The Sternberg Brothers - "Going Around in Circles"

Thursday, July 12, 2007
By Scott BrandenburgChronicle correspondent

After spending the past decade traveling to different tracks, Ralph and Rob Sternberg made the decision to focus on Winston Motor Speedway this summer.

Midway through the season, the Sternberg brothers are happy to call Winston home.

Through the first 10 weeks, Ralph and Rob have combined to win six feature races -- three apiece in the Sportsman Division.

Although it isn't cut-throat competition, Rob makes it clear that "he got to three wins first."

"Ralph had to catch up to me," joked Rob, who is seven years younger than his brother.

Ralph maintains his sense of humor in the sibling rivalry.

"I think I'll get the tie-breaker," said Ralph, who is engaged to be married to Tami Kieft after the racing season. "I need the points more."

Ralph recently moved into second in the Sportsman Division standings -- 22 points behind Chad Weinrick. Rob is in fifth place after missing a few weeks early in the season.

The thing that matters most is they're finishing races and competing for top honors each week.

"It's been a while since we were both doing this well at the same time," said Rob. "That's really made this a fun year. In recent years, we'd be up there from time to time together, but mostly one of us would do well and the other one wouldn't."

The highlight of the season for Rob this year has been the auto racing version of a turkey -- winning the fast dash, a heat and the feature in the same day.

"That, and the time I started seventh and ended up winning, are the highlights of the year," said Rob, who has two sons -- Robbie and Damian -- his wife Rhonda. "When you can come from behind, you really feel like you've earned it."

Ralph is the more consistent, smooth and aggressive driver of the two, while Rob likes to adapt his game to the conditions of the race and the drivers. Last year, the elder Sternberg brother capped off the racing season by winning his third Great Lake National title at Crystal Motor Speedway. He is the only racer to win three.

"That's a pretty cool accomplishment," said Ralph. "To do something no one's ever done before feels pretty good."

Both Sternberg brothers got their driving skills from their dad, Ralph Sr.

Their dad raced at Winston and Thunderbird and earned several wins while driving the No. 73 car. Both younger drivers have driven that since, although Rob has currently switched to No. 37.

Ralph Sr., who owns Stern's Towing, sponsors both of his sons and doesn't play favorites when rooting for a winner.

"If they're both up there, I say just make sure you get the money," said the elder Sternberg, who turns 65 next week. "They're both doing real well. Every race is different and they're both doing good every race."

The Sternbergs also have a family feel to their pit crews.

Robbie, and nephew Josh, help both cars and Damian's getting a feel for it as well.

"He's just learning, but he's going to be the next one," said Rob. "He's learning fast."

Nelson, Sprague, Sternberg, and Erickson are Top Guns at Winston

Modified #1 Andy Sprague
Friday, July 11
Nelson, Sprague, Sternberg, and Erickson are Top Guns at Winston

The top drivers at Winston Speedway did not let “Friday the 13th’ be a sign of bad luck as many of them became multi-time feature winners. Fans were treated to comfortable weather and some great racing as the second half of the season got under way.

Outside front row starter Rich Neiser looked like he was going to dominate the main event in Integra Racing Shocks and Springs Late Model division. Neiser led the first seventeen laps and kept himself on the point for five caution restarts. Kevin Nelson put Neiser’s victory circle plans on hold. After racing his way into second from his sixth place starting position Nelson put a sling shot move on Neiser going into turn one and coming out of turn two that would have made Dale Earnhardt proud. Once out front Nelson pulled away to pick up the win. Matt Pickard followed suit passing Neiser on the low line with six laps to go to garner the runner-up spot. Neiser settled for third over Tom Sprague Jr and Kevin Nelson Jr. Heat races were won by Tom Dusen and Pickard. Kevin Nelson swept the Dash and Qualifying events.

The UMP Modified division has become the John McCaul and Andy Sprague show. Derek Poland did his best early to hold off the dynamic duo but that only lasted until lap eight. Sprague and McCaul were out front the rest of the race like many weeks before battling bumper to bumper. This week it was Sprague’s turn in victory lane. Sprague’s win was his fifth of the season at Winston. McCaul finished a close second followed by Poland, Dan Dykman and Eddie Reyes. Daryl Woodring and Poland took checkered flags in Heat races. Sprague was the Dash winner. McCaul was the fastest in Time trials.

