Intriguing might be one way to describe the full moon night last Saturday at Auto City Speedway. Hot may be another. It was Mad Truck Madness and also Michigan Automobile Racing Fan Club Night (MARFC). The day had already made the track hot and slick, plus add in some of that good old Michigan humidity to make things even a bit more challenging.

Qualifying started the evening off. First up were the Muffler Man All American Trucks (i.e. ATT) and out of the nineteen trucks on hand, it was Josh Delong getting fast time with a 17.50. That was just the beginning for the #067 truck this night. The Herald Pure Stocks were next up and out of the fifteen competitors that were there, it was an actual ‘tie’ for the top spot, but Michael Hayes #12 (which was actually James Clayton’s #54 car as they swapped for the evening) got the fast time first, so he was awarded fast time with a 16.25 over Chad Lamson (#888) who tied him, but qualified after Hayes. In the Modified division, it was David McManus (#7) getting fast time.

The ATT 8 lap heat races started the racing portion of the program and it was Greggy Long (#38 and son of Greg Long #21) getting his first ever win at Auto City Speedway. In the second heat, it was Jason Grissom (#224) getting the win and in the third heat race is was fast qualifier, Josh Delong crossing the finish line first.

The Herald Pure Stocks 8 lap heat races were next and driving a newly acquired race car after his was destroyed last time out, it was Tim Kirby (#81) getting the win. The second heat race went to Chad Lamson (#888).

The Mods hit the track next and it was the Donnie Matteson (#12) getting the checkers on his first time out at Auto City this season as a driver.

The Lipstick Ladies hit the track next and it was points leader, Barb Boone (#66) getting yet another win this season over previous division champion, Amanda Clayton (#53).

Next on the schedule were the feature races, starting with the Muffler Man All American Trucks. One note would be, fast qualifier Josh Delong had to start in the sixteenth position per an inversion that was set at the beginning of the night. When the green flag flew, it was a first time racer, but third generation driver, Dan Shamel (#47) getting the early lead followed by Brian Dougherty (#327), Greggy Long (#38) and Josh Shaw (#J23). At about the halfway point, it was Greggy Long taking the lead from Shamel. As the laps clicked down, the likes of Zack Lopez (#18), Paul Rigda (#43) and Delong started to make their presence known. By lap twenty-two, it was Delong in the lead followed by Long, Rigda, Lopez and Randy Clayton Jr. (#25). When the checkered flew, it was Delong for the win. Honorable mention goes out to Nate Rowe (#0) who jumped in a spare truck Greg Long had to join the racing. It was “Rowdy” Nate’s first time back behind the wheel this year and in the borrowed truck.

The Herald Pure Stocks 30 lap feature was now on tap and it was John Puckett (#51) and Rick Smith (#98) leading the fifteen competitors to the green. Puckett got the early lead but was short lived as he spun in turn two which brought out a yellow. Once the racing was back underway, it was Smith jumping to the lead with James (J.T.) Clayton (#54, which was Michael Hayes #12 car as they had swapped for the night) in tow. By lap four, J.T. Clayton was leading the way with Chad Lamson, Smith, Bruce Dunton Jr. (#19) and Andrea Baxter (#5) who was making her first appearance in the 2021 season with a newly built car, all following. Lamson did get around J.T. for the lead as at the same time, Dunton and Baxter were still in the mix, but it was Michael Hayes now joining the top five. (NOTE: at the drop of the green, Hayes and Dunton were tied for the top spot in points). About lap ten, the red flag was thrown due to fluid on the track. Once back to racing action, it was J.T and Lamson going back and forth battling for the lead. With only ten laps to go, it was Lamson who had a substantial lead, but ended up with a tire going down and started to fade back. Which gave Dunton the lead, who by the way, had a cut tire earlier and had to start from the back of the pack and work his way up. When the checkered flew, it was Duton, J.T. and Baxter respectfully.

The Modifieds hit the track next and it was the yellow machine of Dave McManus (#7) getting the win over late arrival Travis Eddy (#78) who tried every lane to get around McManus, but had to settle for second. It was Dave’s first feature win this year at Auto City, but he did have some momentum as he just was coming off a feature win from the night before at Birch Run.

Some of the Michigan Automobile Racing Fan Club board members were there as it was MARFC Fan Club Night. They did a special presentation to a former late model racer, but also an Auto City Speedway family member of over 20 years, as it was a unanimous vote for Kenny Pfaff to receive the MARFC utility bag from the members of John Jackson, Dave Howe and Nancy May.

Spectator Drags were also on the schedule and it was Anthony Richardson in his “Monster Diesel” getting the victory.

Next up was a “best looking truck” contest and it was Josh Delong’s ATT truck getting the fan vote.

The 20 lap Flag Pole race was now set and from the drop of the green, it was Anthony Richardson (#422) jumping to the early lead. Delong in his Max D truck was trying to run Richardson down and actually did as Richardson’s truck quit on him for a bit and Delong got by him. Richardson did get back going and was trying to reel Delong back in, but the laps ran out and it was again, Josh Delong getting yet another win.

The new division called the “City 6 Cylinders” were appearing this race night as well. When the green dropped, it was Emily Clayton (#2) jumping to the lead. As the laps counted down, it was Cameron Delong’s “Lighting McQueen’s” look-a-like (#95) getting past her for the top spot. As Emily started getting pressure from Silas Mccaslin (#12) and Cienna Snover (#32), it made for a good battle for the second spot and at the finish line it was Snover getting the position by about a foot over Clayton.

The last race of the night was the Auto City Figure 8’s and Chad Lamson started on the pole after they drew for starting positions earlier in the night. Well, that was all she wrote for the rest of the field as Lamson took the win over Tony Williams (#97) and Delong’s Max D (#067). Lamson almost made it a “clean sweep” kind of night as tied for fast qualifier was the only trip up.

Next Saturday, August 28^th, the Mudslinger for the Outlaw Super Late Models with 100 laps of racing plus the Herald Pure Stocks, ATT, Mod’s and Auto City Figure 8’s.

All the action starts at 7:00pm. Check out all the details on upcoming events at www.autocityspeedway.com and “We’ll See You at the City”.