Mielke Takes Checkers in Dirt Cup Modified Opener @ I-96

Mielke Takes Checkers in Dirt Cup Modified Opener @ I-96

Lake Odessa, Michigan (Saturday May 18^th, 2013): The United Midwestern Promoters (UMP) sanctioned Allstar Performance Michigan Dirt Cup Modifieds presented by Lane Automotive made their way to the I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, Michigan on Saturday night for their first race of the 2013 season. Meanwhile, the Rudd’s Septic Service UMP Street Stocks, and the Smyrna Bar & Restaurant UMP Sport Compacts continued their battle for the local track championships. The car drivers were also joined by a special Motocross invitational for individuals 16yrs & up.

The Motocross riders were the first to hit the track for features. It would be Dan Petrie who would get the win in the 16yrs and up division, while Gatlin Combs went on to take the 60-85cc division checkered flag. The heats were won by Tyler Neros, and Petrie in the 16 & Up’s and Combs in the 60-85cc.

The Rudd’s Septic Service UMP Street Stocks were out next for their 20-lap main event. The front row was made up of Ben Hidy and Rob Sternberg. Dan Dykman would lead much of the early stretch of the race. Then on lap 12 Josh Frye would fight his way to the front and would go on to victory lane.

This was the second win of the season for the defending track champion Frye in his Driftwood Bar & Grill Chevrolet Monte Carlo. 2011 track champion Bill Brandt Jr. finished as the runner up. Hidy was third, Dykman, and Marty French made up the top five. Robb Sternberg, Ron Wiers, Ron Harper, Jim Beltz, and Robert Erickson capped off the top ten. The heats were won by Ron Harper, Derek Poland, Hidy, and Frye. French won the B-Main.

Up next were the Smyrna Bar & Restaurant UMP Sport Compacts for their 20-lap A-Main. Randy Larabee and Nick Jenema made up the front row. Jenema would take the advantage early on. He would trade the lead with 2-time and defending track champion Rick Peck. When it was all said and done it would be Peck vistiting the P.A.T Landscaping Victory lane.

Peck took his Frisbee & Son’s Plastering / Saturn SC2 to the winners circle for the first time of the season. The runner up position was filled by Chuck Peterson II. Jenema followed him in third, Chad Tomczak, and Christian Wynbelt rounded out the top five. Rick Edsall, Kyle Woodward, Christopher Joyce, Randy Larabee, and Dillion Gentry completed the top ten. Jenema and Peck were the heat winners.

The Allstar Performance Michigan Dirt Cup Modified Tour Presented by Lane Automotive feature was the last of the night, with $2000 on the line. The field was brought to chief starter Brett Farmers green flag by Andy Sprague and Travis Stemler. Sprague would jump out to the early lead. However on lap 33 David Mielke would make a strategic pass to take over the top spot, and he would go on to get the win in the dirt cup season opener.

This was the first win of the season both for the dirt cup and at I-96 speedway for the Krompetz Elevator / Rocket Chassis of Mielke. Meanwhile, Stemler would end up in the second spot, Jeff Erickson Jr. was third, Sprague, and Joe Rokos were the top five. Jacob Poel finished sixth, with Curt Spaulding, Aaron Morey, Mark Anderson, and Adam Thrush ended the top ten finishing spots. Erickson, Sprague, Rokos, and Stemler won the heats. Poel, and Morey won the B-Mains.

I-96 Speedway will be taking next weekend off, in order to prepare for their next show which will be in two weeks on Saturday June 1^st. The show will be headlined by none other than the world famous World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series. This will be the outlaws first and ONLY stop in the state of Michigan, and they will take to the famous 1/2 (0.500) mile high-banked dirt oval. All of the top sprint car drivers including; Joey Saldana, Daryn Pittman, Steve Kinser, Craig Dollansky, and defending series champion Donny Schatz will be in attendance. The Carbon Green Bio-Energy UMP Modifieds will also be in action, on what should be a thrilling night of racing. To pre order tickets for this show visit this link:

http://slspromotions.ticketforce.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=43

I-96 Speedway is located at 3823 Portland Road in Lake Odessa, Michigan. For more information about the on-going 2012 racing season, please call: 1 (616) 642-0555 or visit the website at: www.i96speedway.com You can also follow along all season long by becoming a fan on the tracks Facebook Fan Page. Just go to: www.facebook.com/i96speedway and click on “Like” button. You can even follow us on Twitter as well, just go to: www.twitter.com/i96speedway and “Follow” us today. 

Dick Trickle suicide: Grand Rapids fans remember scary crash 25 years ago at Berlin Raceway

Dick Trickle talking with Muskegon's Mike Garvey at Lowes Speedway in 2005

By Steve Kaminski
Skaminsk@mlive.com
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Legendary short-track stock car driver Dick Trickle gave Grand Rapids area race fans a big scare one night at the Berlin Raceway in Marne nearly 25 years ago to the date.

Trickle died Thursday after apparently committing suicide, and as soon as word spread of the Wisconsin native’s passing, a number of Grand Rapids fans who attended the Berlin races on the evening of May 28, 1988, took to Facebook to reflect on Trickle’s career, including that near tragic night.

