Needles Spoils Home Opener For Bozell in Intimidator 100
Tops 12-time Kalamazoo Champ To Win Intimidator 100
By Jason Christley, NASCAR via www.nascarhometracks.com
Andy Bozell put enough fast laps around Kalamazoo Speedway enough to accumulate 12 Outlaw Super Late Model Division track championships.
But Saturday night, he needed a few more laps.
The 48-year-old Bozell, of Portage, Mich., was edged by visiting Steve Needles as Kalamazoo kicked off its 62nd season with its annual extra-distance opener for its top division, the Intimidator 100.
Needles, 27, took the lead on a Lap 72 restart and held on to capture one of the premier short-track events in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series for the first time.
The Berrien Springs, Mich., driver has previously won the Kalamazoo Klash, the track’s 150-lap event scheduled this year for Aug. 15.
“Andy is such a good racer, especially here,” said Needles. “I just kept digging and digging and digging, and he was digging. It was just good, hard racing.”
JR Roahrig finished third, followed by Tom Thomas and defending track champion Phil Bozell, who was in and out of the pits all night.
Kalamazoo is a 3/8-mile oval with 14 degree banking, located two hours outside of Detroit. It’s been a NASCAR-sanctioned track since 1989 and Bozell’s 12 NASCAR track titles tie him for fourth all-time in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. Last year, he won the state championship and his son, Phil, won the track title.
“It’s a fast little joint,” said Andy Bozell. “Our Late Models are go karts on steroids – they’re just wicked. It’s a great field of race cars. We separate cars by the thousands of a second on a week-to-week basis, draw for inversion. You just have to have a good car to race with. It’s a tough little place.”
Saturday night, Needles started eighth and quickly moved to the front. Bozell, qualified second and started 15th after the inversion, took advantage of a long green-flag from Laps 36 to 72 to take the lead on Lap 56 and build a comfortable lead. But a caution on Lap 72 set up a crucial restart.
“We had a good car tonight,” Bozell said. “It got late in the race and I needed a long green-flag run. I was just better on the bottom. After three laps my car got going good and I knew the restart was going to be trouble.”
As the leader on the restart, Bozell had lane choice on the restart and took the bottom. Needles took advantage of it and shot into the lead. He was able to withstand Bozell’s challenge on a pair of ensuing restarts and then hold off on over the final 26-lap, green-flag run.
“I was really good for about 20 lap runs, and then I started tightening up quite a bit,” Needles said. “I knew if I took the bottom I wasn’t going to be able to get the drive off I needed to get him. So when he took the bottom, I knew I could get it wound up on the top. There was just a lot of grip up there.”
From there, Needles only had one thing on his mind in the closing laps.
“Getting in a groove,” Needles said. “Getting in a groove and not making any mistakes. Just make smooth, smart decisions.”
Other NASCAR winners on opening night included Brandon Lyons in the Div. II Super Stock feature, Lloyd Books in the Div. III Pro Stock feature, Bobby Stremme - brother of NASCAR national series driver David Stremme - in the Div. IV Mini Stock feature, and Jerry Jansen Jr. in the Div. V Cyber Stock feature.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Justin Ryan beats Seth Moody in cat-and-mouse game at Berlin Raceway
Justin Ryan beats Seth Moody in cat-and-mouse game at Berlin Raceway
By Steve Kaminski
Skaminsk@mlive.com MLive.com
MARNE – Every time Justin Ryan of Grand Rapids pulled away late in Saturday night’s 75-lap Super Stock feature race at the Berlin Raceway, caution waved to wipe out his lead.
Strangely, Ryan said that was the best thing that could have happened to him.
Ryan held off Seth Moody over the caution-filled waning laps to capture his second consecutive win of the season. Ryan also won last week’s season-opener.
“I think if we would have had a longer green flag run, he would have got to me,” Ryan said. “My car would start to go away a little bit after the longer runs, so I think the caution helped me out a little bit. I was able to cool off the tires running around under yellow, then get away for a couple of laps.
“That’s not always the case, but I will take them any way that I can get them.”
Moody dominated the first half of the feature, only to watch his lead disappear on a lap 37 caution. Ryan was able to charge past Moody when the race was restarted, and while he led the rest of the way, Moody continued to hound him to the finish.
Saturday marked the season debut of Berlin’s Modified division, and Ryan Hamm said that he was expecting to finish second to Billy Shotko. But he was able to overtake Shotko with eight laps to go in the 30-lap main. Hamm then held Shotko off for a 1.3 second win.
