Clay Now Covering Berlin Raceway in Preparation for Historic World of Outlaws Late Model Series Visit Sept. 21-22
MARNE, Mich. -- Berlin Raceway's transformation from an asphalt track to a dirt-covered showplace for one spectacular racing weekend is complete.
More than 300 truckloads of clay now cover the 7/16th-mile oval in advance of the Keyser Manufacturing 'Down & Dirty 100' Presented by NAPA Auto Parts, a historic $20,000-to-win World of Outlaws Late Model Series event on Sept. 21-22 that will return the venerable Wolverine State facility to its dirt-track roots.
"Everything has come along great," said Berlin Raceway general manager Mike Bursley, who co-promotes the venerable speedway with Kurt Dietrich under the DBD Ventures banner. "We've had great weather the last couple days to let us get the dirt down without any problems and now it's just a matter of getting the surface worked in and ready for racing."
The first truckload of clay was dumped ceremoniously on Berlin's homestretch last Saturday night following the final checkered flag of the 'Chet Championship Weekend' that closed the track's 2012 pavement racing schedule. Application of the clay commenced full force at 7 a.m. on Monday and continued virtually unabated through Tuesday evening.
Over 7,500 yards of clay - some excavated from the site of an athletic-field construction project at a local college, some from a nearby landfill - has been spread around the track, producing a dirt surface atop the asphalt that is roughly 12 inches thick.
The project has been overseen by Canandaigua (N.Y.) Motorsports Park promoter Jeremie Corcoran, a former DIRTcar big-block Modified driver who has track-prep experience at several dirt tracks in the Empire State. Berlin officials were put in contact with Corcoran during the summer and decided to contract him to handle all work done on the temporary clay surface.
"Jeremie is doing a great job and has been a huge help," Dietrich, Berlin's operations and marketing manager, said of Corcoran, who hosted a WoO LMS event at Canandaigua in June. "We are very confident in him and really hope this will make the racers feel good that the track will be prepared right."
With bulldozing, grading and rolling equipment for the special event provided by the Georgetown Construction Co. in Jenison, Mich., Corcoran has been smoothing the clay since Monday. He expects to spend the remainder of the week discing, watering and packing the surface in preparation for a possible initial test session for local race teams on Saturday.
A full evening of practice for the WoO LMS event and competitors in the weekend's support divisions is set for Thurs., Sept. 20, from 4-8 p.m. Action will begin on Fri., Sept. 21, with WoO LMS time trials and heat races headlining a program that also includes DIRTcar UMP-sanctioned racing for UMP Modifieds ($1,500 to win), Factory Stocks/Bombers ($350 to win) and 4-Cylinders/Mini-Stocks ($125 to win). The grand finale on Sat., Sept. 22, features WoO LMS B-Mains and the Keyser Manufacturing 'Down & Dirty 100' Presented by NAPA, plus another full UMP Modified show paying $1,500 to win and a $400-to-win Street Stock event.
Racing is scheduled to begin at 7 o'clock each night of the weekend, which is generating plenty of buzz in the Michigan racing community. It's a throwback race for Berlin, which opened for business in 1950 as a dirt track but has exclusively presented asphalt action since 1966.
"So many people are talking about it," said Bursley. "And we've seen people stopping in constantly the last couple days to check out the dirt going down on the track, including a lot of people who remember the dirt days at Berlin back in the '50s and '60s."
"I haven't seen this much excitement about an event I don't think ever," added Dietrich. "This is going to be a huge weekend for Berlin Raceway. I know that we are like little kids on Christmas morning every time we go out and look at the track to see the dirt (surface), and all the calls we're getting and tickets we're selling tells us that a lot of other people are excited too."
Tickets will cost $20 on Friday and $30 on Saturday, with a two-day pass available for $45. Kids are $7 on Friday and $10 on Saturday, or $15 for a two-day pass.
Fans can purchase tickets on-line and obtain the latest information on the event by logging on to www.berlinraceway.com or calling the track office at 616-662-2051.
Fans can also follow Berlin Raceway on Twitter at www.twitter.com/berlinraceway and Facebook at Facebook.com/wherespeedbelongs.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Fans can also follow the WoO LMS on Twitter at Twitter.com/WoOLateModels and Facebook at Facebook.com/WorldofOutlaws.
