michigan Short Track Racing Club (MSTRC) is proud to announce details regarding the 8th annual MSTRC Bowling Tournament! The widely popular fundraising and short track racing event will once again be held at the immaculate Capitol Bowl in downtown Owosso, Michigan on Saturday, February 12th, 2011.
The annual bowling tournament and bench racing extravaganza for the short track racing community in the state of Michigan was started in 2004 as a way for the racing community in the great auto racing state of Michigan to get together over the winter and bowl for a great cause.
The MSTRC Bowling Tournament is now one of the biggest fundraisers dedicated to the short track racing industry in the State of Michigan for racing families in need. This year's tournament will once again benefit two well known family members of the racing community in the Great Lakes State.
The first beneficiary of the 8th annual MSTRC Bowling Tournament will be Brock Cogswell, a regular Super Late Models competitor at the 3/8s (0.375) mile semi-banked dirt oval of the Crystal Motor Speedway in Crystal, Michigan. The Davisburg, Michigan driver was involved in an on track accident which resulted in him breaking his foot and ankle. Since the accident, Cogswell has been unable to work due to complications from those injuries.
The second beneficiary will be Dick LaPratt, a former Modifieds competitor at the 1/4 (0.250) mile semi-banked paved oval of the Spartan Speedway in Mason, Michigan. LaPratt, who resides in Mason, worked at the Lansing Board of Water and Light and over the years, has had significant Shoulder Problems which has required Two surgeries. Later, more serious concerns with such problems as Lung Problems and Kidney Failure have slowed LaPratt.
The 8th annual MSTRC Bowling Tournament will begin with Sign In and Lane Assignments at "High Noon" 12:00p.m., with Optional "Hot Laps" / Practice beginning at 12:30p.m. Practice will end at 1:15p.m. Then after the random drawing for partners, followed by an Invocation and National Anthem, bowling will start at approximately 1:30p.m.
A $10.00 donation is all it costs to join in on the fun and all participants will bowl Two (2) Games. Participants don't even have to bowl with their partner! Everyone can still bowl with the group you came with on one or more lanes.
In addition, you don't even have to bowl to participate! Everyone is encouraged to come out and support this annual event. Their will be numerous door prizes to be given away throughout the afternoon as well as 50/50 drawings and several special prizes to be distributed.
Following the bowling tournament, the MSTRC Bowling Tournament Awards Ceremony will be held approximately 45-60 minutes after the completion of Bowling in the bowling alleys' adjacent lounge, "The Capitol Bowl Hot Spot."
After the Awards Ceremony, the ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards 2011 Season Opener, the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 will be shown live on SPEED from Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida on the surrounding televisions throughout the massive bowling alley and inside the Capitol Bowl Hot Spot. Then later in the evening, the Budweiser Shootout for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will be LIVE on the televisions as well!
Capitol Bowl is located at 219 South Washington Street behind the J.C. Penny's store and Roma's Back Door Pizzeria and directly across the street from Jumbo's Bar and Grill in Downtown Owosso, Michigan. For more information about Capitol Bowl and the surrounding downtown attractions as well as hotel accommodations, log onto their website at: www.capitolbowl.net
During the seventh edition of the tournament back on February 13th, 2010, Capitol Bowl was once again packed as the tournament benefitted two family members of the racing community; Jake Dickman of the Mt. Pleasant Speedway in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan and Alan Taft of A.T. Racing Engines in Ovid, Michigan.
As for the award winners of the 7th annual MSTRC Bowling Tournament, Kris Hudson and Jeremy Kelley were crowned the overall winners as they combined to roll a 716 in the two games bowled to win the Team High Series Award over Erin Kline and Matt Prieur, who finished just nine pins behind with a 707.
For the individual award winners, Ed Inloes rolled the highest game of the tournament with a 245 to win the Men's High Game while Denny Smith won the Men's High Series title with a 457 series. For the women, Erin Kline was the most successful bowler of the entire tournament as she finished second with her partner, Matt Prieur in the Team High Series. She was the winner of the Women's High Game Award with a 237 and she also rolled a high series of 411.
In MSTRC Bowling Tournament tradition however, no one bowler can win more than one award, so Teresa Beckner was awarded the Women's High Series trophy with a 396 series to keep the streak alive of a Beckner winning at least one award in the Bowling Tournament at four consecutive years.
Arlee Jenkins picked up the Greg Yost Memorial Never Give Up Award for rolling a "new record low" game of a 40. The award was renamed the Greg Yost Memorial Never Give Up Award in 2009 in honor of the late Greg Yost, a benefactor during the 3rd annual tournament, who passed away in August of 2006.
Dave and Eldora Howe of Beacon Sales and Service in Charlotte, Michigan were the winners of the 2009 / 2010 Chris Throgmartin Dedication and Spirit Award for their continuous efforts and support of weekly short track racing in Michigan.
"Team Big Mouth" took home the special Traveling Team Award pitting them against Team Gone Fishin. Team Big Mouth consisted of; Ed Inloes, Dave Kennedy, Matt Prieur, Shaun Whitney, and Roger Williams. Members of Team Gone Fishin included; Brandon Curtis, Chuck Darling, Brian Howey, Ken Shook, and Kyle Trinklein. Team Big Mouth won the special Five-Man Team Award as they defeated Team Gone Fishin 1454-1260 to take home the Special Traveling "We Whipped Your A$$ Award for the fourth year in a row.
The MSTRC Bowling Tournament was started in 2004 and for the first three years, was held at Nic's Restaurant & Bowl (Formerly Tri-Ami Lanes) in Ovid, Michigan. In 2007, a decision was made to move the tournament to a bigger facility and the newly renovated Capitol Bowl in downtown Owosso, Michigan and since then, Capitol Bowl has been the home of the MSTRC Bowling Tournament and will continue to be for the foreseeable future.
Past beneficiaries of the MSTRC Bowling Tournament include; Buck Harsen (2004), Michael Putnam (2005), the Crook Family (2005), the Bouwman Family (2006), the late Greg Yost (2006), Verwayne Greenhoe (2007), the Persails Family (2007), Chad Faur (2008), Matt Schindewolf (2008), the Newman Family (2009), Daniel "Doc" Dutton (2009), Jake Dickman (2010), and Alan Taft (2010).
As in years past, the beneficiaries were decided on by the membership of the Michigan Short Track Racing Club as Nominations were presented on the MSTRC message board and decided on by the senior members of the MSTRC Bowling Tournament Committee. That committee consists of; Brenda and Chuck Darling, Linda and Ed Inloes, Elaine and Matt Prieur, and Verwayne Greenhoe.
For more information about the 8th annual MSTRC Bowling Tournament, and to make a donation to the tournament with door prizes, or if you can't make it to the tournament and would like to donate anyways; Please e-mail the following committee members;
For MSTRC Founder, Chuck Darling, you can e-mail him at; mstrc_ceo88@yahoo.com For MSTRC President, Verwayne Greenhoe, you can e-mail him at: bmoc66@gmail.com For Ed Inloes, his e-mail address is; gb48507@yahoo.com and for Matt Prieur, you can reach him at: mprieur@mph-promotions.com
You can also log onto the Michigan Short Track Racing Club Website at: www.mstrc.com Then click on "Michigan Auto Racing Discussion" and scroll down for the Thread titled "Official 8th annual MSTRC Bowling Tournament Information"
Monday, December 6, 2010
West Michigan drivers Mike Garvey, Johnny VanDoorn compete in 43rd Snowball Derby
Steve Kaminski The Grand Rapids Press
West Michigan stock car drivers Mike Garvey and Johnny VanDoorn barely qualified for Sunday’s 43rd annual Snowball Derby, but the two sure had an impact once the green flag dropped.
Garvey, a 48-year-old Muskegon native, finished 12th in the prestigious Super Late Model 300-lap race at 5 Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla., while VanDoorn, of Coopersville, took 18th.
Johanna Long, an 18-year old high school student from Pensacola, won the race on the half-mile short-track after surviving a series of late-race cautions.
Garvey, whose career includes stints in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck divisions, started 35th in the 37-car field after receiving a provisional starting spot. Garvey led the race with 70 laps to go when Bubba Pollard slipped by him, and he never regained the lead.
Garvey, who grew up racing at Muskegon tracks as well as Berlin Raceway in Marne, now resides in McDonough, Ga. He eventually dropped out of the top 10 Sunday after becoming involving in a number of late incidents.
VanDoorn, 22, started 34th, and he had to race his way into the field via Saturday’s 50-lap last chance race. Saturday’s top-four finishers advanced to Sunday’s main, and VanDoorn passed Stephen McCurley with two laps to go to qualify for his first Snowball Derby.
VanDoorn who won his second consecutive CRA Super Series championship this fall, drove his way up to 17th in Sunday’s first 80 laps. VanDoorn continued to climb. He was running 11th near the halfway point when he was forced to the pits due to mechanical problems. VanDoorn eventually returned to the race but lost a number of laps on pit road.
Past Snowball Derby winners include Kyle Busch, Darrell Waltrip and Donnie Allison. Long became the second female to win the race and the first since Tammy Jo Kirk took the checkered flag in 1994.
Long took the lead away from Landon Cassill with two laps to go.
"It is absolutely amazing,” Long said on Speed51.com’s post-race coverage. “I can’t believe I did it. We worked so hard for this and we did it.”
Long made contact with Cassill when making the late-race pass. The two said after the race that there were no hard feelings.
Cassill eventually finished second.
“I was on old tires and she was on new tires, so I have nothing to be mad about,” Cassill said. “She did a great job, and I’m just real proud to be in the top five here.”
West Michigan stock car drivers Mike Garvey and Johnny VanDoorn barely qualified for Sunday’s 43rd annual Snowball Derby, but the two sure had an impact once the green flag dropped.
Garvey, a 48-year-old Muskegon native, finished 12th in the prestigious Super Late Model 300-lap race at 5 Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla., while VanDoorn, of Coopersville, took 18th.
Johanna Long, an 18-year old high school student from Pensacola, won the race on the half-mile short-track after surviving a series of late-race cautions.
Garvey, whose career includes stints in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck divisions, started 35th in the 37-car field after receiving a provisional starting spot. Garvey led the race with 70 laps to go when Bubba Pollard slipped by him, and he never regained the lead.
Garvey, who grew up racing at Muskegon tracks as well as Berlin Raceway in Marne, now resides in McDonough, Ga. He eventually dropped out of the top 10 Sunday after becoming involving in a number of late incidents.
VanDoorn, 22, started 34th, and he had to race his way into the field via Saturday’s 50-lap last chance race. Saturday’s top-four finishers advanced to Sunday’s main, and VanDoorn passed Stephen McCurley with two laps to go to qualify for his first Snowball Derby.
VanDoorn who won his second consecutive CRA Super Series championship this fall, drove his way up to 17th in Sunday’s first 80 laps. VanDoorn continued to climb. He was running 11th near the halfway point when he was forced to the pits due to mechanical problems. VanDoorn eventually returned to the race but lost a number of laps on pit road.
Past Snowball Derby winners include Kyle Busch, Darrell Waltrip and Donnie Allison. Long became the second female to win the race and the first since Tammy Jo Kirk took the checkered flag in 1994.
Long took the lead away from Landon Cassill with two laps to go.
"It is absolutely amazing,” Long said on Speed51.com’s post-race coverage. “I can’t believe I did it. We worked so hard for this and we did it.”
Long made contact with Cassill when making the late-race pass. The two said after the race that there were no hard feelings.
Cassill eventually finished second.
“I was on old tires and she was on new tires, so I have nothing to be mad about,” Cassill said. “She did a great job, and I’m just real proud to be in the top five here.”
Garvey Survives Snowball Demolition
Crashes snarl race
Jamie Secola • jsecola@pnj.com •
December 6, 2010
The 43rd Annual Snowball Derby started with a field of 37 cars.
When Johanna Long took the checkered flag, there were just 12 left.
But that's the treacherous nature of the Derby, the most prestigious and competitive short-track race in the country.
Wreck after wreck, breakdown after breakdown, drivers were picked off one by one in a race that saw 16 cautions. Some, like former Derby champ Dave Mader III, fell victim to faulty equipment. Some, like 2005 champion Eddie Mercer, saw their title chances wrecked with a totaled vehicle.
