7/26/2014
Winston Speedway
Josh Frye Dominates Kenny Blondeel Street Stock Memorial
Rothbury, Michigan (Saturday, July 26th, 2014): Saturday night witnessed another packed week of racing at the fast 3/8ths (0.375) mile high-banked dirt oval of the Winston Speedway located just off U.S. 31 north of Muskegon. The fans in the stands were treated to a full 7 in 1 show which was headlined by Kenny Blondeel memorial race for the UMP DIRTcar Street Stocks racing for a very special $500 to win special. The UMP DIRTcar Late Models, UMP DIRTcar Modifieds, Factory Stocks/Bombers, Four-Cylinder Mini Stocks, Four-Cylinder Warriors, and Young Guns were on hand as well.
The night’s racing action began with the running of the three remaining make-up features from July 12th. The first was a 20-lap UMP DIRTcar Modifieds feature which saw the two-time and defending track champion Andy Sprague get the win. Mike DeJonge picked up the win for the Factory Stocks / Bombers. Then, 14-year old Trent Musk earned the Young Guns win.
The first main event for the night was the 55-lap UMP DIRTcar Street Stocks feature for the Kenny Blondeel Memorial awarding $500 to win presented by Port City Racecars. Kendall Marlink and the defending UMP DIRTcar Stock Cars National Champion Josh Frye led the field down to chief starter Mike Lee’s green flag. Frye shot off with the lead as everyone else fought for position behind him. There would be numerous battles within the field. However, no one was able to challenge Frye for the lead and he would lead the entire event.
The 30-year old from Coopersville, Michigan notched his seventh feature win of the year in the Driftwood bar & Grill / Chevrolet. Derek Poland was the runner up. Jeremy Holman, defending track champion Sadie Klein, and Marlink rounded out the top five. Holman and Chuck Smith were the heat winners.
The UMP DIRTcar Modifieds made their entrance to the racing surface next for a 20-lap feature event. A pair of Muskegon, Michigan natives Steve McClees and Jeff Erickson Jr. made up the front row. Erickson took the lead on the first lap. McClees would be able to power his way to the lead on lap 7. He and Erickson would trade the lead several times after that. This was until lap 11 when McClees would be able to pull away with the advantage. However on lap 17 the two time and defending UMP DIRTcar Modifieds Michigan State Champion David Mielke worked his way up to battle McClees for the lead, which he would take over and sail on to pick up the win in the final laps.
This was the 22-year old Mielke’s ninth win of the season in the Krompetz Elevators / Rocket by Ruhlman Racecar based in Gladwin, Michigan. McClees had to settle for second. Erickson Jr., Collin Thirlby, and Kevin Cavanaugh finished off the top five. Mielke and John Hammerle won the heats.
The UMP DIRTcar Late Models were led out by John Krusinsky and the Six-time and defending track champion Rich Neiser for the 25-lap A-Main. Once the green flag dropped Neiser wasted no time in jumping out front with the lead, and he would be able to put a great amount of distance between him and the rest of the field. He would be able to lead every lap of the race to get the win.
Nesier, the 44-year old from Fruitport, Michigan driving the Baker Engineering / Mastersbilt Racecar picks up his sixth win of the season. Mike Wilbern was the second place finisher. Two Time track champion Tom Sprague Jr., Bry Sloan, and Rob Taylor completed the top five. The heat winners were Sloan and Phil Ausra.
Chris Gagnon and Brian Hammond led out the 12-lap Four-Cylinder Warriors feature. Gagnon took the lead early on. Despite what all of the others could do, there was no stopping Gagnon from leading the complete event from green to checker to get the win.
Gagnon made his way to the winner’s circle for his first win of the season. Randy Larabee finished second. Buck Spencer, Mike Goodwin, and Mindi Holy capped off the top five. Gary Larabee and Gagnon were the winners of the heats.
The Factory Stocks / Bombers were out next for their feature event which consisted of 15-laps. Dan Wilson Jr. and Jeff Ream were on the front row. Wilson took the lead from the start. He was able to hold his line throughout the entire event and never give up the lead, and cruised on to make the trip to victory lane.
The Muskegon, Michigan driver of the A&A Manufacturing / Chevrolet earned his seventh victory on the season. Josh Grabe was the second place finisher. Jerid Bisson, Billy Frey, and Robert Raugh rounded out the top five. Bisson and Mike DeJonge won the heats.
The 10-lap Young Guns main event was next. Dean Rake Jr. and 16-year old Kristina Johnson led the field down to the green. Johnson led the pack after the completion of the first circuit. She would be able to pull out in front of the rest of the field and when it was all said and done it would be Johnson picking up the win.
Johnson the Grant, Michigan native earned her third win of the year in the I.O.D. Retails Display / Dodge. She finished in front of Gabe Flores who brought home the second place finish. Hedi Barnhard, Jordan Leak, and Trent Musk made up the rest of the top five. Flores was the winner of the lone heat race.
Finally, the Four-Cylinder Mini Stocks hit the track for their 12-lap A-Main. Paul Namey and Brian Carson made up the front row. Carson jumped out front with the lead. He would see a challenge from Namey late in the race and the two would be involved in a caution which gave the lead to Chad Tomczak who went on to get the win.
Tomczak picked up his first win of the season. Carson was the second place finisher. Namey, and Bob Halberstat completed the field. Namey was the winner of the heat race.
This Saturday August 2nd will be Race Fans vs. Cancer night at the Winston Speedway. Plus it will be Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club (M.A.R.F.C.) night bringing race fans from all across the state to Montague speed plant. The racing program will once again be a full 7 in 1 show, headlined by the high-powered UMP DIRTcar Late Models. They were joined by the UMP DIRTcar Modifieds, UMP DIRTcar Street Stocks, Factory Stocks / Bombers, Four-Cylinder Mini Stocks, Four-Cylinder Warriors, and Young Guns. 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