8-year-old Chase Burda, 14-year-old Renton Joling and Jayson Mikula All Score Double Feature Wins at the DeltaPlex Arena

Midwest Indoor Racing Series Returns to “Where it all began”

Grand Rapids, Michigan (Saturday, February 2nd, 2013): The Midwest Indoor Racing Series made their first ever appearance “Back to Where it All Began”; the DeltaPlex Arena & Conference Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the original home of Indoors Racing in the state of Michigan on Saturday, February 2nd. A great crowd came out to enjoy a night of Indoors Racing despite the cold and blustery and even blizzard like conditions outside the arena and all were treated to an action packed night of racing in 17 divisions.

Three drivers left the DeltaPlex Arena with Two Feature Wins apiece as 8-year-old Chase Burda was the highlighted and popular winner amongst the crowd in attendance as the Columbiaville, Michigan youngster started off the night by winning the Outlaw Shock Company Quarter Midgets Junior Honda Feature as he took the lead with just two laps to go! He also won his Qualifier Heat Race while fellow 8-year-old Tanner Jo Drake scored the other Qualifier Heat win.

Then in the Outlaw Shock Company Quarter Midgets Junior Animals / Senior Animals Combined division Feature, it didn’t start off so well for Burda’s #18 Rob’s Service entry as he collided with a pair of 8-year-olds, Casey Smith and Trey Chmielewski resulting in him flipping his mount. He was put back on all four tires and on the checkered flag lap, swept to the inside of Chmielewski coming out of turn four to Win his Second Feature of the night in thrilling fashion! Smith scored the win in the Qualifier Heat Race.

14-year-old Renton Joling has arguably been the most successful driver in the inaugural winter racing season for the Midwest Indoor Racing Series as the Wyoming, Michigan teenager notched Feature Wins #5-6, the most of any driver in the 2012 / 2013 campaign! Joling’s first victory came in the Outlaw Shock Company Quarter Midgets Heavy Honda Feature in dominating fashion. Joling also swept the division by winning the Qualifier Heat Race.

Then in the Outlaw Shock Company Quarter Midgets Light 160 / Heavy 160 Combined Feature, it was Joling again in his #0 Tri-State Collectors & Car Appraisals machine as he took the lead from 15-year-old Nicole Stanley on lap one and proceeded to again dominate the Feature en route to his second main event victory of the night and sixth Feature Win of the 2012 / 2013 Winter Racing Season. Stanley did pick up the Qualifier Heat Race triumph.

The third Double Feature Winner of the night would be in the always exciting Lawn Mowers divisions as Jayson Mikula, who calls near-by Sparta, Michigan home, made the contingent in the grandstands happy as he started off the night by picking up the checkered flag in the Lawn Mowers Stocks Feature. Mikula set Fast Time in Qualifying with a 10.021 while Bill Campbell would collect the win in the Qualifier Heat Race.

Then in the premier division within the Lawn Mowers, the Super Modifieds, it was again Mikula as he steered his unlimited #4 Four Seasons Yard & Sport grass cutter to victory lane for the second time of the night to the roar and appreciation of the partisan crowd on hand. Mikula had a banner night as he also won the Fast Qualifier Award with an 8.687 second lap and then brought home the Qualifier Heat Race victory as well.

There was one more Outlaw Shock Company Quarter Midgets division on hand and in the Senior Honda Feature, 10-year-old Carson Hocevar made a daring three-wide pass for the lead on lap six of the 15-Lap main event and from there, the Portage, Michigan driver in his #14 Scott’s Racing machine went on to Win the Feature! Hocevar also won his Qualifier Heat Race while 10-year-old Corey Smith grabbed the Win in the second Qualifier Heat Race.

There was also one more Lawn Mowers division in attendance as the Modifieds division would see the #76 Freedom Engineering machine of Sumner, Michigan driver, Brian Gager walk away with the Feature Win as 16-year-old Kelsey VanEpps, the Feature Winner back in November at the Inaugural MIRS race at Perani Arena & Events Center in Flint, Michigan paced the field early before dropping out with mechanical problems at the halfway point of the 20-Lap Feature. Gager also set Fast Time in Qualifying with a 9.719 second lap while VanEpps won the Qualifier Heat Race.