Some, like Mike Garvey, were outdone by aggressive driving. "It was a rough race, to put it mildly," said Mike Garvey, who led the Derby twice for a total of 55 laps and was involved in a handful of cautions. "To win, I think you should pass people and not run over them."
Even so, Garvey was one of the lucky ones. He actually finished the race at the half-mile track, where the field of 37 covers about half of the available real estate.
One of the most heartbreaking wrecks occurred on Lap 298. Chase Elliott, the 15-year-old Super Late Model phenom and son of NASCAR legend Bill Elliott, had fallen toward the middle of the field after leading for 63 laps. He slowly was making his way back toward the front when Landon Cassill spun him into a wall. Elliott — who won the Snowflake 100 on Friday — didn't return.
The same thing happened to Augie Grill, another favorite and two-time Derby champion, when he slowed for a wreck and was hit from behind.
"It's a 300-lap race, and drivers have to manage their equipment and their cars, and most of them did in the beginning," said Tim Bryant, owner of Five Flags. "But when the laps start winding down, there's a little less caution and drivers bear down a little more."
That showed in the final 38 laps, which saw seven cautions that slimmed the field from 18 down to its final 12. Bubba Pollard, who was second in laps led with 59, was one of the drivers who wrecked toward the end when he was spun out by Donnie Wilson, who finished second.
"We had a real good car," said Pollard, a regular at Five Flags. "(Wilson) usually races me pretty clean. I knew he was good. I guess he just couldn't wait any longer to pass me. It's just disappointing."
In last year's Derby, only 13 drivers were still running at the race's completion. This year, even out of the 12 that did finish, not one car escaped damage.
"At this level, guys are racing hard," said race director Dan Spence. "A lot of times, a guy gets spun because he tries to block."
"In this race, we had guys competing from 18 different states and Canada," Spence added. "That has a lot to do with it (the wrecks) because the drivers aren't familiar with one another. Also, it's not a points race, and a win is strictly for the money and the glory."
Even Long caused some of the carnage, though not intentionally. When Long made a late move for third, she tried to get around Cassill at the same time as Grant Enfinger. Enfinger attempted to pass on the outside, while Long took the inside and clipped Cassill, spinning him on the back straightaway.
"She did a great job," said Cassill, who ended up finishing fourth. "I would have done the same thing. She had the faster car with newer tires. It was a good day. We were just trying to hang in there and be there at the end, and it almost worked."
Jamie Secola • jsecola@pnj.com •
December 6, 2010
The 43rd Annual Snowball Derby started with a field of 37 cars.
When Johanna Long took the checkered flag, there were just 12 left.
But that's the treacherous nature of the Derby, the most prestigious and competitive short-track race in the country.
Wreck after wreck, breakdown after breakdown, drivers were picked off one by one in a race that saw 16 cautions. Some, like former Derby champ Dave Mader III, fell victim to faulty equipment. Some, like 2005 champion Eddie Mercer, saw their title chances wrecked with a totaled vehicle.
Some, like Mike Garvey, were outdone by aggressive driving. "It was a rough race, to put it mildly," said Mike Garvey, who led the Derby twice for a total of 55 laps and was involved in a handful of cautions. "To win, I think you should pass people and not run over them."
Even so, Garvey was one of the lucky ones. He actually finished the race at the half-mile track, where the field of 37 covers about half of the available real estate.
One of the most heartbreaking wrecks occurred on Lap 298. Chase Elliott, the 15-year-old Super Late Model phenom and son of NASCAR legend Bill Elliott, had fallen toward the middle of the field after leading for 63 laps. He slowly was making his way back toward the front when Landon Cassill spun him into a wall. Elliott — who won the Snowflake 100 on Friday — didn't return.
The same thing happened to Augie Grill, another favorite and two-time Derby champion, when he slowed for a wreck and was hit from behind.
"It's a 300-lap race, and drivers have to manage their equipment and their cars, and most of them did in the beginning," said Tim Bryant, owner of Five Flags. "But when the laps start winding down, there's a little less caution and drivers bear down a little more."
That showed in the final 38 laps, which saw seven cautions that slimmed the field from 18 down to its final 12. Bubba Pollard, who was second in laps led with 59, was one of the drivers who wrecked toward the end when he was spun out by Donnie Wilson, who finished second.
"We had a real good car," said Pollard, a regular at Five Flags. "(Wilson) usually races me pretty clean. I knew he was good. I guess he just couldn't wait any longer to pass me. It's just disappointing."
In last year's Derby, only 13 drivers were still running at the race's completion. This year, even out of the 12 that did finish, not one car escaped damage.
"At this level, guys are racing hard," said race director Dan Spence. "A lot of times, a guy gets spun because he tries to block."
"In this race, we had guys competing from 18 different states and Canada," Spence added. "That has a lot to do with it (the wrecks) because the drivers aren't familiar with one another. Also, it's not a points race, and a win is strictly for the money and the glory."
Even Long caused some of the carnage, though not intentionally. When Long made a late move for third, she tried to get around Cassill at the same time as Grant Enfinger. Enfinger attempted to pass on the outside, while Long took the inside and clipped Cassill, spinning him on the back straightaway.
"She did a great job," said Cassill, who ended up finishing fourth. "I would have done the same thing. She had the faster car with newer tires. It was a good day. We were just trying to hang in there and be there at the end, and it almost worked."
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Johanna Long Wins Snowball Derby!
43rd Annual Snowball Derby Unofficial Results :
1. Johanna Long
2. Donnie Wilson
3. Scott Hantz
4. Landon Cassill
5. Dennis Schoenfeld
6. Derrick Griffin
7. Mason Mingus
8. Travis Kittleson
9. John Bolen
10. Jimmy Garmon
11. Bubba Pollard
12. Mike Garvey
13. David Stremme
14. Casey Smith
15. Dan Fredrickson
16. Casey Roderick
17. Chase Elliott
18. Johnny VanDoorn
19. Ross Kenseth
20. Grant Enfinger
21. Cale Gale
22. Andy Loden
23. Chris Davidson
24. Jeff Fultz
25. Josh Hamner
26. Ryan Sieg
27. David Ragan
28. Augie Grill
29. Jerry Artuso
30. Dennis Prunty
31. Clay Rogers
32. Korey Ruble
33. Brandon Carlson
34. Ryan Lawler
35. TJ Reaid
36. Dave Mader III
37. Eddie Mercer
1. Johanna Long
2. Donnie Wilson
3. Scott Hantz
4. Landon Cassill
5. Dennis Schoenfeld
6. Derrick Griffin
7. Mason Mingus
8. Travis Kittleson
9. John Bolen
10. Jimmy Garmon
11. Bubba Pollard
12. Mike Garvey
13. David Stremme
14. Casey Smith
15. Dan Fredrickson
16. Casey Roderick
17. Chase Elliott
18. Johnny VanDoorn
19. Ross Kenseth
20. Grant Enfinger
21. Cale Gale
22. Andy Loden
23. Chris Davidson
24. Jeff Fultz
25. Josh Hamner
26. Ryan Sieg
27. David Ragan
28. Augie Grill
29. Jerry Artuso
30. Dennis Prunty
31. Clay Rogers
32. Korey Ruble
33. Brandon Carlson
34. Ryan Lawler
35. TJ Reaid
36. Dave Mader III
37. Eddie Mercer
Listen to the Snowmobile Derby Live
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Dec 05, 2010 - Chase Elliot - Chases.. Catches... and WINS Allen Turnber Snowflake 100
Dec 05, 2010 - Chase Elliot - Chases.. Catches... and WINS Allen Turnber Snowflake 100
Chuck Corder
Watch closely. Chase Elliott is ready to amaze at any moment. A teenage sensation in every sense of the word, Elliott has only been racing for seven of his 15 years.
But each time he climbs into one of his trademark No. 9 cars, the improbable seems likely for the son of NASCAR legend Bill Elliott.
It happened again in the Snowflake 100 on Saturday night at Five Flags Speedway.
Elliott started 31st out of 36 cars. When it was over, he wildly swung the checkered flag above his head as water, Red Bull and the crowd’s roar washed over him.
“It really shows how hard we worked for this,” said Elliott, who assumed the lead on Lap 86. “To have as many problems today … and to comeback, I’m just thankful.”
Elliott started near the tail end of the field after winning one of two last-chance qualifiers earlier Saturday. That was only necessary after he was disqualified following qualifying because officials ruled the nose of his car was too low.
None of it mattered. In fact, some of Elliott’s rivals thought the afternoon race might have helped him.
“He saw what was working,” said Bubba Pollard, who moved from third to second after Landon Cassill was disqualified in post-race inspection. “He’s a good little race-car driver, though.”
The good little race-car driver methodically made his way from the back of the pack while Augie Grill comfortably led for more than 70 laps (7 to 78).Elliott began to lean on the throttle a little bit more at the midway point, as he cracked the top 10. Then, he just began embarrassing drivers, especially coming out of Turn 4 where he shined. He mowed down Pensacola’s Johanna Long, who finished a disappointing 13th after running in the top five early. He did away with today’s Snowball Derby polesitter Cale Gale. Before you knew it, Elliott was up to fifth by Lap 70.
“I don’t believe it. The longer it went, the better he got,” papa Bill said.
The younger Elliott caught a burst of speed on Dwayne Buggay for third on Lap 78. A lap later, Pollard past Grill for the lead, but the kid wasn’t far from making his final move.
“We had a good car; we just missed a little bit,” Pollard said. “I think I raced to hard at the beginning with Augie, but that’s how he races.” After being the class of the field early, Grill fell back to sixth by the Snowflake’s end.
Long felt the sting of defeat, too, because the handling of her car continued to get worse as the race rolled on. “It’s disappointing,” she said. “I expected so much.”
The expectations will culminate in today’s 43rd annual running of the Derby, America’s most prestigious short-track race. It has been, unquestionably, a messy weekend out at Five Flags with some vicious crashes.
The Pro Late Models, though, proved their mettle by running green for the opening 34 laps before the first yellow came out. Dillon Oliver nudged Pensacola’s Tommy Rollins into the Turn 2 wall. There was just one other yellow the rest of the way, as the race finished in a blazing time of right at an hour.
Nothing was as fast as Elliott, though. “I thought at one point we were too loose,” he said.
Too loose? Now, that’s amazing.
Snowflake 100 Results � 1. Chase Elliott; 2. Bubba Pollard; 3. Mike Garvey; 4. John Bolen; 5. Daniel Hemric; 6. Augie Grill; 7. Erik Jones; 8. Cale Gale; 9. Andy Pugh; 10. Kenzie Ruston; 11. D.J. VanderLey; 12. Johanna Long; 13. Matt Smith; 14. Brandon Bendele; 15. Cody Smith; 16. David Odell; 17. Jason Young; 18. Tony Clark; 19. Logan Boyett; 20. Shanna Ard; 21. Chuck Tuck; 22. Kyle Bryant; 23. Austin Kirkpatrick; 24. Dwayne Buggay; 25. Brandon Odom; 26. Hunter Robbins; 27. Kyle Benjamin; 28. Dillon Oliver; 29. Justin South; 30. Thomas Praytor; 31. Chris Davidson; 32. Scott Patton; 33. Tommy Rollins; 34. David Jones; 35. Robert Royce; DQ. Landon Cassill
Chuck Corder
Watch closely. Chase Elliott is ready to amaze at any moment. A teenage sensation in every sense of the word, Elliott has only been racing for seven of his 15 years.
But each time he climbs into one of his trademark No. 9 cars, the improbable seems likely for the son of NASCAR legend Bill Elliott.
It happened again in the Snowflake 100 on Saturday night at Five Flags Speedway.
Elliott started 31st out of 36 cars. When it was over, he wildly swung the checkered flag above his head as water, Red Bull and the crowd’s roar washed over him.
“It really shows how hard we worked for this,” said Elliott, who assumed the lead on Lap 86. “To have as many problems today … and to comeback, I’m just thankful.”
Elliott started near the tail end of the field after winning one of two last-chance qualifiers earlier Saturday. That was only necessary after he was disqualified following qualifying because officials ruled the nose of his car was too low.