Rob Sternberg gained bragging rights over his brother Ralph Sternberg by becoming the first driver to pick up four wins in the Port City Racing Sportsman division. Rob Sternberg patiently used the low line to get to the front from his sixth place starting position. Kyle Borgman set the early pace but bumping and banging among the front-runners gave Rob Sternberg a clear path on the bottom side of the track. The paint swapping continued with Rob Sternberg out front. When the dust settled Stan Dodds was the runner-up followed by Bob Shirk, Larry Passeneir, and Chad Weinrick. Heat race winners went to Rob Sternberg and Weinrick. Dash Honors went to Ralph Sternberg.

Last Saturdays Demolition Derby action carried over into the Factory Stock division. Twenty-one cars were on hand but only twelve started the main event. Tony Weinrick and Tim Epplett were winners of the “Crash Fest” Heat Races. The main event saw Robert Erickson pull off a power slide in front of Tim Epplett in turn two with just two laps to go to gain the top spot. Erickson’s power move helped him capture his fifth feature win of the season at Winston and his ninth over all in the UMP Factory stock National Point Standings. Epplett was second followed across the line by Jamie Lorenz, Justin Gilmore and Dash winner Tony Weinrick.

Luke Near pulled off racing’s version of the “Turkey” winning the Main Event, Heat Race and Dash events in the Sprague’s Auto Parts Mini Stock division. Don Keech raced his way to second in the Main Event followed by Carl McCann, April Spriggs, and Nathan Tarte.

Young Gun driver CJ Rector picked up his second feature win in the last three weeks by besting Seth Moody, Andrew Bartoszek, Glen Parker and Eric Harrald. Parker took Heat Race Honors. Moody won the Dash event.

Friday July 20th the Michigan Traditional Sprints will be on hand making their second appearance of the season at Winston. The Late Models will not be running that night, but the five other divisions of Winston will be on had for another excitement filled evening. For the best in Family Entertainment along the Lakeshore make your way to Winston Speedway.

Borrowed car can't even stop Borgman

Sportsman #72 Kyle Borgman

Thursday, July 05, 2007
By Scott Brandenburg Chronicle correspondent

Kyle Borgman's on such a roll on the local auto racing circuits not even a blown out motor can stop him.

Two weekends ago, Borgman blew the engine of his white Monte Carlo in a heat race at Thunderbird Raceway, putting his string of consecutive weeks with a win in jeopardy.

Luckily though Borgman's girlfriend, Sarah Klein, had a sister, Sadie Klein, who was willing to let him race her red Monte Carlo in the feature race.

Despite starting eighth in the field and with a different car Borgman again blistered the field for another win, his third in three weeks at Thunderbird.

This race he won while using a borrowed car just happened to be the mid-season championships.

"It had a similar setup and it only took me a lap or two to get comfortable with it," said Borgman, a recent Oakridge graduate. "Every time I go into a race I think I'm going to win. If you don't have that mentality, then why race?"

Borgman now has four wins at Thunderbird this season. He's also got two wins over at Winston Motor Speedway.

In all the 18-year-old Muskegonite has six wins in 19 races with no end in sight.

Borgman's dad Dan may give him some competition in the near future though. A racing veteran, dad liked the way Borgman handled the red Monte Carlo so much he bought it from Sadie Klein.

"I told him good luck," said Borgman when he found out his dad bought the car. "He's a good driver. It should be a lot of fun racing against him."

Borgman's had nothing but fun since moving up to the Sportsman Class at Thunderbird near the end of last season. That's when he purchased his Monte Carlo.

Borgman posted a late win last year and has been tearing up the track ever since.

The most impressive win Borgman's posted this season was when he began a race in the 14 slot and moved all the way up to take the checkered flag.

"There's a lot of turns and not a lot of straightaways so it's not that easy to pass," said Borgman. "I just look to see where the car ahead of me is going and then make my move. If it's up then I go down and if they're down then I go up."

Borgman and his dad and mom Jill all work for the family business, Borgman Tree Service. He says he helps out over 30 hours a week with the company when they're busy.

In the down time, Borgman spends "a lot" of time working on the car along with Dick Grenell.

Lately, Borgman's been spending plenty of time in the winner's circle too.