Trickle was competing in a traveling ARTGO race and backed his car into the third-turn retaining wall. Trickle’s car quickly erupted into flames. Trickle, however, escaped injury.

“I was at Berlin Raceway for an ARTGO race in the 80's,” wrote Jamie Hamm of Walker, who is the owner of Bonefied Customs, Inc. “Dick Trickle had a terrifying turn 3 crash, moments after the impact, FIRE broke out from the wreckage!

“I was horrified that Trickle was inside the car. I said to the person next to me that "I hope he got out"... The guy said "I'm fine". It was Trickle standing next to me in the infield just mere seconds after the crash! He stood here trying to light a broken cigarette right after the fire. R.I.P. Dick Trickle you will be missed.”

Greg Raymond was working for a Grand Rapids area radio station that covered the Berlin races every Saturday night back in the late 1980s, and he was roaming the pits with microphone in hand that night.

“I believe he was the greatest short track driver of all time,” wrote Raymond, who now resides in North Port, Fla. “He died today of a self inflicted gun shot wound. I still remember the look on his face when his car erupted in flames at the Berlin Raceway. I was a pit reporter that day. He was literally crawling off the track with his car in flames, and there I was with a live microphone on the air for an interview. He told me he would always remember that moment. I will as well. I pray for his family. He was 71.”

Trickle went on to find success in the NASCAR ranks after that night at Berlin, earning NASCAR Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year honors in 1989 at the age of 48.

Trickle returned to Berlin in May of 2003 to attend the track's Johnny Benson Jr. Tribute Night. Trickle met with fans and signed autographs.

Jacob Poel Interview - Dirt Cast

Ron Blair Wins SOD vs. NRA Challenge at 8th Annual Ice Breaker / 2013 Season Opener

Ron Blair Wins SOD vs. NRA Challenge at 8th Annual Ice Breaker / 2013 Season Opener

Jeep Van Wormer Kicks Off 2013 In Style with One-Two Finishes in ALMS Action!

April 30, 2013

Jeep Van Wormer Kicks Off 2013 In Style with One-Two Finishes in ALMS Action!

(PINCONNING, MICHIGAN) The Iron Motorsports team kicked-off their 2013 racing season in style with a pair of American Late Model Series (ALMS) tilts in the states of Ohio and Michigan over the April 26-27 weekend. On Friday night, Jeep Van Wormer opened up his campaign at the Attica Raceway Park in Attica, Ohio, as a $2,000 top prize was on the line. Jeep won his heat race in preliminary action and later battled for the lead through much of the main event. After officially leading five circuits from laps 17-21, Jeep settled for a strong runner-up effort behind only victor Jon Henry.

Next up for the #55 team was a trip back to Michigan on Saturday to compete in the annual running of the 'Player Hater 50' at the Winston Speedway in Rothbury. Jeep once again took the victory in his heat race to earn the pole position for the 50-lap feature event. The Pinconning, Michigan ace was then on a rail during the A-Main, as he led from flag-to-flag to record the $2,500 payday over Rusty Schlenk, Rich Neiser, Mike Spatola, and Andrew Reaume. Jeep's win secured his third 'Player Hater 50' title and marked his 31st career ALMS feature victory! Complete results from the doubleheader weekend can be accessed online at www.americanlatemodelseries.com.

"We had a lot of fun last weekend and it was a great way to start out our year," quoted Van Wormer this week via telephone. "The only way it could have gone any better was to sweep the weekend, but we just came up a little shy at Attica. After going winless last year (in only fourteen races), it was nice to run up front and get everyone's confidence up - especially with that win. I have to thank everyone that supports our team, my family and all of the guys that help out on the car. Even through we don't race as much as we used to right now, I still want to be a threat to win each time we unload and it takes a total team effort to get that accomplished."

Jeep and the Iron Motorsports team have opted to take the upcoming May 3-4 weekend off from Dirt Late Model competition. In fact, their next scheduled race is not until Memorial Day weekend. However, the chances are good that Jeep will add a couple of dates during May to his schedule, so keep checking his latest plans by logging onto www.jeepvanwormer.com.

The Iron Motorsports team thanks the following sponsors for their continued and unwavering support: Bayline Fire Protection, Services on Site, Van Wormer Management, Rocket Chassis, Jay D1ckens Racing Engines, ACPT, Allstar Performance, Bell Racing, Beyea Headers, Brinn, Inc., BSB Manufacturing, Bulldog Rear Ends, Delph Communications, Dyer's Top Rods, Eibach Springs, Exide Technologies, Fine Line Window Tinting, Goodridge Hose & Fittings, Hoosier Racing Tire, Howe Racing Enterprises, J.C. Dubil, Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil, Joe's Racing Products, K-B Carburetors, Keyser's Port City Racing, KRC Power Steering, Lane Automotive, Oakley, Outerwears, Penske Shocks, Peterson Fluid Systems, R2C Performance, Ringers Gloves, Scott Performance Wire, Sweet Mfg., VP Racing Fuels, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Weld Wheels, Wilwood Engineering, and Wrisco.

To learn more about the Iron Motorsports team, log onto their home on the web located at www.jeepvanwormer.com.

Media Contact: Ryan Delph - Delph Communications

www.delphcommunications.com