4/30/2018
Tri-City Motor Speedway
4/27/2018 Race Results
04/27/2018 Dolney RV Center Season Re-Opener & Tailgate Night
- Main Street Seed and Supply IMCA Modifieds: #27 Matt Szecsodi
- Mueller’s Performance Engines Pro Stock: #69 Nate Murphy
- Suspension MAXX Street Stocks: #50 Jake Thompson
- Melling Performance Late Models: #2 Travis Stemler
- Thornton Brothers Sewer and Septic Service Bomber Stocks: #60 Mike Schnettler
Tri-City Motor Speedway 2018 Race Season Begins
04/27/2018 (Auburn, MI) The opening of Tri-City Motor Speedway for the 2018 stock car racing season began this past Friday night. Despite the bitter cold temperatures, 94 race teams and a grandstand full of die hard race fans converged at the Auburn speed plant to witness the potential front runners for a championship in the New Year.
The Main Street Seed and Supply IMCA Modifieds was the first class of cars to take to the track for their 20-lap feature event. In the preliminary heat races, defending track Champion #19jr Kody Johnson, #D42 Don Sautter, and #33 Todd Matheson marked themselves as favorites by winning in their respective events. Two-time Crystal Motor Speedway IMCA Champion #615 Chad Wernette and 2011 Modified runner-up #27 Matt Szecsodi would bring the field of nineteen to the green flag of the feature event. Wernette would pace the field for the opening pair of laps before Szecsodi took away the top spot. Szecsodi would dominate the race with the best racing taking place within the top five positions. Wernette battled with IMCA rookie and former Pro Stock Champion #79 Nate Jones, #03 Chris Cohoon, and Johnson. Szecsodi would cruise to the opening night victory and was followed by Jones (from 13th), Johnson (11th), Wernette (1st) and Cohoon (3rd).
Melling Performance is back as the title sponsor of the Late Model division for 2018. Twenty-One teams started the 30 lap main event in hopes of starting their seasons on a positive note. Heat race winner #2 Travis Stemler and #24 Alex Hupert brought the field to the green flag. Stemler, who had dominated his heat race earlier in the night, would not be caught and was easily the fastest and best handling of those competing. Coleman’s #4x Curtis Roberts (started 5th) was also fast but was never able to get close enough to bid for the top position and had to settle for the runner-up finish. Hupert (2nd) would stay in the top three and was followed by a hard charging #0p Kris Patterson Jr (18th), and #9 Isaac Wolfgang (7th). Defending Champion Andrew Terrill captured the win in his heat race as did Wolfgang.
Mueller’s Performance Engines is the brand new sponsor of the 2018 Pro Stock division at TCMS. Earlier heat race gold was captured by #K11 Kendall Morrison, #69 Nate Murphy, and #9 Marc Super. This set the starting lineup for the 20-lap feature. The twenty car field was brought to the green by Alma’s #14 Andrew Fidler and Murphy. The racing was intense as Fidler spent a majority of the race holding off Murphy, Morrison, #50 Chad Bennett, #10 Brent Reil, Super, and #39 Chad Spencer. Murphy, however, would be able to take advantage of a late race caution making the winning pass from the inside groove and capture the checkered flag. Close behind were Fidler (1st), Morrison (3rd), reigning Champion #28 Jared Rizer (13th), and Spencer (18th). Bennett would end up 6th and Super 9th.
The Thornton Brothers Sewer and Septic Service Bomber Stocks front-wheel drive division continues to grow as eleven drivers were on hand to start their season on a high note. Former Mini Wedge Champion #7 John Staszak and veteran #60 Mike Schnettler picked up the checkered flag in their heat race and looked to be the cars to beat in the 15-lap feature. Schnettler would have the pole position for the main race with rookie #18 Pierce Ritter alongside. However, nobody had anything for Schnettler and his Ed Howe inspired car. He would lead all 15 laps on his way to his first victory of the season. Staszak would come from seventh to finish second. He was followed by #9 Ethan Robarts (9th), #80 Darryl McBride (8th), and #17 James Antku (3rd).
The Suspension MAXX Street Stock feature is always jam packed with exciting fender rubbing racing. Even with the temperatures as brisk as it was this past Friday, the drivers and fans never felt the cold as the green flag dropped on the 20-lap main event. #12 Brian Bero and #23 Terry Roberts Jr brought the 23 competitors to the start of the main event. Roberts had the lead for the opening lap, but it was #50 Jake Thompson that would take charge a lap later. Defending Champion #x5 Eric Lake, who had spent most of the evening replacing a fuel pump on his car, had to start 23rd since he was unable to compete in his scheduled heat race. Fans watched as he sliced and diced his way through the field. Late race cautions would bring Thompson back to the rest of the field creating an exciting three-lap shoot-out for the first race of the season. Thompson was able to hold off Lake and #M65 Rick Spencer (9th) for the victory. #21 Kyle Thomas (18th) also put on a show to finish fourth ahead of #7 Kevin Newcomb (13th). Thompson, Spencer, and #152 Robert Cunningham won their heat races.
We encourage you to come on out to TCMS next week as you get the opportunity to vote for the best looking car as part of the Fan’s Favorite Car Contest! Help give your driver the recognition they deserve for all the hard work they have put in over the winter months!! Late Models, Pro Stocks, Street Stocks, IMCA Modified, and Bomber Stocks will be back in action. This Friday will also be the 2018 debut of the Walker’s Ideal Trophies Mini Wedge division for the youngsters! Check out our website, www.tricityracetrack.com and take a look at the jam-packed schedule of events on Friday night through Labor Day Weekend!!!
Article Credit: Roger Williams
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