The premier division within the Midwest Indoor Racing Series, the John Belott & Sons Auto Purchasing Winged Mini Sprints would see Rumble in Fort Wayne winner, Tim Neal steer his #19 Dunigan Motorsports / Hyper Chassis entry into victory lane as the Ypsilanti, Michigan stand out started on the pole of the 50-lap headliner and would go the distance to earn his third MIRS Feature Win of the season. 18-year-old Clay Sanders won the Fast Qualifier Award with a 7.315 while Neal Won the Dash and Phil Bozell scored the Qualifier Heat Race triumph.

In the John Belott & Sons Auto Purchasing Non-Winged Mini Sprints, Drew Dorsett made the trip from Monrovia, Indiana worthwhile as the Hoosier State competitor started on the front row and went the distance in the 35-lap main in his Suphten Fire Trucks / Hyper Chassis machine en route to his second overall Feature Win of the season. Sanders was the Fast Qualifier for a second time during the event as he turned a 7.433 and he also won the Dash. Neal took the checkered flag first in the Qualifier Heat Race.

The Arena / Mini Cups 30-Lap Feature was a wild one as four times the red flag came out for cars flipping their machines including Ronnie Smith who ended up on his roof on three separate occasions! Finally when all was said and done, Grand Rapids, Michigan native, Todd Cowan made the hometown fans happy by picking up his Second Feature Win in a row in MIRS competition in his #96 Action Mold & Engineering / Chevrolet. He also picked up the win in the last MIRS sanctioned event back on January 12th at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek, Michigan. 14-year-old Steven Nichols won the Fast Qualifier Award for the third time during the 2012 / 2013 Winter Racing Season with a lap measured at an 8.880 while Ed Doutre Jr., and 14-year-old Renton Joling (doing Triple-Duty during the weekend) scored the wins in the two Qualifier Heat Races.

In the Legends / Dwarf Cars Feature, 19-year-old Sean McPherson dominated the Feature to cross the start / finish line first. Unfortunately he was disqualified for Unsportsmanlike Conduct thus handing the Feature Win to Grandville, Michigan native, Troy Hoffman in his #28 L-K Concrete / Ford. Earlier in the day, McPherson did win the Fast Qualifier Award with a lap measured at an 8.283. He also scored the win in the Qualifier Heat Race.

The premier division within the Great Lakes Tire Go-Karts divisions, the Open Class would see 20-year-old Taylor Tabaszewski steer her #31 Roadside Truck & Trailer Repair kart into victory lane for the third straight time in the Inaugural Winter Racing Season for the Midwest Indoor Racing Series as she took the popular victory to the roar and approval of the nearly standing room only crowd on hand.

The Flushing, Michigan rising star dominated the Feature to “Three-Peat” and add to her Feature Win totals from Kellogg Arena (Battle Creek, Michigan on January 12th) and Birch Run Expo Center (Birch Run, Michigan on December 22nd). She swept the night also as she won the Fast Qualifier Award with a 7.627 and won the Qualifier Heat Race.

In the Great Lakes Tire Go-Karts 360 Animals / 360 Flat Heads Combined Feature event, 16-year-old Nate Randall made the long trek from West Branch, Michigan worthwhile as he would hold off a furious charge all race long from Dustin Lundgren and lead all 20 laps to Win the Feature in his #24 Advanced Insulation entry. Randall and Lundgren picked up the Qualifier Heat Race victories earlier in the afternoon.

MSA Supermodifieds and Outlaw Super Late Models competitor throughout the Midwestern United State, Charlie Schultz made the trip from Lorain, Ohio a good one as the veteran circle track competitor in his #9 Ice Oil Company Go-Kart picked up the Feature Win in the Great Lakes Tire Go-Karts Clones division after taking the lead from teammate, A.J. Lesiecki at the halfway mark of the Feature. Lesiecki and Schultz scored the Qualifier Heat Race accolades.

