9/4/2016
Tri-City Motor Speedway
Race Results from 9/2/2016
09/02/2016 Northwood University International Auto Show/ Season Championship Feature Winners
Melling Select Late Model: #6m Dona Marcoullier
Main Street Seed and Supply IMCA Modified: #20W AJ Ward
Thornton Brother’s Septic Service Bomber Stocks: #18 Nick Putman
Elgin Pro Stocks: #x88 Eric Lake
Suspension MAXX Street Stocks: #67 Ryan Fitzgerald
Walker’s Ideal Trophies Mini Wedge: #7 Johnny Staszak
2016 Track Champions
Melling Select Late Model: #4t Andrew Terrill
Main Street Seed and Supply IMCA Modified: #20W AJ Ward
Thornton Brother’s Septic Service Bomber Stocks: #13 Preston DeShano
Elgin Pro Stocks: #14 Nate Jones
Suspension MAXX Street Stocks: #96 Shane Wright
Walker’s Ideal Trophies Mini Wedge: #7 Jonny Staszak
Terrill, Jones, Wright, Staszak, DeShano, Ward Capture 2016 Championships at TCMS
9/02/2016 (Auburn MI) The 2016 race season which started in mid April came to an exciting regular season conclusion Friday night at Tri-City Motor Speedway with the season championship. Just over 100 competitors were on hand to try to squeeze a final victory to end their long point season and to determine who would walk away with the title of “2016 TCMS Season Champion”. The evening’s entertainment was sponsored by the Northwood University International Auto Show.
The Ideal Trophies Mini Wedge class point battle came down to a battle between #7 Johnny Staszak and #3 Mason Clements. Jonny would start the night by winning the dash and the heat. In the feature, Staszak and Clements would start alongside each other for the start of the 15-lap affair. Immediately, Staszak would shoot to the lead and dominate by leading all 15 laps. The win would clinch the Championship for the young man who plans on moving to the Bomber Stock division in 2017. Clements would finish a distant second ahead of #100m Lyla Mann and #36 Jennifer Young.
The Thornton Brother’s Septic Service Bomber Stock division had three drivers with the opportunity to be the 2016 Champion. #77 Stacie Staszak, #18 Nick Putman, and #13 Preston Deshano all were within 2 points of one another heading into the final event of the season. #77 Staszak would capture the opening dash while Putman won the heat race. At the drop of the green flag to start the 15-lap main event, #09 Jack Freese, Putman, and Staszak would go three wide out of turn two which would force Staszak off the track causing her to fall out of the lead group. Putman would take over the lead with Deshano on his back bumper. The two would pull away from the field to settle the finish amongst them. Putman would pick the right line around the lapped car of #83 Zack Essex to open up a large enough cushion for him to cruise to his fifth victory of the season. Deshano would finish in the runner up spot but was enough for him to capture the 2016 Championship. Freese, Staszak, #21 Andy Koczenasz, and Essex would be the final finishing order. Deshano also announced that he would be taking his talents to the modified division for 2017.
The Melling Select Late Model point leader #4t Andrew Terrill just needed to start the 30-lap feature in order to capture his first track championship in just his second year behind the wheel of a Late Model. With 19 cars checking in, his A-main start was ensured. With the pressure of needing to point race, he was free to run his type of race. #19 Derrick Hilliker would start the evening by capturing the 4-car dash. Heats were won by #16 Mike Staszak and #6r Carl Ries. #75 Rod Laney would lead the opening four laps in the feature event before Hilliker and #3 Kyle Roberts would battle for the lead. Hilliker would clear Roberts and lead up until lap 13 when 10th place starter #6m Dona Marcoullier would pull the perfect slide job to capture the lead and, eventually the win. Marcoullier has been unbeaten in all of his appearances in 2016 which also included the American Ethanol win in late August. #4x Kevin Reeve would finish in the runner-up spot from his 15th place start. Third place went to Zack Olger, who would overcome a poor heat race finish that put him in the 18th place starting position. The rest of the top ten feature finishers were Roberts, Hilliker, #14 Tyler Norton, Ries, #21s Steven Hilliker, and #24 Alex Hupert.