“Billy Shotko has always been fast,” Hamm said. “He was fast last year and he is fast this year. We were good in practice, and in the second practice, we fell on our face. We missed something. We got it back in the heat race a little bit, and then we made a couple of more adjustments for the feature, and it worked out good. I had a lot of fun. It feels great.”
Tony Davis of Wyoming outdueled Brian Tillema of Byron Center to win the 25-lap Sportsman feature for his second career feature win and first since 2008. Tillema, who won last week’s opener, grabbed the lead on lap five, but he was never able to escape Davis. Davis caught Tillema at the race’s halfway, and the two then battled door-to-door without making contact over the next seven laps before Davis pulled away.
“It is career win No. 2, and it feels great,” Davis said. “We put in a lot of hard work and I feel we made a lot of good decisions with our body style. We contacted some people, and they helped us out a lot.
“Brian treats everyone with respect out here, and he has treated me as good as anyone has out here. I wanted to do the same.”
Mike Speet, of Holland, earned his second consecutive win, too, taking first in the 10-lap 4 Cylinders main. He won the feature race, set fast time and captured a heat race, just like he did last week.
Speet started 15th in the 17-car field, but he needed only three laps to charge into the lead. He barely stayed out of trouble, though, since there were two cautions even before a lap was completed. Speet said he was fortunate to escape unscathed.
“I started way in the back, and there was a lot of trouble around me,” Speet said. “Every single (accident) was a near miss. I got tagged a little bit one time when a guy was trying to get underneath me.”
SUPER STOCKS (75 LAPS) 1. Justin Ryan, 2. Seth Moody, 3. Nate Walton, 4. Will Olmsted, 5. Dave Lake, 6. Bob Bliss, 7. Denny Anderson, 8. Andrew Nylaan, 9. Dave Hull, 10. Dennis Mann, 11. Cole Roelofs, 12. Warren Speet, 13. Joel Baker, 14. Jeremy Munniksma, 15. Tim Stuart, 16. Trever McCoy, 17. Kelsey Steele
MODIFIEDS (30 LAPS) 1. Ryan Hamm, 2. Billy Shotko, 3. Billy Eppink, 4. Kevin DeGood, 5. Adam Chase, 6. Randy DeBoer, 7. Ryan Gruppen, 8. Ben Welch
SPORTSMAN (25 LAPS) 1. Tony Davis, 2. Brian Tillema, 3. Randy Veldman, 4. Andrew MacIntosh, 5. Mitch Meppelink, 6. Nick Sherrington, 7. Allen Davis, 8. Kirk Meissner, 9. Tyler Nawrocki, 10. Tyler Sterken, 11. Gerry Shepard, 12. Dave Cutler, 13. Scott Root
4 CYLINDERS (10 LAPS) 1. Mike Speet, 2. Charlie DeJong, 3. Chuck Norris, 4. Darrell Holtzlander, 5. Dave Duyst, 6. Jackson Walker, 7. Seth VanHorssen, 8. Paul Ritchie, 9. Dan Schoenborn, 10. Kyle VanDrunen, 11. Jason Essex, 12. Jerry Smith, 13. Rob Ream, 14. Robbie Ream, 15. Dan Ream, 16. Zack Clark, 17. Jake Loesch
HEAT WINNERS: Ryan Hamm (Modifieds); Randy Veldman, Scott Root (Sportsman); Mike Speet, Zack Clark (4 Cylinders)
FAST QUALIFIERS: Nate Walton (Super Stocks) 92.130 mph; Kevin DeGood (Modifieds) 92.340 mph; Tony Davis (Sportsman) 85.519 mph; Mike Speet (4 Cylinders) 78.385 mph
By Steve Kaminski
Skaminsk@mlive.com MLive.com
MARNE – Every time Justin Ryan of Grand Rapids pulled away late in Saturday night’s 75-lap Super Stock feature race at the Berlin Raceway, caution waved to wipe out his lead.
Strangely, Ryan said that was the best thing that could have happened to him.
Ryan held off Seth Moody over the caution-filled waning laps to capture his second consecutive win of the season. Ryan also won last week’s season-opener.
“I think if we would have had a longer green flag run, he would have got to me,” Ryan said. “My car would start to go away a little bit after the longer runs, so I think the caution helped me out a little bit. I was able to cool off the tires running around under yellow, then get away for a couple of laps.
