Newaygo's Steve Thompson wins first Berlin Raceway feature race

By Steve Kaminski | The Grand Rapids Press MLive.com

MARNE -- Steve Thompson of Newaygo has a little advice for people who always have dreamed about going racing but figure they are just too old to do it.

Do it.

That’s what Thompson said after he won Saturday night’s 15-lap 4 Cylinder B feature race at Berlin Raceway, giving the 45-year old his first career victory. Thompson started racing only a year ago, and he finished sixth in the points standings.

"It’s awesome," said Thompson, who outran Dave Duyst by 1.439 seconds to the checkered flag. "I have finished second and third, but this is the first trophy. It means a lot. To me, this is like winning the (Daytona) 500.

"I have always wanted to race, ever since I was a kid. I used to come out and watch the guys. I wish I would have started 20 years ago. But it’s better late than never. I just bought a Pro Stock and I’m going to race it next year."

Berlin had been rained out the past two weeks, but action returned with Saturday’s Racingawareness.com Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Kids Night. Dave Lake of Marne, who drives the No. 97L Racingawareness.com Modified, found Victory Lane, too. Lake, the division’s points leader, captured the 30-lap main for his fifth win of the season.

But this might have been his most difficult. Lake made contact with the wall during a heat race, and that sent his team scrambling to make the necessary repairs in time for the feature.

"Talk about trying situations," Lake said. "We smacked the wall hard in the heat race. We had a bunch of cement in the right rear tire. But the guys got together and we methodically took everything apart, and we put it together three, four times until we were sure we got everything right. I’m glad everything came together properly."

Justin Ryan of Grand Rapids won his third Superoltz Stock feature, leading from start to finish and beating Andrew Nylaan by 0.282 seconds. But Ryan said it wasn’t as easy as it looked.

"It wasn’t very easy," Ryan said. "The car got really, really free. As the track cools off, it gets so free, but I’m sure the other guys were in the same boat. Once you are four or five lengths ahead, you can try to keep the tires nice and cool. My goal is to save the right rear until the last five laps, and then I can burn it off."

Darrell Holtzlander of Wyoming won his second 4 Cylinders A main, and he gave all the credit to his 15-year-old son, Dillon Holtzlander.

"My son set the car up, and he really did a great job tonight," Holtzlander said. "He said, ‘Dad, why don’t we try this,’ and we did it. His idea worked. He is starting off about the same time I started with my dad. But he’s picking up on it quicker than I did."

Double duty: Not only did Dave Lake of Marne win the Modified feature, but he placed fifth in the Super Stock main.

Did you hear that? "If we didn’t do this as a family, we wouldn’t be here." Darrell Holtzlander, who gets plenty of help from his children, Kara, Arik, Steven and Dillon.

Did you see that? Tim DeVos broke an axle while leading with three laps to go and surrendered the lead to Brian Campbell in the Super Lates 100-lap main.

Here’s Johnny: Grand Rapids driver Johnny Benson finished second in the Super Lates feature.

Next week: Open Wheel Showdown, including the Auto Value Super Sprints and the USAC Midgets

Tom Sprague Jr., Wins Season Championship Feature & 2011 UMP Late Models Track Championship

Tom Sprague Jr., Wins Season Championship Feature & 2011 UMP Late Models Track Championship

Lake Odessa, Michigan (Saturday, August 27th, 2011): The Premier division within the United Midwestern Promoters (UMP) DIRTcar Racing Series; The Tinney Automotive UMP Late Models decided their 2011 Track Champion and Rookie of the Year on Saturday, August 27th at I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, Michigan during the 2011 Season Championships Part I.

Coming into the night, three drivers were still mathematically eligible and would decide the outcome of the 2011 Track Title. St. Johns, Michigan standout, Zack Olger held onto a 21-point advantage over Traverse City, Michigan driver, Brandon Thirlby while Muskegon, Michigan's Tom Sprague Jr., was only 15 markers behind Thirlby. Olger simply needed to finish fifth or better in the 2011 Season Championship Feature and he would win the 2011 Track Championship no matter where Thirlby or Sprague Jr., finished!

Unfortunately for Olger, he blew a motor the night before at Mt. Pleasant Speedway and couldn't get another engine in time or another car to borrow and was a no show, thus ending his chances at a first career Track Championship. This set up a showdown between Thirlby and Sprague Jr., and going into the 2011 Season Championship Feature, Thirlby carried a slim 15-point lead over Sprague Jr.

