5/17/2014
Winston Speedway
Winston Fans Watch Seven Heated Features despite Cold Temps
Rothbury, Michigan (Saturday, May 17th, 2014): The cold temperatures did nothing to prevent the racing program at the Winston Speedway in Rothbury, Michigan from running its full show last Saturday night. The program included action from the high-powered UMP DIRTcar Late Models, UMP DIRTcar Modifieds, and UMP DIRTcar Street Stocks. The Factory Stocks / Bombers divison competed for a special presented by Port City Racecars. Plus Four-Cylinder Mini Stocks, Four-Cylinder Mini Stocks, and Young Guns helped make up the entertaining 7-in-1 show.
The Young Guns started their 10-lap A-Main event features off with Trent Musk and Morgan Smith on the front row. Musk jumped out front with the lead after the opening lap. Smith answered back by snagging the lead on lap 2. However she would get loose and go off the track surrendering the lead to Musk who went on from there to pick up the checkered flag.
The 13-year old Muskegon, Michigan native scored his fourth win of the year and in a row behind the wheel of his Wylie Electric / Honda. Kristina Johnson finished in the second spot. Gabe Flores, Chelsey Allen, and Madison Crane concluded the top five. The heat race was also won by Musk.
Mike Dejonge and Brandon Spring made up the front row for the 20-lap Factory Stocks / Bombers main event where the drivers competed in the special presented by Port City Racecars. Once the green flag dropped Nate Trick led the pack in the early going. However the race was mired by many cautions in the early stages which forced the time limit restrictions to come into play. When the action started up again Josh Grabe was in the lead but on the final lap he would have to duke it out with former track champion Josh Sternberg and when the both crossed the line it was Sternberg who edged out the victory.
Sternberg won his first feature of the year in his Stern’s Towing machine. Grabe had to settle for second. Dejonge, Mike Fekken, and Brandon Taipalus completed the top five. The heats were won by Dejonge and Dan Wilson.
The next feature out belonged to the UMP DIRTcar Street Stocks for a 20-lap affair. Don McNabb and Justin Giddings made up the front row. However after the completion of the first circuit it was the defending UMP DIRTcar Street Stock national champion Josh Frye weaving his way to the lead. He managed to pull out front in the clean air, and was able to go from green to checkered to lead every lap and take home the checkered flag.
This was the 29-year old Coopersville, Michigan native’s third win of the year at the Winston Speedway in his Driftwood Bar & Grill / Chevrolet. Derek Poland scored the second place finish. Kendall Marlink, Rick Huisken, and Mark Farber rounded out the top five. Mike Epplett and Huisken won the heats.
Jared Guinn and The two-time and defending UMP DIRTcar Michigan State Modified Champion David Mielke brought out the 20-lap A-main for the UMP DIRTcar modifieds. After the drop of the green flag Mielke wasted little time in jumping the front of the field as everyone fought for position behind him. Despite the attempts of the other challengers no one was able to stop Mielke from going from green to checkered and picking up the win.
Mielke the 22-year old from Gladwin, Michigan picked up his third win of the season for him and his Krompetz Elevator / Rocket by Ruhlman chassis. Defending track champion Andy Sprague finished as the runner up. Steve McClees, Robbie Sternberg, and Travis Stemler finished off the top five. The preliminary heat races were taken by Stemler and Aaron Raby.
Then it was time for the 25-lap feature event for the high-powered UMP DIRTcar Late Models. The field was led out by a front row of Bill Bray and Eric Spangler. After the start Spangler made the jump to the lead after the first lap. On lap 8 Spangler would see his first competition for the lead and it was from Ryan Vanderveen who managed to work his way around Spangler for the lead. The race consisted of just one caution with five to go which set the stage for the finish as everyone fought hard for all positions. When it was all said and done Vanderveen was able to hold off everyone to score the win.
The 27-year old Six Lakes, Michigan driver’s first win of the season at the Winston Speedway and he won it in his Six Lakes NAPA / Larry Shaw Racecar. Dona Marcoullier was the second place finisher. Six time and defending track champion Rich Neiser, Spangler, and Zack Olger rounded out the top five. The last chance B-Main event was won by Nesier. Matt Pickard, Vanderveen, and Kyle Borgman won the preliminary heat races.
The Four-Cylinder Warriors were out next Melissa Sprague and Kyle Woodard made up the front row. However when the green flag dropped it would be Randy Larabee finding himself in the lead. He would manage to hold a steady lead throughout the 12-lap event, and go green to checkered for the win.
This was the 32-year old Muskegon, Michigan driver’s first win of the year in his Larabee Racing / Accura. Mike Goodwin finished second. Nick Jenema, Gary Larabee, and Sprague made up the top five. The lone heat race was won by Goodwin.
The final feature of the night was courtesy of the Four-Cylinder Mini Stocks. Brian Carson and Paul Namey led the group out for the start of their 12-lap event. Carson would take off as the early leader. However on lap 2 2011 track champion Paul Namey fought his way to the front of the pack and was able to remain there until the end and take home the checkered flag.
The 56-year old Ada, Michigan driver picked up his second win in a row behind the wheel of his River City Motors Honda. Carson was forced to settle for second. Chris Gagnon, Chad Tomczak, and Christian Wynbelt were the top five. Namey was also the winner of the lone heat race.
This Saturday May 24th the Winston Speedway will celebrate the Memorial Day holiday weekend with the running of another stellar show headlined once again by the UMP DIRTcar Late Models. Joined by the UMP DIRTcar Modifieds, and UMP DIRTcar Street Stocks. Plus the Four-Cylinder Mini Stocks will be racing for a special $300 to win sponsored by Exhaust Special T’s. The Four-Cylinder Warriors, Factory Stocks / Bombers , and Young Guns will be on hand as well. It will also be Scout Night where all scouts who show up in uniform will be admitted FREE. The Pit Gates Open at 3:30p.m., Grandstands Open at 4:30p.m., Practice Starts at 5:30p.m., and Racing Begins at 7:00p.m.
Winston Speedway is located at 7834 South 72nd Avenue in Montague, Michigan. For more information, please call: 1 (231) 737-9223 or go to the website located at: www.racewinston.com You can also follow everything that is happening on and off the track by becoming a fan on the tracks Facebook Fan Page and following along on Twitter as well. Just go to: www.facebook.com/WinstonSpeedway and www.twitter.com/WinstonSpeedway and click on “Like" and “Follow” buttons today.
Article Credit: Brian Osborne
Submitted By: Brian Osborne
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