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Short Wins Twice at Tri-City Motor Speedway

07/31/20 (Auburn MI) It was another exciting Friday night of stock car racing at Tri-City Motor Speedway (TCMS). With over 110 cars and drivers on hand, the competition was stoked to tackle the 3/8 mile clay oval. Those in attendance saw some of the closest racing so far in 2020. Top prizes for the SuspensionMAXX Street Stocks and XLT Engineering Bomber Stocks took center stage in the evening’s program with all other divisions also proving top-notch entertainment for those in attendance.

The XLT Engineering Bomber Stocks were the first field of cars to battle on the speedway for their fifteen-lap main event. A record 25-car field took the green flag with Brandon Mann (Midland) and Josh Charbonneau (Kawkawlin) in the front row. However, neither driver would lead the first lap. Point leader Nick Bullock (Bay City) would make a three wide pass of the lead duo to snatch the lead. The event was marred with numerous cautions as drivers raced three, four, and sometimes five-wide throughout the event. When the dust finally settled, it was Bullock that would lead all fifteen laps for his third feature win of the year. Finishing behind Bullock were Don Frohm (Lakeport), defending Champion Johnny Staszak, Brian Kloha (Linwood), and John Miller (National City). Earlier heat races were won by Frohm, Kloha, and Chris Wassmann (Whittamore).

With a robust $1000 top prize up for grabs for winning the SuspensionMAXX Street Stock feature, it was no surprise that thirty drivers showed up Friday for their chance to win. Qualifying heat races were won by Jake Thompson (Birch Run), Eric Lake (Montrose), Jacob Flickinger (Gaylord) and Loren Short (Clio). A last chance race was run for the remaining starting positions in the feature and was won by Benjamin Gonzalez (Midland). Josh Knoll (Lake) and former Bomber Stock Champion Nick Putman (Kawkawlin) brought the field of 22 to the green flag with Knoll leading the opening lap. Flickinger would use the high side to pass Knoll on the following lap and hold that lead until lap ten. Short, who patiently worked his way through traffic from his seventh place starting position, would make the winning pass on lap eleven and never look back as he took his machine all the way to victory lane for his second feature win of 2020. Flickinger and Knoll would have to settle for podium finishes. Thompson and Putman finished in fourth and fifth, respectively.

Next week, the Lane Automotive IMCA Modifieds are running for $1000 to win and another opportunity to get on the FastShafts All-Star Ballot for the Annual Super Nationals held in Boone Iowa in September. This week was a good tune-up for those that have yet to win in 2020. Fifteen drivers took the green flag for the 20-lap feature led by Michael Stevenson (Bay City) and Tanner Pray (Mt. Morris). Stevenson led for the first two laps before Pray took his turn at the front. Chad Bennett (Caro), who has found success of late in his first year as a modified driver took over on lap five. From there, it looked as if he was on his way to his second feature of the season. But the 2018 modified champion Nate Jones (Alma) kept his momentum going by using the top groove and reeled in Bennett. He would have the lead on lap 16 before a caution bunched up the field. Bennett capitalized on that restart to once again take the lead. Jones battled back to take the lead on the white flag lap and held off Bennett for the exciting win. Craig Vance (Midland), 2019 Champion Matt Szecsodi, and Timmy Near (Midland) took the remaining top five finishing positions. Vance and Bennett also won their preliminary events.

The Engine Pro Late Models always put on a stellar show at TCMS. The thirty-lap feature Friday night was certainly a battle of Michigan’s best drivers. Dona Marcoullier (Houghton Lake) and Cody Bauer (Farwell) took the green flag as the front row starters. Marcoullier took the point right away in an attempt to separate him from the field. The evening’s fast qualifier (13.273 seconds) and 2015 track champion David Hilliker (Midland) stayed right on Marcoullier’s rear bumper and made numerous attempts to take the lead away. Each time he would come up just a bit short on being able to complete the pass. At times, Chad Finley (Lansing) and David Mielke (Gladwin) would reach the lead duo. They, too, could not find a way to the top spot. At the checkered flag it was Marcoullier leading all 30 laps and finishing ahead of Hilliker by .254 seconds. Mielke, 2019 Champion Derrick Hilliker (Midland), and Finley finished inside the top five. Marcoullier also won his heat race as did David Hilliker and Bauer.

The final class of the evening to compete was the Auto Value Pro Stocks. Loren Short, who also raced in the Street stocks with a different car, won his preliminary heat race as did TJ Gilbert (East Lansing). Defending Champion Nate Murphy (Coleman) and Bob Fetters Sr. (Sterling) brought the field to the initial green flag of their final race of the night. Weaving through opening lap traffic, Kendall Morrison (Bay City) took his car from fifth to lead the first lap. He held that lead for the next fourteen laps before Short caught and passed him to lead the next two laps. The two would trade the lead over the next seven laps before Short finally overtook Morrison to lead the final two circuits and win his second feature of the evening. Morrison finished runner-up and was followed at the finish by Murphy, Kyle Hunt (Bannister), and Marc Super (Munger).

The Allstar Performance Mini Wedge drivers held their events earlier in the evening. Jet Gohr (Bay City) kept his winning streak going by taking both the heat and feature wins in the Restricted division. In the Unrestricted division, multiple feature winner Cole Shanteau (Weidman) took the heat race checkered flag while the defending Champion Kyron DeShano (Kawkawlin) held on for the victory in the feature.

This Friday join us at TCMS for Open-Wheel Night as the Great Lakes Super Sprints (Winged), Great Lakes Traditional Sprints (Non-winged), and Great Lakes Lightning Sprints all invade Auburn for a full night of high speed action. In addition, the Lane Automotive IMCA drivers will be on hand to compete for the $1000 top prize in their main event. It’s a show you will not want to miss! Follow us on Face Book for updates and other information throughout the week.

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