Six Different Drivers Pick Up Father’s Day Weekend Victories At Cherry Raceway
Fife Lake, Michigan (Friday, June 15th, 2012): The Father’s Day Holiday Weekend kicked off in style up in the “Great White North” as the fast 3/8s (0.375) mile semi-banked dirt oval of Cherry Raceway in Fife Lake, Michigan hosted another thrilling six in one show to kick off the Father’s Day Weekend. The high-powered UMP Super Late Models will once again headline the night and they’ll be joined by the UMP Modifieds, Street Stocks, Cruiser Bombers, Four-Cylinder Warriors, and Four-Cylinder Compacts.
The first division to take the track was the Four-Cylinder Compacts for their main event. It was 13-year-old Autumn Beeman, and 14-year-old Rheanna Doberstein leading the field to green. Beeman would take the lead early until lap six where it would be 13-year-old Chris Casey, who’s been the man to beat this season, taking the lead.
From there, the Williamsburg, Michigan teenager in his #00 Wilson Plumbing / Mercury XR7 going on to win his fourth feature in a row. Doberstein finished in second and Beeman wound up in third and 15-year-old Ryan Andras finished off the field. Beeman also won the Heat Race.
Next up were the Four Cylinder Warriors for their Feature which was lead to the green by Jim Durga, and Mark Nienhouse. Nienhouse took the early lead, and then at lap eight a competition yellow was thrown in order to turn the field around and race in the clockwise direction. On lap 12 Greg Walkowiak would take the race lead.
However on the very next lap Nienhouse would recapture the lead and in the end, the Traverse City, Michigan driver in his #7 Brickyard Towing / Dodge go on to win his second feature of the year. 75-year-old Ron Doberstein Sr. finished second, while Andrew Austin, Durga, and Walkowiak rounded out the top five. Walkowiak was the heat winner.
Then it was time for the Street Stocks to hit the racing surface for their A-Main which was led out by Rookie of the Year Points Leader Allen Oyer and Overall Points Leader Bob Green. Green would take the early advantage until lap eight he would relinquish the lead to Andy Nickerson III. Green slipped back through the field while Nickerson III paced the field.
When all was said and done, the 16-year-old Nickerson III in his #4 Nickerson Towing / Chevrolet going on to grab the feature win, his first of the season. Richard Clay Sr., finished second while Dan Klinglesmith, Darren Bowers, and Oyer completed top five. Kevin Borsen, and James Clem would collect the Heat Race Wins.
It was then time for the premier division on Friday nights, the UMP Super Late Models who were led out to the green flag by Greg Gokey, and Current Points Leader and Winner of the first two Feature of the season, Brandon Thirlby. It would be Thirlby who would jump out to a huge race advantage and never look back from there as he would go on to pick up his third feature win in as many starts in his #m14 Thirlby Automotive / Mastersbilt Racecars machine.
Gokey would come across the stripe in second while Dean Wilkerson, in his first race of the season at Cherry would finish third ahead of Rookie Points Leader, Alex Beeman. Brett Chalker who would finish off the top five. In the preliminary Heat Races, Thirlby and Gokey would take home those checkered flags as those two are first and second in the season long points chase.
Then it was time for the UMP Modifieds to do battle in their Feature event as they were led out onto the track by Current Points Leader John McCaul and Collin Thirlby. It would be Thirlby getting the jump on the field. Holding the lead until lap eight where he would see the top spot go to Defending Track Champion Joe Rokos.
On the very next lap it would be McCaul taking the lead and from there the Montague, Michigan veteran would extend his points lead by claiming his third Feature Win of the season in his #27 Stuberg Construction / Xtreme Racecars entry. Rokos settled for second while Thirlby, Tony Gokey, and Paul Johnson would make-up the top five. McCaul and Rokos won the heats.
The final feature of the event of the night was the for the Cruiser Bombers which saw the field led out by Richard Cebula Jr. and Jeremiah Woebbeking. The early advantage went to Cebula Jr. The field then saw the red flag displayed two times due to a couple of serious wrecks during the Feature event including a roll over. Everyone in the end was ok but done for the night.
Once the racing got back underway the lead would go to Dan Wilson on lap nine and he would make no mistake the rest of the way in his first start of the season and the Fife Lake, Michigan native in his #43 Joe’s Garage / Oldsmobile would go on to see the checkered flag first and win. Kevin Stricker finished second with Woebbeking, Cebula Jr., and Jamie Fancett completing the top five. Stricker, and Wilson won the Heats.