None of it mattered. In fact, some of Elliott’s rivals thought the afternoon race might have helped him.
“He saw what was working,” said Bubba Pollard, who moved from third to second after Landon Cassill was disqualified in post-race inspection. “He’s a good little race-car driver, though.”
The good little race-car driver methodically made his way from the back of the pack while Augie Grill comfortably led for more than 70 laps (7 to 78).Elliott began to lean on the throttle a little bit more at the midway point, as he cracked the top 10. Then, he just began embarrassing drivers, especially coming out of Turn 4 where he shined. He mowed down Pensacola’s Johanna Long, who finished a disappointing 13th after running in the top five early. He did away with today’s Snowball Derby polesitter Cale Gale. Before you knew it, Elliott was up to fifth by Lap 70.
“I don’t believe it. The longer it went, the better he got,” papa Bill said.
The younger Elliott caught a burst of speed on Dwayne Buggay for third on Lap 78. A lap later, Pollard past Grill for the lead, but the kid wasn’t far from making his final move.
“We had a good car; we just missed a little bit,” Pollard said. “I think I raced to hard at the beginning with Augie, but that’s how he races.” After being the class of the field early, Grill fell back to sixth by the Snowflake’s end.
Long felt the sting of defeat, too, because the handling of her car continued to get worse as the race rolled on. “It’s disappointing,” she said. “I expected so much.”
The expectations will culminate in today’s 43rd annual running of the Derby, America’s most prestigious short-track race. It has been, unquestionably, a messy weekend out at Five Flags with some vicious crashes.
The Pro Late Models, though, proved their mettle by running green for the opening 34 laps before the first yellow came out. Dillon Oliver nudged Pensacola’s Tommy Rollins into the Turn 2 wall. There was just one other yellow the rest of the way, as the race finished in a blazing time of right at an hour.
Nothing was as fast as Elliott, though. “I thought at one point we were too loose,” he said.
Too loose? Now, that’s amazing.
Snowflake 100 Results � 1. Chase Elliott; 2. Bubba Pollard; 3. Mike Garvey; 4. John Bolen; 5. Daniel Hemric; 6. Augie Grill; 7. Erik Jones; 8. Cale Gale; 9. Andy Pugh; 10. Kenzie Ruston; 11. D.J. VanderLey; 12. Johanna Long; 13. Matt Smith; 14. Brandon Bendele; 15. Cody Smith; 16. David Odell; 17. Jason Young; 18. Tony Clark; 19. Logan Boyett; 20. Shanna Ard; 21. Chuck Tuck; 22. Kyle Bryant; 23. Austin Kirkpatrick; 24. Dwayne Buggay; 25. Brandon Odom; 26. Hunter Robbins; 27. Kyle Benjamin; 28. Dillon Oliver; 29. Justin South; 30. Thomas Praytor; 31. Chris Davidson; 32. Scott Patton; 33. Tommy Rollins; 34. David Jones; 35. Robert Royce; DQ. Landon Cassill
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Garvey Puts on a Show at Five Flags But So Does Chase Elliot
Muskegon's Mike Garvey started 26th tonight in the Snowflake 100 at Five Flags Speedway and charged all the way to a fourth place finish. While Garvey's efforts were good, Chase Elliot the son of former NASCAR Champion Bill Elliot were better. Elliot started 31st tonight and took the lead on lap 86 and never looked back. At the tender age of 14 Elliot looks to be the next big name in racing.
Full Unofficial Allen Turner Hyundai Snowflake 100 Finishing Order :
1. Chase Elliott
2. Landon Cassill
3. Bubba Pollard
4. Mike Garvey
5. John Bolen
6. Daniel Hemric
7. Augie Grill
8. Erik Jones
9. Cale Gale
10. Andy Pugh
11. Kenzie Ruston
12. DJ Vanderley
13. Johanna Long
14. Matt Smith
15. Brandon Bendele
16. Cody Smith
17. David Odell
18. Jason Young
19. Tony Clark
20. Logan Boyett
21. Shanna Ard
22. Chuck Tuck
23. Kyle Bryant
24. Austin Kirkpatrick
25. Dwayne Buggay
26. Brandon Odom
27. Hunter Robbins
28. Kyle Benjamin
29. Dillon Oliver
30. Justin South
31. Thomas Praytor
32. Chris Davidson
33. Scott Patton
34. Tommy Rollins
35. David Jones
36. Robert Royce
Full Unofficial Allen Turner Hyundai Snowflake 100 Finishing Order :
1. Chase Elliott
2. Landon Cassill
3. Bubba Pollard
4. Mike Garvey
5. John Bolen
6. Daniel Hemric
7. Augie Grill
8. Erik Jones
9. Cale Gale
10. Andy Pugh
11. Kenzie Ruston
12. DJ Vanderley
13. Johanna Long
14. Matt Smith
15. Brandon Bendele
16. Cody Smith
17. David Odell
18. Jason Young
19. Tony Clark
20. Logan Boyett
21. Shanna Ard
22. Chuck Tuck
23. Kyle Bryant
24. Austin Kirkpatrick
25. Dwayne Buggay
26. Brandon Odom
27. Hunter Robbins
28. Kyle Benjamin
29. Dillon Oliver
30. Justin South
31. Thomas Praytor
32. Chris Davidson
33. Scott Patton
34. Tommy Rollins
35. David Jones
36. Robert Royce
VanDoorn and Garvey Make Snowball Lineup: Barely
Both Coopersville's Johnny VanDoorn and Muskegon's Mike Garvey are in the show for the 43rd Annual Snowball Derby. Both Drivers did it the hard way. Garvey received a provisional based upon his Blizzard Series Points while VanDoorn raced his way in by finishing fourth in the Last Chance 50 lap event this evening. Vandoorn's spot was the final one to be taken. Of the 50 drivers who tried to qualify Friday night Garvey ranked 32nd and Vandoorn ranked 39th. The event starts at 3:00 PM Sunday.
43rd Annual Snowball Derby Unofficial Starting Line-up
1 83 Cale Gale Winston-Salem, NC
2 74 Ryan Lawler Colleyville, TX
3 2 John Bolen Jasper, AL
4 10 Johanna Long Pensacola, FL
5 82 Grant Enfinger Montrose, AL
6 97 Jimmy Garmon Hoschton, GA
7 82 Donnie Wilson Oklahoma City, OK
8 36 Dan Fredrickson Lakeville, MN
9 7 Landon Cassill Charlotte, NC
10 9 Chase Elliott Dawsonville, GA
11 47 Casey Roderick Lawrenceville, GA
12 51 TJ Reaid Acworth, GA
13 4 Derrick Griffin Indianpolis, IN
14 42 Dennis Prunty Knowles, WI
15 49 Josh Hamner Chelsea, AL
16 25 Ross Kenseth Spring Valley, IL
17 35 David Stremme Moorseville, NC
18 112 Augie Grill Hayden, AL
19 43 Dennis Schoenfeld Van Buren, AR
20 29 Andy Loden Stanley, AL
21 41 Chris Davidson Pearland, TX
22 72 Eddie Mercer Pensacola, FL
23 08 Bubba Pollard Senoia, GA
24 16 Korey Ruble Headland, AL
25 12 Travis Kittleson Marret Island, FL
26 21 Brandon Carlson Cantonment, FL
27 98 Mason Mingus Brentwood, TN
28 99 Casey Smith Austin, TX
29 5 David Ragan Unadilla, GA
30 18 Dave Mader III Irvington, AL
31 72 Scott Hantz Angola, IN
32 39 Ryan Sieg Tucker, GA
33 5 Jerry Artuso Sault Ste Marie, ON
34 61 Johnny VanDoorn Coopersville, MI
35 1 Mike Garvey McDonough, GA
36 67 Jeff Fultz Troutman, NC
37 2 Clay Rogers Troutman, NC
43rd Annual Snowball Derby Unofficial Starting Line-up
1 83 Cale Gale Winston-Salem, NC
2 74 Ryan Lawler Colleyville, TX
3 2 John Bolen Jasper, AL
4 10 Johanna Long Pensacola, FL
5 82 Grant Enfinger Montrose, AL
6 97 Jimmy Garmon Hoschton, GA
7 82 Donnie Wilson Oklahoma City, OK
8 36 Dan Fredrickson Lakeville, MN
9 7 Landon Cassill Charlotte, NC
10 9 Chase Elliott Dawsonville, GA
11 47 Casey Roderick Lawrenceville, GA
12 51 TJ Reaid Acworth, GA
13 4 Derrick Griffin Indianpolis, IN
14 42 Dennis Prunty Knowles, WI
15 49 Josh Hamner Chelsea, AL
16 25 Ross Kenseth Spring Valley, IL
17 35 David Stremme Moorseville, NC
18 112 Augie Grill Hayden, AL
19 43 Dennis Schoenfeld Van Buren, AR
20 29 Andy Loden Stanley, AL
21 41 Chris Davidson Pearland, TX
22 72 Eddie Mercer Pensacola, FL
23 08 Bubba Pollard Senoia, GA
24 16 Korey Ruble Headland, AL
25 12 Travis Kittleson Marret Island, FL
26 21 Brandon Carlson Cantonment, FL
27 98 Mason Mingus Brentwood, TN
28 99 Casey Smith Austin, TX
29 5 David Ragan Unadilla, GA
30 18 Dave Mader III Irvington, AL
31 72 Scott Hantz Angola, IN
32 39 Ryan Sieg Tucker, GA
33 5 Jerry Artuso Sault Ste Marie, ON
34 61 Johnny VanDoorn Coopersville, MI
35 1 Mike Garvey McDonough, GA
36 67 Jeff Fultz Troutman, NC
37 2 Clay Rogers Troutman, NC
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Schlenk’s Best-Laid Plan Results In 2010 DIRTcar UMP Late Model National Championship
Schlenk’s Best-Laid Plan Results In 2010 DIRTcar UMP Late Model National Championship
CONCORD, NC – Nov. 19, 2010 – Isn’t it great when the best-laid plan comes together?
So it was in 2010 for Rusty Schlenk, who during the off-season carefully crafted a strategy to pursue the DIRTcar UMP Late Model national title, executed it to perfection and won the prestigious $20,000 crown for the first time in his budding young career.
Schlenk, 24, of Jackson, Mich., expertly mastered the circuit’s points system, which uses drivers’ best 35 event ‘points nights’ – feature finish and car-count bonus points added together – to determine a champion. He jumped out to a big early lead in the standings and held on to the finish line, withstanding a late rally by defending national champ Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., to come out on top by a 31-point margin (2,798-2,767).
“My biggest goal at the beginning of the season was the national championship,” said Schlenk, who finished third in the 2009 DIRTcar UMP national points race. “I knew that in order to win it I’d have to stay halfway local. Instead of trying to run some big shows, we had to totally focus on running ALMS (the DIRTcar-sanctioned Sunoco American Late Model Series), Oakshade (Raceway in Wauseon, Ohio) and shows around home at tracks where we knew there would be good car counts and we knew we could run good.”
An owner-operator who carves out a living as a dirt Late Model driver despite racing on a limited budget, Schlenk smartly recognized that chasing the pot of gold at the end of the DIRTcar UMP rainbow would provide the maximum possible return on his motorsports investment. He just had to maintain a single-minded discipline throughout the season, refusing to deviate from a plan that eschewed most of the big-money events in his region in favor of gathering points at lower-profile races that better fit his program and would help push him toward a lucrative end-of-season payoff.
“UMP is the best thing for me,” asserted Schlenk, who accented his 2010 national title with a circuit-best 20 feature wins, a track championship at Oakshade and a third-place finish in the ALMS points race. “I know that as long as I stick to my gameplan and don’t stray too far from UMP (events), then at the end of the year I can probably be in the top-three (in the points standings) and I’ll have enough (points-fund) money to get me through the winter.
“I don’t know how many times this year I had to drive past a show that was paying five or six or 10-thousand to win to go somewhere else where I knew I could win and pick up points. Usually when I did do that I ended up winning so it made it O.K., but man, when you’re driving past the big show you’re saying, ‘I know I have a shot at winning that race. If I show up and everything goes my way, I could pocket 10-grand tonight.’