The Great Lakes Tire Go-Karts Caged Kart Feature saw a dominating display put on by Mike Schmidt as the Bay City, Michigan driver in his #53 Schmidty’s Repair Caged machine took the Feature Win in a dominating display of driving as he scooted out ahead of 13-year-old Anthony Deming and pulled away to victory. Schmidt also swept the entire night as he won his Qualifier Heat Race.

12-year-old Arron Vincent has been the story of the Great Lakes Tire Go-Karts Gold Plate division so far in the Inaugural Winter Racing Season as the driver from near-by Wyoming, Michigan made the partisan crowd happy by scoring the convincing Win in the Feature, his second in a row dating back to his first triumph on January 12th at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek, Michigan. Vincent also won his Qualifier Heat Race as 12-year-old Joshua Spindelman scored the second Qualifier Heat checkers.

Finally In the Great Lakes Tire Go-Karts beginners division, the Purple Plates, 13-year-old Hunter Doutre has been fast all season long in his #73 Outdoor Adventures R.V. Resorts machine and on this night, the Swartz Creek, Michigan driver finally put it all together to bring home his first Midwest Indoor Racing Series Feature of the season. He also won his Qualifier Heat Race while 8-year-old Jeremiah Albosta won the second Qualifier Heat Race.
The 2012 / 2013 Winter Racing Season’s Final race of the Inaugural campaign has been confirmed and that is set for Saturday, March 23rd as the Midwest Indoor Racing Series returns to the Birch Run Expo Center in Birch Run, Michigan with a whopping 22 divisions of racing to close out the Inaugural Season for the Eaton Rapids, Michigan based series!

The John Belott & Sons Auto Purchasing Winged & Non-Winged Mini Sprints will once again highlight the action packed night of racing while the Dwarfs / Legends Cars, Arena / Mini Cup Cars, Great Lakes Tires Go-Karts (Open, 360 Flat Heads / 360 Animals, Clones, Caged, Purple Plate & Gold Plate), Outlaw Shock Company Quarter Midgets (Junior Honda, Senior Honda, Heavy Honda, Light 160, Heavy 160, Junior Animal & Senior Animal), and Lawn Mowers (Super Modifieds, Modifieds & Stocks) will also all be racing.

MGM Motorsports LLC, is a new venture based out of Eaton Rapids, Michigan and features MIRS sanctioned short track racing inside sports arenas throughout the Midwest for the 2012/2013 Winter Racing Season and beyond. For more information, please call Jack Gritter at: 1 (616) 813-5965 / Scott Menlen at: 1 (586) 201-0378 or Scott Mathews at: 1 (313) 909-4270.

To learn more about the Midwest Indoor Racing Series, please go to the website located at: www.midwestindoorracingseries.com. You can also go to the series’ Facebook Fan Page located at: www.facebook.com/midwestindoorracing and don't forget to follow MIRS on Twitter by going to: www.twitter.com/MIRSracing

Jack Sprague Entering Hall of Fame

Spring Lake native Jack Sprague will be inducted into the Muskegon Sports Hall of Fame this spring. Sprague had a successful career in various divisions of NASCAR, including three Truck Series championships in 1997, 1999 and 2001. He was the first driver to ever win three such titles. Sprague also raced in the Nationwide series and the Sprint Cup series during his career. Prior to those accomplishments, though, Sprague was a track champion at two local tracks, Thunderbird Raceway and Winston Speedway, before moving south to pursue his dream in Motorsports.

VanDoorn Headline List of CRA/ARCA Champions

Champions and More Honored at 2012 Champion Racing Association Awards Banquet

Indianapolis, IN (January 6, 2013) – The 2012 Champion Racing Association Awards Banquet was held Saturday night at the Caribbean Cove Hotel and Conference Center located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The top 10 in 2012 ARCA/CRA Super Series points, JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance points, Top Speed Fabrication CRA Late Model Sportsman points and CRA Street Stocks points were all honored at the banquet along with several special awards.