Contact: Kevin Kovac
World of Outlaws Late Model Series PR Director
kkovac@dirtcar.com | 704-254-7929
For more information visit www.berlinraceway.com or call the office at 616.677.500. Hours are Tuesday - Friday 9am - 5pm.
PRE SALE TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT WWW.BERLINRACEWAY.COM FOR ALL EVENTS!
Thursday, September 13, 2012
MTS Sprint Series Finale at Crystal
The Lane Automotive MTS sprint series will wrap up 2012 with the season championship race at Crystal Motor Speedway Saturday Sept.15th with the Great Lakes Nationals.
In Saturdays MTS championship race drivers will try to dethrone 3 time Great Lakes Nationals champion Joe Bares.
Some of the best non wing competitors from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Canada are expected to compete in this year’s championship race.
The 2012 Point standings show an Irwin in all three top point positions. This is the first time that Mark and his two sons Joe and Steve have been positioned this way in any series or track points. As the Irwin’s look to sweep the podium spots in points, Vicksburg, Michigan’s Mike Baker and 2011 MTS champion Joe Bares try to break up the top three as they are fourth and fifth in the standings.
After a couple starts in sprints in 2007 Nate Bostrom returned for 2012 to run for R.O.Y. honors and looks to clinch on Saturday. Other rookie contenders Eric Smith and Jacob Caines run within the top 15 in points for the 2012 season.
Crystal Motor Speedway always has FREE camping, come on out and join us for a great night of racing.
Pits Open: 12 Noon SATURDAY: Hot Laps: 3 p.m.-4 p.m.
Races start: 5 p.m.
Crystal Motor Speedway is located in Crystal, MI, 5.5 miles north of SR 57 on Crystal Road, then east on Sidney. For more information, contact the track at 989-235-5200.
MTS Sprint Car Series
www.mtsprints.com
mtsprints@aol.com
In Saturdays MTS championship race drivers will try to dethrone 3 time Great Lakes Nationals champion Joe Bares.
Some of the best non wing competitors from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Canada are expected to compete in this year’s championship race.
The 2012 Point standings show an Irwin in all three top point positions. This is the first time that Mark and his two sons Joe and Steve have been positioned this way in any series or track points. As the Irwin’s look to sweep the podium spots in points, Vicksburg, Michigan’s Mike Baker and 2011 MTS champion Joe Bares try to break up the top three as they are fourth and fifth in the standings.
After a couple starts in sprints in 2007 Nate Bostrom returned for 2012 to run for R.O.Y. honors and looks to clinch on Saturday. Other rookie contenders Eric Smith and Jacob Caines run within the top 15 in points for the 2012 season.
Crystal Motor Speedway always has FREE camping, come on out and join us for a great night of racing.
Pits Open: 12 Noon SATURDAY: Hot Laps: 3 p.m.-4 p.m.
Races start: 5 p.m.
Crystal Motor Speedway is located in Crystal, MI, 5.5 miles north of SR 57 on Crystal Road, then east on Sidney. For more information, contact the track at 989-235-5200.
MTS Sprint Car Series
www.mtsprints.com
mtsprints@aol.com
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Cherry Raceway Results for Sunday September 2nd, 2012
Cherry Raceway Results for Sunday September 2nd, 2012
Fife Lake, Michigan (Sunday September 2nd, 2012): The United Midwestern Promoters (UMP) sanctioned Allstar Performance Michigan Dirt Cup Modified tour made the trip to Cherry Raceway in Fife Lake, Michigan just southeast of Traverse City, Michigan on Sunday for a special Labor Day event which was a make-up due to the original date being rained out. The UMP Super Late models were also in competition for their final time in 2012, as well as the Street Stocks, Cruiser Bombers, Four-Cylinder Warriors and Four-Cylinder Compacts. Starting things off it was the Cruiser Bomber division competing in a 20-lap feature event. Current point leader Jimmy Hiller took the lead early, and there would be several cautions that would try to cause problems, but when it was all said and done, Hiller was the winner when the checkered flag was thrown.
Similar to Friday night Hiller the 14-year old Kalkaska, Michigan native picked up his ninth win of 2012 in the Forest Area Car Company / Chevrolet. 2010 track champion Roger McQueen finished second, Caleb Kill, Josh Grabe, and Mark Farber finished off the top five. Dennis Bringedahl, and Farber were the heat winners.