In the Main Street Seed and Supply IMCA Modified division, all point leader #20w AJ Ward needed to do was start the main event to be crowned the 2016 Champion. He put away any doubts early by winning the dash and his heat race. #33 Todd Matheson and #776k Ken Zeigler would win their heat races. #D42 Don Sautter took full advantage of his front row start by leading the start of the feature. Ward quickly took over the lead on lap four by running the middle groove from his 12th place starting position. He would absolutely decimate the field by winning his 13th feature by nearly a half-lap ahead of his nearest competitor and put an exclamation point on a dominant year for the Ionia native. He was followed to the finish by #511 Chaz Pray, #7d Myron DeYoung, #27 Matt Szecsodi, #42 Craig Vance, #19 Joe Fowler, Zeigler, #71 Brenten DeYoung, #19jr Kody Johnson, and #4s Toby Steele.
14 Nate Jones had started the 2016 season on a tear in the Elgin Pro Stock Division. However, a rough second half, which included a blown motor, and a strong run by rookie #57 TJ Gilbert made the point chase quite interesting. Gilbert took the point lead a couple weeks prior, but a mechanical issue last week kept Gilbert out of the feature and allowed Jones to take a seven point advantage into the final night of the regular season. Gilbert would make a statement early by winning the four-car dash. Heat races were won by #x88 Eric Lake and #44 Jeff Haley. Both Gilbert and Jones would start mid pack. Jones needed to finish sixth place or higher to claim his first TCMS championship. Outside pole sitter #x88 Eric Lake would take the lead on the initial lap and led all 25 laps to win his first ever pro stock feature. He was able to hold on through numerous cautions and strong challenges from runner-up #G18 Chad Bieri and third place finisher Gilbert. Jones would end up finishing fourth and secured the 2016 Championship. Rookie #9 Marc Super, #69 Nate Murphy, Haley, #93 John Robbins, #28 Jared Rizer, and #01 Randy Radabaugh completed the top ten.
31 Suspension MAXX Street Stocks checked into the pits on Friday night in hopes of being one of the 20 that would start the main event. It proved to be a tough night for many competitors within the top ten in points to make the show. #96 Shane Wright had nothing to worry about as no one had a mathematical chance to challenge him for the Championship. #67 Ryan Fitzgerald would start the evening by winning the dash. Qualifying heat races were won by #21e Dan Engel, #15.2 Robert Cunningham, and #65 Rick Spencer. #17 David Doty was the B-main winner. #7k Dan Krause Jr looked to be the class of the field early in the 25-lap main event. Leading the first four laps, Krause was overtaken by Fitzgerald in turn four. Fitzgerald, who has been winless in five years of trying, rode the rim of the racetrack. Behind him, he felt numerous challenges from #50 Jake Thompson, Krause, Doty, and Spencer. Spencer would cause a caution sending him to the back of the field at the midpoint of the race. However, he would once again get to the front of the field in the caution-riddled event. It looked as if Spencer was poised to take over the top spot with less than two laps remaining before a rear axle started to fail shower the rear of his car with sparks. This allowed Fitzgerald to hold on for a very emotional first ever win. He was followed by Thompson, Doty, Krause Jr, Cunningham, Engel, #73 Don Stuck, Wright, Spencer, and #7r Kevin Newcomb.
Next weekend will conclude the 2016 race season with the 6th annual Battle By The Bay. Drivers from around Michigan will be part of the two day show. Friday Night’s action will include a full show for the Winged Outlaw Late Models. Other events on Friday will include heat races and Friday Night specials for Street Stocks, Pro Stocks, Front Wheel Drive Bomber Stocks, and IMCA Modifieds with racing starting at 7:55. Saturday’s racing will start at 6:55 with a full show for the Late Models along with last chance races and features for the previously mentioned support divisions. Get two night of racing for just $25 for adult admission, Kids 7-15 years of age just $8. Kids 6 and under get in absolutely free (individual day passes also available). Detailed information about this event can be found on www.tricityracetrack.com. There is no need to wait in line on race day to get your ticket! Save yourself time and preorder your tickets online now at www.tricityracetrack.com . Plenty of free rustic camping is also available!!!
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