It was a "May" Day at Winston Speedway

Friday, August 8 2008

It was a "May" Day at Winston Speedway

Winston Speedway fans again were treated to some great racing Friday August 8th. The headline event of the night was the Paul Vanderstelt Memorial Race for the Factory Stock division. Vanderstelt recently lost a long battle with cancer. Vanderstelt was well known in West Michigan racing circles for his days as a driver most recently for his tire business. His passion for racing spanned 40 plus years. Vanderstelt will be missed but his generosity and willingness to help drivers will not be forgotten. Thirty Eight Factory Stocks were on hand to battle in honor of Vanderstelt.It was fitting on this night that a second generation driver would take the win in the Factory Stock Memorial race for Paul Vanderstelt.
How ironic Bill May, who’s father Vanderstelt raced against for years would take the win. Bill May used to watch his dad Bill May Sr battle with Vanderstelt during their racing days. Tonight May was a man on a mission as he earned the right to start on the pole after winning his heat race. May has won many features in his race career. The only thing his competitors could hope for was a mechanical failure. May never missed a mark leading all 25 laps. May left with a trophy, $500 cash and another cherished racing memory. The race for second had the fans on the edge of their seat. Dan Wilson held the runner-up spot for all but the last ten feet as Bill Delong edged him at the finish line by a bumper. Mike Pickard and Scott Erickson rounded out the top five. Heats were won by Erickson, Wilson, May and Jeff Califf. The top transfer spot out of the consolation feature went to Justin Gilland.
The story in racing is not always about the winner. The last couple of weeks in the Integra Racing Shocks and Springs Late Model division driver Kevin Juusola has been the talk of many people in the pits. The Juusola name is well recognized in Michigan because Kevin’s father Karl was recognized as one of the best Late Model drivers around before back injuries ended his racing career. Kevin has been on the rise and showed again tonight that he is looking to contend for wins. Juusola paced the field from his pole position never being challenged for the first fifteen laps. With ten to go Juusola found himself battling side by side with 2007 Track Champion Tom Sprague Jr. This lasted for 4 laps before Sprague Jr was able to clear Juusola. Once out front Sprague Jr could not breathe a sigh of relief. Hard charger Matt Pickard was on the move after starting tenth. With four laps to go Pickard made his way by Juusola and reeled in Sprague. Pickard made the pass on the low side only to be picked off by lapped traffic. Sprague’s veteran move of holding his line on the high side turned out to be the move of the race. While Pickard was left frustrated behind slow traffic, Sprague pulled away was able to make his way to victory lane for the 4th time this season. Matt Pickard held off Juusola for second. Andy Sprague and Rich Neiser completed the top five. Heat races were won by Shawn Reed and John McDonald. The “Dash for Cash” event was won by Neiser.
The field of twenty-two UMP Modified were all shaking their heads after the inversion draw. After winning the first heat race Points Leader John McCaul proceeded to draw a one chip that placed him on the pole for the feature. McCaul lined up for the main event already with eleven wins in twelve tries. Twenty laps and four cautions later he had made it twelve out of thirteen at Winston Speedway. Not only is McCaul dominating at Winston he is in serious contention to win the UMP Modified National title. Daryl Woodring was second followed by Jeff Erickson, Tim Tuttle and Stan Dodds. Woodring was also a Heat race winner.In the Port City Racing Sportsman division Point leader Ralph Sternberg gave way to Kody Weisner after leading the first eleven laps of their twenty lap feature. Once out front Weisner held off a late race charge from Bobby McQueen to take the win. The win was the third of the season for Weisner at Winston. Sternberg held onto third followed by Bean Falbe and Rob Sternberg. Weisner and McQueen garnered Heat race wins.
The most exciting finish of the night belonged to the Mini Stock division. Luke Near once won a feature after rolling his car over in turn three at Winston. It should not be a shock that tonight he won going across the finish line backwards. After watching front runner CJ Rector use every inch of track to keep Near behind him in the closing laps, Near made a clean pass on the outside of the final turn. Rector made contact to Near’s left rear quarter panel causing near to spin and slide across the finish line for his 5th feature win of the season. Rector was credited with second. Carl McCann, Chris Rice and April Spriggs completed the top five. Heat races were won by Rice and McCann.
The Warrior Four Cylinder division saw some of Crystal and Berlin Raceway’s top four cylinder drivers make their way to Winston and lead the pack. In their main event Rob Nieman made his way by Dennis Holtzlander on lap four for the winning pass. Nieman proved his Heat race win was no fluke as he went on to lead the rest of the main event to make his first visit to Winston a success. Holtzlander held onto second followed by Kyle Shattuck, Eric Dykema, and Cory Holtzlander.
Next Friday August 15th is the battle for bragging rights in the Sportsman and Late Model divisions. It will be their season Championship races. For the best in Family Entertainment along the Lakeshore make your way to Winston Speedway.