“That’s not always the case, but I will take them any way that I can get them.”
Moody dominated the first half of the feature, only to watch his lead disappear on a lap 37 caution. Ryan was able to charge past Moody when the race was restarted, and while he led the rest of the way, Moody continued to hound him to the finish.
Saturday marked the season debut of Berlin’s Modified division, and Ryan Hamm said that he was expecting to finish second to Billy Shotko. But he was able to overtake Shotko with eight laps to go in the 30-lap main. Hamm then held Shotko off for a 1.3 second win.
“Billy Shotko has always been fast,” Hamm said. “He was fast last year and he is fast this year. We were good in practice, and in the second practice, we fell on our face. We missed something. We got it back in the heat race a little bit, and then we made a couple of more adjustments for the feature, and it worked out good. I had a lot of fun. It feels great.”
Tony Davis of Wyoming outdueled Brian Tillema of Byron Center to win the 25-lap Sportsman feature for his second career feature win and first since 2008. Tillema, who won last week’s opener, grabbed the lead on lap five, but he was never able to escape Davis. Davis caught Tillema at the race’s halfway, and the two then battled door-to-door without making contact over the next seven laps before Davis pulled away.
“It is career win No. 2, and it feels great,” Davis said. “We put in a lot of hard work and I feel we made a lot of good decisions with our body style. We contacted some people, and they helped us out a lot.
“Brian treats everyone with respect out here, and he has treated me as good as anyone has out here. I wanted to do the same.”
Mike Speet, of Holland, earned his second consecutive win, too, taking first in the 10-lap 4 Cylinders main. He won the feature race, set fast time and captured a heat race, just like he did last week.
Speet started 15th in the 17-car field, but he needed only three laps to charge into the lead. He barely stayed out of trouble, though, since there were two cautions even before a lap was completed. Speet said he was fortunate to escape unscathed.
“I started way in the back, and there was a lot of trouble around me,” Speet said. “Every single (accident) was a near miss. I got tagged a little bit one time when a guy was trying to get underneath me.”
SUPER STOCKS (75 LAPS) 1. Justin Ryan, 2. Seth Moody, 3. Nate Walton, 4. Will Olmsted, 5. Dave Lake, 6. Bob Bliss, 7. Denny Anderson, 8. Andrew Nylaan, 9. Dave Hull, 10. Dennis Mann, 11. Cole Roelofs, 12. Warren Speet, 13. Joel Baker, 14. Jeremy Munniksma, 15. Tim Stuart, 16. Trever McCoy, 17. Kelsey Steele
MODIFIEDS (30 LAPS) 1. Ryan Hamm, 2. Billy Shotko, 3. Billy Eppink, 4. Kevin DeGood, 5. Adam Chase, 6. Randy DeBoer, 7. Ryan Gruppen, 8. Ben Welch
SPORTSMAN (25 LAPS) 1. Tony Davis, 2. Brian Tillema, 3. Randy Veldman, 4. Andrew MacIntosh, 5. Mitch Meppelink, 6. Nick Sherrington, 7. Allen Davis, 8. Kirk Meissner, 9. Tyler Nawrocki, 10. Tyler Sterken, 11. Gerry Shepard, 12. Dave Cutler, 13. Scott Root
4 CYLINDERS (10 LAPS) 1. Mike Speet, 2. Charlie DeJong, 3. Chuck Norris, 4. Darrell Holtzlander, 5. Dave Duyst, 6. Jackson Walker, 7. Seth VanHorssen, 8. Paul Ritchie, 9. Dan Schoenborn, 10. Kyle VanDrunen, 11. Jason Essex, 12. Jerry Smith, 13. Rob Ream, 14. Robbie Ream, 15. Dan Ream, 16. Zack Clark, 17. Jake Loesch
HEAT WINNERS: Ryan Hamm (Modifieds); Randy Veldman, Scott Root (Sportsman); Mike Speet, Zack Clark (4 Cylinders)
FAST QUALIFIERS: Nate Walton (Super Stocks) 92.130 mph; Kevin DeGood (Modifieds) 92.340 mph; Tony Davis (Sportsman) 85.519 mph; Mike Speet (4 Cylinders) 78.385 mph
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Two Feature Wins So Far In 2012 for Jacob Poel
Two Feature Wins So Far In 2012 for Jacob Poel
Spring Lake, Michigan (Wednesday, April 18th, 2012): The 2012 racing season has been going very smoothly for Defending UMP DIRTcar Racing Series Michigan State Champion, Jacob Poel. So far in 2012, the Spring Lake, Michigan driver has already recorded two Feature Wins with the latest coming at his home track of Winston Speedway in Rothbury, Michigan on April 13th during the tracks opening night festivities; The “Prelude to the Player Hater.”