The Street Stocks were next in their 25-lap main event. Kevin Borgen and Mike Sparks were in the front row and the green flag went in the air. Borgen would take the early advantage, and would hold on to that spot until with under ten laps remaining, Tim Tabaczka who started towards the rear of the field powered his way to the front went home as the victor.
The Manistee, Michigan driver took his #45t Parkville Auto / Chevrolet to the winners circle for the fifith time this season. Sparks would be the runner up finisher, Borgen, Bob Green, and T.J. Erickson rounded out the top five. Borgen and Dan Hersey took the heat wins.
The Four-Cylinder Compacts made their way out for a 15-lap feature. The current points leader Chris Casey did happen to take the early lead, but he would see mechanical issues get the better of him, and the lead would then find itself going to Dalton Bouscher, he went on to take the checkered flag as the winner.
This was the first win for the rookie driver from Traverse City, Michigan in the #42 Van’s Auto Sales / Porsche. Defending track champion Autumn Beeman finished second, Dylan Roush took third, Frank Smith III, and Ryan Andras were in the top five. Andras won the heat race. The Four-Cylinder Warriors went head to head in their 15-lap A-Main. Bob Craycraft would take the top spot early, but Chad Tomczka would have something to say about that as he worked towards the front of the field and was able to take the lead, and go un challenged for the win.
The Casnovia, Michigan driver picked up his first win at Cherry Raceway this year in his #1t High Rail Solutions / Honda getting the win over, Mark Nienhouse who took second, Shawn Alwarden, Andrew Austin, and John Edingfield made up the top five. Tomczka also won the lone heat race.2012 Merritt Raceway Champion Eric Spangler and Rich Neiser lead the high-powered UMP Super Late Models out for what would be a thrilling 20-lap feature. However Brandon Thirlby would take the lead on lap one, but Spangler would answer right back by getting around Thirlby for the lead, and there would be a hard battle but there was no stopping the Lake City, Michigan driver as he went on to pick up the win.
The #27 Spangler heating and cooling / Mastersbilt racecar was in victory lane for the first and only time this year. Thirlby was forced to take second, Neiser was third, Alex Beeman, and C.J. Heskett rounded out the top five. The heats were taken by Greg Gokey, and Spangler
The main event of the evening was the 30-lap feature courtesy of the Allstar performance Michigan Dirt Cup Modifieds presented by Lane Automotive. 2011 UMP DIRTcar racing series modified state of Michigan champion Jacob Poel was the driver to jump out front early. Things would stay that way until with ten laps remaining, the current state of Michigan points leader David Mielke would get around Poel and go on to get the big victory.
Mielke took his #87 Fennimore Group / Rocket Chassis to victory lane as the winner. Poel would settle for second, 2012 I-96 Speedway Champion Zack Olger was third, John McCaul, and Colin Thirlby completed the top five. Mielke, Poel, Brian Brindley, and Olger got the heat victories. There were also to B-Mains those were won by Stan Dodds, and McCaul.
This Saturday will be the final date on the racing schedule for the 2012 racing season at the Cherry Raceway. The night will be headlined by the second and final visit from the wingless Lane Automotive Michigan Traditional Sprint Series. Joining the sprints will be a Street Stock Special worth $1000.00 to win and $100.00 just to start the main event. The Cruiser Bombers, Four-Cylinder Warriors, and Four-Cylinder Compacts will also be on hand for their season ending races.
Ticket Prices for Saturday September 8th are: Adults (13-59): $15.00 – Seniors (60 and Over): $12.00 – Children (6-12): $5.00 – Kids (5 and Under): FREE – Pit Passes: $25.00.
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 approximately 7:15p.m.
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
Fife Lake, Michigan (Sunday September 2nd, 2012): The United Midwestern Promoters (UMP) sanctioned Allstar Performance Michigan Dirt Cup Modified tour made the trip to Cherry Raceway in Fife Lake, Michigan just southeast of Traverse City, Michigan on Sunday for a special Labor Day event which was a make-up due to the original date being rained out. The UMP Super Late models were also in competition for their final time in 2012, as well as the Street Stocks, Cruiser Bombers, Four-Cylinder Warriors and Four-Cylinder Compacts. Starting things off it was the Cruiser Bomber division competing in a 20-lap feature event. Current point leader Jimmy Hiller took the lead early, and there would be several cautions that would try to cause problems, but when it was all said and done, Hiller was the winner when the checkered flag was thrown.