“I had to talk myself out of (entering big shows) quite a few times. I just kept thinking, ‘Stick to your plan, win a race, get those UMP points. That five- or 10-grand show might be good now, but it’s not gonna pay the bills at the end of the year.’ Our focus was on that big point-fund check (for winning the title) because the hard part about doing this for a living is getting through the winter when no money is coming in.”
Schlenk’s strategy drew a fair share of criticism from observers who felt he was talented enough to battle the sport’s heavyweights in major events held in his backyard, but he didn’t let the talk seduce him into taking his eye off the prize. He knew he ran the very real risk of overextending his program if he attempted to run more national-level shows.
“I know a lot of people kind of frowned on what we were doing, thought we were cherry-picking and this and that,” analyzed Schlenk. “But if you really sat down and looked at the equipment that I have and the budget that I have to race on, I really don’t consider how we raced cherry-picking.
“I had a lot of people say, ‘You have the best equipment and you need to be out there running these $10,000-to-win shows because you’re that caliber of driver.’ Well, I may be that caliber of driver, but I don’t have the funds behind me to gamble at a $10,000-to-win show. I’m doing it for a living on a limited budget, so I can’t gamble. If I go to those shows and don’t qualify I’m not making any money and I’m missing out on a chance for UMP points, so I gotta stick to what we can do.”
Schlenk gathered those DIRTcar UMP points at a furious clip during the season’s first half, building a lead of nearly 600 points in the national standings by mid-June. He needed virtually every bit of that cushion to stave off Feger, who roared from behind down the stretch after capturing the 2010 DIRTcar Summer Nationals points championship.
Feger closed within 31 points of Schlenk entering the final weekend of weekly points racing (Oct. 1-3), ramping up the pressure on Schlenk. But Feger needed an almost perfect weekend at Kankakee (Ill.) County Speedway to keep his hopes alive and couldn’t come through, allowing Schlenk to clinch the crown without the following weekend’s points-season-ending DIRTcar UMP Nationals at Eldora Speedway even factoring into the outcome.
“We knew with about six races to go that Feger had to about win everything up to the Nationals to beat us, but you know Feger – when he gets on a roll, he’s hard to stop,” said Schlenk, whose cars carried engines built by Dick Kercher of Roan, Ind. “He started getting on a roll (in late September) and I started getting a little nervous because we were struggling. We pulled off a few wins there at the end of the year with our new car, but I couldn’t put anything consistent together from night-to-night.
“The first half of the year saved me because the second half wasn’t too good,” he continued. “Luckily we had all our ducks in a row early in the season and clicked off quite a few wins. We were in the driver’s seat the first three-quarters of the year, but then we wrecked a (Rayburn) car we had been racing the whole year at I-96 (Speedway in Lake Odessa, Mich.) in mid-August and had to put a new car together to run the rest of the year.”
Schlenk never quite got his new machine running as consistently fast as his destroyed mount, but his body of work over the entire season was too superb for him to be denied. He earned the national title in a fashion that would have made late UMP founder Bob Memmer proud, not only winning weekly and ALMS events but also proving his ample skills with a pair of Summer Nationals victories over high-profile competition on July 14 at Kokomo (Ind.) Speedway and July 17 at Oakshade (a $10,000 score in the annual ‘Birthday Race’).
“Those Summer Nationals wins were highlights of the year for me, no doubt – especially Kokomo,” said Schlenk, who had never before captured a Summer Nationals A-Main. “Don’t get me wrong, I loved winning the ‘Birthday Race’ at Oakshade, but I’m good at Oakshade. I grew up racing there (since he was a teenager) and I kind of expect when those guys come in to be able to run top five, top three, and maybe have a chance to win. I don’t think I was quite surprised to win that one, but when we won Kokomo – man, there were a lot of good cars there and we were kind of on neutral ground. Winning that kind of proved to me – and hopefully proved to some of the fans and competitors – that I can run with them on any given night. As long as my funds are there for tires and stuff, I can compete with them.”
After starting the 2010 season with “$4,500 in the bank to race on for the year,” Schlenk will be depositing over $20,000 into his account (he also captured the DIRTcar UMP Ohio/Pennsylvania/Canada State points title) when he accepts his accolades during the DIRTcar UMP Awards Banquet on Jan. 8, 2011, in Springfield, Ill. That’s proof positive that his plan “worked out pretty good.”
And considering two other milestones that happened to Schlenk off the track, 2010 will certainly be a year he never forgets.
“I got married (on Jan. 1), had a kid (son Carter in August) and won the national championship all in the same year,” smiled Schlenk. “I’d say it’ll be pretty hard to top that.”
Ticket order forms for the annual DIRTcar UMP ‘Night of Champions’ Awards Banquet on Jan. 8, 2011, at the Crown Plaza in Springfield, Ill., are available on-line at www.dirtcar.com or by calling the UMP office at 618-450-2072.
For more information on DIRTcar Racing visit www.dirtcar.com.
Official Final 2010 DIRTcar UMP Late Model National Points Standings (Rank/Driver/Points/Races Counted):
1. Rusty Schlenk 2798 35
2. Jason Feger 2767 35
3. Ryan Unzicker 2647 35
4. Jeep VanWormer 2542 35
5. Dennis Erb Jr. 2513 35
6. Brian Ruhlman 2496 35
7. Brian Shirley 2432 35
8. Michael Kloos 2429 35
9. Alan Vochaska 2413 35
10. Shannon Babb 2407 35
11. Jack Sullivan 2222 35
12. Jeff Walston 2220 35
13. Dillan White 2219 35
14. Rich Neiser 2183 35
15. Eric Spangler 2134 35
16. Kevin Nelson Jr. 2112 35
17. Chad Zobrist 2109 35
18. Curtis Roberts 2107 35
19. Brandon Sheppard 2103 35
20. Dona Marcoullier 2097 35
Official Final 2010 DIRTcar UMP Late Model Michigan/Wisconsin State Points (Rank/Driver/Points/Races Counted):
1. Alan Vochaska 2413 35
2. Rich Neiser 2164 35
3. Eric Spangler 2125 35
4. Kevin Nelson Jr. 2112 35
5. Adam Thrush 1821 35
6. Dave Hartman 1726 31
7. Sammy Epling 1646 28
8. Zack Olger 1627 28
9. Bill Bray 1588 31
10. Tom Sprague Jr. 1585 31
CONCORD, NC – Nov. 19, 2010 – Isn’t it great when the best-laid plan comes together?
So it was in 2010 for Rusty Schlenk, who during the off-season carefully crafted a strategy to pursue the DIRTcar UMP Late Model national title, executed it to perfection and won the prestigious $20,000 crown for the first time in his budding young career.
Schlenk, 24, of Jackson, Mich., expertly mastered the circuit’s points system, which uses drivers’ best 35 event ‘points nights’ – feature finish and car-count bonus points added together – to determine a champion. He jumped out to a big early lead in the standings and held on to the finish line, withstanding a late rally by defending national champ Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., to come out on top by a 31-point margin (2,798-2,767).
“My biggest goal at the beginning of the season was the national championship,” said Schlenk, who finished third in the 2009 DIRTcar UMP national points race. “I knew that in order to win it I’d have to stay halfway local. Instead of trying to run some big shows, we had to totally focus on running ALMS (the DIRTcar-sanctioned Sunoco American Late Model Series), Oakshade (Raceway in Wauseon, Ohio) and shows around home at tracks where we knew there would be good car counts and we knew we could run good.”
An owner-operator who carves out a living as a dirt Late Model driver despite racing on a limited budget, Schlenk smartly recognized that chasing the pot of gold at the end of the DIRTcar UMP rainbow would provide the maximum possible return on his motorsports investment. He just had to maintain a single-minded discipline throughout the season, refusing to deviate from a plan that eschewed most of the big-money events in his region in favor of gathering points at lower-profile races that better fit his program and would help push him toward a lucrative end-of-season payoff.
“UMP is the best thing for me,” asserted Schlenk, who accented his 2010 national title with a circuit-best 20 feature wins, a track championship at Oakshade and a third-place finish in the ALMS points race. “I know that as long as I stick to my gameplan and don’t stray too far from UMP (events), then at the end of the year I can probably be in the top-three (in the points standings) and I’ll have enough (points-fund) money to get me through the winter.
“I don’t know how many times this year I had to drive past a show that was paying five or six or 10-thousand to win to go somewhere else where I knew I could win and pick up points. Usually when I did do that I ended up winning so it made it O.K., but man, when you’re driving past the big show you’re saying, ‘I know I have a shot at winning that race. If I show up and everything goes my way, I could pocket 10-grand tonight.’
“I had to talk myself out of (entering big shows) quite a few times. I just kept thinking, ‘Stick to your plan, win a race, get those UMP points. That five- or 10-grand show might be good now, but it’s not gonna pay the bills at the end of the year.’ Our focus was on that big point-fund check (for winning the title) because the hard part about doing this for a living is getting through the winter when no money is coming in.”
Schlenk’s strategy drew a fair share of criticism from observers who felt he was talented enough to battle the sport’s heavyweights in major events held in his backyard, but he didn’t let the talk seduce him into taking his eye off the prize. He knew he ran the very real risk of overextending his program if he attempted to run more national-level shows.
“I know a lot of people kind of frowned on what we were doing, thought we were cherry-picking and this and that,” analyzed Schlenk. “But if you really sat down and looked at the equipment that I have and the budget that I have to race on, I really don’t consider how we raced cherry-picking.
“I had a lot of people say, ‘You have the best equipment and you need to be out there running these $10,000-to-win shows because you’re that caliber of driver.’ Well, I may be that caliber of driver, but I don’t have the funds behind me to gamble at a $10,000-to-win show. I’m doing it for a living on a limited budget, so I can’t gamble. If I go to those shows and don’t qualify I’m not making any money and I’m missing out on a chance for UMP points, so I gotta stick to what we can do.”
Schlenk gathered those DIRTcar UMP points at a furious clip during the season’s first half, building a lead of nearly 600 points in the national standings by mid-June. He needed virtually every bit of that cushion to stave off Feger, who roared from behind down the stretch after capturing the 2010 DIRTcar Summer Nationals points championship.
Feger closed within 31 points of Schlenk entering the final weekend of weekly points racing (Oct. 1-3), ramping up the pressure on Schlenk. But Feger needed an almost perfect weekend at Kankakee (Ill.) County Speedway to keep his hopes alive and couldn’t come through, allowing Schlenk to clinch the crown without the following weekend’s points-season-ending DIRTcar UMP Nationals at Eldora Speedway even factoring into the outcome.
“We knew with about six races to go that Feger had to about win everything up to the Nationals to beat us, but you know Feger – when he gets on a roll, he’s hard to stop,” said Schlenk, whose cars carried engines built by Dick Kercher of Roan, Ind. “He started getting on a roll (in late September) and I started getting a little nervous because we were struggling. We pulled off a few wins there at the end of the year with our new car, but I couldn’t put anything consistent together from night-to-night.
“The first half of the year saved me because the second half wasn’t too good,” he continued. “Luckily we had all our ducks in a row early in the season and clicked off quite a few wins. We were in the driver’s seat the first three-quarters of the year, but then we wrecked a (Rayburn) car we had been racing the whole year at I-96 (Speedway in Lake Odessa, Mich.) in mid-August and had to put a new car together to run the rest of the year.”
Schlenk never quite got his new machine running as consistently fast as his destroyed mount, but his body of work over the entire season was too superb for him to be denied. He earned the national title in a fashion that would have made late UMP founder Bob Memmer proud, not only winning weekly and ALMS events but also proving his ample skills with a pair of Summer Nationals victories over high-profile competition on July 14 at Kokomo (Ind.) Speedway and July 17 at Oakshade (a $10,000 score in the annual ‘Birthday Race’).
