Six Winners At Cherry Raceway On 2012 Mid-Season Championships Night In The “Great White North”

Six Winners At Cherry Raceway On 2012 Mid-Season Championships Night In The “Great White North”

Fife Lake, Michigan (Friday, July 6th, 2012): The three races in eight days marathon at Cherry Raceway in Fife Lake, Michigan, which was part of the Best Fourth In The North 2012 Festival Presented by the Fife Lake Chamber of Commerce concluded on Friday, July 6th with 2012 Mid-Season Championships for all six weekly classes on a very hot and sweltering evening in Northern Michigan. The high-powered UMP Super Late Models returned after a mini vacation and despite the heat, the overflow crowd was brimming with excitement and were treated to an action packed night of racing.

The first main event of the evening was for the Four-Cylinders Compacts and they were led to the green flag by the top two in the season long points chase, a pair of 13-year-olds’; Defending Track Champion Autumn Beeman and Current Points Leader Chris Casey and it was Beeman who was able to jump out to the advantage.

Casey kept pace throughout the majority of the event, but Beeman would stay out in front the entire race however Beeman’s #016 Beeman’s Towing / Ford never looked back as she was able to pick up her third feature win of the season as Casey finished second over Tuesday Nights Feature Winner, 16-year-old Cara Neverth. A pair of 15-year-olds’ Ryan Andras and Dylan Roush rounded out the top five. Beeman also won the Heat Race.

Up next it was the UMP Modifieds for their 20-Lap Feature and it would be Current Points Leader John McCaul and Defending Track Champion Joe Rokos leading the field to the green flag. McCaul took early race lead while Rokos, who was driving the #03 normally driven by Tony Gokey after Rokos’ machine broke during the heat race. With only caution during the race, McCaul was able to keep some distance between himself and the rest of the pack the entire distance.

In the end, McCaul’s #27 Stuberg Construction / Xtreme Racecars machine would visit victory lane one more time and for the Montague, Michigan veteran, it was his fifth feature win of the season. Dennis Taghon would finish in the runner up spot followed by Rokos as Paul Johnson and Colin Thirlby completed the final top five. Thirlby won the heat race.

The Four-Cylinder Warriors made their appearance with a front row consisting of Current Overall & Rookie Points Leader Jim Durga and 15-year-old Nick Olds bringing the field down to Chief Starter Tim Beebe’s green flag. Durga had the early race advantage until lap three when Olds took over the race lead and never relinquishing it the rest of the way.

The Empire, Michigan teenager in his #2 Taghon’s Garage / Chevrolet would get his second feature win of the season with 16-year-old John Edingfield finishing second over Russ Carrier while 75-year-old Ron Doberstein Sr., and 18-yar-old Greg Walkowiak would make up the top five. Rookie Andrew Austin was the lone heat race winner.

The Street Stock feature rolled out for the feature next. Their front row was made up of Current Overall & Rookie Points Leader, 19-year-old Allen Oyer and Bob Green who were the first to see the green flag for their 15-Lap feature. Green managed to take the advantage right off the bat, and despite withstanding a big challenge from Tim Tabaczka. The Fife Lake, Michigan native would take his #23 Olson’s Auto Body / Chevrolet to victory lane for the fifth time this season.

Tabaczka finished in the runner-up spot while 17-year-old Rookie James Clem was third as Oyer and 16-year-old Andy Nickerson III made up the top five finishing spots. The Heat Race wins were collected by Oyer and Tabaczka

Next it was the Cruiser Bombers 15-Lap feature which was lead out by Current Points Leader 14-year-old Jimmy Hiller and 2010 Track Champion Roger McQueen. Hiller was the early race leader early until lap five when McQueen took over the race lead. Despite several cautions in the race which slowed the pace down, McQueen was up to the challenge throughout the race and in the end, the Mancelona, Michigan native would take his #53 Richard’s Rusty Wrench / Chevrolet to victory lane for his first win of the year.

Kevin Stricker would finish in the runner-up spot while Jeremiah Woebbeking was third ahead of Hiller who slipped to fourth while Richard Cebula Jr. completed the top five. Hiller and McQueen would collect the Heat Race triumphs.

Finally it was the 20-Lap feature for the premiere division at Cherry Raceway; the UMP Super Late Models. Their main event was lead out by the top two drivers in the points in their division; Current Points Leader Brandon Thirlby and Greg Gokey. Thirlby would take the early race lead while the rest of the field jockeyed for position behind him. Only one caution flag flew the entire distance as Thirlby would go on to lead the entire distance.

For the Traverse City, Michigan native in his #m14 Thirlby Automotive / Mastersbilt Racecars machine, it was his fourth Feature Win in four main events held at Cherry this season. Gokey would come across the line in second while former Seven-Time Track Champion Eric Spangler was third. Defending Track Champion Ben Hidy was fourth ahead of Steve Nieuwenhuis who wrapped up the top five. Spangler and Rookie Brook Brasington were the heat race victors.

This Friday, July 13th will be another great night of racing up in the “Great White North” as a full six in one show will once again be highlighted by the high-powered UMP Super Late Models. Also in action will be the UMP Modifieds, Street Stocks, Cruiser Bombers, Four-Cylinder Warriors, and Four-Cylinder Compacts.

Ticket Prices for Friday, July 13th are: Adults (13-59): $12.00 – Seniors (60 and Over): $0.00 – Children (6-12) $5.00 – Kids (5 and Under): FREE – Pit Passes: $25.00. The Pit Gates Open at 5:00p.m., the Grandstand Gates Open at 6:00p.m. Practice Starts at 6:00p.m., as well and then after Pre-Race Ceremonies / Invocation / National Anthem(s), Racing Begins at approximately 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