Similar to Friday night Hiller the 14-year old Kalkaska, Michigan native picked up his ninth win of 2012 in the Forest Area Car Company / Chevrolet. 2010 track champion Roger McQueen finished second, Caleb Kill, Josh Grabe, and Mark Farber finished off the top five. Dennis Bringedahl, and Farber were the heat winners.
The Street Stocks were next in their 25-lap main event. Kevin Borgen and Mike Sparks were in the front row and the green flag went in the air. Borgen would take the early advantage, and would hold on to that spot until with under ten laps remaining, Tim Tabaczka who started towards the rear of the field powered his way to the front went home as the victor.
The Manistee, Michigan driver took his #45t Parkville Auto / Chevrolet to the winners circle for the fifith time this season. Sparks would be the runner up finisher, Borgen, Bob Green, and T.J. Erickson rounded out the top five. Borgen and Dan Hersey took the heat wins.
The Four-Cylinder Compacts made their way out for a 15-lap feature. The current points leader Chris Casey did happen to take the early lead, but he would see mechanical issues get the better of him, and the lead would then find itself going to Dalton Bouscher, he went on to take the checkered flag as the winner.
This was the first win for the rookie driver from Traverse City, Michigan in the #42 Van’s Auto Sales / Porsche. Defending track champion Autumn Beeman finished second, Dylan Roush took third, Frank Smith III, and Ryan Andras were in the top five. Andras won the heat race. The Four-Cylinder Warriors went head to head in their 15-lap A-Main. Bob Craycraft would take the top spot early, but Chad Tomczka would have something to say about that as he worked towards the front of the field and was able to take the lead, and go un challenged for the win.
The Casnovia, Michigan driver picked up his first win at Cherry Raceway this year in his #1t High Rail Solutions / Honda getting the win over, Mark Nienhouse who took second, Shawn Alwarden, Andrew Austin, and John Edingfield made up the top five. Tomczka also won the lone heat race.2012 Merritt Raceway Champion Eric Spangler and Rich Neiser lead the high-powered UMP Super Late Models out for what would be a thrilling 20-lap feature. However Brandon Thirlby would take the lead on lap one, but Spangler would answer right back by getting around Thirlby for the lead, and there would be a hard battle but there was no stopping the Lake City, Michigan driver as he went on to pick up the win.
The #27 Spangler heating and cooling / Mastersbilt racecar was in victory lane for the first and only time this year. Thirlby was forced to take second, Neiser was third, Alex Beeman, and C.J. Heskett rounded out the top five. The heats were taken by Greg Gokey, and Spangler
The main event of the evening was the 30-lap feature courtesy of the Allstar performance Michigan Dirt Cup Modifieds presented by Lane Automotive. 2011 UMP DIRTcar racing series modified state of Michigan champion Jacob Poel was the driver to jump out front early. Things would stay that way until with ten laps remaining, the current state of Michigan points leader David Mielke would get around Poel and go on to get the big victory.
Mielke took his #87 Fennimore Group / Rocket Chassis to victory lane as the winner. Poel would settle for second, 2012 I-96 Speedway Champion Zack Olger was third, John McCaul, and Colin Thirlby completed the top five. Mielke, Poel, Brian Brindley, and Olger got the heat victories. There were also to B-Mains those were won by Stan Dodds, and McCaul.
This Saturday will be the final date on the racing schedule for the 2012 racing season at the Cherry Raceway. The night will be headlined by the second and final visit from the wingless Lane Automotive Michigan Traditional Sprint Series. Joining the sprints will be a Street Stock Special worth $1000.00 to win and $100.00 just to start the main event. The Cruiser Bombers, Four-Cylinder Warriors, and Four-Cylinder Compacts will also be on hand for their season ending races.
Ticket Prices for Saturday September 8th are: Adults (13-59): $15.00 – Seniors (60 and Over): $12.00 – Children (6-12): $5.00 – Kids (5 and Under): FREE – Pit Passes: $25.00.
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 approximately 7:15p.m.
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
Brian Campbell Clean Sweeps JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Competition At Owosso Speedway
The Big "O" Classic 100 Presented by JEGS.com highlighted the Labor Day Holiday Weekend at the fast 3/8s (0.375) mile high-banked paved oval of Owosso Speedway located northeast of Lansing in Ovid, Michigan as the pivotal 12th race of the 2012 racing season for the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance answered a few questions moving forward for the remainder of the 2012 campaign.