Sprague, McCaul, Weinrick, May and Near take wins at Winston Speedway

Friday, August 1. 200

Sprague, McCaul, Weinrick, May and Near take wins at Winston Speedway

It was Fan Appreciation Night at Winston Speedway on Friday August 1st. Fans were treated to lowered ticket prices, free ticket giveaways and a driver autograph session on the front stretch at the beginning of the night. JD BYRIDER was the sponsor of the night’s activities. Once racing started the action was fast and furious. A packed house was treated to two and three abreast racing the entire night.

Integra Racing Shocks and Springs Late Model driver Andy Sprague only took three laps to work his way to the front from his fifth place starting position in their main event. Up until six laps to go Sprague was on a Sunday cruise. Heavy lapped traffic and pressure from point’s leader Rich Neiser were the final two battles Sprague had to endure. Sprague did so with flying colors masterfully staying out front to pick up his first win of the season at Winston. Neiser was second followed by Matt Pickard, Kevin Juusola, and Bob Finlay. Heat Races were won by Neiser, John McDonald, and Sprague. The top transfer spot in the “B” Feature was garnered by Tim Stott.

In the Modified division it does not matter where John McCaul starts the main event. Fans are witnessing history every time he takes to the track. Never in Winston’s history has a driver been this dominant this far into the season. All eyes turn to McCaul when the feature starts. McCaul's ability to stay out of trouble and work his way to the front with his aggressive style makes him one of Winston’s top attractions. McCaul did it again tonight starting from the eleventh spot. McCaul made his last pass of the night with twelve laps to go getting to the inside of veteran Daryl Woodring. The win was McCaul’s eleventh win in twelve nights of racing at Winston. Strong runs by Woodring and Chad Wilson earned them the second and third spots. Mike Wilbern and Steve McClees completed the top ten. Heats were won by Derek Poland and Dan Dykman.

The Port City Racing Sportsman division continues to be one of the most competitive at Winston. Chad Weinrick made at statement tonight. Third in the standings at the beginning of the night Weinrick, had one of his best nights of the season. Starting third Weinrick found the bottom of the track to his liking and used that groove to pick up the win and keep him in the hunt for a track championship. The Sportsman “Hard Charger” of the night went to Mike Lynn. Starting dead last after problems in his Heat Race Lynn was able to nip Dan Wilson on the last lap to take the runner-up spot. Kody Weisner and Rob Sternberg rounded out the top five. Heat Race winners were Tim Tuttle and Ralph Sternberg.

A couple of longtime veteran racers showed the youngsters in the Factory Stocks how it is done. Scott Erickson and Bill May had the crowd on their feet as they swapped the lead back and forth in the final five laps. Erickson was trying to hold onto his pole starting position while May had to work his way to the front from his seventh place starting position. May did not waste time as he raced to second on lap four. After three decades of racing May has not lost his touch. With three laps to go May was able to clear Erickson on the back stretch and maintain the point. The win for May was his first of the season at Winston. Erickson’s runner-up spot after a ten year layoff from racing proved that he also has not missed a beat. Jerry Fairchild, Robby Sternberg and Bill Delong rounded out the top five. Bill Delong, Kendal Marlink, and Derek Passenier were Heat Race winners. The top transfer spot in the “B” feature was won by Justin Gilland.

Spragues’s Auto Parts Mini Stock drivers had to cringe when they saw Luke Near placed on the front row after the inversion draw. Out front Near has been unstoppable. It was no different tonight as Near led every lap. CJ Rector was the best of the rest followed by Brandon Tramper, April Spriggs and Andrew Bartoszek. Heat race winners were Near and Mark Farber. The “Dash for Cash’ event was won by Farber.