The Tinney Automotive UMP Late Models 2011 Season Championship 30-lap Feature would be the second main event of the evening to hit the 3/8s (0.375) mile high-banked dirt oval and leading the field to the green flag would be Thirlby, who also came into the night fourth in the UMP DIRTcar Racing Series National points standings, and Curtis Roberts leading the field to chief starter, Tim Beebe's green flag. Thirlby would grab the lead only to be immediately challenge by Sprague Jr., who started fourth and snuck by Roberts to take second spot.

The two Championship title contenders batted side by side before Sprague Jr., took the lead for himself on lap four. Roberts was able to regroup and also slid by Thirlby to take over second spot and set his sights on Sprague Jr. The two drivers would then pull away from Thirlby, who then had two-time and defending track champion, Eric Spangler who was also the current UMP DIRTcar Racing Series Michigan State points leader, and Kris Patterson Jr., to contend with.

In another side plot to the 2011 Track Championship title chase, the battle for the 2011 Rookie of the Year title would come down to the "Professional Stunt Woman" from Park City, Utah, Kathy Jarvis and former Street Stocks standout, Jason Wiley of Fenwick, Michigan as the two freshmen would decide the Rookie title amongst themselves as Jarvis hung onto a slim 11-point advantage over Wiley coming into the night. Both drivers battled in the middle of the pack for the coveted freshman title while the rest of the field battled.

As Sprague Jr., and Roberts continued to battle, Spangler was able to get by Thirlby for third leaving the title contender in fourth. If he stayed there, him and Sprague Jr., would've tied for the Championship with Thirlby winning on an unprecedented fifth tie-breaker! Patterson Jr., and Thirlby battled side by side over the last 10 laps for the all important fourth spot.

In the end, Sprague Jr., in his Sprague's Auto Parts Chevrolet would fight off Roberts and the Muskegon, Michigan driver would win his first Feature of the season. Roberts finished second over Spangler while Patterson Jr., just nipped Thirlby at the line for fourth giving Sprague Jr., ,the 2011 Tinney Automotive UMP Late Models Track Championship by just five points over a dejected Thirlby.

Dan Hubble finished sixth while Wiley beat Jarvis at the line for seventh, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit as Jarvis in her Andy Stebbins Motorsports Chevrolet would beat Wiley by just nine markers to give the Park City, Utah driver the 2011 Rookie of the Year title! Larry Zander and Zach Calkins finished off the top 10. Appropriately enough, Sprague Jr., and Jarvis won the Qualifier Heat Races and for Jarvis, it was her first career checkered flag.


The first Feature of the evening would actually be the 20-lap main for the Renegade Racing Fuels & Lubricants UMP Street Stocks and it would be current points leader, Bill Brandt Jr., and 2011 Winston Speedway Track Champion, Dan Dykman starting on the front row. Brandt Jr., would grab the early lead while the rest of the field would jockey for position behind them.

Several cautions plagued the feature event including one for Dykman who spun on lap seven. The veteran campaigner would then charge through the pack from the rear of the field and worked his way back up to second and began reeling in the race long leader. Brandt Jr., had the opportunity to clinch the 2011 Track Championship a week early depending on what defending Track Champion, Gary Vandermark did in the race. Vandermark's fate was sealed early as he was involved in one of the numerous cautions.

Back up front, Dykman searched high and low for a way around Brandt Jr., but the Lake Odessa, Michigan resident was up to the challenge as Brandt Jr., would lead all 20 laps in his Zylstra Construction Chevrolet to win his third Feature of the season and clinch the 2011 Renegade Racing Fuels & Lubricants UMP Street Stocks Track Championship a week early!

Dykman settled for a hard fought second over 2009 Track Champion, Aaron Wolf while Jay Chelbek, and Rich Sweet completed the top five. Josh Frye was sixth as Hillary Smith, Ron Harper, Duane Nelson, and new Rookie of the Year points leader, 15-year-old Carlind Forsythe completed the top 10. Chelbek and Vandermark picked up wins in the Qualifier Heat Races.


After the post-race ceremonies involving the Tinney Automotive UMP Late Models, it was time for the 20-lap Jim's Auto Body of Portland UMP Sport Compacts Feature and the front row would consist of Rookie Keith Brigance and Defending Track Champion, Dan Reimersma and it would be Reimersma pacing the field for the first seven laps before current points leader, Rick Peck drove by on lap eight to take over.

