6/28/2014
Winston Speedway
Gladwin, Michigan Driver David Mielke Outlasts Field to Win Dirt Cup at Winston
Rothbury, Michigan (Saturday, June 28th, 2014): The Allstar Performance Michigan Dirt Cup Modified Tour Presented by Lane Automotive headlined the full 7 in 1 show at the fast 3/8ths (0.375) mile dirt oval of the Winston Speedway in Rothbury, Michigan. The Flint, Michigan based series made their second and final visit of the season competing in their fifth event of the year. Also on the show were the UMP DIRTcar Late Models, UMP DIRTcar Street Stocks, Factory Stocks/Bombers, Four-Cylinder Mini Stocks, Four-Cylinder Warriors, and Young Guns.
The Factory Stocks / Bombers were the first main event feature to hit the racing surface for a 15-lap A-Main. Nate Trick and Jerid Bisson led the field to green. Bisson took the lead in the early going. However in when the laps were winding down, 2012 track champion Josh Sternberg made the power move for the lead and was able to cross the line first for the win.
Sternberg a native of Muskegon, Michigan scored the victory in the Stern’s Towing #83. Bisson was forced to settle for second. Bob Erickson, Dan Wilson Jr., and Defending track champion Robbie Sternberg rounded out the top five. Robbie Sternberg and Josh Grabe were the heat winners.
The defending Michigan Dirt Cup Tour Champion David Mielke and two time tour champion Jacob Poel led out the 35-lap Allstar Performance Michigan Dirt Tour feature. Once the green flag dropped, Mielke jumped out front with the lead. The only challenge he would deal with would be from Poel who tried everything he could do, but there was no stopping Mielke as he held his line and ran the entire race from green to checker to pick up the win.
Mielke the 22-year old from Gladwin, Michigan scored his sixth win of the year at Winston Speedway in the Krompetz Elevators / Rocket by Ruhlman Racecar #87. Poel took the second place finish. Travis Stemler, Collin Thirlby, and Bob Baldwin finished the top five. The B-Main winner was Taylor Wiles. The preliminary heat races were taken by Mark Anderson, Jeff Erickson Jr., and Steve McClees.
The Four-Cylinder Warriors held their 12-lap main event. The front row consisted of Mindi Holy and Melissa Sprague. The green flag waved and everyone began fighting for position. The opening lap would be led by Sprague. However Gary Larabee was the hard charger of the field weaving his way through the traffic after staring seventh until he eventually found himself in the lead and would go from there to get the win.
This was the 33-year old Muskegon, Michigan native’s fourth feature win of the season in the ASAP Towing / Dodge #14. He finished just ahead of his brother Randy Larabee who finished second. Mike Goodwin, Buck Spencer, and Sprague made up the top five. Goodwin was the winner of the lone heat race.
The UMP DIRTcar Late Models made their way out onto track for a 25-lap feature. Two time track champion Tom Sprague Jr. and Tim Stott were on the front row. Sprague would take off with the lead early, but he would soon be caught by Eric Spangler who took the lead away on lap 2. Then on lap 3, the six time and defending track champion Rich Neiser powered his way passed Spangler for the lead, and was able to put some distance between himself and the rest of the field sailing on to victory lane.
The 44-year old Neiser from Fruitport, Michigan won his third feature event in the Baker Engineering / Mastersbilt Racecar. The 2012 UMP DIRTcar Michigan State Champion Brandon Thirlby finished as the runner up. Dona Marcoullier, Spangler, and Sprague capped off the top five. Alan Vochaska and Dona Marcoullier won the heats.
Don McNabb and Steve Oudsema led out the 20-lap feature event for the UMP DIRTcar Street Stocks. After the green flag was in the air, the defending UMP DIRTcar Stock Car National Champion Josh Frye jumped out with the lead. He was able to hold his position until lap 7, when on a restart Derek Poland was able to draw up alongside Frye and overtake him for the top spot, and he would not look back from there as Poland would be the driver making the trip to the winners circle.
This was the third win of the year for the 58-year old Muskegon, Michigan driver of the Arizona Charlie’s Truck & Auto Sales / Chevrolet. Frye finished in the second position. Defending track champion Sadie Klein, Jeremy Holman, and Chuck Smith rounded out the top five. Mike Epplett and Holman won the heats.
The Young Guns held a 10-lap feature race. Hedi Barnhard and Madison Crane were on the front row. However it did not take long for Trent Musk to work his way to the front after starting fourth. Musk was able to gain a healthy lead and go home as the big winner.
This was the 14-year old Muskegon, Michigan native’s eighth win of the season in the Wylie Electric / Honda. Morgan Smith was second. Kristina Johnson, Madison Crane, and Chelsey Allen finished in the top five. The lone heat race was won by Smith.
Finally, the Four-Cylinder Mini Stocks hit the speedway for their 12-lap main event. The field was led out by Chad Tomczak and Brian Carson. Once the race began it would be 2011 track champion Paul Namey working his way by both Carson and Tomczak leaving them to battle for the second position and would cruise on to see the checkered flag.
Namey the 56-year old from Ada, Michigan drove his River City Motor Sales / Honda #74 to victory lane for the sixth time of the season. Carson took second. Tomczak, and Bob Halberstadt completed the field. The lone heat race was also won by Namey.
This Saturday July 5th The Winston Speedway will be featuring another full 7 in 1 show headlined by the Tim Epplett memorial for the Factory Stocks / Bombers paying $500 to win presented by Holminator Chassis. The program will also feature racing action from the UMP DIRTcar Late Models, UMP DIRTcar Modifieds, UMP DIRTcar Street Stocks, Four-Cylinder Mini Stocks, Four-Cylinder Warriors, and Young Guns. The fans will also be treated to a spectacular fireworks show as well to celebrate the fourth of July holiday weekend. 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