7/4/2016
Tri-City Motor Speedway
Race Result from 7/1/2016
07/01/16 Mid Season Championship Winners
Melling Select Late Models: #0x Zack Olger
Suspension MAXX Street Stocks: #X5 Eric Lake
Main Street Seed and Supply IMCA Modified: #20w AJ Ward
Elgin Pro Stocks: #K11 Kendall Morrison
Thornton Brothers Septic Service Bomber Stocks: #77 Stacie Staszak
Walkers Ideal Trophies Mini Wedge: #3 Mason Clements
Ward Claims Eighth Feature win, Staszak gets first at TCMS
07/01/2016 (Auburn MI) Tri-City Motor Speedway kicked off the Independence weekend and the halfway point of the 2016 race season with a full field of cars throughout the competing divisions. The large crowd on hand not only witnessed great racing on the speedway but were also treated to a phenomenal fireworks display from Wolverine Fireworks Display of Kawkawlin.
Walker’s Ideal Trophies of Midland has become the new series sponsor of the new Mini Wedge division for the remainder of 2016. 10-year old #3 Mason Clements has been practicing since his racing debut a few weeks ago and that practice paid off as he would win the first event of the night by winning the four-car dash. Clements would start on the outside of the front row for the feature. He would take full advantage of that track position to cruise to his first ever main event win. Heat race winner #7 Jonny Staszak would finish in the runner up position and was followed by point leader #13 Cassie Witherspoon, #4 Brody Hose, and #04jr Jake Witherspoon.
The Thornton Brother’s Sewer and Septic Bomber Stocks have seen a number of feature winners in 2016. #13 Preston Deshano would set the tone of the class by winning the heat race while #77 Stacie Staszak would capture the four car dash. #25 Chris Jones would use the pole position at the start of the main event to lead lap number one. But Kawkawlin driver Staszak would take over the field on lap two. Staszak would end up dominating the caution-free event and grab her first feature of 2016. She would be followed by #18 Nick Putman, #09 Jack Freese, #21 Andy Koczenasz.
The twenty car Melling Select Late Model field provided a four-wide salute to America and the TCMS fans by each carrying a large American flag and making two pace laps to the delight of the large crowd. Once the green flag dropped for the 25-lap feature, front row starters #16 Mike Staszak and Silver Bullet Speedway’s Locked and Loaded winner #03 JC Witherspoon would challenge each other for the top spot over the opening eight laps. While they were taking turns as leaders, former track champion #0x Zack Olger was moving from his tenth place starting position and used the bottom line to make the final pass for the lead. Olger was welcomed back by the crowd as he pulled into Victory Lane for the first time this season. Ohio driver #6* Grahm came from the 19th place starting spot to claim second over point leader #19 Derrick Hilliker, #0p Kris Patterson Jr., and #4t Andrew Terrill, #11k Ryan Lanphierd, #24p Joe Pomeroy, #21 David Hilliker, #14 Tyler Norton, and #21s Steven Hilliker claimed top ten finishing spots. #24 Alex Hupert would win the opening 4-car dash. Heat gold belonged to #76 Torrey Ahrens, and Witherspoon.
The Main Street Seed and Supply IMCA modified feature was loaded with drama and excitement as #20w AJ Ward would be forced to start nineteenth in the 20-car field for the twenty lap Mid-Season Championship feature event. Father and son combination of #776 Rusty Zeigler and #776k Ken Zeigler won their heats and would lead the field to the green flag of the money event. Rusty would spin in turn one and collect a number of competitors. The incident would send the #776 to the pits for the remainder of the event. Once back to the green flag, Ken would be challenged on lap four by #615 Chad Wernette. Wernette would continue to lead until lap 13 when a broken left front wheel would cause him to spin and bring out the caution flag. With Wernette having to go to the pits, the lead was handed over to Clio Driver #33 Todd Matheson. Matheson’s lead would be short lived as Ward, who was on a mission after an earlier heat incident, would pull the slide job on Matheson in turn four of lap 14. Ward would go unchallenged for the final five laps to capture his eighth feature in eight starts. Defending champion, #7d Myron DeYoung would beat Matheson to the checkered flag for a runner up finish with #42 Craig Vance in fourth followed by #4s Toby Steele rounding out the top five. Ward would also win the four-car dash earlier in the evening along with Ken and Rusty Zeigler taking the checkered in their heat races.
71 Timmy Near in the Elgin Pro Stock division has been on a hot streak over the past few weeks as he has been racking up feature wins. He made a strong statement by winning his heat race. However, another young gun with a feature win in 2016 #K11 Kendall Morrison would also show his dominance early with a heat race win of his own. With both drivers starting the 20-lap feature in the middle of the 16-car field, all eyes were on those two once the green flag was dropped. #91 Gary Shank would lead the first lap, but on the second lap Morrison found him as the new leader. Near would get to the second position, but battling with #14 Nate Jones for that position allowed for Morrison to pull away for the easy victory. Near, Jones, #57 TJ Gilbert, and #27 Rob Westergard crossed the finish line within the top five. #69 Nate Murphy, #99 Rick Beauchamp, #01 Randy Radabaugh, Shank, and #28 Jared Rizer were the top ten. #21d Darren Mularz took home the dash win.
The Suspension MAXX Street Stock Feature was a barn-burner. Heat race winner #50 Jake Thompson, as he has a majority of the season, started on the pole of the feature event and would lead the opening eleven laps. On lap twelve, tenth place starter #57 TJ Gilbert would wrestle the lead away from Thompson. With three laps to go, sparks would erupt from the left front wheel of Gilbert’s car. Gilbert would attempt to run to the finish with only three functioning wheels, but the ball joint would eventually snap completely sending Gilbert spinning on the backstretch ending his night just two laps shy of the finish. With Gilbert out, this handed the lead over to #X5 Eric Lake. Lake would keep control at the front to pull off his third victory of the season. Thompson would hold on to second with #67 Ryan Fitzgerald, heat race winner #96 Shane Wright, dash winner #3 Mitch Clements rounding out the top five at the finish. They were followed by #11 Jimmy Jaenicke, #7r Kevin Newcomb, #31 Bob Robinson, #80 Aaron Mieske, and #85 Al Spiekerman.
This Friday, join us for the second race of the three-part Figure-Eight series. Who will conquer the intersection 40 times in the 20-lap feature?? In addition, the Melling Select Late Models will be racing a special 51-lap feature. The entire night is sponsored by Midland Steel! Grandstand Admission is $14 for adults, 55 and better $13, 7-15 yr olds $5, and those under 6 get in for absolutely free. No need to wait in line on race day! Save yourself from waiting in line and order your tickets online at www.tricityracetrack.com . Free rustic camping is also available!!!
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