“It’s really nice to start off the season on a high note. I certainly wish that Mark (Anderson) and I didn’t come together during the race. It was kind of my fault and I wish it didn’t even happen.” Offered the 24-year-old as he reflected on his win at Winston. “It was a great field of cars and I enjoy racing with Mark, he races me hard that’s for sure. I’m sure we’ll be racing quite a bit together all year long here and at I-96.” He added.
Back on April 1st, Poel and the crew ventured to Fayette County Speedway in Brownstown, Illinois and despite never seeing the track before pulling in that afternoon, he walked out of the Prairie State speed plant with the Feature Win. “We didn’t even plan on going, we were heading back home from Farmer City Raceway’s Illini 100 when (Two-Time Defending UMP DIRTcar Racing Series National Modifieds Champion) Mike Harrison convinced us to go, so we did. I’m glad we did too.” Poel stated.
So far in five total starts in 2012, Poel has Two Feature Wins, Three Top Five’s, and Four Top 10 finishes. Four of those Five starts have come in the state of Illinois with his single outing in Michigan resulting in his Feature Win at Winston. This Saturday, April 21st, Poel and the Jacob Poel Racing Team return to Winston for the UMP Modifieds portion of the Player Hater 50.
Poel’s primary goal in 2012 is the UMP DIRTcar Racing Series National Championship. He also hopes to repeat as UMP DIRTcar Racing Series Michigan State Champion as well as the Michigan Dirt Cup Modifieds Tour Champion and I-96 Speedway UMP Modifieds Track Champion. In addition, he’ll also chase after the 2012 Winston Speedway UMP Modifieds Title and there’s also the distinct possibility of touring with the Summit Racing Equipment Modifieds Nationals that supports the UMP Summer Nationals Hell Tour.
The 2011 racing season was nothing short of spectacular for Poel in UMP Modifieds competition. The Spring Lake, Michigan drivers’ list of accomplishments would make for a pretty impressive career on anyone’s resume let alone in just one season, yet Poel’s credentials coming into the 2012 campaign speak for themself.
During the 2011 campaign, Poel finished fourth in the UMP DIRTcar National Modifieds Points Standings while winning the 2011 UMP DIRTcar Racing Series Michigan State Championship as well as the Inaugural Michigan Dirt Cup Modifieds Tour Championship, and just for good measure, he also captured, ironically, his first career Track Championship by winning the 2011 I-96 Speedway UMP Modifieds Track title.
When tallying up the impressive list of wins, Poel picked up an impressive 21 Feature triumphs at six different race tracks throughout the state of Michigan. He also broke the UMP Modifieds Track Record at the legendary Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio during the UMP DIRTcar National Championships in October 2011.
For the 2012 racing season, Poel’s black #82 Rocket Chassis UMP Modified will carry the sponsorship colors of Poel’s own business, Poel’s PRO-ACT Welding & Fabrication as well as 22 Below Bar & Grill, Lakeshore Custom Services, Sweet Manufacturing, A&A manufacturing, Fitness Together, Dura-Tech Racing Engines, Integra Racing Shocks, Keyser’s Port City Racing, Trago Electric, Poel’s Blueberry Farms, Fewless Motorsports and M.P.H. Promotions.
To learn more about Jacob Poel and the entire Jacob Poel Racing Team and to inquire about every type of sponsorship opportunity available for the upcoming 2012 racing season, go to the JPR Facebook Fan Page at: www.facebook.com and search “Jacob Poel Racing” A brand new Jacob Poel Racing / Poel’s PRO-ACT Welding & Fabrication Website is coming soon.
Spring Lake, Michigan (Wednesday, April 18th, 2012): The 2012 racing season has been going very smoothly for Defending UMP DIRTcar Racing Series Michigan State Champion, Jacob Poel. So far in 2012, the Spring Lake, Michigan driver has already recorded two Feature Wins with the latest coming at his home track of Winston Speedway in Rothbury, Michigan on April 13th during the tracks opening night festivities; The “Prelude to the Player Hater.”