Coming This Friday, June 22nd it’ll be the first of two appearances by the Davison, Michigan based Michigan Traditional Sprints Series as the hi-flying Non-Winged Sprints will head North for the first time in 2012. They’ll be joined by the Street Stocks, Cruiser Bombers, Four-Cylinder Warriors, and Four-Cylinder Compacts while the UMP Super Late Models and UMP Modifieds will have the night off.
Ticket Prices for Friday, June 22nd are: 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. 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.
To close out the month on Friday, June 29th the Mid-Michigan Mini Sprints Series returns for their second of four shows this season. The UMP Modifieds also return to action on June 29th after taking the week of June 22nd off as they prepare for the “Battle of the Bullring” Presented by Weller Auto & Truck Parts on a special Tuesday, July 3rd.
Street Stocks, Cruiser Bombers, Four-Cylinder Warriors, and Four-Cylinder Compacts will be on hand on both June 29th & July 3rd while the UMP Super Late Models will stay on vacation during those shows before returning on July 6th during Mid-Season Championships.
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
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Tom Thomas, Nate Walton, Mike Speet and Billy Eppink all take checkers
Tom Thomas, Nate Walton, Mike Speet and Billy Eppink all take checkers
Marne, MI - Berlin Raceway was once again hit with late-afternoon weather causing a late start to the night. Once the racing action began, the crowd was treated to some great racing by all of the divisions. Winners on the night included Tom Thomas (Port City Racecars / GL Helicopter Outlaw Late Model), Nate Walton (Engine Pro Super Stock), Mike Speet (Burnips Equipment 4-Cylinder) and Billy Eppink (Vintage Racing Organization of America).
The Engine Pro Super Stock 50-lap feature started the night off with #11 Nick Bonstell and #6 Bob Bliss on the front row. Bliss was quick to jump out as the leader and found himself over a second ahead of the field after a few laps while Bonstell was holding off hard-charging #20 Dave Hull and #51 Justin Ryan. Lap 7 saw the first caution of the night when the #024 of Cole Roelofs spun on the backstretch. On the restart, Bliss and Bonstell pulled away from the field and the next car to break away from the field was Ryan, but he ended up brining out the second caution on lap 11 when he spun in turn 2, this incident also collected the #78 of Will Olmsted. Bliss continued to led after the restart and it was #48 Seth Moody taking second from Bonstell and swiftly getting up to Bliss' bumper. Fast qualifier of the night #77 Andrew Nylaan was also moving up in a hurry; after starting 11th, he was up for third by lap 21. While that was happening, there were cars wrecking on the exit of turn 4; #31 Brett DeKraker spun after contact with #54 Joel Baker and they made contact with the wall and collected Olmsted. After a short red flag for cleanup, the race was restarted and Moody was all over Bliss, challenging for the lead. After about ten laps, Nylaan caught up to them, passed Moody and set his sights on leader Bliss. The pace of the race was slowed when the #51 of Weston Jewett spun across the frontstretch and this put Nylaan right on Bliss' tail. As the field was completing the first lap back under green, Bliss spun after contact with Nylaan and that sent both drivers to the tail. This handed the lead to Moody who hung on the lead for the remaining laps fighting off #66 Nate Walton and scored his first win of the season. The rest of the top ten were Walton, Hull, Bonstell, #76 Warren Speet, #20J Jeremy Munniksma, #00 Dennis Mann, Bliss, #88 Trever McCoy and Nylaan. After post-race tech, Moody ended up failing inspection which gave the win to Nate Walton.
Up next were the Burnips Equipment 4-Cylinder 15-lap feature; #91 Rob Ream and #11X Jason Essex led the field to the green flag. Essex had the lead, but by lap three, #76 Mike Speet had made his way through the field to challenge for the lead and he took it the next time by. Speet was then on a rail, pulling away from the field and dominating the rest of the race. Speet won by 8.764 seconds with the rest of the finishing order as follows: #2 Darrel Holtzlander, Essex, #62 Charlie DeJong, #89 Sierra Lantz, #36 Kyle VanDrunen, #91 Rob Ream, #68 Jerry Smith, #81 Robbie Ream, #20 Jackson Walker and #17 Seth VanHorssen.