“Those Summer Nationals wins were highlights of the year for me, no doubt – especially Kokomo,” said Schlenk, who had never before captured a Summer Nationals A-Main. “Don’t get me wrong, I loved winning the ‘Birthday Race’ at Oakshade, but I’m good at Oakshade. I grew up racing there (since he was a teenager) and I kind of expect when those guys come in to be able to run top five, top three, and maybe have a chance to win. I don’t think I was quite surprised to win that one, but when we won Kokomo – man, there were a lot of good cars there and we were kind of on neutral ground. Winning that kind of proved to me – and hopefully proved to some of the fans and competitors – that I can run with them on any given night. As long as my funds are there for tires and stuff, I can compete with them.”
After starting the 2010 season with “$4,500 in the bank to race on for the year,” Schlenk will be depositing over $20,000 into his account (he also captured the DIRTcar UMP Ohio/Pennsylvania/Canada State points title) when he accepts his accolades during the DIRTcar UMP Awards Banquet on Jan. 8, 2011, in Springfield, Ill. That’s proof positive that his plan “worked out pretty good.”
And considering two other milestones that happened to Schlenk off the track, 2010 will certainly be a year he never forgets.
“I got married (on Jan. 1), had a kid (son Carter in August) and won the national championship all in the same year,” smiled Schlenk. “I’d say it’ll be pretty hard to top that.”
Ticket order forms for the annual DIRTcar UMP ‘Night of Champions’ Awards Banquet on Jan. 8, 2011, at the Crown Plaza in Springfield, Ill., are available on-line at www.dirtcar.com or by calling the UMP office at 618-450-2072.
For more information on DIRTcar Racing visit www.dirtcar.com.
Official Final 2010 DIRTcar UMP Late Model National Points Standings (Rank/Driver/Points/Races Counted):
1. Rusty Schlenk 2798 35
2. Jason Feger 2767 35
3. Ryan Unzicker 2647 35
4. Jeep VanWormer 2542 35
5. Dennis Erb Jr. 2513 35
6. Brian Ruhlman 2496 35
7. Brian Shirley 2432 35
8. Michael Kloos 2429 35
9. Alan Vochaska 2413 35
10. Shannon Babb 2407 35
11. Jack Sullivan 2222 35
12. Jeff Walston 2220 35
13. Dillan White 2219 35
14. Rich Neiser 2183 35
15. Eric Spangler 2134 35
16. Kevin Nelson Jr. 2112 35
17. Chad Zobrist 2109 35
18. Curtis Roberts 2107 35
19. Brandon Sheppard 2103 35
20. Dona Marcoullier 2097 35
Official Final 2010 DIRTcar UMP Late Model Michigan/Wisconsin State Points (Rank/Driver/Points/Races Counted):
1. Alan Vochaska 2413 35
2. Rich Neiser 2164 35
3. Eric Spangler 2125 35
4. Kevin Nelson Jr. 2112 35
5. Adam Thrush 1821 35
6. Dave Hartman 1726 31
7. Sammy Epling 1646 28
8. Zack Olger 1627 28
9. Bill Bray 1588 31
10. Tom Sprague Jr. 1585 31
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Jeep Van Wormer Wraps Up 2010 Campaign with World Finals at Charlotte!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 11, 2010
Jeep Van Wormer Wraps Up 2010 Campaign with World Finals at Charlotte!
(PINCONNING, MICHIGAN) The Iron Motorsports team and driver Jeep Van Wormer concluded their 2010 racing season from November 4-6 at the state-of-the-art Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, North Carolina. The Lowes Foods World of Outlaws 'World Finals' took place over the weekend at the 4/10-mile speedplant and a pair of $10,000 top prizes were up for grabs. On Thursday's qualifying night, Jeep timed in fiftieth fastest in the first round of time trials, while he improved to thirty-ninth quickest in the second round.
When inclement weather invaded the Charlotte area on Friday, the 'World Finals' opener was pushed back to Saturday afternoon. Jeep ran fourth in his stacked heat race during the daytime show and later grabbed the second and final transfer spot in his B-Main. After rolling off twenty-second on the grid in the 40-lap feature event, the Pinconning, Michigan native worked his way past six racecars before landing a sixteenth place finish.
In the nightcap on Saturday evening, a huge crowd of over 14,000 spectators packed into the grandstand and a huge television audience witnessed the program live on the SPEED Channel. Jeep worked his way up to third in heat race action, which transferred him directly into the 50-lap main event. After experiencing a rocker arm issue during the preliminary event, the #55 team unloaded the back-up car prior to the A-Main. He started at the tail end of the stout field and was involved in a couple of early incidents before finishing in the twenty-second position. Full results from the 'World Finals' weekend can be located online at www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Jeep and his #55 team entered sixty-three Dirt Late Model events during the course of their 2010 campaign and amassed ten victories, thirty-one Top Five finishes, and forty Top Ten performances. On the UMP Summer Nationals trail, Jeep accumulated four wins, fifteen Top Fives, and nineteen Top Tens in the twenty-eight series races held in 2010. You can view all of his finishes this year by logging onto www.jeepvanwormer.com.
2010 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:
* 63 Total Races Entered - 10 Wins - 31 Top Fives - 40 Top Tens
* 28 Summer Nationals Races Entered - 4 Wins - 15 Top Fives - 19 Top Tens
* Finished Fourth in Final UMP Summer Nationals Point Standings
* $5,000 Summer Nationals Winner at the Vermilion County (IL) Speedway
* $5,000 Summer Nationals Winner at the I-96 (MI) Speedway
* $5,000 Summer Nationals Winner at the Fayette County (IL) Speedway
* $5,000 Summer Nationals Winner at the Quincy (IL) Raceway
* Two-Time $2,000 ALMS Series Winner at the Mt. Pleasant (MI) Speedway
* $2,000 ALMS Series Winner at the I-96 (MI) Speedway
* $2,000 ALMS Series Winner at the Eldora (OH) Speedway
* $2,000 'Player Hater 50' Winner at the Winston (MI) Speedway
* $1,200 UMP Winner at the Waynesfield (OH) Raceway Park
* Finished Second in $5,000 'UMP Fall Nationals' at the Eldora (OH) Speedway
* Finished Third in $20,000 'Black Diamond 125' at the Tyler County (WV) Speedway
* Finished Fifth in $5,000 'Spring 50' at the Florence (KY) Speedway
* Finished Seventh in $20,000 'Jackson 100' at the Brownstown (IN) Speedway
* Finished Ninth in $100,000 'Dream 100' at the Eldora (OH) Speedway
* Made Starting Field for $20,000 'Illini 100' at the Farmer City (IL) Raceway, $43,000 'World 100' at the Eldora (OH) Speedway, and the $10,000 'World Finals' at the Dirt Track at Charlotte
The Iron Motorsports team thanks the following sponsors for their continued and unwavering support: Bayline Fire Protection, Globe Technologies, Services on Site, Van Wormer Management, Rocket Chassis, Fletcher Made Horsepower, ACPT, All-Pro Cylinder Heads, Allstar Performance, Banshee Graphics, Barnes Oil Systems, Bell Racing, Beyea Headers, Brinn, Inc., Delph Communications, Duralite Wheels, Fine Line Window Tinting, Goodridge Hose & Fittings, Hoosier Racing Tire, Howe Racing Enterprises, Integra Shocks & Springs, J.C. Dubil, Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil, Joe's Racing Products, K-B Carburetors, KRC Power Steering, Lane Automotive, Oakley, Outerwears, Peterson Fluid Systems, Port City Racing, R2C Performance, Ringers Gloves, Scott Performance Wire, Sweet Mfg., TWM Racing, V.P. Racing Fuels, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Wilwood Engineering, and Wrisco.
To learn more about the Iron Motorsports team, log onto their home on the web located at www.jeepvanwormer.com.
Media Contact: Ryan Delph - Delph Communications
www.delphcommunications.com
November 11, 2010
Jeep Van Wormer Wraps Up 2010 Campaign with World Finals at Charlotte!
(PINCONNING, MICHIGAN) The Iron Motorsports team and driver Jeep Van Wormer concluded their 2010 racing season from November 4-6 at the state-of-the-art Dirt Track at Charlotte in Concord, North Carolina. The Lowes Foods World of Outlaws 'World Finals' took place over the weekend at the 4/10-mile speedplant and a pair of $10,000 top prizes were up for grabs. On Thursday's qualifying night, Jeep timed in fiftieth fastest in the first round of time trials, while he improved to thirty-ninth quickest in the second round.
When inclement weather invaded the Charlotte area on Friday, the 'World Finals' opener was pushed back to Saturday afternoon. Jeep ran fourth in his stacked heat race during the daytime show and later grabbed the second and final transfer spot in his B-Main. After rolling off twenty-second on the grid in the 40-lap feature event, the Pinconning, Michigan native worked his way past six racecars before landing a sixteenth place finish.
In the nightcap on Saturday evening, a huge crowd of over 14,000 spectators packed into the grandstand and a huge television audience witnessed the program live on the SPEED Channel. Jeep worked his way up to third in heat race action, which transferred him directly into the 50-lap main event. After experiencing a rocker arm issue during the preliminary event, the #55 team unloaded the back-up car prior to the A-Main. He started at the tail end of the stout field and was involved in a couple of early incidents before finishing in the twenty-second position. Full results from the 'World Finals' weekend can be located online at www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Jeep and his #55 team entered sixty-three Dirt Late Model events during the course of their 2010 campaign and amassed ten victories, thirty-one Top Five finishes, and forty Top Ten performances. On the UMP Summer Nationals trail, Jeep accumulated four wins, fifteen Top Fives, and nineteen Top Tens in the twenty-eight series races held in 2010. You can view all of his finishes this year by logging onto www.jeepvanwormer.com.
2010 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:
* 63 Total Races Entered - 10 Wins - 31 Top Fives - 40 Top Tens
* 28 Summer Nationals Races Entered - 4 Wins - 15 Top Fives - 19 Top Tens
* Finished Fourth in Final UMP Summer Nationals Point Standings
* $5,000 Summer Nationals Winner at the Vermilion County (IL) Speedway
* $5,000 Summer Nationals Winner at the I-96 (MI) Speedway
* $5,000 Summer Nationals Winner at the Fayette County (IL) Speedway
* $5,000 Summer Nationals Winner at the Quincy (IL) Raceway
* Two-Time $2,000 ALMS Series Winner at the Mt. Pleasant (MI) Speedway
* $2,000 ALMS Series Winner at the I-96 (MI) Speedway
* $2,000 ALMS Series Winner at the Eldora (OH) Speedway
* $2,000 'Player Hater 50' Winner at the Winston (MI) Speedway
* $1,200 UMP Winner at the Waynesfield (OH) Raceway Park
* Finished Second in $5,000 'UMP Fall Nationals' at the Eldora (OH) Speedway
* Finished Third in $20,000 'Black Diamond 125' at the Tyler County (WV) Speedway
* Finished Fifth in $5,000 'Spring 50' at the Florence (KY) Speedway
* Finished Seventh in $20,000 'Jackson 100' at the Brownstown (IN) Speedway
* Finished Ninth in $100,000 'Dream 100' at the Eldora (OH) Speedway
* Made Starting Field for $20,000 'Illini 100' at the Farmer City (IL) Raceway, $43,000 'World 100' at the Eldora (OH) Speedway, and the $10,000 'World Finals' at the Dirt Track at Charlotte
The Iron Motorsports team thanks the following sponsors for their continued and unwavering support: Bayline Fire Protection, Globe Technologies, Services on Site, Van Wormer Management, Rocket Chassis, Fletcher Made Horsepower, ACPT, All-Pro Cylinder Heads, Allstar Performance, Banshee Graphics, Barnes Oil Systems, Bell Racing, Beyea Headers, Brinn, Inc., Delph Communications, Duralite Wheels, Fine Line Window Tinting, Goodridge Hose & Fittings, Hoosier Racing Tire, Howe Racing Enterprises, Integra Shocks & Springs, J.C. Dubil, Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil, Joe's Racing Products, K-B Carburetors, KRC Power Steering, Lane Automotive, Oakley, Outerwears, Peterson Fluid Systems, Port City Racing, R2C Performance, Ringers Gloves, Scott Performance Wire, Sweet Mfg., TWM Racing, V.P. Racing Fuels, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Wilwood Engineering, and Wrisco.
To learn more about the Iron Motorsports team, log onto their home on the web located at www.jeepvanwormer.com.