“It’s really nice to start off the season on a high note. I certainly wish that Mark (Anderson) and I didn’t come together during the race. It was kind of my fault and I wish it didn’t even happen.” Offered the 24-year-old as he reflected on his win at Winston. “It was a great field of cars and I enjoy racing with Mark, he races me hard that’s for sure. I’m sure we’ll be racing quite a bit together all year long here and at I-96.” He added.
Back on April 1st, Poel and the crew ventured to Fayette County Speedway in Brownstown, Illinois and despite never seeing the track before pulling in that afternoon, he walked out of the Prairie State speed plant with the Feature Win. “We didn’t even plan on going, we were heading back home from Farmer City Raceway’s Illini 100 when (Two-Time Defending UMP DIRTcar Racing Series National Modifieds Champion) Mike Harrison convinced us to go, so we did. I’m glad we did too.” Poel stated.
So far in five total starts in 2012, Poel has Two Feature Wins, Three Top Five’s, and Four Top 10 finishes. Four of those Five starts have come in the state of Illinois with his single outing in Michigan resulting in his Feature Win at Winston. This Saturday, April 21st, Poel and the Jacob Poel Racing Team return to Winston for the UMP Modifieds portion of the Player Hater 50.
Poel’s primary goal in 2012 is the UMP DIRTcar Racing Series National Championship. He also hopes to repeat as UMP DIRTcar Racing Series Michigan State Champion as well as the Michigan Dirt Cup Modifieds Tour Champion and I-96 Speedway UMP Modifieds Track Champion. In addition, he’ll also chase after the 2012 Winston Speedway UMP Modifieds Title and there’s also the distinct possibility of touring with the Summit Racing Equipment Modifieds Nationals that supports the UMP Summer Nationals Hell Tour.
The 2011 racing season was nothing short of spectacular for Poel in UMP Modifieds competition. The Spring Lake, Michigan drivers’ list of accomplishments would make for a pretty impressive career on anyone’s resume let alone in just one season, yet Poel’s credentials coming into the 2012 campaign speak for themself.
During the 2011 campaign, Poel finished fourth in the UMP DIRTcar National Modifieds Points Standings while winning the 2011 UMP DIRTcar Racing Series Michigan State Championship as well as the Inaugural Michigan Dirt Cup Modifieds Tour Championship, and just for good measure, he also captured, ironically, his first career Track Championship by winning the 2011 I-96 Speedway UMP Modifieds Track title.
When tallying up the impressive list of wins, Poel picked up an impressive 21 Feature triumphs at six different race tracks throughout the state of Michigan. He also broke the UMP Modifieds Track Record at the legendary Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio during the UMP DIRTcar National Championships in October 2011.
For the 2012 racing season, Poel’s black #82 Rocket Chassis UMP Modified will carry the sponsorship colors of Poel’s own business, Poel’s PRO-ACT Welding & Fabrication as well as 22 Below Bar & Grill, Lakeshore Custom Services, Sweet Manufacturing, A&A manufacturing, Fitness Together, Dura-Tech Racing Engines, Integra Racing Shocks, Keyser’s Port City Racing, Trago Electric, Poel’s Blueberry Farms, Fewless Motorsports and M.P.H. Promotions.
To learn more about Jacob Poel and the entire Jacob Poel Racing Team and to inquire about every type of sponsorship opportunity available for the upcoming 2012 racing season, go to the JPR Facebook Fan Page at: www.facebook.com and search “Jacob Poel Racing” A brand new Jacob Poel Racing / Poel’s PRO-ACT Welding & Fabrication Website is coming soon.
Brandon Thirlby Starts 2012 In Victory Lane; Looks To Stay There After The Player Hater 50
Traverse City, Michigan (Wednesday, April 18th, 2012): Widely considered one of the premier UMP Super Late Model drivers in the Midwestern United States, Brandon Thirlby kicked off his 2012 racing season as many observers expected him too; Standing In Victory Lane! The Traverse City, Michigan standout scored his first Feature win of the year on April 13th at Winston Speedway in Rothbury, Michigan in the “Prelude to the Player Hater.”
“Friday night went about as good as a guy could ask for, We won both the heat and the feature! I think we even won hot laps too!” Laughed the 24-year-old, “We started deep in the heat and managed to pull off a solid win there, then we redrew a three for the Feature and by lap five we were up front and never looked back.” The 2011 UMP Sportsman of the Year Award Winner added.
