9/14/2014
Cherry Raceway
CHERRY RACEWAY ENDS SEASON WITH AUTO VALUE CHAMPIONSHIP NIGHT
Fife Lake, Michigan (Saturday September 13th, 2014): It was Auto Value season championship night at the fast 3/8ths (0.375) mile high banked dirt oval of Cherry Raceway located just southeast of Traverse City in Fife Lake, Michigan. The show was headlined by the Auto Value UMP DIRTcar Late Models and the UMP DIRTcar Modifieds. The Hirams Lightning Sprints, Stock Cars, Factory Stocks, Four-Cylinder Warriors, and Crossroads Chevrolet Compacts were all in action as well.
The Factory Stocks were the first class to hit the race track for their 15-lap feature event. Peni LaLonde and Richard Cebula Jr were on the front row. Cebula took the lead in the early going. He was able to hold that spot until lap 11 when he would be passed by Dan Wireman who would eventually turn out to be the winner.
This was the second win of the year for the 42-year old driver of the Ace’s Exteriors / Chevrolet. Cebula had to settle for the second place finish. 2011 track champion Emery Smith, Peni LaLonde and Robert Hittle rounded out the top five. The heat race win went to Cebula.
The Four-Cylinder Warriors were out next for a 20-lap feature. Jeremy Wood and the defending track champion Andrew Austin started at the front of the field. The green flag waved and Austin jumped out front with the lead. He would prove to never have to look back from there as he would lead the entire event from start to finish and pick up the win.
This was the 30-year old Manton, Michigan native’s sixth victory of the year in the A&W Racing / Chevrolet. Bob Wood was the second place finisher. Jeremy Wood, Arlie Cooper, and 17-year old Jackson White made up the top five. Alicia Kniss picked up the heat win.
The 20-lap A-Main for the UMP DIRTcar Modifieds hit the track led out by the 2011 track champion Joe Rokos and two time track champion Larry Cade led the field down to the green flag. Rokos wasted no time in taking the lead after the opening lap. That would be the all he would have to do as he was able to lead all the way to the checkered flag.
The 32-year old from Interlochen picks up his fourth win of the year in the Gilboe’s Lock & Safe / Rocket by Ruhlman Racecar. Cade finished second. Darrell Lehn, Tony Gokey, and Jerry Kent finished off the top five. Rokos was also the heat winner.
The Crossroads Chevrolet Compacts were led out by the 2012 track champion 15-year old Chris Casey and 17-year old Calvin Ingleston. Ingleston was able to take the lead off the start. However on lap 6 the lead would go to Casey who would go on to take home the checkered flag.
This was the third win of the year for the Williamsburg, Michigan driver in the Wilson Plumbing / Mercury. 2011 track champion 15-year old Autumn Beeman finished in the second position. 12-year old Andrea Taghon, Dylan Roush and 13-year old Amber Beeman capped off the top five. Beeman won the lone heat race.
The 20-lap Stock Car feature was out next led by the front row of Kevin Newberry and Joe Fisher. The opening of the race would see Newberry take the advantage. That would be all he would have to do, as Newberry went on to lead the entire event to get the win going all the way from green to checker.
This was the eighth win of the year for the 49-year old Gaylord, Michigan driver of the Diamond Performance / Chevrolet. Rick Spencer was the runner up finisher. Two time & defending track champion Allen Oyer , Jim Durga, and Jeremiah Woebbeking rounded out the top five. Newberry and Spencer were the heat winners.
The Auto Value UMP DIRTcar Late Models made their way out for the running of their 25-lap A-Main. Five time track champion Eric Spanger and Scott Phillips led the field down to chief starter Steve Sherwood’s green flag. Spangler took the early advantage while everyone battled for position behind him and he would end up going unchallenged leading all the way from start to finish picking up the win.
This was the ninth victory of the season for the 45-year old Lake City, Michigan native, driving the Spangler Heating & Cooling / Mastersbilt Racecar. 2010 track champion Greg Gokey finished second. Phillips, J.T. Anderson, and 18-year old Andy Nickerson III completed the top five. Spangler and Dave Bowen were the heat winners.
Finally, the Hirams Lighting Sprints battled in a 20-lap feature event. Justin Ward and Josh Ward were on the front row. After completing the first circuit it would be Josh Ward leading the way. There would be no stopping him from leading the entire show from start to finish.
The Benzonia, Michigan driver picked up his second win of the season finishing just ahead of his brother Justin Ward who took second. Mack Erickson, Randy Plamondon, and Chuck Erickson made up the top five. Mack Erickson and 12-year old Michael Loberda won the heats.
Cherry Raceway is located at: 8649 East M-113 in Fife Lake, Michigan. For more information, please call: 1-(231)-468-1477. Don’t forget to check out the track website at: www.cherryraceway.com you can also follow us on Facebook by going to: www.facebook.com/cherryraceway and clicking on the “Like” button as well as on Twitter by going to: www.twitter.com/cherryraceway
Submitted By: Anthony Boyd