I-96 Speedway RESULTS for Saturday, July 16th, 2011

Olger, Poel, Brandt Jr., and Tomczak Score Wins in the I-96 Speedway Summer Spectacular

Lake Odessa, Michigan (Saturday, July 16th, 2011): It was the I-96 Speedway Summer Spectacular on Saturday, July 16th as the weekly cars and stars within the United Midwestern Promoters (UMP) DIRTcar Racing Series returned to the fast 3/8s (0.375) mile high-banked dirt oval after a two week vacation from the Lake Odessa, Michigan speed plant. A solid field of cars in all four divisions greeted the nice crowd on hand.

The first feature of the night would be the Lane Automotive UMP Modifieds as their 25-lap feature would see Andy Sprague and 2007 Track Champion, Shannon Fisk start on the front row and lead the field into the first corner. Fisk would edge Sprague coming out of turn two and would lead the first two laps before Jacob Poel, who started fourth, rocketed his way using the outside lane and take over the lead on lap three.

Poel would then set a torrid pace as only one caution slowed down the action on lap six. On that one and only restart, Poel would pull away from the rest of the field putting lapped traffic between himself and the rest of the field. No one seriously challenged him throughout the remainder of the feature which went the last 19 laps caution free.

The Spring Lake, Michigan driver in his Poel's PRO-ACT Welding & Fabrication Chevrolet would go on to collect his third feature win of the 2011 racing season and move to within three markers of the points lead. Former two-time track champion, Todd Feutz finished second while Travis Stemler, current points leader and UMP DIRTcar Racing Series Michigan State points leader, Mark Anderson was fourth over Fisk who completed the top five.

Jared Guinn was sixth as 18-year-old Andy Galgoci, Tim Stemler from 16th, Ken Beutler, and Nick Curtis would finish off the final top 10. Anderson and Travis Stemler picked up the heat race victories.


The premier division within the UMP DIRTcar Racing Series at I-96 Speedway, the Tinney Automotive UMP Late Models rolled out next as Chris Nash and Zack Olger led the field to chief starter, Tim Beebe's green flag to start their 25-lap feature. After a couple of complete restarts it would be Kris Patterson Jr., grabbing the early lead while the rest of the pack jockeyed for position.

Olger, who was steering Rusty Seaver's #18 car for the night, was shuffled back to second but quickly caught back up to the son of Michigan Motorsports Hall of Famer and multi-time I-96 Speedway track champion, Kris Patterson. On lap eight, Olger would slide by Patterson Jr., and take the lead for himself and brought Tom Sprague Jr., with him.

Sprague Jr., searched high and low trying to find a path around Olger who was at a disadvantage in an unfamiliar ride. But in the end, Olger hung tough in the unfamiliar car and after all was said and done, the St. Johns, Michigan driver would steer Seaver's Knight's Auto Sales Chevrolet into victory lane and win his second feature of the 2011 racing season.

Sprague Jr., settled for second but would be able to retake the points lead with Olger moving up to second in the season long points chase. Patterson Jr., slipped back to third while Phil Ausra and Rookie Jason Wiley would complete the top five. Rookie of the Year points leader, Kathy Jarvis finished sixth ahead of Luke Hubbell and Nash who would complete the field. Nash and Olger collected heat race wins.


The next race of the evening would be the 20-lap feature for the Renegade Racing Fuels & Lubricants UMP Street Stocks as the front row of Current Points Leader, Bill Brandt Jr., and Cody Denny would lead the pack to the green flag. Just like the Tinney Automotive UMP Late Models, it took a couple of restarts before the field settled down and when they did, Brandt Jr., jumped out to the early advantage.

Several cautions and attrition played a major role in the outcome of the feature, but each and every time, it would be Brandt Jr., leading the field back to the green in the Delaware Double-File restarts and each time he would continuously stave off the constant barrage of challengers behind him over the course of the entire race.

When the checkered flag finally fell, it would be Brandt Jr's Zylstra Construction Chevrolet who would see it first as the Lake Odessa, Michigan pilot collected his second consecutive feature win and extend his points lead in the process. Jay Chlebek finished second while Landon Hidy, Hillary Smith, and Bob Wolf were the top five.

Ryan Alexander, in his first start at I-96 Speedway, finished sixth while 15-year-old rookie, Carlind Forsythe was seventh. Denny, defending track champion, Gary Vandermark, and Duane Nelson would wrap up the final top 10. Chlebek and Vandermark won the heat races.


The final feature of the night would be the 20-lap Feature for the Jim's Auto Body of Portland UMP Sport Compacts as the front row consisted of 19-year-old Caleb Schuiling and Chuck Peterson II and it would be Chad Tomczak, who started on the inside of row four powering his way up to the front from his seventh starting spot and taking the lead as the field completed lap one.

Defending track champion, Dan Reimersma, who started last, 19th in the field after problems in his heat race, methodically worked his way through the field as the veteran sliced and diced his way through heavy traffic and as the 1/2 way signal was given, he found himself in second spot and slowly but surely began to reel in the race long leader.

Reimersma finally did catch Tomczak as the white flag came out and he searched high and low for a way around the Winston Motor Speedway points leader. However, Tomczak wasn't to be denied as the Casnovia, Michigan competitor in his River City Motors Honda would hold off Reimersma and lead all 20 laps for his first I-96 Speedway Feature win of his career. Reimersma was second while current points leader, Rick Peck finished third over Tim Horvath II and Rookie Kyle Brigance rounded out the top five.

Greg Pinard finished in sixth as 16-year-old rookie, Kenny Playter, the grandson of former track champion, Gene Playter was seventh. Peterson II, 13-year-old Harper Hotchkiss, and another Rookie, Keith Brigance completed the top 10. Peck, Pinard, and J.T. Leach were the winners of the heat races.


Complete and Updated Information regarding the Auto First Michigan Festival of Speed Presented by Right Way Automotive will be available in the mid/late morning hours of Monday, July 18th, 2011.

Camping is allowed every weekend in 2011 for absolutely Free. For more information regarding the 2011 racing season at I-96 Speedway, please call: 1 (616) 642-0555 or visit the website at: www.i96speedway.com You can also follow the entire 2011 season in Lake Odessa, Michigan by becoming a fan on the tracks Facebook Fan Page. Just go to: www.facebook.com and search "I-96 Speedway"and click on "Like" today. You can even follow us on Twitter, just go to: www.twitter.com and search "I-96 Speedway"