For the Port City Racecars / GL Helicopter Outlaw Late Model 100-lap feature, #X Ray Clay and #8 Tim Yonker started on the front row. Yonker rocketed away with the lead and the top twelve raced single file. There was a lead change on lap 11 when Clay drove past Yonker and he took the #82 of Tom Thomas and #28 Scott Thomas with him. On lap 18, Thomas was knocking on Yonker's bumper and took the lead on lap 19 though Clay was fighting back on the outside. Thirty laps in, there were numerous 2-car battles throughout the field as the leaders were coming in to traffic. The field then settled into a long green flag run and by lap 62, Thomas had just over a seven-second lead over S. Thomas who kept getting held up by lapped cars. With 25 laps to go, the battle for second was heating up; #21 Terry VanHaitsma was all over S. Thomas for second with #6 Dave Zagaiski waiting in the wings. VanHaitsma took the position on lap 77 as Thomas had lapped all but the top ten cars. While VanHaitsma was able to cut in to Thomas' lead, there was just not enough time to surmount the lead Thomas had. Tom Thomas got the win and completing the top ten were VanHaitsma, #37 Terry Senneker, #32 Ross Meeuwsen, S. Thomas, Zagaiski, #10 Johnny Benson, #12 Tim DeVos, Clay and #8 Dakota Carlson.
The 25-lap Vintage Racing Organization of America rounded out the night of racing; #30 Max Wirebaugh and #61 Jason Burrus were out in front of the field. As they raced around, there was no clear leader and they raced side by side. On lap 3, the battle for the lead ended in a caution as Wirebaugh and Bartoszek made contact and hit the wall; #16 Samantha Jansen and #82 Rob Parker were also involved. The new leader after the restart was #43 Terry Byrne, but he was quickly overtaken by #20 Don Deyman on lap 6. #80 Bill Eppink wasn't letting Deyman get too far away, though. Lap 9 saw the first caution of this race when the #4X of Arnie Snyder spun in turn one. The field was reset and restarted and Deyman and Eppink raced side by side for a couple of laps before Deyman took the lead. Eppink was battling back on the inside, though and took the lead on lap 13. Deyman was not giving up, but on lap 20, he overdrove his car going in to turn 4 and had to check up, letting Eppink get away. However, with three laps to go, caution was out for the #42 of Mike Becker who came to a stop in turn 4 and then the race was ended due to time constraints. Billy Eppink found himself in victory lane and the rest of the top ten were #61 Jason Burrus, Byrne, #59 John Evans, Becker, Snyder, Jansen, #31 Randy Pierson and Wirebaugh.
Be sure to make it out to Berlin Raceway this coming Tuesday, June 19 for the Rowdy 251! The Super Late Models will be sanctioned by the ARCA / CRA Super Series and the race will feature NASCAR stars Kyle Busch and Travis Pastrana. They will have an autograph session starting at 6:00 p.m. The Top Speed Fabrication Modifieds will also be in action. Tickets for this special event are $22 for adults while kids 11 and under still get in for free; racing will start at 7:00 p.m.
###
Lisa Walker
Berlin Raceway
lwalker@berlinraceway.com
616-677-5000
Marne, MI - Berlin Raceway was once again hit with late-afternoon weather causing a late start to the night. Once the racing action began, the crowd was treated to some great racing by all of the divisions. Winners on the night included Tom Thomas (Port City Racecars / GL Helicopter Outlaw Late Model), Nate Walton (Engine Pro Super Stock), Mike Speet (Burnips Equipment 4-Cylinder) and Billy Eppink (Vintage Racing Organization of America).
The Engine Pro Super Stock 50-lap feature started the night off with #11 Nick Bonstell and #6 Bob Bliss on the front row. Bliss was quick to jump out as the leader and found himself over a second ahead of the field after a few laps while Bonstell was holding off hard-charging #20 Dave Hull and #51 Justin Ryan. Lap 7 saw the first caution of the night when the #024 of Cole Roelofs spun on the backstretch. On the restart, Bliss and Bonstell pulled away from the field and the next car to break away from the field was Ryan, but he ended up brining out the second caution on lap 11 when he spun in turn 2, this incident also collected the #78 of Will Olmsted. Bliss continued to led after the restart and it was #48 Seth Moody taking second from Bonstell and swiftly getting up to Bliss' bumper. Fast qualifier of the night #77 Andrew Nylaan was also moving up in a hurry; after starting 11th, he was up for third by lap 21. While that was happening, there were cars wrecking on the exit of turn 4; #31 Brett DeKraker spun after contact with #54 Joel Baker and they made contact with the wall and collected Olmsted. After a short red flag for cleanup, the race was restarted and Moody was all over Bliss, challenging for the lead. After about ten laps, Nylaan caught up to them, passed Moody and set his sights on leader Bliss. The pace of the race was slowed when the #51 of Weston Jewett spun across the frontstretch and this put Nylaan right on Bliss' tail. As the field was completing the first lap back under green, Bliss spun after contact with Nylaan and that sent both drivers to the tail. This handed the lead to Moody who hung on the lead for the remaining laps fighting off #66 Nate Walton and scored his first win of the season. The rest of the top ten were Walton, Hull, Bonstell, #76 Warren Speet, #20J Jeremy Munniksma, #00 Dennis Mann, Bliss, #88 Trever McCoy and Nylaan. After post-race tech, Moody ended up failing inspection which gave the win to Nate Walton.
