6/6/2021
Merritt Speedway
Loren Short Wins on Factory Stock Night for $2000 payday
It was “Factory Stock” night this past Saturday at the Merritt Speedway. The Thirlby Automotive Factory Stocks headlined the program racing for a $2000 to win special. The Soaring Eagle Casino UMP DIRTcar Late Models were on hand for a standard $3000 to win weekly show. The Cadillac Tire Center UMP DIRTcar Modifieds, Troll Smokehouse B-Modifieds, XLT Engineering Four & Six Cylinders, and Allstar Performance Mini-Wedges completed the full racing program.
The night began with the running of the Allstar Performance Mini-Wedges. The restricted division was out first. Alexis Bowen would earn her first feature win finishing in front of Tucker Warner, and Colten Bowen who completed the podium. Bowen also won the heat race. The Un-Restricted division would see Preston Mieske win his first of the year. Keeton Cade finished second, and Aaron McQueen rounded out the top three. Cade won the heat.
Joe Rokos and 5-time track champion Brent Banning led out the Cadillac Tire Center UMP DIRTcar Modifieds for their 25-lap feature event. Once the green flag waved Rokos stormed off with the early race advantage. Rokos would hold the lead until lap 5 when he would make contact with a lapped car, and the resulting damage would end his night. Wyatt Baker would take over the lead from there. Baker would lead all the way through to the final circuit. However, entering the front straightaway coming to the checkered flag 3-time track champion Chad Bauer would go side by side with Baker and manage to pull ahead to take the win. This was the second win of the season for Bauer, the native of Farwell, Michigan in his #19. Baker had to settle for second. Caleb Kill, Brian Brindley, and Banning completed the top five. Brindley and Baker won the preliminary heat races.
The Troll Smokehouse B-Modifieds hit the racing surface next for their 20-lap main. Chase Rosebrugh and Jeremy Wood started the race from the front row. Rosebrugh would grab the lead after the race began, trying to put as much distance between he and the rest of the field. Things would change on lap 11 when Scott Payton would pull off the pass for the lead. Payton would go on from there to pick up the win. Payton, the Gaylord, Michigan native scored his first win of the season in his #711. Rosebrugh would take second. Collin Thirlby, 18-year old Austin Harnick, and Kevin Miller finished out the top five. Mike Shanteau and Harnick won the heats.
The Soaring Eagle Casino UMP DIRTcar Late Models rolled onto the racing surface for their 30-lap A-Main. Michigan Motorsports Hall of Famer Steve Hilliker and Ryan Lanphierd brought the field to the green flag. Hillliker took the top spot early as everyone hustled for the best position they could get. On lap 4 a hard charging Cody Bauer would blast out in front of the field and take over the lead. That would be the last necessary move for Bauer as he led the rest of the event leading to him getting the win. This was the first win of the year for Bauer, the Farwell, Michigan native in his #19x. 2-time track champion David Mielke finished second. Lanphierd, Mike Vandermark Jr., and Andrew Terrill capped off the top five. The heat race victories went to Lanphierd and Terrill.
The XLT Engineering Four & Six Cylinders hit the speedway for a 15-lap feature event brought out by a front row consisting of Chad Freeman and William Withrow. Freeman would jump out in front early as the rest of the field jockeyed for positions behind him. Freeman would manage to lead the entire event from start to finish. Freeman, the native of Prescott, Michigan earned his second win of the year in his #88. Herb Freeman finished as the runner up. Cody Steinly, 15-year-old Clay Lachcik, and Brad Wassman rounded out the top five finishers. 2019-track champion Cheyanne Emery won the last chance qualifier. Herb Freeman, Allen Oyer, and Lachcik won the heat races.
The final feature of the night was the $2000 to win feature for the Thirlby Automotive Factory Stocks. The 25-lap main was led out by 2016-track champion Jim Miller Jr. and Ryan Nethers. Miller would take the early lead at the start. However, Nethers was able to pass for the lead on lap 4. Nethers would remain there until lap 22 when he would be involved in a caution which sent him to the rear. This gave the lead over to Loren Short who took over from there and went on to capture the win. This was the first win of the season for Short who calls Clio, Michigan home behind the wheel of his #3. Scott Smith would finish second. Miller, Dean Rake, and Eric Lake completed the top five. Lake, Josh Knoll, and Smith won the heat races.
The Merritt Speedway will return this Saturday, June 12th for “Pro Stock” night where the Auto Value Pro Stocks will race for a $2000 to win special. They will be joined by the Soaring Eagle Casino UMP Late Models, Cadillac Tire Center UMP Modifieds, Troll Smokehouse B-Modifieds, XLT Engineering Four & Six Cylinders, and Allstar Performance Mini-Wedges. Stay Tuned to the Merritt Speedway Facebook page for all of the latest updates and information.
Photo Credit: Randy Ellen
Article Credit: Brian Osborne
Submitted By: Justin Sharp
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