Media Contact: Ryan Delph - Delph Communications
www.delphcommunications.com
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
West Michigan Flavor entered into 43rd Annual Snowball Derby
While entries are still coming in for one of the most renowned short track events in the country, West Michigan will be well represented. The list includes former 1991 All Pro Champion and ASA standout Mike Garvey from Muskegon, multi-time ARCA Champion Tim Steele from Marne, 2009 & 2010 CRA Champion Johnny VanDoorn from Coopersville as well as part-time Nascar Nation Wide Series Andy Ponstein from Hudsonville. Don't be surprised to see one of them holding the checkered flag at the end.
43rd Annual Snowball Derby, December 5, 2010
Car No Driver Location
18 Dave Mader, III Irvington, AL
7 Landon Cassill Charlotte, NC
72 Eddie Mercer Pensacola, FL
02 Matt Smith Houston, TX
1 Mike Garvey McDonough, GA
1 Stephan McCurlely Humble, TX
10 Danny Bagwell Cordova, Al
10 Johanna Long Pensacola, FL
10 Ryan Blaney High Point, NC
10 Ryan Crane Panama City, FL
11 David Rogers Orlando, FL
112 Augie Grill Hayden, Al
12 Chuck Barnes, Jr. Louisville, KY
16 Royce Johnston -TBA #3 Florala, AL
16 Tim Steele Marne, MI
18 Bubba Pollard Senoia, GA
2 John Bolen Jasper, Al
21 Brandon Carlson Cantonment, FL
23 Jimmy Weller Hubbard, OH
25 Ross Kenseth Spring Valley, IL
28 Thomas Praytor Mobile, AL
29 Allen Karnes Sharpsburg, GA
29 Andy Loden Stanley, NC
30 Bobby Knox, Jr. Clanton, AL
31 Tyler Millwood Kingston, GA
35 David Stremme Mooresville, NC
36 Dan Fredrickson Lakeville, MN
38 Josh Hamner Chelsea, AL
39 Ryan Sieg Tucker, GA
40 Tyler Miles Pulaski, TN
41 Chris Davidson Pearland, TX
42 Dennis Prunty Knowles, WI
43 Dennis Schoenfeld Van Buren, AR
45 Dwayne Buggay Canton, GA
48 Cecil Chunn Springhill, TN
49 Stanley Smith Chelsea, AL
5 David Ragon ,
5 J.R. Norris Huntsville, AL
51 Kyle Bush Motorsports - TBA Mooresville, NC
51 Kyle Bush Motorsports - Mooresville, NC
61 Johnny VanDoorn Coopersville, MI
72 D J Vanderley Mobile, AL
72 Scott Hantz Angola, IN
74 Ryan Lawler Colleyville, TX
8 Andy Ponstein Hudsonville, MI
8 Randy Wilson -TBA#4 ,
82 Donnie Wilson Oklahoma City, OK
82 Grant Enfinger Montrose, AL
83 Cale Gale Winston Salem, NC
9 Chase Elliott Dawsonville, GA
97 Jimmy Garmon Hoschton, GA
99 Casey Smith Austin, TX
99 Wayne Niedecken, Jr. Pensacola, FL
53 TOTAL ENTRIES as of 11/16
43rd Annual Snowball Derby, December 5, 2010
Car No Driver Location
18 Dave Mader, III Irvington, AL
7 Landon Cassill Charlotte, NC
72 Eddie Mercer Pensacola, FL
02 Matt Smith Houston, TX
1 Mike Garvey McDonough, GA
1 Stephan McCurlely Humble, TX
10 Danny Bagwell Cordova, Al
10 Johanna Long Pensacola, FL
10 Ryan Blaney High Point, NC
10 Ryan Crane Panama City, FL
11 David Rogers Orlando, FL
112 Augie Grill Hayden, Al
12 Chuck Barnes, Jr. Louisville, KY
16 Royce Johnston -TBA #3 Florala, AL
16 Tim Steele Marne, MI
18 Bubba Pollard Senoia, GA
2 John Bolen Jasper, Al
21 Brandon Carlson Cantonment, FL
23 Jimmy Weller Hubbard, OH
25 Ross Kenseth Spring Valley, IL
28 Thomas Praytor Mobile, AL
29 Allen Karnes Sharpsburg, GA
29 Andy Loden Stanley, NC
30 Bobby Knox, Jr. Clanton, AL
31 Tyler Millwood Kingston, GA
35 David Stremme Mooresville, NC
36 Dan Fredrickson Lakeville, MN
38 Josh Hamner Chelsea, AL
39 Ryan Sieg Tucker, GA
40 Tyler Miles Pulaski, TN
41 Chris Davidson Pearland, TX
42 Dennis Prunty Knowles, WI
43 Dennis Schoenfeld Van Buren, AR
45 Dwayne Buggay Canton, GA
48 Cecil Chunn Springhill, TN
49 Stanley Smith Chelsea, AL
5 David Ragon ,
5 J.R. Norris Huntsville, AL
51 Kyle Bush Motorsports - TBA Mooresville, NC
51 Kyle Bush Motorsports - Mooresville, NC
61 Johnny VanDoorn Coopersville, MI
72 D J Vanderley Mobile, AL
72 Scott Hantz Angola, IN
74 Ryan Lawler Colleyville, TX
8 Andy Ponstein Hudsonville, MI
8 Randy Wilson -TBA#4 ,
82 Donnie Wilson Oklahoma City, OK
82 Grant Enfinger Montrose, AL
83 Cale Gale Winston Salem, NC
9 Chase Elliott Dawsonville, GA
97 Jimmy Garmon Hoschton, GA
99 Casey Smith Austin, TX
99 Wayne Niedecken, Jr. Pensacola, FL
53 TOTAL ENTRIES as of 11/16
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Super Late Models to Run in Six-Race Series at Berlin in 2011
Premier Boyne Machine Super Lates to Feature CRA Rules
Track PR Report
Berlin Raceway is pleased to announce the formation of a brand new template bodied racing series that will compete multiple times beginning in the 2011 race season. The startup series, formed by Berlin Raceway track owner Michael Blackmer will compete in Marne, Michigan six times over the course of the tracks 61st season of competition.
The new group of template cars will be named the 'Premier Boyne Machine Super Lates' featuring a rule book exactly like the CRA Super Series cars use on their traveling tour. The idea will be to offer Midwest based teams the opportunity to compete when they otherwise would just be sitting in their garages. The only difference in rules will be a 50lb weight break for crate motor cars.
"I am pretty pumped up about this new series being formed for next year at Berlin," said Michael Blackmer. "We really hope to bring on board up to two other area tracks that will host races as well to form a very nice little series."
The Premier Boyne Machine Super Lates will race for the first time in early May, and will have a point's championship with $2,000-to-win each event. The schedule which will span over the entire race season will not compete on the same day as any of the CRA Super Series events and not conflict with their races.
"CRA and I have always had an excellent working relationship together and in no way will we interfere with what they are doing. In fact we hope to produce a few new cars that will race with the series and graduate into CRA throughout the year and into the future."
With negotiations ongoing over the details of the series and its competing dates, as well as the CRA Super Series schedule yet to be announced, the full schedule will be announced in the coming weeks.
More information pertaining to the series and the Berlin Raceway can be found at www.berlinraceway.com.
Track PR Report
Berlin Raceway is pleased to announce the formation of a brand new template bodied racing series that will compete multiple times beginning in the 2011 race season. The startup series, formed by Berlin Raceway track owner Michael Blackmer will compete in Marne, Michigan six times over the course of the tracks 61st season of competition.
The new group of template cars will be named the 'Premier Boyne Machine Super Lates' featuring a rule book exactly like the CRA Super Series cars use on their traveling tour. The idea will be to offer Midwest based teams the opportunity to compete when they otherwise would just be sitting in their garages. The only difference in rules will be a 50lb weight break for crate motor cars.
"I am pretty pumped up about this new series being formed for next year at Berlin," said Michael Blackmer. "We really hope to bring on board up to two other area tracks that will host races as well to form a very nice little series."
The Premier Boyne Machine Super Lates will race for the first time in early May, and will have a point's championship with $2,000-to-win each event. The schedule which will span over the entire race season will not compete on the same day as any of the CRA Super Series events and not conflict with their races.
"CRA and I have always had an excellent working relationship together and in no way will we interfere with what they are doing. In fact we hope to produce a few new cars that will race with the series and graduate into CRA throughout the year and into the future."
With negotiations ongoing over the details of the series and its competing dates, as well as the CRA Super Series schedule yet to be announced, the full schedule will be announced in the coming weeks.
More information pertaining to the series and the Berlin Raceway can be found at www.berlinraceway.com.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Career Best at Taladaga for Garvey
While Muskegon's Mike Garvey spends much of his time as a driving coach for Ryan Sieg in the NASCAR Truck Series, this past Saturday night he got the opportunity to race a team truck of Sieg to a 12th place finish at Taladaga Speedway. Garvey raced in the top 20 all night after qualifying 22nd. It was Garvey's best finish in a Truck series race. His previous best was a 14th place finish in the Milwaukee mile in 1998.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Coopersville driver Johnny VanDoorn celebrates second consecutive CRA Super Series title
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Steve Kaminski
The Grand Rapids Press
Johnny VanDoorn's resume looks a little more impressive this week, and it already was a pretty darn good one.
The Coopersville stock car driver clinched his second consecutive CRA Super Series championship Sunday with a second-place finish in the season finale at Winchester Speedway in Winchester, Ind.
VanDoorn, 22, became the first driver to win two consecutive CRA titles, and he now seeks a jump up in the racing world in 2011.
VanDoorn, who got his start racing go-karts at area tracks such as Ravenna Motor Park, plans to knock on plenty of doors this winter looking for an opportunity.
"I am very grateful with everything I have been blessed with," he said. "I am with a great team and it has been an awesome couple of years. I am trying to move up to ARCA or (NASCAR Camping World) Trucks, but if you don't bring a lot of money with you, it's hard to do, so we will see.
"If it comes down to it, I would be more than happy to come back and race CRA for a third championship. But I feel that I have accomplished what I need to accomplish at this level and it's time to move up."
CRA is a 12-race traveling series that makes stops in Tennessee, Indiana and Ohio, as well as Berlin Raceway in Marne.
NASCAR superstar Kyle Busch has competed in a handful of races, and Chase Elliott, the teenage son of 1988 Sprint Cup champion Bill Elliott, won Sunday's Winchester race.
In addition to VanDoorn's CRA championship, Brian Campbell of Wyoming finished second and Jay Niewiek of Dorr was 11th in the season standings.
Niewiek, a South Christian High School senior, finished a strong rookie season despite missing the first two races. He finished ninth Sunday at Winchester.
"I was quite surprised by how I was able to do," Niewiek said. "I have to thank our crew chief, Tom Blouw, and my parents for giving me the opportunity to race and all the people who have helped us."
VanDoorn races for car owner Jimmy TenBrink's Muskegon-based Kaos Motorsports team, and his brother, Ben VanDoorn, a senior at Coopersville High School, serves as his crew chief on the No. 61 Impala.
VanDoorn won three races this season, including the season-opening event at Anderson, Ind. He then heated up in August, winning two of three races, at Toledo and Winchester.
TenBrink said VanDoorn would be welcomed back to his team if he decides to stay in CRA.
"It's fun being the first team to win two championships in a row because we aren't running against slouches," TenBrink said. "The team that beat us (Sunday at Winchester) has backing from Ford. Only two cars finished on the lead lap.
"I have known Johnny since he was 13 and he is a good driver. He and his brother, Ben, work so well together, and that makes it a lot easier."
Steve Kaminski
The Grand Rapids Press
Johnny VanDoorn's resume looks a little more impressive this week, and it already was a pretty darn good one.
The Coopersville stock car driver clinched his second consecutive CRA Super Series championship Sunday with a second-place finish in the season finale at Winchester Speedway in Winchester, Ind.
VanDoorn, 22, became the first driver to win two consecutive CRA titles, and he now seeks a jump up in the racing world in 2011.
VanDoorn, who got his start racing go-karts at area tracks such as Ravenna Motor Park, plans to knock on plenty of doors this winter looking for an opportunity.
