Mid-Michigan Mini Sprints Invade Cherry Raceway To Kick Off The Memorial Day Holiday Weekend
Fife Lake, Michigan (Friday, May 25th, 2012): The Memorial Day Holiday Weekend celebration began for the short track racing community in the state of Michigan up in the “Great White North” at Cherry Raceway, located southeast of Traverse City in Fife Lake, Michigan with the first of four appearances by the Mini Sprints. They were joined by five of the weekly divisions of UMP Modifieds, Street Stocks, Cruiser Bombers, Four-Cylinder Warriors, and Four-Cylinder Compacts while the UMP Super Late Models had the night off.
The fast 3/8s (0.375) mile high-banked dirt oval would see the Four-Cylinders Compacts division roll out first as they saw a slim field answer the call for their Feature but the drivers all 16-years-old and younger put on a great show as Opening Night Feature Winner, 13-year-old Chris Casey started on the pole and after losing the lead to 15-year-old Nick Olds on lap one he regained the lead the next lap.
From there, it was all Casey as the Williamsburg, Michigan teenager would take his Wilson Plumbing / Mercury would win his second Feature in two starts. Olds finished second as 16-year-old John Edingfield would complete the running order. Casey also scored the lone Heat Race win.
In the Street Stocks Feature Opening Night Feature Winner, Bob Green and Rookie Allen Oyer brought the field down to the green flag and it would be Oyer grabbing the early lead. Tim Tabaczka would power by Oyer to grab the lead on lap five and he brought Green, who had since regrouped and began to battle with Tabaczka.
With two laps to go, Green maneuvered his way by Tabaczka and from there, the Fife Lake, Michigan veteran in his Olson’s Auto Body / Chevrolet would hang on to score his second Feature victory in two starts. Oyer finished second while 16-year-old Andy Nickerson III finished third. Tabaczka fell to fourth a 17-year-old Rookie James Clem finished off the top five. Tabaczka would pick up the single Heat Race win.
The Four-Cylinders Warriors would roll out next for their Feature and the front row would consist of a pair of Rookies as Jim Durga and Andrew Austin brought the field to the green. Austin held the point with a slew of challengers all over his back bumper throughout most of the race. including most of the pressure coming from Durga.
Through it all the Manton, Michigan rookie in his Joe’s Garage / Chevrolet would fend off all comers to score his first career Feature Win in only his second ever start! Durga would bring home a career high second place showing while Opening Night Feature Winner, Mark Nienhouse was third over 16-year-old John Edingfield, who was doing double duty during the night. 18-year-old Rookie Greg Walkowiak finished up the top five. M. Nienhouse and Greg Nienhouse would collect the Heat Race Wins.
The Cruiser Bombers division was up next and their front would see Former Track Champion, Roger McQueen and Rookie J.J. Arbour lead the field to the green. McQueen led the first two laps before Opening Night Feature Winner, 14-year-old Jimmy Hiller drove by to take the lead on lap three. Defending Track Champion, Emery Smith also drove by McQueen for second and set his sights on the teenager.
Throughout the caution filled affair, the Kalkaska, Michigan rising star would be able to keep the rest of the field behind him and after Smith dropped out late in the race, Hiller would steer his Forest Area Car Company / Chevrolet into the Engine Pro Victory Lane for the second time in two starts! Rookie Alicia Roszczewski finished a career high second while Karl McClellan, Charlie Woebbeking, and Rookie J.J. Arbour rounded out the top five. McQueen and Ty Phillips scored the Heat Race triumphs.
The Mid-Michigan Mini Sprints Series were up for their first of four appearances during the 2012 racing season as Joe Lancaster and Bruce Dezelski started on the front row. However it would be rusty Reyelts from his third starting spot who would grab the early lead while the rest of the field jockeyed for position behind the race leader.