At the end of the 100-Lap main at the historic Central Michigan speed plant, Wyoming, Michigan veteran, Brian Campbell emerged victorious as he swept everything involving race day at the historic Central Michigan speed plant. The 33-year-old started the day by sweeping both Practice Sessions. Then after winning his first Boyne Machine Fast Qualifier Award, the two-time ARCA/CRA Super Series Winner in 2012 took the lead on lap 38 and went on to score the victory in the Big "O" Classic 100 Presented by JEGS.com.
"We just had a great car all day long, we didn't really change much at all and we just waited for everyone to sort themselves out," Campbell explained in his post-race winners circle interview. "This was a great way to kick off the month of September. We've got a busy schedule the rest of the season and I'm very happy that we can start it off with a win at one of my favorite race tracks."
The 24-car field was brought down to the green flag by Johnny Belott and 19-year-old Rookie Brandon Hermiller and right from the get-go, the field behind the front row began jockeying for position while Belott and Hermiller held their lines for the first lap. On lap two, Hermiller got a right rear tire off the backstretch which allowed the field to freight train him on the inside.
The biggest benefactors would be both of the home track favorites in the field, Chad Finley from near-by DeWitt, Michigan and Reigning JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance Champion, 16-year-old Erik Jones who was making his first appearance of the season on his home track after spending the majority of the year running in the ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards for Venturini Motorsports.
Both drivers climbed up to second and third from their fourth and seventh starting positions respectively and on lap four, both drivers slipped by Belott, a former winner in the ARCA/CRA Super Series back in the 2005 season at Toledo Speedway and ironically making his JEGS/CRA debut filling in for Joe Johnson. Finley took the lead only to lose it a lap later to Jones as the near capacity crowd on hand were already on their feet cheering on the two home track favorite.
Both drivers would swap the lead twice more for a total of four lead changed between laps four through seven before Jones took over again and kept Finley behind him who now had the remainder of the field from third back to 13th to deal with. Campbell, who started sixth, methodically worked his way up to the second spot and quickly reeled in Jones and placed himself on the teenagers back bumper.
On Lap 38, Campbell made his move for the lead and took over the top spot. Jones gave a valiant effort but slowly began fading due to a slowly deflating tire. He would later be involved in a mid race caution and would be done for the night. From there, Campbell was a man on a mission as he slowly but surely pulled away from the rest of the pack and as the laps continued to click off, would put lapped traffic between him and the rest of the field.
The last of five cautions flew on lap 65 setting up a 35-lap sprint to the finish, however it would be all Campbell as the driver of the #20 K.B.R. Development / Ford would set sail the rest of the way to win his first JEGS/CRA victory of the 2012 season and second career win in the series as Campbell was the winner of the Inaugural JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour event at Toledo Speedway back on April 23rd, 2011.
"I had to get a win in this series pretty quick. I've been getting razzed for a month now after (Car Owner) Mike (Bursley) won at Berlin about how I can't win anymore in the JEGS/CRA Series," Laughed the Western Michigan standout. "But I do have to thank Mike & Kathy (Bursley) for giving me a great car and a great team and a huge thanks to my Dad (Fred Campbell) too, he's on the ball with the tire program."
Finishing second at his home track would be Finley as the driver of the #42 AutoParts2020.com / Ford led twice early in the race after a thrilling battle with Jones. "We had a really good for most of the race, but it got really tight there towards the end." The 20-year-old driver explained. "I wasn't expecting to be battling that hard that early in the race with Erik (Jones) but everyone behind us was going like it was the last lap so we had to go. It was way too early to do that. But we got a good finish out of it." Finley added.
Earning the Five Star Racecar Bodies & Racing Electronics Hard-Charger Awards for his impressive 18th to third place run was Dave Gentile Jr., who was making only his second start of the year in the series. "This is a great run for this team. It feels like a win running against the cars that was here tonight," The Elwood, Illinois driver stated as he stood next to his #6 W.M.C. Incorporated / Chevrolet. "I wish we had the sponsorship to run the full schedule in 2013. Hopefully we showed a few people here how good this entire team really is." The 33-year-old regular at Grundy County Speedway and Illiana Motor Speedway remarked.