"I am very grateful with everything I have been blessed with," he said. "I am with a great team and it has been an awesome couple of years. I am trying to move up to ARCA or (NASCAR Camping World) Trucks, but if you don't bring a lot of money with you, it's hard to do, so we will see.
"If it comes down to it, I would be more than happy to come back and race CRA for a third championship. But I feel that I have accomplished what I need to accomplish at this level and it's time to move up."
CRA is a 12-race traveling series that makes stops in Tennessee, Indiana and Ohio, as well as Berlin Raceway in Marne.
NASCAR superstar Kyle Busch has competed in a handful of races, and Chase Elliott, the teenage son of 1988 Sprint Cup champion Bill Elliott, won Sunday's Winchester race.
In addition to VanDoorn's CRA championship, Brian Campbell of Wyoming finished second and Jay Niewiek of Dorr was 11th in the season standings.
Niewiek, a South Christian High School senior, finished a strong rookie season despite missing the first two races. He finished ninth Sunday at Winchester.
"I was quite surprised by how I was able to do," Niewiek said. "I have to thank our crew chief, Tom Blouw, and my parents for giving me the opportunity to race and all the people who have helped us."
VanDoorn races for car owner Jimmy TenBrink's Muskegon-based Kaos Motorsports team, and his brother, Ben VanDoorn, a senior at Coopersville High School, serves as his crew chief on the No. 61 Impala.
VanDoorn won three races this season, including the season-opening event at Anderson, Ind. He then heated up in August, winning two of three races, at Toledo and Winchester.
TenBrink said VanDoorn would be welcomed back to his team if he decides to stay in CRA.
"It's fun being the first team to win two championships in a row because we aren't running against slouches," TenBrink said. "The team that beat us (Sunday at Winchester) has backing from Ford. Only two cars finished on the lead lap.
"I have known Johnny since he was 13 and he is a good driver. He and his brother, Ben, work so well together, and that makes it a lot easier."
Sunday, October 17, 2010
VanDoorn Racing for more than just the Win at Winchester
Photo Courtesy of Speed51.com
Johnny VanDoorn will be racing from the pole today, but his spotter Dirk Redder will be racing with a heavy heart as his mother Mary Redder has been diagnosed with cancer. She started treatment last week and the entire 61 team would like to win one for her in the Winchester 400.
Today’s running of the Winchester 400 can be heard live on RaceTalkRadio.com as Speed51.com is providing at the track radio. Coverage is expected to start close to race time at 2pm.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
Johnny VanDoorn Looking For His Second Title
CRA to Crown Four Champions During Winchester 400 Weekend
CRA - PR Report
Champion Racing Association will Crown four division Champions this weekend at the 39th Annual Winchester 400 Presented by EDCO Welding & Hydraulics and WMDH 102.5 Hit Country on the famous High Banks of Winchester Speedway. No CRA Series has ever had back-to-back Champions, three of the CRA series have a very good chance of that happening after this weekend.
2009 CRA Super Series Champion John VanDoorn only needs to show up for this weekend’s Winchester 400 to claim his second CRA Super Series Championship for Kaos Motorsports Team. VanDoorn will join Brian Ross as the only drivers to claim two series Championships and will only trail three time series Champion Scott Hantz for the most series Championships. VanDoorn and the Kaos Motorsports Team will make history this weekend, as the only driver and team to ever claim back-to-back CRA Super Series Championships.
VanDoorn comes into this weekend with a 108 point lead over second place Brian Campbell, who is competing in his first full time season with the series and is tied with Ross Kenseth with two series victories this season, behind VanDoorn who has three victories. Hantz is in third place in series points, he is 28 points behind Campbell, which is very impressive considering he missed two series points events this season. Several point positions are still being battled for, Tommy St. John is in fourth place, he is 16 points behind Hantz. Jason Dietsch is in fifth place, he is 16 points behind St. John, and only seven points ahead of six place Terry Fisher Jr.
Rick Turner is in seventh place, he is 69 points behind Fisher Jr. Two series rookies are battling for the eighth place position, which is currently held by Colin Nickolai by only three points over Perfect Circle Racecars Rookie point’s leader Nick Gullatta in ninth. Currently Nick Lay is in 10th place, but Lay is not entered for this weekends event. Rookie Jay Niewiek only needs 38 points to pass Lay for the 10th position.
CRA - PR Report
Champion Racing Association will Crown four division Champions this weekend at the 39th Annual Winchester 400 Presented by EDCO Welding & Hydraulics and WMDH 102.5 Hit Country on the famous High Banks of Winchester Speedway. No CRA Series has ever had back-to-back Champions, three of the CRA series have a very good chance of that happening after this weekend.
2009 CRA Super Series Champion John VanDoorn only needs to show up for this weekend’s Winchester 400 to claim his second CRA Super Series Championship for Kaos Motorsports Team. VanDoorn will join Brian Ross as the only drivers to claim two series Championships and will only trail three time series Champion Scott Hantz for the most series Championships. VanDoorn and the Kaos Motorsports Team will make history this weekend, as the only driver and team to ever claim back-to-back CRA Super Series Championships.
VanDoorn comes into this weekend with a 108 point lead over second place Brian Campbell, who is competing in his first full time season with the series and is tied with Ross Kenseth with two series victories this season, behind VanDoorn who has three victories. Hantz is in third place in series points, he is 28 points behind Campbell, which is very impressive considering he missed two series points events this season. Several point positions are still being battled for, Tommy St. John is in fourth place, he is 16 points behind Hantz. Jason Dietsch is in fifth place, he is 16 points behind St. John, and only seven points ahead of six place Terry Fisher Jr.
Rick Turner is in seventh place, he is 69 points behind Fisher Jr. Two series rookies are battling for the eighth place position, which is currently held by Colin Nickolai by only three points over Perfect Circle Racecars Rookie point’s leader Nick Gullatta in ninth. Currently Nick Lay is in 10th place, but Lay is not entered for this weekends event. Rookie Jay Niewiek only needs 38 points to pass Lay for the 10th position.
Garvey: Allen Turner Tune Up 100
Garvey Eyes World Crown As a Tribute to Hawkins
Mike Garvey told Speed51.com that he plans on doing the double at Gresham Motorsports Park (GA) in November. He will likely be a favorite to win the Pro Late Model show, however a victory in the World Crown would mean so much more. Garvey worked as a crew chief and driver coach with Matt Hawkins who had several strong runs in the event including a runner-up finish in 2007.
“To win that race would mean a lot,” said Garvey. “It gives me goose bumps to even think about that. It would be big if we could pull that off.”
With Garvey at the helm, Hawkins won his first race at the old Peach State Speedway in June of 2006 and then had a second and a third in the World Crown 300.
Mike Garvey told Speed51.com that he plans on doing the double at Gresham Motorsports Park (GA) in November. He will likely be a favorite to win the Pro Late Model show, however a victory in the World Crown would mean so much more. Garvey worked as a crew chief and driver coach with Matt Hawkins who had several strong runs in the event including a runner-up finish in 2007.
“To win that race would mean a lot,” said Garvey. “It gives me goose bumps to even think about that. It would be big if we could pull that off.”
With Garvey at the helm, Hawkins won his first race at the old Peach State Speedway in June of 2006 and then had a second and a third in the World Crown 300.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Caleb Bisacky savors Late Model feature win in Berlin Raceway's season finale
Caleb Bisacky savors Late Model feature win in Berlin Raceway's season finale
Steve Kaminski
The Grand Rapids Press
MARNE -- Caleb Bisacky of Spring Lake called Saturday night’s victory the biggest win of his career, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Bisacky won the 75-lap Great Lakes Outlaw Late Model Series feature race in Berlin Raceway’s season finale, beating out Mike Lichty and three-time defending track champion Ross Meeuwsen.
Bisacky and his wife, Stacey, lost an infant girl, Stella Marie Bisacky on Sept. 18, so he said it has been difficult focusing on racing the past month. But Bisacky grabbed the lead on lap 32 and led the rest of the way.
“We lost a child at seven months pregnant,” Bisacky said. “But we are all fine and this helps with the grieving. We have been going through hard times, and we needed something like this.”
The series, which was created this season, was making its second Berlin trip. Bisacky, who started fourth in the 21-car field, earned $2,000 for the win. There were five lead changes in the first 27 laps before Bisacky took control.
“It was really strong early, and I wanted to go hard then, but I thought I better not do it,” Bisacky said. “The guys on the radio kept telling me not to go too hard, they kept slowing me down a little bit.”
Lichty, of Innerkip, Ontario, Canada, finished second in the International Supermodified Association feature race two weeks ago at Berlin before taking second Saturday.
Lichty is teammates with Johnny Benson Jr. when Benson races ISMA. Benson raced one of Lichty’s Supermodifieds to victory last weekend in an ISMA race in Massachusetts. Benson then turned over his Late Model to Lichty this weekend and served as his coach and spotter.
What was especially impressive about Lichty’s run was that it was his first race in a Late Model.
“I was supposed to be spotting for him, and we had radio plug problems,” Benson said. “He did that race on his own. I didn’t help him at all. I was helping in practice, but he told me after the race, ‘I couldn’t hear you.’ After that, I was more impressed. He did a great job.”
Berlin also hosted a pair of Run What Ya Brung style races, and Denny Anderson of Walker won a 50-lap stock car race and Chris McKinley of Sparta took top honors in the 40-lap 4 Cylinder main. Both drivers took advantage of the no-rules opportunity and did radical work on their cars.
Anderson removed the roof of his Super Stock and slapped on a wing, then sat fast time, took the lead up on lap 17 and beat out Randy Day by 4.49 seconds.
“This was fun, I haven’t had this much fun in a long time,” Anderson said. “I would like to run this every week. It’s a riot.
McKinley beat out Ryan Hamm, the season’s 4 Cylinder track champion, by 5.80 seconds. It was McKinley’s first career victory.
“I have always seen them on dirt cars but have never ran one,” McKinley said of the sideboard. “I thought what the heck. I spent $7.50 on the cables and gave it a whirl. I got here, and nobody else had one, and they picked on me.
“It was awesome, unbelievable. I could pretty much hold the track wide open all the way around the track. There was a lot more speed through the corners.”
Steve Kaminski
The Grand Rapids Press
MARNE -- Caleb Bisacky of Spring Lake called Saturday night’s victory the biggest win of his career, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Bisacky won the 75-lap Great Lakes Outlaw Late Model Series feature race in Berlin Raceway’s season finale, beating out Mike Lichty and three-time defending track champion Ross Meeuwsen.
Bisacky and his wife, Stacey, lost an infant girl, Stella Marie Bisacky on Sept. 18, so he said it has been difficult focusing on racing the past month. But Bisacky grabbed the lead on lap 32 and led the rest of the way.
“We lost a child at seven months pregnant,” Bisacky said. “But we are all fine and this helps with the grieving. We have been going through hard times, and we needed something like this.”
The series, which was created this season, was making its second Berlin trip. Bisacky, who started fourth in the 21-car field, earned $2,000 for the win. There were five lead changes in the first 27 laps before Bisacky took control.
“It was really strong early, and I wanted to go hard then, but I thought I better not do it,” Bisacky said. “The guys on the radio kept telling me not to go too hard, they kept slowing me down a little bit.”
Lichty, of Innerkip, Ontario, Canada, finished second in the International Supermodified Association feature race two weeks ago at Berlin before taking second Saturday.
Lichty is teammates with Johnny Benson Jr. when Benson races ISMA. Benson raced one of Lichty’s Supermodifieds to victory last weekend in an ISMA race in Massachusetts. Benson then turned over his Late Model to Lichty this weekend and served as his coach and spotter.
What was especially impressive about Lichty’s run was that it was his first race in a Late Model.
“I was supposed to be spotting for him, and we had radio plug problems,” Benson said. “He did that race on his own. I didn’t help him at all. I was helping in practice, but he told me after the race, ‘I couldn’t hear you.’ After that, I was more impressed. He did a great job.”
Berlin also hosted a pair of Run What Ya Brung style races, and Denny Anderson of Walker won a 50-lap stock car race and Chris McKinley of Sparta took top honors in the 40-lap 4 Cylinder main. Both drivers took advantage of the no-rules opportunity and did radical work on their cars.
