Michigan Traditional Sprints: #14 Chad Wilson
Hasting Racing Rings Dirt Late Models: #0X Zack Olger
Steven's Cycle Sales Bomber Stocks: #09 Jack Freese
Elgin Pro Stocks: #71 Timmy Near
Auburn Hotel Bar and Grill Street Stocks: #57 T.J Gilbert
08/28/2015 (Auburn, MI) On a beautiful Friday night at Tri-City Motor Speedway, the Michigan Traditional “Topless” Sprints made their first appearance since to 2013. The fans asked us to bring them back, we did and they put on a great show for the fans.
The night began with the MTS seeing how fast they could get their sprint cars could going during qualifying. #0 Steve Irwin would have the fastest time and would set a new track record for the MTS with a time of 12.817 seconds at a speedy 99.4 average MPH. After three preliminary heat races, the MTS made their way out to start of the features. #89 Chris Pobanz would lead the field to the green flag and would lead the first couple laps. On lap three, track record breaker and heat race one winner #0 Steve Irwin would make is way up to the lead. It looked like Irwin was going to pull away after that, but it seemed like the car was not adjusting to the track. On lap 12, #31W Chuck Wilson looked like he had the car to beat as he came flying up to Irwin to take the lead. Sadly though as soon as he got beside Irwin, the car had an issue and would end his day, finishing in 16th. With ten laps to go, #14 Chad Wilson caught up to Steve Irwin and would take the lead. Lap traffic then became an issue for Wilson and for the rest of the pack for the final laps of this one. Wilson was able to make his way through the traffic carefully and would pick up his first career win in the Michigan Traditional Sprints. #48 Mike Burkin would end up in second followed by #0 Steve Irwin in third, #3A Mike Astrauskas in fourth and #2 Mike Galajda.
The Hasting Racing Rings Dirt Late Models would enter the track next for their 20 lap feature event. #75 Rod Laney would lead the field to the green flag and would end up leading the first lap. Heat race one winner, #0H Phil Hendershott would find some room on the low side and take the lead. Laney wasn't done leading yet. On lap 13 Laney would race back on the inside and take the lead. The battle still wasn’t done between these two as Hendershott would take the lead right back with seven laps to go. Their battle may have been over after that, but heat race three winner and last week’s winner #0X Zack Olger would fight his way from mid pack and take the lead and after that he was gone. #0X Zack Olger would pick up his second consecutive win and his third win of the season. #0H Phil Hendershott would finish in an impressive second place. #75 Rodney Laney would also have a great finish in the third position, followed by #24 Alex Hupert in fourth and #41X Jesse Playter in fifth.
The Steven's Cycle Sales Bomber Stocks would come out next and only two of the three cars would come out for the feature as Andy Koczenasz had an issue starting his car and could not get it fixed in time for the feature. So the grudge match between the top two drivers in the points would go at it. Heat race winner #77 Stacie Staszak would lead points leader #09 Jack Freeze to the green flag. Staszak would lead for the first three laps, but then Freeze would take the lead on lap four. Then on lap six a huge popping noise came from Staszak's car and the tire blow up. Giving the automatic win to #09 Jack Freeze and his seventh win of the year.
The Elgin Pro Stocks made their way out onto the three-eighth clay track next, as #27 Rob Westergard would lead the field to the green flag. Westergard would lead for the first three laps, then heat race two winner #11 Chris Peyerk would take the lead. He would not hold it for too long as heat race one winner #K11 Kendall Morrison would make his way to the front on lap nine. Morrison was going to have to earn this win if he wanted to get it as #71 Timmy Near made his way up to him with two laps to go. Coming in to turn three, Near got beneath Morrison as they raced it out on the white flag. Near had a half a car advantage as they came into turn three and Morrison would go a little too hard through the turn, go too high up the track and give #71 Timmy Near his third win of the season. #11 Chris Peyerk would sneak past Morrison to finish second, #K11 Kendall Morrison would finish third and #27 Rob Westergard and #M65 Rick Spencer, both with great run rounding out the top five.
The final feature of the night belonged to the always entertaining Auburn Hotel Bar and Grill Street Stocks. #11 James Jaenicke would take the green flag for the field and they were off and running. Jaenicke would lead the first part of the race until #57 T.J Gilbert found his way to the front and took the lead. Gilbert had his hands full with Jaenicke and #96 Shane Wright as they battled right behind him, but they battled too much and let Gilbert pick up his third win of the season. #96 Shane Wright would edge out #11 James Jaenicke for the second spot leaving Jaenicke in third. Heat race two winner, #3C Mitch Clements in fourth and #7R Dave Newcomb would be fifth.
Next Week, September 4th will be Season Championships. We will crown champions in the Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Pro Stocks, Street Stocks and Bomber Stocks as they have their final chance to move in the championship standing and call themselves champions at Tri-City Motor Speedway. Also the top four drivers and each of the five series at TCMS will have a dash for cash as they will have a race for a chance to bring some extra money home. Then on September 11th and 12th, the biggest race of the year happens at TCMS. Battle by the Bay, a two day event. Day one will involve a full show from the Outlaw Late Models. Friday also features heat races and Friday Night Specials for the IMCA Modifieds, Pro Stocks, Street Stocks, and Bomber Stocks. Then on Saturday, The Dirt Late Models will run a full show and the IMCA Modifieds, Pro Stocks, Street Stocks and Bombers will race their feature events. For more information on TCMS, on results, Points Standings, Battle by the Bay and whole lot more check out www.tricityracetrack.com.
- Erika Puvalowski on Aug 30, 2015
- Article Date: 8/30/2015