Thirlby’s win last weekend makes him one of the heavy favorites for this weekends “Player Hater 50” at Winston on Saturday, April 21st. This event will be sanctioned by the Sunoco American Late Model Series and he’s looking forward to the challenges before him; “We definitely hope to pick up where we left off from last weekend. The past two years we’ve finished third and this year I think we have a decent shot at bringing home the big check!” He remarked.
After the Player Hater is complete, the rest of the season will see the Northern Michigan standout will shift focus towards the Michigan Dirt Cup Late Models Tour where he will chase after the inaugural series Championship beginning on Saturday, May 19th at I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, Michigan. “Bill Long and Andy Stebbins have put together an amazing series and I plan to hit every show. That’s going to be our main focus this season.
In addition to the Michigan Dirt Cup Late Model Tours’ Schedule, Thirlby’s 2012 schedule also includes racing on Friday nights at his home track of Cherry Raceway in Fife Lake, Michigan, just 30 minutes from his Traverse City, Michigan race shop, as well as at Mt. Pleasant Speedway in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. In addition and on Saturday nights, the team will split time between I-96 Speedway as well as Merritt Raceway in Lake City, Michigan.
The 2011 racing season was without a doubt a career year for Thirlby who finished sixth in the UMP DIRTcar Racing Series National Points Standings as well as second in the UMP DIRTcar Racing Series Michigan State Points tallies while winning eight (8) Features while finishing with a whopping 36 Top Five finishes and 45 Top 10 showings. In addition, he also won the prestigious UMP DIRTcar Racing Series National Sportsman of the Year Award at the 2011 UMP Awards Banquet back in January 2012.
Thirlby’s stock car racing career began only five seasons ago in 2007 at Cherry Raceway as he split his time racing between cars and hydroplane boats from 2007-2011. Thirlby was an accomplished Boat Racer before retiring at the end of last season. The highlight of his aqua career was when he won the 2009 1100cc Hydroplane World Championship. He also collected four National Championships in Hydroplane Racing and is one of only two drivers to accomplish that feat. He was inducted into the Hall of Champions for his watercraft accomplishments.
For the 2012 racing season, Thirlby’s popular black and purple #m14 UMP Super Late Models which is a Mastersbilt Racecar will carry sponsorship decals all season long from Thirlby Automotive as well as Homestead Motorsports, FK Rod Ends, Integra Racing Shocks, Allstar Performance, Micro-Armor Racing, Mt. Pleasant Speedway, Merritt Raceway and M.P.H. Promotions.
For more information about Brandon Thirlby and the Thirlby Automotive Racing and to find out about sponsorship opportunities for the 2012 season, check out the Brandon Thirlby Facebook Fan Page at: www.facebook.com and search for “Fans of Brandon Thirlby” You can also go to the Thirlby Automotive website as well located at: www.thirlbyautomotive.com
“Friday night went about as good as a guy could ask for, We won both the heat and the feature! I think we even won hot laps too!” Laughed the 24-year-old, “We started deep in the heat and managed to pull off a solid win there, then we redrew a three for the Feature and by lap five we were up front and never looked back.” The 2011 UMP Sportsman of the Year Award Winner added.
Thirlby’s win last weekend makes him one of the heavy favorites for this weekends “Player Hater 50” at Winston on Saturday, April 21st. This event will be sanctioned by the Sunoco American Late Model Series and he’s looking forward to the challenges before him; “We definitely hope to pick up where we left off from last weekend. The past two years we’ve finished third and this year I think we have a decent shot at bringing home the big check!” He remarked.
After the Player Hater is complete, the rest of the season will see the Northern Michigan standout will shift focus towards the Michigan Dirt Cup Late Models Tour where he will chase after the inaugural series Championship beginning on Saturday, May 19th at I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, Michigan. “Bill Long and Andy Stebbins have put together an amazing series and I plan to hit every show. That’s going to be our main focus this season.
In addition to the Michigan Dirt Cup Late Model Tours’ Schedule, Thirlby’s 2012 schedule also includes racing on Friday nights at his home track of Cherry Raceway in Fife Lake, Michigan, just 30 minutes from his Traverse City, Michigan race shop, as well as at Mt. Pleasant Speedway in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. In addition and on Saturday nights, the team will split time between I-96 Speedway as well as Merritt Raceway in Lake City, Michigan.