Anderson removed the roof of his Super Stock and slapped on a wing, then sat fast time, took the lead up on lap 17 and beat out Randy Day by 4.49 seconds.
“This was fun, I haven’t had this much fun in a long time,” Anderson said. “I would like to run this every week. It’s a riot.
McKinley beat out Ryan Hamm, the season’s 4 Cylinder track champion, by 5.80 seconds. It was McKinley’s first career victory.
“I have always seen them on dirt cars but have never ran one,” McKinley said of the sideboard. “I thought what the heck. I spent $7.50 on the cables and gave it a whirl. I got here, and nobody else had one, and they picked on me.
“It was awesome, unbelievable. I could pretty much hold the track wide open all the way around the track. There was a lot more speed through the corners.”
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Garvey Rolls To Victory In Thomas Concrete 100 At Gresham Motorsports Park
Mike Garvey and his wife Lisa in Victory Lane (Photo Courtesy of Speed51.com)
Garvey Rolls To Victory In Thomas Concrete 100 At Gresham Motorsports Park
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JEFFERSON, GA (October 9, 2010) – “Last night, we were really, really good. Tonight, we were only about 70 percent, but that was good enough.”
That’s how Mike Garvey summed up his weekend after winning back-to-back Pro Late Model events at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, FL and at Gresham Motorsports Park in Jefferson, GA this weekend.
The long-time Georgia favorite had to work extra hard to take the win in Saturday’s Thomas Concrete 100 at GMP. Garvey and runner-up Colt James waged a furious battle over the 100-circuits on the half-mile GMP oval swapping the lead three times before Garvey took the top spot for good just short of the half-way point.
Running nose-to-tail over the final laps, James stuck a fender under Garvey’s racer several times only to come up a half-car length short of the victory. Michael Lance, Preston Peltier and D.J. Vanderlay completed the top-five finishers.
“Gosh, I got tight at the end of the race,” Garvey stated. “I was a little tight at the start of the race and when it started to get worse, I thought ‘oh no.” Then I found a different line and that started working. Then that went away.
“I gotta thank Cole for running me clean,” Garvey continued. “He could have knocked me out of the way several times and he didn’t. That’s that way you should race. You shouldn’t have to run over people. I really appreciated him not doing that to me and you can be sure I won’t do it to him. It was a really good race. I’m sure the fans enjoyed it.”
Garvey wasn’t the only driver to clean up Saturday at Gresham Motorsports Park as Hoyt Stephens, Jody Trivett, Alexander Fox and William Earnest all scored main event wins.
Stephens, who has had more than his share of bad luck in the past at GMP, came out on the right side of the ledger this time around edging Jason Bates, Terry Martin, David Murphy and Brian Hardman for the win in the 35-lap Outlaw Late Model feature event.
In the Renegade Street Stock main, Trivett won a slam-bang affair holding off Tony Newman, Brian Beckner, Jamie Dills and Rodney Cox at the checkered flag. Meanwhile, Fox got the best of the 13 other starters in the Truck Series headline event taking top honors in front of Andy Gaddis, Aaron Calvert, Cecil Flowe and Brian Huff.
Finally, Earnst won a wild Mini-Stock main event beating Bill George, Allen Cantrell, Ken Candiotti, Sr. and Avery Burgess to the checkered flag.
Remember – all results are unofficial. We’ll post the official race results and the 2010 GMP Pro Late Model, Truck, Mini Stock and Renegade division championship standings Tuesday on www.GreshamMotorsportsPark.com
Next up at Gresham Motorsports Park will be the first-ever Gresham Motorsports Park Road Course event on Saturday, October 16.
It will be a full day of action as the US Legends International Legends and Bandoleros along with the Mini-Cup cars tour the Gresham Motorsports Park oval and the all-new GMP Road Course.
Pit gates open at 7 a.m. with the Legends being the first to take to the GMP quarter-mile oval for practice at 9 a.m. Racing in all divisions on the oval track begins approximately at 11 a.m. next Saturday.
The afternoon session will include practice, qualifying and racing for all divisions on the GMP .075-mile road course. The layout utilizes the full GMP layout including the quarter- and half-mile ovals as well as pit road.
Don’t miss this great event. Spectator Gates open at 9 a.m. Adult Grandstand and Trackside General Admission is just $5.00. Trackside Parking is $5 per vehicle plus cost of general admission tickets.
Gresham Motorsports Park is located just off I-85 at Exit 140, next to the Jackson County Airport in Jefferson. GA.
For more information about Gresham Motorsports Park, please log on to www.GreshamMotorsportsPark.com.
Mike Garvey Makes it Back to Back Wins
Mike Garvey and Colt James Racing Hard a Gresham Motorsports Park
Muskegon's Mike Garvey is quickly becoming the driver to beat in the Pro Late Model Class down south. For the second night Garvey moved quickly to the front. Starting from his 8th place he was the leader by lap 12. Garvey would relinquish the lead only once for the rest of the race as he and Colt James put on show for the fans. James and Garvey raced bumper to bumper and door to door for almost the entire race. On the white flag lap James and Garvey raced side by side down the backstretch. Coming out of turn four Micheal Lance made it three wide at the flagstand. When the checkered waved it was the veteran Garvey taking home the checkers in a classic finish at Gresham Motorsports Park.
UNOFFICIAL results of the Thomas Concrete 100 Pro Late Model event.
1. Mike Garvey
2. Colt James
3. Michael Lance
4. Preston Peltier
5. D.J. Vanderlay
6. Ricky Sanders
7. Brian Blum
8. Shawn Simpson
9. Nick Potts
10. Jeremy Mullinax
11. James Nealis
12. Dalton Grindle
13. Shane Nalley
14. Rodney Benefield
15. Greg Simpson
16. David Odell
17. Darin Cronan
18. Johnny Henderson
19. Giancarlo Serenielli
Mike Garvey wins at Five Flags
Mike Garvey and car owner Tracy Goodson in Victory Lane. (Photo Courtesy of Speed51.com)
As the name suggests, the Allen Turner Tune Up 100 was supposed to be a preview of things to come at Five Flags Speedway in December.
The Pro Late Models didn’t disappoint, as Mike Garvey captured his second straight race and built some essential momentum leading into the 43rd Snowball Derby in December.
Garvey made an early move that will live long in Five Flags’ lore and withstood seven cautions and a bevy of drivers to battling for the lead.
“We’re hitting on some stuff that’s different from everybody else,” said Garvey, a Blizzard Series regular and a part-time NASCAR trucks driver. “Now is a great time to do it.”
The night was bittersweet for D.J. VanderLey, one of those drivers who battled Garvey. The Auburn freshman finished seventh, but did hoist the series championship.
VanderLey had tire troubles on the final restart with three laps to go, falling four spots from third.
If there was any drama as the night started on whether Ronnie Smith could make up his 47-point deficit to VanderLey, it was all sucked out in qualifying. VanderLey (16.880 seconds) was second to Bubba Pollard’s fast time of 16.853. At 17.275, Smith was well back and watched his 47-point deficit climb to 60, clinching the series title for VanderLey.
“We had the right front go flat that’s how that freight train came around us,” VanderLey said. “We’ve had an amazing season. We set a goal to win two track championships and that’s what we accomplished. Tonight was about pride.”
Garvey had reasons to be proud, too, with an incredible piece of racing that saw him climb from the middle of the 24-car field pack all the way to the front by Lap 12.
Following a caution on Lap 2, the two dozen cars stayed single file for the next three laps.
Deciding he had had enough of all the nose-to-tail stuff, Garvey made a move that folks will be talking about for some time.
A lone wolf, Garvey took it to the outside and began to chew up spots the way Five Flags chews up tires. In one trip around the half-mile oval, Garvey was up to fifth.
The part-time NASCAR trucks driver wasn’t content there, though. Fourth was his thanks to the high-side, then third. In a matter of seconds, Garvey was around VanderLey for second.
By Lap 12, he had weaved around Odom for the lead, culminating a spectacular and improbable piece of driving because Five Flags puts so much emphasis on the track’s apron.
“It was just there,” Garvey said. “We didn’t plan on it. It opened up so we went. It was just one of those nights.”
A night that saw him hold off charges from VanderLey, Pollard, Jason Young and Kezie Ruston among others.
Ruston, an 18-year-old female driver from Oklahoma, was impressive late. After the sixth restart, she made her move around VanderLey for second and had her eye on the lead.
She put the bumper to Garvey and was eyeing up a possible pass on Lap 90 when she spun down the back straightaway.
Afterward, Ruston’s crew thought VanderLey spun her, but he insisted he never touched his fellow teenager.
“It got a bit crazy at the end,” VanderLey said.
Just another night at the half-mile oval.
In only Garvey's third time in a Pro Late Model he has won twice. Tonight he will go for another win when he competes in the Thomas Concrete PLM 100 at Gresham Motorsports Park.
You can listen live tonight at 9:30 on Racetalkradio.com
Allen Turner Tune Up results�1.Mike Garvey; 2. Bubba Pollard; 3. Johanna Long; 4. Brandon Bendele; 5. Kenzie Ruston; 6. Mike Alexander; 7. D.J. VanderLey; 8. Dwayne Buggay; 9. Kyle Bryant; 10. Brandon Odom; 11. Giancarlo Serenelli; 12. Ronnie Smith; 13. Donny Kelly; 14. Troy Grisaffi; 15. Jason Young; 16. David Jones; 17. Logan Boyett; 18. Eddie Craig; 19. Robert Royce; 20. Shanna Ard; 21. Ricky Vice; 22. Josh Godwin; 23. Tommy Rollins; 24. Mason Mitchell
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
VanDoorn All but Claims the CRA Championship for 2010
VanDoorn Finishes 6th at Nashville-Inches Towards Second Championship
Johnny VanDoorn fought an ill handling race car all weekend at the Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville, Tennessee. Johnny qualified 15th and drove to a 6th place finish in what might very well be the last All American 400 weekend.
“The car was too tight all weekend. This is the second race that we have been off with the chassis. We will have to go to work and find out what is wrong so we will be ready to run upfront for the Winchester 400 in a couple weeks” VanDoorn said.
With his sixth place finish, VanDoorn only has to start the Winchester 400 on October 17th to clinch his second consecutive CRA Championship.
Johnny VanDoorn fought an ill handling race car all weekend at the Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville, Tennessee. Johnny qualified 15th and drove to a 6th place finish in what might very well be the last All American 400 weekend.
“The car was too tight all weekend. This is the second race that we have been off with the chassis. We will have to go to work and find out what is wrong so we will be ready to run upfront for the Winchester 400 in a couple weeks” VanDoorn said.
With his sixth place finish, VanDoorn only has to start the Winchester 400 on October 17th to clinch his second consecutive CRA Championship.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Campbell on Pole for All American 400 Weekend
Brian Campbell will lead a trio of local racing ties for 200 lap Super Late Model portion of the famed Nashville Fairgrouds All American 400 weekend. Campbell's luck of the draw by fast qualifier Donnie Wilson put Campbell on the pole for tonights event. Coopersvilles's Johnny VanDoorn and Muskegon's Mike Garvey will start side by side in the 8th row for tonights event.
Racing action can be heard tonight at approxiamtely 9:30 PM on RaceTalkRadio.com
Racing action can be heard tonight at approxiamtely 9:30 PM on RaceTalkRadio.com
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Berlin steps up to the Plate during Tough Times
As a former employee of a racetrack I can tell you nothing will destroy the atmosphere of a racetrack more than employees and drivers not getting paid. They are the first line of promotion for a track owner.
I am sure this is not the only track that has had to cover someone Else's expenses because ultimately it is the track owner who takes the hit in the long run.
I applaud the efforts of Mike Blamer at Berlin!
Click on the link below to see a letter given to the ASA drivers after their event:
ASA Driver Letter
I am sure this is not the only track that has had to cover someone Else's expenses because ultimately it is the track owner who takes the hit in the long run.
I applaud the efforts of Mike Blamer at Berlin!
Click on the link below to see a letter given to the ASA drivers after their event:
ASA Driver Letter
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