Just like Brandt Jr., in the UMP Street Stocks, Peck had the opportunity to clinch the 2011 Track Championship with a week to go providing he won the Feature! Once he got by Reimersma, he then had to deal with current UMP DIRTcar Racing Series Eastern States Points Leader, Paul Namey who slipped by Reimersma on a restart to take over second spot and begin to challenge Peck.

Namey, the 2010 Runner-Up at I-96 threw every trick he had in his arsenal at Peck, the 2010 18 & Over Rookie of the Year, but Peck in his Bob's Repair Saturn fought off every challenge and the Hastings, Michigan driver would collect his third Feature win of the year and clinch the 2011 Jim's Auto Body of Portland UMP Sport Compacts Track Championship with a week to go in the season!

Namey settled for second as Reimersma, current 18 & Over Rookie points leader, Kyle Brigance, and 2011 Winston Speedway Track Champion, Chad Tomczak wrapped up the top five. Another Rookie, Keith Brigance finished sixth while 13-year-old Harper Hotchkiss, current 17 & Under Rookie points leader, 15-year-old Jordan King, another rookie, 10-year-old Christopher Joyce, and yet one more rookie, 19-year-old Joe Pironello were the top 10. Namey, Peck, and rookie Mike Vezino won the Qualifier Heats.


The final Feature of the night would be for the Lane Automotive UMP Modifieds and starting on the front row and leading the field to the green flag would be Travis Stemler and his Father, Tim Stemler. The first caution of the race was for contact between points leader coming into the night, Mark Anderson and current UMP DIRTcar Racing Series Michigan State points leader, Jacob Poel. Anderson was done for the night after suffering heavy right front damage, while Poel only suffered cosmetic damage and was able to continue.

After another complete restart, it would be Travis Stemler grabbing the early lead while Poel charged up to the second spot from his fifth starting position. Coming into the night, Anderson carried a slim two-point lead over Poel and after Anderson pitted for the night, Poel would take over the points lead no matter where he finished. Nevertheless, Poel began applying pressure to Stemler for the lead.

On lap eight, Poel would be able to complete the pass to take over the top spot and from there, the Spring Lake, Michigan driver in his Poel's PRO-ACT Welding & Fabrication Chevrolet, who won the Feature the previous night at Winston Speedway, would make it two for two on the weekend and walk away with his fourth overall I-96 Speedway Feature Win of the 2011 racing season and officially take over the points lead in the chase for the 2011 Lane Automotive UMP Modifieds Track Championship with a week to go!

Stemler finished second over former Two-Time Track Champion, Todd Feutz who pitted early and came from the rear of the field to finish third. Johnny DeYoung was fourth while Trevor Sloan completed the top five. 2007 Track Champion, Shannon Fisk was sixth over Ken Beutler while rookie, Nick Kurtz, Corey Bevard, and Ron Chaffee finished off the top 10. Anderson, Stemler, and Tyler Boggs picked up Qualifier Heat Race triumphs.


I-96 Speedway will take the next three weekends off to allow for other area speed plants to conduct their 2011 Season Championships and season ending Special Events. Racing returns to Lake Odessa, Michigan on Saturday, September 24th for the 2011 Season Finale; The 4th annual Dirt Gold Cup Championship Extravaganza as Renegade Racing Fuels & Lubricants presents a spectacular night of Champions and exciting racing action to conclude the 2011 racing season.

Headlining the card will be the fire breathing, hi-flying, winged warriors of the Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt Presented by ARP as the Grand Rapids, Michigan based series will crown their 2011 Series Champion and Rookie of the Year. In addition, the tracks remaining three weekly divisions within the UMP DIRTcar Racing Series, the Lane Automotive UMP Modifieds, Renegade Racing Fuels & Lubricants UMP Street Stocks, and Jim's Auto Body of Portland UMP Sport Compacts will also settle their 2011 Track Championship and Rookie of the Year title chases as well.

For Saturday, September 24th, the Pit Gates open at 3:00p.m. Grandstand Gates open at 5:00p.m., with Practice (Hot Laps) starting at 6:00p.m. Then after Pre-Race Ceremonies / Invocation / National Anthem(s), Racing begins promptly at 7:00p.m. Ticket Prices are: Adults (13-61): $15.00, Seniors (62 and Over): $10.00, Children (6-12): $8.00, Kids (5 and Under): FREE. Family Pass (A Family Pass will get 2 Adults and 2 Children into the races. Once inside, the Kid's Club is Free for the Kids!): $35.00. Finally, Pit Passes: $25.00.

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"