Ron Rop
The Muskegon Chronicle
ROTHBURY — It appears Winston Speedway has just the right setup to thrive in these tough economic conditions.
Owner Tom Sprague, in his fourth year operating the 3/8-mile semi-banked clay oval, knows times are tough for both race fans and drivers alike.
“Given the economy we’re working with, things are going good,” said Sprague, who said he’s averaging about 500 spectators per week and has topped 600 on several occasions this season. A promotion several weeks ago attracted 1,600 race fans.
Of course, wet weather and the threat of wet weather can also affect the track, which races every Friday night throughout the summer.
“Other tracks may not be doing so well, but we’re still getting good crowds,” Sprague said. “If it’s iffy weather, we’ll get 400, but racers always want to race, they don’t care.”
On Friday night, before a crowd of about 600, a total of 109 drivers showed up in seven divisions to put on a show.
“Having 100 cars is a good number,” Sprague said. “We’ve had fewer, but 100 is good for having seven classes.”
Late Models, Street Stocks, Modifieds, Bombers, 4-Cylinders, Warriors and Young Guns each took their turn trying to master the clay track.
“It’s been a very competitive year and I would say other than the Bomber class, where Spike Grega is dominant, it’s been very competitive,” Sprague said.
Wide array of drivers
Young and old, experienced and not-so-experienced drivers take their turn in an attempt to win heats, features and prize money.
That group ranges in age from 13-year-old Troy Marciniak Jr., one of the youngest drivers, to Mike Anderson, who at 62 is one of the older drivers. In between, you’ll find Derek Poland, who has been racing since 1972.
“I’ve made my way around to a lot of tracks, it’s been fun,” Poland said. “And when it quits being fun, I’ll quit. I’ve had my ups and downs.”
Friday night was a downer for Poland, who finished 18th among the 19 drivers in the Street Stock class.
“It is very competitive in the Street Stock division, anyone can win in any given night,” Poland said. On Friday night, it was Mike Lynn who took the checkered flag in the feature race.
“I have been all the way up to Late Models, but my pocketbook is not big enough to play there,” said Poland.
Anderson, who races in the Warrior division, didn’t get started in racing until he was 53 years old. And it wasn’t family or friends who convinced him to get behind the wheel. Anderson won a trip at work and passed on a bass fishing trip and a golf excursion. Instead, he chose a trip to Las Vegas and the Richard Petty Driving Experience.
Now Anderson drives the 27A car, a 1990 Honda Accord, which he used to finish second in his heat and eighth in the feature on Friday night.
“I bought this car at an auction for $300,” Anderson said. “I’ve only got $900 in this car. It’s all about having fun and being safe.”
While Anderson has less than $1,000 in his ride, drivers in the Late Model division are racing cars in the $50,000 range.
Itch to race
Angie Gilmore sits in the scoring tower each Friday night scoring races. As she looks down over the track, she dreams of returning to the track as a driver.
“I was the first female champion in 2005 in the Bomber Division,” Gilmore said. “I will go back and do it next year.”
There are three race cars at the Gilmore home. Two are being used by her husband Jamie and her son, Justin. Jamie races the No. 63 car in the Street Stocks and finished ninth in the feature.
“He’s out there racing and I’m up here trying to score,” Gilmore said.
Ralph Sternberg doesn’t keep score, but he does keep a close eye on the action from behind the rail at the top of the bleachers. His need for speed lasted about 20 years. Now he shows up on a weekly basis to watch his two sons and two grandsons race. He wants to see them win, but he also doesn’t want to see them wreck their equipment.
“I own those four cars,” Sternberg said. “They do the work, twist the wrench and buy parts with what they win. The big stuff, I buy it all.”
Karl Juusola’s itch to race ended with back problems. After nearly 30 years of racing at tracks throughout the region, Juusola had to step away from racing, but he couldn’t step away from the track. Now, Juusola is a tech inspector who watches his son, Kevin, race in the Late Model division.
“I let the kids do the racing, but I’ve got to do something,” he said.
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