Up next were the Burnips Equipment 4-Cylinder 15-lap feature; #91 Rob Ream and #11X Jason Essex led the field to the green flag. Essex had the lead, but by lap three, #76 Mike Speet had made his way through the field to challenge for the lead and he took it the next time by. Speet was then on a rail, pulling away from the field and dominating the rest of the race. Speet won by 8.764 seconds with the rest of the finishing order as follows: #2 Darrel Holtzlander, Essex, #62 Charlie DeJong, #89 Sierra Lantz, #36 Kyle VanDrunen, #91 Rob Ream, #68 Jerry Smith, #81 Robbie Ream, #20 Jackson Walker and #17 Seth VanHorssen.
For the Port City Racecars / GL Helicopter Outlaw Late Model 100-lap feature, #X Ray Clay and #8 Tim Yonker started on the front row. Yonker rocketed away with the lead and the top twelve raced single file. There was a lead change on lap 11 when Clay drove past Yonker and he took the #82 of Tom Thomas and #28 Scott Thomas with him. On lap 18, Thomas was knocking on Yonker's bumper and took the lead on lap 19 though Clay was fighting back on the outside. Thirty laps in, there were numerous 2-car battles throughout the field as the leaders were coming in to traffic. The field then settled into a long green flag run and by lap 62, Thomas had just over a seven-second lead over S. Thomas who kept getting held up by lapped cars. With 25 laps to go, the battle for second was heating up; #21 Terry VanHaitsma was all over S. Thomas for second with #6 Dave Zagaiski waiting in the wings. VanHaitsma took the position on lap 77 as Thomas had lapped all but the top ten cars. While VanHaitsma was able to cut in to Thomas' lead, there was just not enough time to surmount the lead Thomas had. Tom Thomas got the win and completing the top ten were VanHaitsma, #37 Terry Senneker, #32 Ross Meeuwsen, S. Thomas, Zagaiski, #10 Johnny Benson, #12 Tim DeVos, Clay and #8 Dakota Carlson.
The 25-lap Vintage Racing Organization of America rounded out the night of racing; #30 Max Wirebaugh and #61 Jason Burrus were out in front of the field. As they raced around, there was no clear leader and they raced side by side. On lap 3, the battle for the lead ended in a caution as Wirebaugh and Bartoszek made contact and hit the wall; #16 Samantha Jansen and #82 Rob Parker were also involved. The new leader after the restart was #43 Terry Byrne, but he was quickly overtaken by #20 Don Deyman on lap 6. #80 Bill Eppink wasn't letting Deyman get too far away, though. Lap 9 saw the first caution of this race when the #4X of Arnie Snyder spun in turn one. The field was reset and restarted and Deyman and Eppink raced side by side for a couple of laps before Deyman took the lead. Eppink was battling back on the inside, though and took the lead on lap 13. Deyman was not giving up, but on lap 20, he overdrove his car going in to turn 4 and had to check up, letting Eppink get away. However, with three laps to go, caution was out for the #42 of Mike Becker who came to a stop in turn 4 and then the race was ended due to time constraints. Billy Eppink found himself in victory lane and the rest of the top ten were #61 Jason Burrus, Byrne, #59 John Evans, Becker, Snyder, Jansen, #31 Randy Pierson and Wirebaugh.
Be sure to make it out to Berlin Raceway this coming Tuesday, June 19 for the Rowdy 251! The Super Late Models will be sanctioned by the ARCA / CRA Super Series and the race will feature NASCAR stars Kyle Busch and Travis Pastrana. They will have an autograph session starting at 6:00 p.m. The Top Speed Fabrication Modifieds will also be in action. Tickets for this special event are $22 for adults while kids 11 and under still get in for free; racing will start at 7:00 p.m.
