6/19/2015
Cherry Raceway
Joe Fisher Not to be Denied during Tom Fisher Memorial Event
Former racer, fan, pit crew member and mentor, Tom “Pops” Fisher was honored this past Friday at Cherry Raceway. Tom started racing in the early 60’s at the Cadillac Fairgrounds, raced at M-113 Raceway, Merritt Speedway and up until this past off season has been instrumental in the racing programs of Joe Fisher, Scotty Fisher (grandson) and Steve Zakrajsek. God Speed “Pops”, your memory lives on at Cherry Raceway.
The night of activities would get started as drivers in all classes lined up on the front stretch for Fan Appreciation night. Fans flocked from their seats to get a close up look at the race cars and meet their favorite drivers. Drivers greeted them with treats for the kids, photos, hero cards and autographs. Jacques Julin, driver of the #5 UMP Late Model gave away a brand new bicycle to one lucky girl in a free raffle drawing for kids 12 and under.
Now to the race action as 19 Stock Cars entered the special Tom Fisher Memorial event. Heat race action would get underway with TJ Erickson taking the checkers in heat #1 followed by Mike Babcock and Jeff Chalker. In the second heat the caution would fly with one lap to go putting Joe Fisher on the inside of the front row for the restart and hopes of a good finish and starting position for the 30 lap feature coming later in the night. As the green flag waved Fishers car stalled out with Chris Casey taking the win over Allen Oyer and Jeremiah Woebbeking. Fisher would get a push to the pits were friends and competitors alike were waiting to see what they could do help the #3 get back into the action. Once in the pits it was determined that the distributer gear had stripped and son Scotty headed to the shop to get a replacement and oil while Dan Wilson headed home to get a backup car if needed. By feature time all repairs were completed and Joe was ready for the challenge starting 18th on the field. As the green flag flew on the 30 lap feature, John Gilde took the early lead with Jeremiah Woebbeking and Peni LaLonde in hot pursuit. Woebbeking would take the lead on lap 2. Caution would fly on lap #4 and after several restart attempts the field was shortened by several cars. Back under green Woebbeking would continue to lead until TJ Erickson took over the point on lap #7. With caution flying several times on laps 8-10, Erickson would keep the lead but Joe Fisher now found himself in the runner-up spot. For the next 10 laps, Fisher and Erickson would swap the lead back and forth when on lap #21 as Fisher was taking the lead back from Erickson, TJ suffered and broken rear axle and turned down to the infield ending his bid for the win. Joe Fisher drove on to take the checkers and celebrate a very emotional victory with family and friends in the winners circle. Mike Babcock rallied from a late race caution that put him to the rear of the field to finish second followed by Jeff Chalker, Chris Casey, Peni LaLonde, John Gilde, Derrick Beard, Thomas Poley, Brad Siddall and TJ Erickson.
In the Warrior Division, Jackson White scored the heat race win Jim Luhtanen and Arlie Cooper Jr. In the main event, Andrew Austin took the lead from the outside pole with Travis Skaggs and Arlie Cooper Jr. glued to his tail. As the laps wound down, Skaggs suffered mechanical issues and dropped from competition leaving Arlie Cooper Jr. and 2 time feature winner, Jackson White in a battle for the runner up spot. White took over the second spot with three laps to go but was unable to run down the leader. Andrew Austin picked up his first win of the 2015 season over Jackson White, Arlie Cooper Jr., Jim Luhtanen, Travis Skaggs and Andrew Lindsey.
Dalton Bouschor took the win in Young Gus heat race action finishing ahead of Andrea Taghon and Autumn Beeman. In the feature race, Autumn Beeman took the lead from early race leader, Dylan Roush on lap #3 bringing Andrea Taghon along with her into second. Beeman and Taghon battled for the lead but in the end, Autumn prevailed with her third win of the year. It was an all-female podium with Andrea Taghon and Amber Beeman finishing 2nd and 3rd. Dylan Roush, Hunter Hamilton and Dalton Bouschor rounded out the field.
In UMP Modified action, Joe Rokos took the heat race win over Scott Payton and Dennis Taghon. It wasn’t a large field of Mods for the feature but it sure was stacked with heavy hitters. Kory Maurice of Grant, MI would take the lead from inside the second row as the green flag flew on the 20 lap main event. For the next 19 laps, Ryan Steig, Scott Payton, Dennis Taghon and Joe Rokos would all take a crack at Maurice from the runner up spot with positions changing almost every lap. In the end it would take a last lap, 4th turn move from “Hot Rod” Joe Rokos to squeak out the win by just inches at the line. This would make Joe’s third feature race win on the 2015 season. Kory Maurice finished second followed by Scott Payton, Dennis Taghon, Kyle Novak and Ryan Steig.
Auto Value UMP Late Model action would kick off with Andy Nickerson III carrying the checkers in the first heat race followed by Nick Kurtz and Steve Nieuwenhuis. Victory in the second heat went to Greg Gokey over Adam Erickson and Jimmy Billett. In the 25 lap feature race, Jimmy Billett took the early lead with Adam Erickson taking over the top spot for laps 3-6, Erickson would bring out the caution after Billett had regained the lead on lap 7. On the restart, Greg Gokey took over the top spot with Derek Thebo now running a close second. Thebo would apply the pressure the remaining laps but never was able to get past the Liggett Trucking #1 of Gokey. Greg would drive on to score the win over Derek Thebo, Adam Erickson, Andy Nickerson III, Steve Nieuwenhuis, Jimmy Billett, JT Anderson, Autumn Beeman, Rob Lewis, Nick Kurtz and Jacques Julin.
Lightning Sprints were back in action at Cherry with Justin Ward scoring the win in heat #1 over Lindsey Erickson and Chuck Erickson. Mack Erickson led green to checker for the win in heat #2 followed by Josh Ward and Tim Mason. In the feature race, Josh Ward took the early lead from outside the front row with Mack Erickson applying the pressure in second place. Mack Erickson would take over the point on lap #4 only to have Josh Ward regain the lead on a restart after JT Anderson went for a wild ride off turn 3. JT was okay but his ride, not so much. Josh Ward would restart out front and lead the remaining laps to score his first win of the year at Cherry Raceway. Mack Erickson held on to finish second followed by Justin Ward, Tim Mason, Chuck Erickson, Lindsey Erickson, Paul Erickson, Bob Lenox, David Hall and JT Anderson.
Join us this Friday, June 26th for Hoosier Hat Night. First 100 paid adult admissions in the main grandstand receive a free Hoosier Tire Hat. Late Models, Lightning Sprints, Stock Cars, Warriors and Young Guns are on tap.
Article Credit: Alan Lardie
Submitted By: Michelle Stieg
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