The racing action continues next Friday August 8th with the Paul Vanderstelt Factory Stock Memorial race. Vanderstelt recently passed away after a long battle with cancer. The “Tire Man” as known to by many, Vanderstelt was well known around the West Michigan race scene for his willingness to help area racers with his tire business. All five divisions of racing will again be in action. If you have not made your way to Winston this summer, you are missing out. For the best in Family Entertainment along the Lakeshore make your way to Winston Speedway.

Stott Wins Winged Outlaw Late Model Show at Winston

Friday, July 25 2008

Stott Wins Winged Outlaw Late Model Show at Winston

It was another great night of racing at Winston Speedway on Friday July 25th. Another standing room only crowd witnessed Winged Outlaw Late Models along with four other classes of racing. Sideboards running the full length of a Late Model rising eight feet tall held the cars to the track like slot cars. Fans were in awe of the speeds being turned as drivers never lifted their foot off the accelerator touring Winston’s 3/8ths mile clay oval in under 14 seconds.

Sixteen Outlaw Late Models were on hand to compete for the $2000 to win prize. Three cautions before the first full lap had the fans wondering if the twenty-five lap feature would ever get under way. Once it did start it was over in a flash. Matt Sprague’s Fast Time qualifying lap of 13.34 gave him the honor of drawing the inversion chip to set the field for the start of the race. The inversion placed Muskegon’s Tim Stott on the pole. From the start of the race Stott proved to be the best in the field on this night. By the end of the race Stott had led every lap and lapped the field up to the third place finisher. Matt Pickard was the best of the rest as he held of the charges of third place finisher John McDonald. John Krusinsky and Matt Sprague completed the top five. Scott Wenell and Tom Sprague Jr powered their way to Heat race wins.

The Integra Racing Shocks and Springs UMP Modifieds continue to see one driver have one of the most dominating seasons ever witnessed at Winston Speedway. John McCaul has been nothing less than spectacular all season. Just when you think there is no way McCaul can win another feature he finds a way. Tonight it looked like McCaul’s teammate Stan Dodds was going to pick up the win. Starting on the pole Dodds held off all comers including McCaul for the first fifteen laps. With five to go McCaul made an outside pass of Dodds on the back stretch and never looked back. The win was McCaul’s tenth in eleven tries at Winston. Dodds held onto second over Dan Dykman, Steve McClees, and Derek Poland. Heat Races were won by McCaul and Daryl Woodring.

After tonight the Port City Racing Sportsman division is all tied up at the top of the Point Standings. Ironically brothers Ralph and Rob Sternberg are the leaders. It was younger brother Rob’s turn to shine tonight. Rob worked his way from his fifth place starting position to take the lead after leader Tim Tuttle spun on the front stretch. Once out front Rob Sternberg’s car hooked on the bottom of the track. Rob Sternberg held off Chad Weinrick for the final eight laps to take his first Feature win of the season. 2007 Thunderbird Race Park Sportsman Champion Brian Williams made a strong appearance at Winston finishing third over Kody Weisner and Mike Lynn. Heats were won by Dan Wilson and Rob Sternberg.

The Factory Stock division continues to provide a huge field of cars and some great racing action. Racing again this week turned out to be feast or famine. Last weeks feature winner Justin Gilland was the first car in the pits this week with mechanical problems. Last week Point leader Tony Weinrick suffered a similar situation last week losing his points lead to Derek Passenier. Unfortunately being at the top of the Point Standings is not the place to be as Passenier suffered transmission problems after hot laps and did not race the “Dash for Cash” event. The feature started with youngster Robby Sternberg holding the point. Sternberg led the first 12 laps before Tony Weinrick made his move to the front from his seventh place starting position with just three laps to go. Weinrick’s move to the front was tested as Derek Passenier’s charge from 16th had him wishing for one more lap as he moved by Sternberg for second but ran out of time to pass Weinrick. The win was Weinrick’s second of the season. Passenier’s runner-up position will keep him at the top of the standings another week. Sternberg was third followed by Scott Erickson, and Bill Delong. Heat race winners were Weinrick, Zach Wiggers, and Gilland. The “Dash for Cash” event winner was John Person.

Sprague’s Auto Parts Mini Stock division driver Luke Near only took four laps to grab the lead from his fifth place starting position. Once out front Near was untouchable. Near’s win was his fourth of the season. Mark Farber was second ahead of Carl McCann, Brandon Tramper and Kyle Hulett. McCann and April Spriggs garnered Heat Race wins.Friday

August 1st will be Fan Appreciation Night at Winston Speedway. All general admission tickets will be $3 off. The Night is sponsored by JD BYRIDER. The season is winding down but the action continues to grow at Winston. Divisional Point Standings continue to be tight. Look for the racing to be fast and furious in the up coming weeks. For the Best in Family Entertainment along the Lakeshore make your way to Winston Speedway

Can Anybody Beat John McCaul at Winston Speedway?