Current Points Leader & Seven-Time Event Winner, Daniel Hemric finished fourth over Robbie Johnson who completed the top five with his second straight fifth place finish in two races. Wes Griffith Jr., finished sixth after starting 16th while 14-year-old Anderson Bowen Unofficially clinched the 2012 Howie Lettow Memorial Rookie of the Year Presented by Howe Racing Enterprises Award with his 19th to seventh place effort. Dan Leeck was eighth with Josh Nelms and 16-year-old Kyle Crump finished off the top 10 after starting 21st.
Earlier in the afternoon in Boyne Machine Qualifying, Campbell won his first Boyne Machine Fast Qualifier Award of the season as he toured the historic Central Michigan oval at a 15.571 which measures out to 86.700mph as he had swept everything JEGS/CRA related up to that point. The JEGS/CRA Track Record in Ovid, Michigan was set back on September 3rd, 2011 when Jones turned a 15.531.
The JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance will now take a mini vacation before finishing out the 2012 racing season beginning with a return trip to Lucas Oil Raceway in Clermont, Indiana on Saturday-Sunday, September 29-30th as the JEGS/CRA teams will race in the Lucas Oil 100 Presented by JEGS.com which is part of the CRA Fall Brawl Weekend.
Then the Season Finale, for points, will see the 2012 JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance Champion and Howie Lettow Memorial Rookie of the Year Presented by Howe Racing Enterprises be crowned on Friday, October 12th at Winchester Speedway in Winchester, Indiana as the JEGS/CRA Season Championship race will kick off the prestigious 41st annual Winchester 400 Weekend which runs from October 12-14th.
After the points are tabulated and everything is official, there is one more JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance event in 2012; A non-points race at the 4/10s (0.400) mile semi-banked paved oval of Watermelon Capital Speedway in Cordele, Georgia on Friday-Saturday, October 26-27th as the JEGS/CRA teams will be a part of the Fall Speedfest as the 100-Lap main will pay $3,000 to the winner. The ARCA/CRA Southern Six-Pack Series will also be racing in a 100-Lapper as well.
For more information about the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance, please visit: www.craracing.net and for more information about Lucas Oil Raceway and Winchester Speedway, go to each track website located at: www.lucasoilraceway.com and www.winchesterspeedway.com.
At the end of the 100-Lap main at the historic Central Michigan speed plant, Wyoming, Michigan veteran, Brian Campbell emerged victorious as he swept everything involving race day at the historic Central Michigan speed plant. The 33-year-old started the day by sweeping both Practice Sessions. Then after winning his first Boyne Machine Fast Qualifier Award, the two-time ARCA/CRA Super Series Winner in 2012 took the lead on lap 38 and went on to score the victory in the Big "O" Classic 100 Presented by JEGS.com.
"We just had a great car all day long, we didn't really change much at all and we just waited for everyone to sort themselves out," Campbell explained in his post-race winners circle interview. "This was a great way to kick off the month of September. We've got a busy schedule the rest of the season and I'm very happy that we can start it off with a win at one of my favorite race tracks."
The 24-car field was brought down to the green flag by Johnny Belott and 19-year-old Rookie Brandon Hermiller and right from the get-go, the field behind the front row began jockeying for position while Belott and Hermiller held their lines for the first lap. On lap two, Hermiller got a right rear tire off the backstretch which allowed the field to freight train him on the inside.
The biggest benefactors would be both of the home track favorites in the field, Chad Finley from near-by DeWitt, Michigan and Reigning JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance Champion, 16-year-old Erik Jones who was making his first appearance of the season on his home track after spending the majority of the year running in the ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards for Venturini Motorsports.
Both drivers climbed up to second and third from their fourth and seventh starting positions respectively and on lap four, both drivers slipped by Belott, a former winner in the ARCA/CRA Super Series back in the 2005 season at Toledo Speedway and ironically making his JEGS/CRA debut filling in for Joe Johnson. Finley took the lead only to lose it a lap later to Jones as the near capacity crowd on hand were already on their feet cheering on the two home track favorite.
Both drivers would swap the lead twice more for a total of four lead changed between laps four through seven before Jones took over again and kept Finley behind him who now had the remainder of the field from third back to 13th to deal with. Campbell, who started sixth, methodically worked his way up to the second spot and quickly reeled in Jones and placed himself on the teenagers back bumper.