Anderson Wins Sportsman Invitational at Winston Speedway

Friday, July 4 2007
Anderson Wins Sportsman Invitational at Winston Speedway
The Port City Racing Sportsman Invitational highlighted the events at Winston Speedway on Friday July 6th. Another near capacity crowd was treated to great racing and an awesome display of “Fireworks”. The pit area was packed with 108 racecars. For many on hand the biggest highlight of the night was watching one of Winston’s true gentlemen pick up his first career main event win at the youthful age of sixty. Mike Anderson not only won his first main event, it came in biggest race of the season for Sportsman division. Anderson started racing at the seasoned age of fifty-four. Anderson’s reputation is nothing less than one of the most well liked and respected drivers in the pit area. Anderson proved tonight that “Nice Guys” can finish first.

The twenty-five laps of the Sportsman Invitational main event had to seem like a hundred to Mike Anderson. Starting on the pole Anderson was able to hold off some of the best Sportsman drivers in the state to pick up the $500 Port City Racing winners check. The win did not come easy. Anderson was pressured early by last week’s feature winner Jamie Gilmore. Late in the race Anderson would have to hold off three- time “Great Lakes Nationals” winner Ralph Sternberg. In both cases Anderson rose to the occasion. Anderson raced a perfect line from start to finish. Ralph Sternberg finished in the second spot followed Gilmore, Rob Sternberg, and Brian Lasak. The transfer spots from the Consolation Feature were won by Kyle Borgman and Larry Passenier. The Consolation Feature win and the TenBrink Motorsports $175 winners check went to Justin Gilmore. Heats were won by Chad Weinrick, Ralph Sternberg, and Lasak.

In the Integra Racing Shocks and Springs Late Model division Matt Pickard used the low line the from his seventh place starting position to pull even with leader Kevin Nelson Jr with four laps to go. Nelson had paced the field running the high line most of the event but with five laps to go went to the bottom of the track to look for better traction and protect his lead. What transpired coming out of turn two was one of those racing deals. If you were a Nelson Jr fan you would say Pickard spun Nelson Jr coming out of turn two. If you were a Pickard fan you would say that Nelson Jr came down into Pickard and spun himself. Ultimately Nelson Jr was placed to the rear of the field and Pickard was left at the point. With three laps to go Pickard held off a hard charging Jim Fairbanks to pick up his second third Feature win of the season. Tim Stott, Tom Sprague Jr, and Dean Huizenga completed the top five. Heat race wins went to Kevin Juusola and Elex Leyton. The fastest Late Model in Time Trial was Sprague Jr with a time of 15.517 seconds around the 3/8th’s oval.

UMP Modified driver Andy Sprague did not want a “Dejavu’ moment. Two weeks ago Sprague was beaten at the line after a restart with one lap to go. Sprague had dominated that entire event only to lose to John McCaul in the last ten feet of the race. Tonight nineteen laps went without a caution. During this time Sprague had made his way from fifth to first and was pulling away from the field on the high side. Then the unthinkable happened. As Sprague powered out of turn two of the last lap the caution would fly. John McCaul would be placed on his bumper just as he was two weeks ago. Sprague’s short-term memory kicked in. Unlike two weeks ago where he stayed at the top of the track for the one lap shoot out, this time moved to the bottom of the track. McCaul was able to stay glued Sprague’s bumper but could not complete the pass. Sprague’s win was his third of the season and showed his fast qualifying effort in Time Trials was no fluke. The race for third was a wild one as Dan Dykman, Derek Poland and Mike Wilbern were left spinning and crashing on the front stretch as the checkered flag was waved. When the dust cleared Tim Tuttle was third followed by Dykman and Poland. Dean Wilkerson and Wilbern won Heat Races.

In the Factory Stock main event driver Robert Erickson picked up another main event win. It only took Erickson five laps to make his way to the front and go onto take the win. The race for second turned into a dodge fest as a lapped car caused a spin of the front-runners in turn four of the last lap left. Jerry Fairchild was the first to maneuver his way through the melee to second followed by Tony Weinrick, Devin Vanderstelt, and Tim Epplett. Heat Races were won by Erickson, Weinrick and Bill Delong.

Mini Stock drivers Don Keech and Luke Near swapped the lead back and forth throughout the Sprague’s Auto Parts main event. The last pass by Keech caused Near to catch an inside tire sending Near’s car airborne but still running. Fans were brought to their feet as Near battled back closing a gap of twenty car lengths to only lose by two feet at the finish line. John Foss, Joe McCormick and Kyle Hulett rounded out the top five. Keech also won the Heat Race.