Friday, July 18, 2008

Can Anyone Beat John McCaul at Winston Speedway?

The Friday July 18th race program at Winston Speedway had a little bit of everything for the fans. Not only were there five divisions of racing there was a Push Me Race, A Roll Over contest and Spectator drags. There was laughter in the stands as fans watched the “Push me Race”. One car under power pushes another that is in neutral causing some interesting maneuvers. There was also looks of shock and disbelief in the stands as cars were rolled over after hitting a steel ramp on the front stretch. Combine this with some great racing and another great night at Winston Speedway was put in the books.

If you’re a fan of Modified driver John McCaul you think he has an “S” on his chest. For the rest of the Modified drivers and their fans it is more of a “Bull’s-eye”. For the eighth time this season McCaul showed his dominance. Dean Wilkerson looked like he was going to be the man to knock McCaul of his pedestal. For half the Integra Racing Shocks and Springs UMP Modified feature Wilkerson held the point. Twelve cautions and a rocket ship under McCaul did not aide his cause. Coming from the sixth position McCaul took the lead from Wilkerson on lap nine and never looked back. While McCaul opened his lead, Wilkerson wound up in the pits with mechanical failure. By the end of the race only seven of the seventeen starters were still on the track. Dan Dykman proved that his car was still in great shape after a wild accident last weekend. Dykman finished second ahead of Derek Poland, Randy Whitten and rookie Jared Guinn. Heat races were won by Dykman and Wilkerson.

The Port City Racing Sportsman division is a log jam at the top of the Point standings. Balanced competition is making for a great run for their season championship. Early in the race 60 year old Mike Anderson held the point. On lap five Kody Weisner and Tim Tuttle made contact on the front stretch causing Tuttle to look like a "Joey Chipwood" stunt driver riding on his two driver’s side tires showing the bottom of his car to the fans. Unbelievably both drivers did get some more racing in before giving into mishandling cars. Anderson’s lead lasted until lap 10 when Chad Wienrick made his pass to the front. The rest of the race saw great action as Weinrick and Ralph Sternberg swapped the lead back and forth running side by side. Fans were on their feet as Weinrick captured the win while Point Leader Ralph Sternberg settled for second. Mike Lynn charged from eleventh to third beating Rob Stenberg and Larry Passenier to the line. Tim Tuttle won the “Dash for Cash’ and a Heat race. Jeremy Holman also garnered a Heat race win.

The best race of the night was in the Factory Stock division. Coming for the line you could have thrown a blanket over the first three cars as they charged three abreast for the win. The win was the feel good story of the night. Fifteen year old Muskegon High School student Justin Gilland has been racing since he was twelve. Fans of Winston Speedway have watched Gilland come of age this season. Gilland started out turning laps, gaining experience and never altering the finish of a race with his inexperience. Those days are gone as Gilland, Derek Passenier and Bill Delong put together one of the most exciting finishes of the season. When the checkered was waved Gilland was all smiles as his and his family’s efforts had finally paid off with a feature win. Bill Delong’s charge from seventeenth nipped Derek Passenier for the runner-up spot at the finish line. John Person and Loren Peterson completed the top five. Heat race winners were Zach Wiggers, Brad Huisken, and Robby Sternberg. Scott Erickson claimed the top transfer spot in the “B” Feature.

Sprague’s Auto Parts Mini Stock drivers CJ Rector and Mark Farber pulled away from the rest of the field to stage their own battle up front. When the dust settled it was Rector picking up the win. Kyle Hulett, Harley Farkle and Cody Moorman completed the top five. Hulett and Chris Rice claimed Heat race wins earlier in the evening. In the Warrior four cylinder class Harley Farkle edged Heat Race winner Dale Hilliard for their Feature win.

In Special events, Cousins Josh and Robby Sternberg won the Push Me Race. Steve Delong rolled his way to a win over Randy Whitten in Roll Over contest. The Spectator Drag competitions saw Kenny Wilson take top honors in his Jaguar.

