Muskegon's Mike Garvey takes checkered flag in Viper Series

Muskegon's Mike Garvey takes checkered flag in Viper Series

By Shawn Liverance |
Muskegon Chronicle

Muskegon native Mike Garvey got back into the winner's circle on Saturday at South Alabama Speedway in Kinston, Alabama.

Garvey took the lead on lap 53 and held off a challenge from Colt James to claim his first Viper Series win at the Alabama Speedway by besting 15 cars to win the Pigmy 100.

Garvey, who has started six races in the NASCAR Truck Series this season started on the pole, took over the lead after passing leader Josh Hamner.

James worked his way past Hamner on lap 61, and began to close the gap Garvey had built.

With the race having a 33-lap green stretch from lap 50 to 82, James closed to Garvey's bumper and took a look inside on several occasions.

The veteran Garvey was ready for the challenge and slammed the door each time. Garvey eventually gained a two-car length advantage over James, until the caution flew on lap 83.

With cool tires, James had another shot at Garvey, but Garvey got the jump and pulled away again. Garvey had to survive four cautions in the final 17 laps before pulling into Victory Lane.

Winston Speedway

Derek Poland's victory in the Sandy TenBrink Memorial Race for Street Stocks highlighted the racing action at Winston Speedway on Friday night.

Poland, who had won an earlier heat race, beat the runner-up car of Dan Dykman to the finish line.

Tim Tuttle, Chuck Smith and Jack Drolema rounded out the top-five finishers.

Also winning heat races were Brandon Thirlby (Late Model), Stan Dodds (Modifieds), Ben Welch (Factory Stocks), Dennis Bringedahl (Factory Stocks), Chris Gagnon (4 Cylinders), Ryan Hamm (Warriors) and Bethany May (Young Guns) also won feature races.

Thunderbird Raceway

Poland made it a weekend sweep as he took the checkered flag in the Street Stock feature at Thunderbird on Saturday night.

Steve Fairbanks finished in second places and Dykman finished in third place.

Kevin Nelson (Late Model), Aaron Morey (Modifieds), Dan Wilson (Factory Stock), Phil Herrick (Thunderstock), Mike Pickard (Thunderstock), Dave Redmon (Mini Stock) and Mike Goodwin (Warrior) also won feature races.

West Michigan Sand Dragway

Grand Haven's Kip Martin and Mike Page hope to overtake points leader Lee Reynders of Grand Rapids as the finals points series races of the season are run on Friday and Saturday at West Michigan Sand Dragway.

Martin and Page are tied for second place in the point standings behind Reynders in the Pro Truck category.

Mears' Jim Brantley also has an outside shot heading into the final races to win the Pro Truck points title.

Elimination races start at 7 p.m. on Friday and 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Lawn mower races

The best lawn mower racers from around the country and Canada will converge at the Sparta Airport on Saturday and Sunday for the Great Lakes Summer Nationals.

The action will feature racing action on riding lawn mowers with all cutting blades removed. Speeds are expected to reach 60 mph.

Racers compete for points, trophies and bragging rights rather than cash prizes.

The races are part of the 20 STA-BIL Lawn & Garden Mower Racing Series held throughout the country and sanctioned by the U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association (USLMRA).

Featured Michigan racers include 2011 National Lawn Mower Racing Hall of Fame inductee Art Neavill (Commerce Township); the father-and-son team of Jim and Jayson Mikula (Sparta) and 2-time USLMRA Driver of the Year Richard Webb (Saginaw).

Also on hand will be the Michigan Rough Riders Club from the Lansing area and the Western Ontario Outlaws from Canada.

The Sparta Airport is located at 9100 Vinton N.W. in Sparta.

Racing starts at 5 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Admission is $5 for those 12 years of age and up.

AREA RACING SCHEDULE
FRIDAY
Where: Winston Speedway
Time: Racing begins at 7:15 p.m.
Admission: Adults $12, Seniors $8, Kids 5-11 $3 and infants free.
Schedule: $300 to win Warrior race along with a full program of classes.

SATURDAY
Where: Thunderbird Raceway
Time: Racing begins at 7 p.m.
Admission: Adults $12, Seniors $10, Kids 5-14 $5 and kids 4 and under free.
Schedule: $1,000 to win Late Model race and six other classes of racing.

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
Where: West Michigan Sand Dragway
Time: Eliminations on Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 4 p.m.
Admission: Friday $5 and kids 7 and under free, Saturday adults $10, kids 8-12 $5 and kids 7 and under free.
Schedule: Friday, test and tune 12-7 p.m. and eliminations at 7 p.m.; Saturday, time Trials and qualifying begins at 9 a.m. with eliminations at 4 p.m.


E-mail: sliverance@muskegonchronicle.com