8/21/2023
Auto City Speedway
Results August18th
uto City Speedway Results 8/18/2023
This past Friday night was a “Dominos Fast Friday” with a Talladega Nights Maximum Destruction theme. It also featured an autograph session. Plus, it was the fan club night for the Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club organization. An organization that supports many of Michigan’s local short tracks, both asphalt and dirt. Information about becoming a member can be found at www.marfc.org. Auto City really appreciates MARFC and being a part of the action as this was a rescheduled night for them from a previous rainout.
The MARFC always acknowledges a driver or someone from motorsports at each event and this night, it was Jim Cudd (driver of the #1 All American Truck) receiving the helmet bag. Unfortunately, Jim had just raced in the feature and his truck lost a right front tire and he was done for the night, but he got an awesome helmet bag and more on that feature as you read on.
As the crowd entered, qualifying got underway starting with the Red Apple Fireworks Front Wheel Drive (FWD) Warriors division and it was the buzzing #11j of Jason Jones getting fast time with a 16.38 with Troy Deuscher #83 a few ticks off with a 16.88.
In the All-American Trucks (AAT) division, it was the blue and white #47 of Dan Shamel getting the top spot with a 17.51 and Anthony Richardson’s #422 just missing the mark with a 17.52.
After the invocation and national anthem, the Red Apple Fireworks FWD Warriors were set to do battle in their twenty-lap feature. Leading them around to the green was Mike Schmidt #31 and Charlie Boone #70. By lap two, Jason Jones had shot out to the lead in commanding fashion, but a yellow came out on lap four to bunch the field up again. Once the green flew, it was Jones leading the way with Schmidt in second and Deuscher now up to third and Boone forth. As the early laps clicked off, the front four were distancing themselves from the rest of the pack. About lap nine, Deuscher developed an issue and took his ride to the pits.
Jones continued to extend his lead over Schmidt and Boone, but when the checkered flew, it was Jones for, yet another feature win this season, Boone did work his way by Schmidt for second.
Being the A series and B series are run together in the feature, it was a new name and first-time winner for the B series as Cody Lurak took the top spot there in his white #10.
The All-American Truck series was next for their thirty-lap feature, and it was the #55 of Anthony Duvernois and the #51 of Rickey Bobby, oops, I mean Rickey Gillett leading them around to green.
Early leader was Gillett, followed by Duvernois, Zack Lopez #18, Anthony Richardson #422 and Jason Grissom #224.
By lap four, Richardson had made his way up to second and Duvernois spun in turn two, which brought out a caution. On the restart, Richardson jumped to the lead. By lap six, fast qualifier Dan Shamel #47 had worked his way up to second trying to run down Richardson. On lap twelve, as was mentioned in the intro, Jim Cudd lost his right front wheel creating another caution to remove his truck.
Once the green was back out, Richardson took off without looking back and as he bobbed and weaved through lapped traffic, Shamel was doing the same to try and catch up, but Richardson’s truck was on rails and got him the feature win. Following Richardson was Shamel, Brian Dougherty #22, Gillett and Lopez respectively.
The ten lap Boat Race was next and as the boat became dislodged from vehicles and the water flew, it was Jason Dvorscak #67 keeping his boat attached his very first win at Auto City. A sidenote, Richardson in his silver #422 was leading but got entangled with another competitor and eventually lost his boat putting him out of competition.
The ten lap Draggin Race was now set and this time, Richardson did keep the tire attached and took the win over Paul Rigda #43.
Next was the autograph session where the fans got to go out onto the track and meet the drivers and get photos and autographs.
After that was completed, it was time to get back to the destruction with the twenty lap I-75 Race. There were twenty-five entries for this wild and wooly race. The early leader was the #43 of Paul Rigda, but as the “slowing and going” wore on the drivers, it was again that silver #422 of Anthony Richardson getting out front, but not without various times having to battle with Zack Lopez side by side for numerous laps. When the twenty laps were complete, it was Richardson with the win over Lopez and Gerald Persails Jr. #80
The big race of the night was the “Enduro Battle” for seventy laps and $1,000 to win. When the green flew, competitors were battling side by side and even four wide at times. As the laps counted down, attrition wore on many of the vehicles with failures and having to head to the pits. While the competitors were dropping out, it was, again, Richardson leading the way working his way through all kinds of traffic. Rigda was trying to catch up to Richardson, but the two never really got to battle. By lap sixty Richardson had almost a half-lap lead over Rigda. When it was all said and done, Richardson got yet another win and collected the $1,000 for that win, followed by Rigda, Justin Pepitone #948, Lopez and Lurak.
The unique ‘Fox & Hounds’ races were next on the schedule, and this is a race that starts with four competitors lined up across the starting line, given the green flag and whoever jumps out front first becomes the Fox and can go anywhere on pavement in any direction being chased by the others (i.e., hounds) and if the Fox is passed, whoever passes them, becomes the Fox. The idea is to be the Fox at the end of the three-minute time limit.
Race one was won by Jason Grissom #224, race two was Brian Dougherty in his Crown Vic #22, race three was the #21 driven by Doug Hennessey which is usually driven by Ron Lowell and in race four, it was Anthony Richardson.
The final four shoot out for the Fox & Hounds (all four winners, but Brian Dougherty could not start) was won by, yep, you guessed it…Anthony Richardson.
Now it was time for the ten lap Flagpole Race. Tonight, there were two tractor tires to circle. As the laps counted down and drivers went around and around, it was Doug Hennessey driving the #21 getting his second win of the night.
The final race of the night was the Figure 8 School Bus Race. As the seven buses drove the figure 8, it was a surprise winner, oh wait, nope…it was Anthony Richardson getting the win to complete the night.
This coming Saturday night, Aug 26th is the Night Lights at Auto City Speedway. This is a non-racing event. All information can be found on the Auto City Speedway website or Facebook page.
The next race event is September 2nd as it’s the ‘Back to School Bash’ sponsored by Simms Chevrolet in Clio.
Check out all the details on upcoming events at www.autocityspeedway.com or the Auto City Speedway and Outdoor Events Facebook page and “We’ll See You at the City”.
Article Credit: Randy Adam
Submitted By: Sharon Fischer