The action at Winston continues grow next Friday July 25th. Matt Sprague gave fans a peek of what to expect next Friday as he turned laps at Winston’s 3/8 mile oval in under 12 seconds with his “Bat Man’ wing attached. The $2000 to win Outlaw Late Model show is the headline event. Fans will get to see the fastest laps turned at Winston this season. Combine this with a full racing program and you can understand the attraction of Winston Speedway. For the Best in Family Entertainment along the lakeshore make your way to Winston Speedway.

Sprague, McCaul, Sternberg, Delong and Near are Top Guns at Winston Speedway

Friday, July 11 2008

Sprague, McCaul, Sternberg, Delong and Near are Top Guns at Winston Speedway

Friday July 11th was another great night of racing at Winston Speedway. It was I-96 Speedway Challenge Night for the Late Model and Modified divisions along with the Mid Season Championship for the Sportsman division. For the second week in a row the weather was not a factor in getting in the program. Five classes of racing provided a show for the fans that ran smooth and fast.

In the Integra Racing Shocks and Springs Late Model division out side pole sitter Jim Fairbanks held the early lead. By lap ten Tom Sprague Jr had pulled even with Fairbanks racing him side by side. On Lap thirteen Sprague gained the advantage with a pass going through turns one and two. As Sprague opened up the lead working his way through lapped traffic the next driver on the move was sixth place starter and present points leader Rich Neiser. A late race caution put Neiser on Sprague’s bumper. On the final lap Nesier was able to diamond the final two turns only to come a half car short on the inside of Sprague’s #21 Late Model. The win was Sprague’s third of the season at Winston. Fairbanks held onto third over Andy Sprague and Matt Pickard. Heat Races were won by Jeff Roodvoest and Andy Sprague. The “Dash for Cash” was won by Andy Sprague.

The Modified division continues to be a playground for John McCaul. After three laps being led by Dean Wilkerson it was all McCaul. Drivers in the Modified division have to be scratching their heads at McCaul's dominance. Only one other driver has a main event win at Winston. The race for second was as good as any racing action all season. With ten laps to go Wilkerson, Andy Sprague and Jacob Poel were the best of the rest as they swapped the second position on different occasions. With three to go all eyes were on Andy Sprague and Jacob Poel racing side by side. Coming for the checkered Poel and Sprague made contact. Poel showed the bottom of his race car to the fans as he went by the flag stand riding the wall and fence. The ensuing race for positions was scary as Poel and Sprague were stopped on the front stretch. No solid contact was made with either but cars did clip both of them as they went by. When the smoke cleared four drivers would have their cars taken to the pits on a wrecker. Poel would be credited with second but his car got the worst of all the carnage. The front sub of Poel’s car was bent bad enough to have his motor facing to the left. Sprague was third followed by Jeremy Ferguson and Dan Dykman. Heat Races were won by Poel and Wilkerson. The “Dash for Cash” winner was McCaul.
The Port City Racing Sportsman division was finally able to compete for their Mid-Season championship. After a two week delay drivers lined up by points with Ralph Sternberg holding the pole starting position. Outside of him was Chad Weinrick. The start of the race tuned out to be the big key as Sternberg jumped to the lead with Weinrick glued to his bumper. For the next twenty five laps Sternberg hit all his marks. Weinrick could only hope for a mistake by Sternberg. It never happened as Sternberg picked up his third win of the season. Weinrick was second followed by Tim Tuttle, Jeremy Holman, and Rob Sternberg. Dan Wilson and Holman garnered Heat Race wins.

Bill Delong’s eighth place starting position in the Factory Stock division was not a factor for him as he moved to the point by lap four. Once out front only Tony Weinrick could challenge as these two broke away from the rest of the field. Delong was too strong at the end and beat Weinrick for the win. The third spot went to Loren Peterson. John Person and Paul TenBrink completed the top five. Heat race wins earlier in the evening went to Person, TenBrink, and Delong. The top transfer spot in the consolation feature went to Scott Erickson.

The Sprague Auto Parts Mini Stock division saw Rothbury native Luke Near race his way to another feature win. Starting out front Near held off the hard charges of second and third place finishers, Carl McCann and CJ Rector to take the win. Mark Farber and John Foss completed the top five. Heat races were won by McCann and Near.

Friday July 18th will see another exciting night of action planned. Four divisions of racing along with a Roll Over contest will take place. The Late Model division will have the night off. For the best in Family entertainment along the Lakeshore make your way to Winston Speedway.