The 2011 racing season was without a doubt a career year for Thirlby who finished sixth in the UMP DIRTcar Racing Series National Points Standings as well as second in the UMP DIRTcar Racing Series Michigan State Points tallies while winning eight (8) Features while finishing with a whopping 36 Top Five finishes and 45 Top 10 showings. In addition, he also won the prestigious UMP DIRTcar Racing Series National Sportsman of the Year Award at the 2011 UMP Awards Banquet back in January 2012.
Thirlby’s stock car racing career began only five seasons ago in 2007 at Cherry Raceway as he split his time racing between cars and hydroplane boats from 2007-2011. Thirlby was an accomplished Boat Racer before retiring at the end of last season. The highlight of his aqua career was when he won the 2009 1100cc Hydroplane World Championship. He also collected four National Championships in Hydroplane Racing and is one of only two drivers to accomplish that feat. He was inducted into the Hall of Champions for his watercraft accomplishments.
For the 2012 racing season, Thirlby’s popular black and purple #m14 UMP Super Late Models which is a Mastersbilt Racecar will carry sponsorship decals all season long from Thirlby Automotive as well as Homestead Motorsports, FK Rod Ends, Integra Racing Shocks, Allstar Performance, Micro-Armor Racing, Mt. Pleasant Speedway, Merritt Raceway and M.P.H. Promotions.
For more information about Brandon Thirlby and the Thirlby Automotive Racing and to find out about sponsorship opportunities for the 2012 season, check out the Brandon Thirlby Facebook Fan Page at: www.facebook.com and search for “Fans of Brandon Thirlby” You can also go to the Thirlby Automotive website as well located at: www.thirlbyautomotive.com
Monday, April 16, 2012
Short-track super power: driver Terry Senneker and car owner Larry Zent a winning combination
(Photo Courtesy of Randy Ellen Photography)By Steve Kaminski
Print MARNE - Anyone wondering how the new partnership between driver Terry Senneker Jr. and car owner Larry Zent was going to work out got their answer during Saturday night’s season opener at the Berlin Raceway.
But did anyone really think this combination wasn’t going to be a winner?
Senneker set fast time and won the season-opening 100-lap Outlaw Late Model feature in his first race with Larry Zent Motorsports. Senneker grabbed the lead with 30 laps to go, then held off Ross Meeuwsen of Zeeland over the waning laps.
Senneker, of Wayland, won last year’s Late Model track championship at Berlin, his third overall since he had already earned Kalamazoo Speedway titles in 2006 and 2009.
Zent, of Fort Wayne, Ind., is a short-track legend when it comes to Late Model racing in the Midwest. Zent, who has been involved in racing for 35 years as a driver and car owner, said after Saturday’s win that his most recent victory was his 227th feature win of his career.
Don’t be surprised if more wins follow, too.
“I bought a car from Terry about a year ago. He built the car and came and did some testing for me,” Zent said. “I had other drivers at the time and had been with the same crew for a long time, and I thought it was time for a switch. The deal came along and I said why don’t you come and run my stuff.
“Terry is truly a machine. He did a fantastic job his first time out for us.”
Senneker spent recent years racing for Terry Gentry of Holland, who continues to field a team featuring driver Steve Needles. Senneker said he was looking to scale back on the number of racing dates in 2012, and he was able to work out a deal with Zent that would keep him competing in a more manageable 15 dates. Look for those events to be spread out at Berlin, Kalamazoo, Toledo Speedway and Dixie Motor Speedway in Birch Run.
“My kids are getting a little bit older and I want to spend more time with them, I don’t want to be absent,” Senneker said. “My business is also picking up a little bit. My family and business come first, so I wanted some more time off this year, and Larry is giving me some flexibility.”
Zent got his start during the 1970s at Baer Field Speedway in Fort Wayne, where he is the track’s all-time winningest driver. He eventually dabbled in ARCA, the now defunct AC Delco American Speed Association and the CRA Super Series.
Zent later became a car owner for a number of successful drivers, including Canada’s Junior Hanley. The late Dale Earnhardt and three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Darrell Waltrip even borrowed Zent cars when they returned to their short-track roots.
Senneker started 12th in Saturday’s 23-car field and patiently worked his way through the field before overtaking Derrick Griffin for the lead.
“It’s a great car,” Senneker said. “It’s a newer car, it’s all of Larry’s equipment, and it is great.”
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