Reyelts would pace the field for the entire 15-lap Feature as the Williamsburg, Michigan driver would score the Feature win. Justin Ward finished second while Tom Hunt, Lancaster, and Bill Dunham were the top five. Picking up Heat Race Wins were Reyelts and Randy Plamondon.
On this night the premier division within the United Midwestern Promoters (UMP) DIRTcar Racing Series, the UMP Modifieds closed out the night with their Feature and the front row would be Veteran Tony Gokey and Antero Tarvudd and it would be Gokey pacing the field with Scott Payton, Defending Track Champion Joe Rokos, and Opening Night Feature Winner John McCaul right behind. Both McCaul and Payton spun in separate incidents which forced them to the rear of the field
McCaul, who spun on lap seven, rocketed from the back of the pack in just two laps running the high side and would take the lead away from Gokey on lap nine and from there, the Montague, Michigan veteran in his Stuberg Construction / Xtreme Racecars entry would fight off a hard-charging Rokos to win his second Feature in two starts. Rokos was second while Gokey, Dennis Taghon, and Payton would complete the top five. In the Heat Races, Rokos and McCaul would pick up those victories.
Cherry Raceway will be taking Friday, June 1st off but come right back the next night on Saturday, June 2nd with the special “Saturday Night in the ‘Great White North’” featuring the Winged Sprint Cars of the Engine Pro ASCS Sprints On Dirt Presented by ARP. Superstars like Dustin Daggett, Brett Mann, Ryan Grubaugh, Gregg Dalman, Darren Long, Ryan Ruhl, Marques Huffer and many more of the fire breathing machines and their drivers will invade for their first of three appearances.
Also on the card will be the tracks weekly divisions of Street Stocks, Cruiser Bombers, Four-Cylinder Warriors, and Four-Cylinder Compacts. The two premier weekly divisions, the UMP Super Late Models and UMP Modifieds will have the night off.
Ticket Prices for Saturday, June 2nd: Adults (13-59): $15.00 – Seniors (60 and Over): $12.00 – Children (6-12) $9.00 – Kids (5 and Under): FREE – Pit Passes: $25.00. For Saturday, June 2nd, Starting Times will be adjusted slightly for the date as well as to accommodate the traveling invaders as the Pit Gates Open at 3:00p.m. Grandstand Gates Open at 5:00p.m. Practice also Starts at 6:00p.m., and then after Pre-Race Ceremonies / Invocation / National Anthem(s), Racing Begins at 7:15p.m.
Friday Night Racing returns on June 8th on Topless Night / Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club Night as all six weekly divisions will be in action minus the roofs and going for “Double Points” throughout the night! The UMP Super Late Models, UMP Modifieds, Street Stocks, Cruiser Bombers, Four-Cylinder Warriors, and Four-Cylinder Compacts will all be in action on this night.
In addition, this night will also be "Operation Home Front Night", with The Hooters Girls from Traverse City, Michigan & Operation Home Front Sponsored Race Cars On Display! It’s also Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club Night as all 2012 MARFC members in good standing who show their 2012 Membership Cards will get into the races for absolutely FREE! For more information on how to become a MARFC member, go to their website at: www.marfc.org
Ticket Prices for Friday, June 8th are: Adults (13-59): $12.00 – Seniors (60 and Over): $9.00 – Children (6-12) $6.00 – Kids (5 and Under): FREE – Pit Passes: $25.00. On Friday nights throughout the 2012 racing season, the Pit Gates Open at 5:00p.m. Grandstand Gates Open at 6:00p.m. Practice also Starts at 6:00p.m., and then after Pre-Race Ceremonies / Invocation / National Anthem(s), Racing Begins at 7:15p.m.
Cherry Raceway is located at: 8649 East M-113 in Fife Lake, Michigan. For more information, please call: 1 (231) 468-1477. Don’t forget to check out the track website at: www.cherryraceway.com You can also follow us on Facebook by going to: www.facebook.com/cherryraceway and clicking on the “Like” button as well as on Twitter by going to: www.twitter.com/cherryraceway
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