 The Kaos Motorsports Team with driver Johnny VanDoorn and car owner Jim Tenbrink were officially crowned the 2012 Champions of the ARCA/CRA Super Series, it was the third series Championship for the team tying Scott Hantz and his car owner, the late Dick Poe, with the most series Championships.

 “It was truly a great season after having a terrible 2011,” remarked VanDoorn. “I have to thank my car owner Jim Tenbrink who has given me the greatest four years of my life! We could not have won this Championship without our great crew and our awesome sponsors!” 

 Jay Niewiek was the 2012 A.T. Performance/Acro-Tech Sportsman of the Year Award winner for the ARCA/CRA Super Series. The Kenzie Ruston Racing team and car owner Darren Ruston were honored as the winner of the 2012 Darrell Teal Outstanding Dedication Award for traveling from North Carolina and Oklahoma to every series event during the 2012 season. VanDoorn was awarded the Harris Products Group Lap Leader Awards for the 100/125 lap events. Niewiek was awarded the Cometic Gasket Hard Charger Award, his third straight season of claiming that award, while Kenny Tweedy was awarded the Cometic Gasket Hard Luck Award.

 Kyle Benjamin was honored as the 2012 ARCA/CRA Super Series Southern Tour Champion, the 14 years old became the youngest winner of an ARCA/CRA Super Series event during the 2012 season and is also the youngest ever CRA Champion.

 Daniel Hemric and the Scott Neal Racing team were honored as the 2012 JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance Champions, winning a record eight series events along the way to claiming the Championship.

 “What started out as a part time ride turned into an unbelievable Championship Season,” remarked Hemric. “I have to thank Scott Neal, Richard Clarke and Hoyt Demis for putting this Championship deal together, also all the guys on our crew that worked so hard, all of our sponsors and my fellow competitors for a great year!”

15 year old Anderson Bowen was honored as the Howie Lettow Rookie of the Year Presented by Howe Racing Award winner. Tom Woodin was the Race Cover-all’s Sportsman of the Year Award winner. Anderson Bowen Racing and car owner David Bowen received the series Dedication Award for traveling from their home in Suwanee, Georgia to compete in every series event during the 2012 season.

 KC Spillers was honored as the 2012 Top Speed Fabrication CRA Late Model Sportsman Champion. It was the first ever CRA Championship for Spillers who also got his first ever series victory in 2012 at Winchester Speedway. “We came into this season just planning on running a few races and trying for some wins and we somehow ended up as the Champions,” remarked Spillers. “I got out of racing for about five years, decided to get back into it and I’m really glad I did. It was a great season with a bunch of old guys on our team who just went out and did our best every race!”

 Robert Amos Jr. was the 2012 Rookie of the Year award winner in the Late Model Sportsman Division. Tommy Cook was the Harris Products Group Sportsman of the Year Award winner. Greg Rogers, who fielded two full-time series cars in 2012 for drivers Tommy and Dean Cook, was awarded the 2012 Dedication Award for the series.

 Jimmy Kirby was crowned the 2012 CRA Street Stocks Champion, in a season when he also claimed the Anderson Speedway Street Stock Championship. It was Kirby’s first CRA Championship, he also got his first CRA victory during the 2012 season. “This was truly a remarkable season,” remarked Kirby. “These Street Stocks are a blast to drive and the drivers in this division are the best around. We had a lot of fun racing this year and claiming two Championships, I couldn’t have done it without my wife’s support, my team and my sponsors!”

 Tyler Marsh was awarded the 2012 Rookie of the Year Award for the CRA Street Stocks. Veteran CRA competitor Brian Hopkins was awarded the Harris Products Group Sportsman of the Year Award. The Schafer Racing Team received the series 2012 Dedication Award, for overcoming several setbacks during the season to be at every event and finish fourth in Championship points.

