5/14/2017
Tri-City Motor Speedway
5/12/2017 Race Results
05/12/2017 Main Street Seed and Supply Blast From the Past Night
Melling Select Performance Late Models: #6m Dona Marcoullier
Elgin Pro Stocks: #14 Nate Jones
Suspension MAXX Street Stocks: #x5 Eric Lake
Thornton Brothers Sewer and Septic Service Bomber Stocks: #66 Mike Schnettler
Walker’s Ideal Trophies Mini Wedge: #3 Mason Clements
Lake Overcomes Bad Luck For Triumphant Feature Win At Tri-City Motor Speedway
5/12/2017 (Auburn MI) Last Friday night At Tri-City Motor Speedway was Blast From the Past night as drivers and fans reminisced about the history and accomplishments That had taken place over the past 70 years at the Auburn speed plant. Many of those memories, submitted by fans and drivers, were read over the Public Address system throughout the evening’s activities, which were sponsored by Main Street Seed and Supply. Nearly ninety drivers in five different classes of race cars were on hand to compete for that elusive Checkered Flag at the end of the night. In addition to the normal show, Australian Pursuit races were run in each division just as they had back in the Asphalt racing days at TCMS.
The Suspension MAXX Street Stocks division was the highlighted division of the evening with an increased purse for the 33-lap, 24 car feature. In addition to the extra laps and additional increased starting field, the drivers were lined up to start the race in eight rows of three. This class, known for racing four and five wide, had little issues taking the green flag without incident. The first caution would come out early in the event when last week’s winner #x5 Eric Lake would come to a stop outside of turn one. Eric, who had mechanical issues with his car during the earlier practice session and was racing with someone else’s car, would go a lap down to the field. Meanwhile, up front, #18d Andrew Fidler would lead the opening laps before #73 Don Stuck took his turn at the front on lap seven. Another caution would come out which would bunch up the field and give Lake his lap back. Stuck would lead until Lake would track him down and make the winning pass on lap 23. He would cruise the final ten laps to claim his second victory in a row. Stuck held for second and was followed by #17k Andy Kaake, Fidler, and #7k Dan Krause Jr. Lake would also win the Australian Pursuit and his heat race. Other heat races were captured by #15.2 Bobby Cunningham, Kaake, and #50 Jake Thompson. #31 Bob Robinson would win the last chance qualifying B-Feature.
The Thornton Brothers Sewer and Septic Service Bomber Stock division has been a very competitive group of competitors so far in 2017. #.08 Richard Mielens would win his first-ever race by winning the Australian pursuit. Last week’s winner, #18 Nick Putman would win his heat race. Rookie and Defending Mini-Wedge Champion #7 Johnny Staszak was able to hold off the field for the first twelve laps of the fifteen lap feature. However, he was holding off some intense challenges by Putman, #03 Josh Charbonneau and #66 Mike Schnettler. With a caution coming out with three laps to go, the field would be bunched up one more time. Charbonneau would bring the field to the green on the restart. Schnettler would create just enough pressure to take the lead on the final lap and land in victory lane for the first time this year. Charbonneau would hold on for second and was followed Putman, Mielens, and Staszak.
The Ideal Trophies Mini Wedge division started off their night’s activities with possibly one of the shortest Australian Pursuits in TCMS history. Point Leader and last week’s feature winner #07 Rylee Knoll passed and eliminated the entire field by the time he got to the second turn on the first lap. #7 Dakota Vennix would capture the heat race. The 8 lap feature had a number of drivers take turns leading including #36 Jennifer Young, Knoll, and Vennix. Knoll would retire from the event early with mechanical issues. At the checkered flag, it was #3 Mason Clements that would claim the victory followed by #15 Cole Doty, Vennix, Young, and #80 Preston Mieske.
21 David Hilliker, #6m Dona Marcoullier, #6r Carl Ries, #0p Kris Patterson, and #21s Steve Hilliker would win preliminary events in the Melling Select Performance Late Models. Marcoullier would start on the front row of the 30-lap feature and was never challenged once the green flag dropped on the caution riddled race. #24 Alex Hupert would come from his 11th place starting position to finish a distant second. #3 “Fireball” Kyle Roberts, Patterson Jr., and #19 Derrick Hilliker settled their night with top five finishes.
In the Elgin Pro Stock division, #69 Nate Murphy would win the Australian Pursuit. However, his luck would run out in his heat race after his car was involved in an accident which put him on his roof on the front straightaway. Murphy was unhurt, but he was unable to compete for the remainder of the evening. Qualifying heat races were won by #50 Chad Bennett, #14 Nate Jones, and #27 Rob Westergard. #10 Brent Reil was one of the final drivers to capture a spot in the main event by winning his last chance race. #9 Marc Super led the opening few laps and would be one of five different leaders in the 20-lap feature. Westergard would then take control for a couple laps before giving way to Bennett. Bennett looked like he may have been ready to earn that first feature win. However, his car would develop an overheating issue which caused him to lose horsepower. This would allow #99 Rick Beauchamp to take the lead nine laps remaining. Beauchamp found the low groove to have the most grip for his car, but Jones found additional grip in the outside lanes. He would track down Beauchamp and make the winning pass on lap 18 and capture his second feature of this season. Beauchamp would have to settle for another runner-up finish. Bennett would be able to hold on for third place. #57 TJ Gilbert and Westergard would finish within the top five.
Join us this Friday May 19th as drivers and their crews will fill the Main Grandstand concourse as they sell their swag from 6:00 to 8:30. Plus, all Heroes (Firefighters, First Responders, Military, and Police Officers) that bring their ID’s will receive complimentary general admission! Six different classes of race cars will be in action! Shirt Works Racewear will be the title sponsor of the night’s activities. Don’t wait in line on race days anymore! Purchase your tickets online at www.tricityracetrack.com!! The gates open at 5:30pm with practice beginning at 6:30. Family Fun Friday action begins at 7:55 with our preliminary races. Make plans now to attend the special Father’s Day Monster truck show while tickets are still available. All the details for this event and the rest of the 2017 schedule are online now!
Article Credit: Roger Williams
Article Media