On Lap 38, Campbell made his move for the lead and took over the top spot. Jones gave a valiant effort but slowly began fading due to a slowly deflating tire. He would later be involved in a mid race caution and would be done for the night. From there, Campbell was a man on a mission as he slowly but surely pulled away from the rest of the pack and as the laps continued to click off, would put lapped traffic between him and the rest of the field.
The last of five cautions flew on lap 65 setting up a 35-lap sprint to the finish, however it would be all Campbell as the driver of the #20 K.B.R. Development / Ford would set sail the rest of the way to win his first JEGS/CRA victory of the 2012 season and second career win in the series as Campbell was the winner of the Inaugural JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour event at Toledo Speedway back on April 23rd, 2011.
"I had to get a win in this series pretty quick. I've been getting razzed for a month now after (Car Owner) Mike (Bursley) won at Berlin about how I can't win anymore in the JEGS/CRA Series," Laughed the Western Michigan standout. "But I do have to thank Mike & Kathy (Bursley) for giving me a great car and a great team and a huge thanks to my Dad (Fred Campbell) too, he's on the ball with the tire program."
Finishing second at his home track would be Finley as the driver of the #42 AutoParts2020.com / Ford led twice early in the race after a thrilling battle with Jones. "We had a really good for most of the race, but it got really tight there towards the end." The 20-year-old driver explained. "I wasn't expecting to be battling that hard that early in the race with Erik (Jones) but everyone behind us was going like it was the last lap so we had to go. It was way too early to do that. But we got a good finish out of it." Finley added.
Earning the Five Star Racecar Bodies & Racing Electronics Hard-Charger Awards for his impressive 18th to third place run was Dave Gentile Jr., who was making only his second start of the year in the series. "This is a great run for this team. It feels like a win running against the cars that was here tonight," The Elwood, Illinois driver stated as he stood next to his #6 W.M.C. Incorporated / Chevrolet. "I wish we had the sponsorship to run the full schedule in 2013. Hopefully we showed a few people here how good this entire team really is." The 33-year-old regular at Grundy County Speedway and Illiana Motor Speedway remarked.
Current Points Leader & Seven-Time Event Winner, Daniel Hemric finished fourth over Robbie Johnson who completed the top five with his second straight fifth place finish in two races. Wes Griffith Jr., finished sixth after starting 16th while 14-year-old Anderson Bowen Unofficially clinched the 2012 Howie Lettow Memorial Rookie of the Year Presented by Howe Racing Enterprises Award with his 19th to seventh place effort. Dan Leeck was eighth with Josh Nelms and 16-year-old Kyle Crump finished off the top 10 after starting 21st.
Earlier in the afternoon in Boyne Machine Qualifying, Campbell won his first Boyne Machine Fast Qualifier Award of the season as he toured the historic Central Michigan oval at a 15.571 which measures out to 86.700mph as he had swept everything JEGS/CRA related up to that point. The JEGS/CRA Track Record in Ovid, Michigan was set back on September 3rd, 2011 when Jones turned a 15.531.
The JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance will now take a mini vacation before finishing out the 2012 racing season beginning with a return trip to Lucas Oil Raceway in Clermont, Indiana on Saturday-Sunday, September 29-30th as the JEGS/CRA teams will race in the Lucas Oil 100 Presented by JEGS.com which is part of the CRA Fall Brawl Weekend.
Then the Season Finale, for points, will see the 2012 JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance Champion and Howie Lettow Memorial Rookie of the Year Presented by Howe Racing Enterprises be crowned on Friday, October 12th at Winchester Speedway in Winchester, Indiana as the JEGS/CRA Season Championship race will kick off the prestigious 41st annual Winchester 400 Weekend which runs from October 12-14th.
After the points are tabulated and everything is official, there is one more JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance event in 2012; A non-points race at the 4/10s (0.400) mile semi-banked paved oval of Watermelon Capital Speedway in Cordele, Georgia on Friday-Saturday, October 26-27th as the JEGS/CRA teams will be a part of the Fall Speedfest as the 100-Lap main will pay $3,000 to the winner. The ARCA/CRA Southern Six-Pack Series will also be racing in a 100-Lapper as well.
For more information about the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance, please visit: www.craracing.net and for more information about Lucas Oil Raceway and Winchester Speedway, go to each track website located at: www.lucasoilraceway.com and www.winchesterspeedway.com.
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