 Several special guests were in attendance including Mark Gundrum from ARCA who addressed the group on Saturday night, talking more about the continued partnership between ARCA and CRA with the ARCA/CRA Super Series for the upcoming 2013 season.

 Drawings for prizes were held for all divisions. The big winners included Brent Downey who won a racecar chassis from Victory Circle Chassis. Five Star Racecar Bodies were won by Lorz Motorsports, Scott Neal Racing and Jason Atkinson. Stan Rosen won a seat from ButlerBuilt Racing Seat Systems, while Tom Woodin and Josh Timmerman claimed $750 Product Certificates from ButlerBuilt Racing Seat Systems. Schoenfeld Header Product Certificates were won by Lorz Motorsports, Trey Craig, and Blaine Miller Motorsports. Brian McFadden won a $1000 Product Certificate from McGunegill Engine Performance while J.J. Schafer won a $500 Product Certificate from McGunegill Engine Performance. Wes Griffith Jr., Johnny VanDoorn, Dean Cook and Justin Burge all won a set of wheels from Aero Racing Wheels. Kenny Tweedy, Travis Braden and Brandon Hermiller all won a set of wheels from Bassett Racing Wheels.

 In all over $104,000 in cash and product awards were distributed to 40 CRA teams at the 2012 CRA Awards Banquet. There were also several women’s prizes given away Saturday night that were sponsored by Phil Harper Motorsports. Also JEGS, K & N Filters and Hoosier Tire Midwest provided special giveaway’s for all in attendance. More information on all the CRA Series is available at: www.craracing.net.

Kody Weisner Search for a Champion

Check out Muskegon's Kody Weisner as he continues to chase his dream in racing.

Veteran Berlin Raceway driver's wife badly burned escaping intense Algoma Township house fire

By Garret Ellison | gellison@mlive.comThe Grand Rapids Press
on December 16, 2012 at 12:45 PM, updated December 16, 2012 at 1:25 PM

 

Enlarge Garret Ellison | gellison@mlive.comAn attached garage was partially saved by Algoma Township firefighters on Sunday, Dec. 16, after an early morning house fire destroyed most of the home of Tim and Pat DeVos, 915 10 Mile Road NE.Algoma Township house fire Dec. 16, 2012 gallery (5 photos)

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ALGOMA TOWNSHIP, MI — A veteran race car driver and his wife escaped a devastating house fire early Sunday morning, Dec. 16, after being woken up by their barking dog.
Tim DeVos said his wife, Pat, was hospitalized for severe burns and smoke inhalation after the couple woke up to find their home, at 915 10 Mile Road NE in Algoma Township, on fire before 4 a.m.
Pat DeVos is expected to recover. She has burns to her hands, face and legs after trying to put the fire out, family reported. DeVos said the blaze may have started in the kitchen.
The home is insured. The family built the home in the mid-1990s.
Firefighters from multiple fire departments in northern Kent County spent hours battling the blaze, which they found had fully engulfed the two-story home when they arrived.
Algoma Deputy Chief Mike Falk said, at DeVos’ request, fire crews tried to concentrate on saving an attached garage that contained several vehicles, heavy equipment and business papers.
“We tried to stop it there,” said Falk, motioning back to the residential area of the home, where the two stories had collapsed into the basement in a heap of charred wood and ash. Little of the structure remained aside from part of a brick chimney.
“This was pretty much gone already.”
Falk said the attack on the fire was slowed because the chimney collapsed on the home’s natural gas line, and crews had to wait for the utility service to arrive, dig up the line and cut it.

Tim DeVos

Due to the intensity of the blaze, firefighters attacked the fire defensively from the outside. They were still on scene mid-day Sunday hosing down hot spots.
DeVos said only he and his wife were home at the time of the fire. Their dog was able to escape as well. DeVos is a veteran Late Model driver at the Berlin Raceway in Marne. He won the Super Stocks title in 1995 and followed that up with Late Models titles in 2003 and 2005.
The Berlin Raceway Facebook page posted a note asking for prayers for the couple.
DeVos said they are related, but not closely, to the Amway Corp. DeVos family.