Andrew Bartoszek continued his fine season sweeping the Main Event and Heat race in the Young Gun division. Seth Moody, CJ Rector, Glenn Parker and Cody Moorman completed the top five of the main event.

Next Friday July 13th hopes to be lucky for some drivers as the Point standings are tight in all racing divisions. All six classes of racing will be in full force as the second half of the season is under way. For the best in Family Entertainment along the Lakeshore make your way to Winston Speedway.

Taylor, Gilmore and McCann Win at Winston Speedway

Friday, June 27
Taylor, Gilmore and McCann Win at Winston Speedway

Winston Speedway fans saw two drivers make it into victory lane for the first time this season and also witnessed one diver win two main events on the night. The weather was perfect for another great crowd and the 85 drivers who entertained them Friday June 29th.

Nineteen cars were on hand in the Integra Shocks and Springs Late Model division to take the green flag for their main event. For five laps the front row of Rob Taylor and Tom Sprague Jr rode side by side. It was not until lap six that fans saw a clear leader in Taylor. The low side had gained bite and Taylor began to pull away. By lap ten Taylor was fighting his way through lapped traffic. All the stars aligned right for Taylor as he combined a fast car with a caution free main event. When he received the checkered flag runner-up Sprague Jr was twenty car lengths behind. The win was Taylor’s first main event win of the season. Matt Pickard, Tom Dusen and Kevin Nelson rounded out the top five. John McDonald and Nelson won heat races. Taylor was the quickest in Time Trials with a time of 15.647 seconds around the 3/8ths mile oval of Winston Speedway.

UMP Modified driver John McCaul continued his strong hold on the top of the Point Standings. Starting seventh McCaul was able to track down leader Rich Neiser on lap seven and pass him on the front stretch on lap eight. From there McCaul was untouchable. Andy Sprague muscled his way by Neiser entering lapped traffic with four laps to go to gain the runner-up spot. Neiser held onto third over Greg Smith and Derek Poland. Sprague and Tim Tuttle won Heat races. McCaul was the quick qualifier.

In the Port City Racing Sportsman division Jamie Gilmore found himself on the point after pole sitter Mike Peterson brought out the caution with a spin in turn two. Gilmore had been applying pressure to Peterson at the time and proved it was not if he was going to be the leader but when was he going to be the leader. Gilmore has been steady all season long but tonight once he was out front he was not going to be caught. Gilmore was the winner by ten-car lengths when the checkered flag was waved. The Main event win was the first of the season for Gilmore. Points Leader Chad Weinrick showed his strength by coming from eighth to second. Bob Shirk, Mike Wiseman and Ralph Sternberg completed the top five. Sternberg and Stan Dodds won Heat Races.

Factory Stock driver Jamie Lorenz continued his winning ways. After a tough loss in the mid-season championship race last Friday night Lorenz again proved why he is at the top of the point standings. Lorenz led every lap of their fifteen lap main event to win his fourth feature event of the season. Tim Epplett held off a hard charging Jerry Fairchild for the second spot. Duane Townsend and Devin Vanderstelt were credited with fourth and fifth place after two drivers were docked positions for jumping restarts during the race. Frank Harris and Fairchild won Heat Races.

It is not to often a driver has bragging rights of winning two features in one night. Sprague's Auto Parts Mini Stock driver Carl McCann did exactly that. McCann went from sixth to first on lap one of their make-up Mid Season Championship. Once out front McCann hit all of his marks and took home Trophy honors. Don Keech was second followed by April Spriggs, Jerry Meyering and Don England. The second Mini Stock feature of the night again saw McCann flex his muscle. This time Keech was glued to his bumper for most of the event but was not able to make the pass. April Spriggs again finished third followed by Don England and Randy Larabee. Spriggs was the Heat Race Winner.

Next weekend Winston Speedway is packed full of entertainment. Friday night July 6th Port City Racing will be sponsoring an Invitational for the Sportsman Division along with our regular racing division action. Saturday night the Lakeshore Demolition Derby Association will be holding their third event of the summer. Both Friday and Saturday programs will also be highlighted with “July 4th” Fireworks. For the best in family entertainment along the Lakeshore make your way to Winston Speedway.