###
Lisa Walker
Berlin Raceway
lwalker@berlinraceway.com
616-677-5000
Muskegon's Mike Garvey Wins at Montgomery Speedway
Veteran Garvey Nabs First Show Me the Money Victory
(Montgomery, AL) – Mike Garvey is a name that has been around racing for a long time. The veteran has driven in all of NASCAR’s top three series, but calls the Pro and Super Late Models of the Deep South his new racing home. Garvey, who has recently relocated to Pensacola, FL picked up his first win at Montgomery Motor Speedway Saturday night in the Show Me the Money 100.
Defending Show Me the Money Champion, and current points leader Hunter Robbins set fast time in qualifying with a 18.983 second lap around the half-mile. His time was nearly two-tenths of a second faster than second place qualifier, Justin South of Cropwell, AL. Garvey qualified third, with Bill Bethea, III making his return to late model racing qualifying fourth, and Tennessee’s Stacy Crain rounded out the top five qualifiers.
Inversion put Crain on the pole for the 100 lap spectacle. He wasn’t able to stay there long, however, as Bethea nabbed the early lead. Bethea’s lead lasted until Garvey was able to muscle his way around on lap 19. The first of only two cautions flew on lap 26 as the No. 12 machine of Kyle Weatherman had a loose body panel hanging from it, prompting officials to check the track for potential debris. On the ensuing restart, Ken McFarland had trouble getting up to speed and came to a stop in turn three, bringing out the final caution of the event.
The final 73 laps went clean and green as Garvey pulled away to a 3.7 second victory over Hunter Robbins, Justin South, Bill Bethea, and Blake Ferguson.
Montgomery Motor Speedway will be back in action on July 14 with the fourth installment of the Show Me the Money Series. For more information, log on to the speedway’s website at www.MontgomerySpeedway.com or call the track office at (334) 262-6101.
Official Results
Pro Late Model – Show Me the Money 100
1. 1 Mike Garvey
2. 18 Hunter Robbins
3. 43 Justin South
4. 10 Bill Bethea III
5. 07 Blake Ferguson
6. 2 John Bolen
7. 11 Stacey Crain
8. 23 Dillian Estis
9. 07 Kevin Donahue
10. 12 Kyle Weatherman
11. 14 Ken McFarland
12. 09 Daniel Bolden
13. 29 Spencer Davis
DNS 36 Rodney Benefield
DNS 2 Brady Boswell
(Montgomery, AL) – Mike Garvey is a name that has been around racing for a long time. The veteran has driven in all of NASCAR’s top three series, but calls the Pro and Super Late Models of the Deep South his new racing home. Garvey, who has recently relocated to Pensacola, FL picked up his first win at Montgomery Motor Speedway Saturday night in the Show Me the Money 100.
Defending Show Me the Money Champion, and current points leader Hunter Robbins set fast time in qualifying with a 18.983 second lap around the half-mile. His time was nearly two-tenths of a second faster than second place qualifier, Justin South of Cropwell, AL. Garvey qualified third, with Bill Bethea, III making his return to late model racing qualifying fourth, and Tennessee’s Stacy Crain rounded out the top five qualifiers.
Inversion put Crain on the pole for the 100 lap spectacle. He wasn’t able to stay there long, however, as Bethea nabbed the early lead. Bethea’s lead lasted until Garvey was able to muscle his way around on lap 19. The first of only two cautions flew on lap 26 as the No. 12 machine of Kyle Weatherman had a loose body panel hanging from it, prompting officials to check the track for potential debris. On the ensuing restart, Ken McFarland had trouble getting up to speed and came to a stop in turn three, bringing out the final caution of the event.
The final 73 laps went clean and green as Garvey pulled away to a 3.7 second victory over Hunter Robbins, Justin South, Bill Bethea, and Blake Ferguson.
Montgomery Motor Speedway will be back in action on July 14 with the fourth installment of the Show Me the Money Series. For more information, log on to the speedway’s website at www.MontgomerySpeedway.com or call the track office at (334) 262-6101.
Official Results
Pro Late Model – Show Me the Money 100
1. 1 Mike Garvey
2. 18 Hunter Robbins
3. 43 Justin South
4. 10 Bill Bethea III
5. 07 Blake Ferguson
6. 2 John Bolen
7. 11 Stacey Crain
8. 23 Dillian Estis
9. 07 Kevin Donahue
10. 12 Kyle Weatherman
11. 14 Ken McFarland
12. 09 Daniel Bolden
13. 29 Spencer Davis
DNS 36 Rodney Benefield
DNS 2 Brady Boswell
Friday, June 15, 2012
Ray Wiggers: In our thoughts and Prayers
Former standout West Michigan Racer Ray Wiggers was involved in a motorcyle accident Wednesday Night. Please keep him and his Family in your prayers.
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