07/12/2019 Dolney RV Center/ GLSS Night
- ARP Late Models: #87 David Mielke
- Suspension MAXX Street Stocks: #K9 Jim Miller Jr
- Great Lakes Super Sprints: #17 Jared Horstman
- Thornton Brothers Sewer and Septic Service Bomber Stocks: #10 Austin Vennix
- Allstar Performance IMCA Modified: #79 Nate Jones
- Walker’s Ideal Trophies Mini Wedge: #12 Morgan Bujarski (Jr Division)
- Walker’s Ideal Trophies Mini Wedge: #2e Easton Murray (Sr. Division)
Jared Hortsman Back To Victory Lane With The Great Lakes Super Sprints At Tri-City Motor Speedway
07/12/2019 (Auburn MI) Two consecutive Friday night cancellations due to weather had Tri-City Motor Speedway drivers and fans hungry for competition to hit the 3/8 mile dirt oval last Friday night. The Great Lakes Super Sprints made their third visit of the 2019 season bringing with them 22 of the best sprint car drivers in the Midwest and Canada. In all, 123 drivers set up camp in the pit area in hopes of taking home the coveted checkered flag in their class.
Three weeks ago, it was #49 Gregg Dalman that conquered the field winning the 25-lap feature with the Great Lakes Super Sprint Series. That win for Dalman broke the streak of victories that #17 Jared Horstman had racked up over the past two seasons. Dalman and Horstman would both struggle in qualifying ending up fifth and ninth behind fast qualifier #7C Phil Gressman. Horstman made some adjustments on his machine and dominated his heat race on his way to the win. Gressman and fan favorite #85 Dustin Daggett also won their qualifying heat races. Horstman’s win put him on the front row with #27x Jared Lamberson for the 25-lap main event. Horstman was able to rocket by Lamberson to lead the opening three laps before Gressman tracked him down and made the pass for the lead. Gressman set the pace until lap 11 when Horstman retook the top spot. From there, he held off the field for another trip to the TCMS victory lane ahead of Gressman, Daggett, Dalman, and #22m Dan McCarron.
The American Racing Products Late Models took to the track for their 30-lap final race next and found the rubbered-up track surface a bit of a challenge as numerous cautions slowed down the typically quick pace. #03 JC Witherspoon found speed in the top groove leading the first five laps before #87 David Mielke made his winning pass from the bottommost racing groove through turn four. Although the Gladwin native had to deal with many breaks in the green flag racing which bunched up the competition, he was too much to handle for the rest of the 21-car field. #21 David Hilliker took a couple of stabs at the lead but had to settle for second place ahead of his son #19 Derrick Hilliker, #76 Torrey Ahrens, and #27 Eric Spangler. D. Hilliker also captured heat race gold along with three-time Champion #4t Andrew Terrill, #24 Alex Hupert.
Walker’s Ideal Trophies Mini Wedge 6-9 year olds saw #28 Kyron DeShano and #12 Morgan Bujarski win their preliminary heat races exactly as they had done the previous race day back in late June. This day, however, it was Bujarski that took home the hardware for her winning effort as she outpaced #26 Brennan DeShano, K. DeShano, #3 Jett Gohr, and #27k Kylie Watz at the finish. #2e Easton Murray was also the top of the 10-14 year old class of Mini Wedge drivers as she swept both her heat and feature event.
There was a bit of a surprise thrown at the sixteen Thornton Brother Sewer and Septic Service Bomber Stocks as they came out onto the track for their 20-lap top event. The stock front-wheel drive cars were asked to turn around and race on the track clockwise instead of the traditional way of counter clockwise. Fourth place starter, #29 Devin Badour shot out front leading the first two laps until #03 Josh Charbonneau took his turn at the front on lap three. That lead was short lived when #10 Austin Vennix overtook Charbonneau on the next lap. A late caution set up a one lap shootout for the win. Charbonneau and #01Tk Brad Treichel both did what they could to steal the win, but Vennix took home his second win of 2019. Treichel missed the win by inches with a second place effort. Charbonneau, #72 Briana Vennix and Badour held on for top five finishes. Charbonneau also won one of the two heat races along with defending Champion #7 John Staszak.
In two weeks, The SuspensionMAXX Street Stocks will be competing for over $1,900 to win. Drivers were tuning their machines up in preparation for that event. Aggressive driving throughout the 20 car field kept the fans on the edge of their seats during the 20-lap feature. North Branch driver #84 Eric Watz led the opening lap before 35 year racing veteran #91 Gary Shank mastered the low groove to steal the lead from Watz. Four laps were all he was able to lead before #K9 Jim Miller Jr. blew by Shank from the top line. Miller, making a rare Friday night visit to TCMS, cruised to victory. Twelfth place starter #23 Rick Spencer was a distant second with Shank, #8 Aaron Spearling, and #72k Kevin Newcomb surviving with top five finishes. #41 Tyler Moore was the B-main winner. Qualifying heat races were won by Spearling, #75 Kenny Keller, Shank, and Miller.
The annual Greased Pig race for the Allstar Performance IMCA Modified drivers has been rescheduled for next Friday meaning this Friday was the last opportunity to dial in their rides before the big race on July 19th. Defending Champion #79 Nate Jones has had a tough first half of the season. However, he may have figured out his issues as it took him only five laps to go from ninth place to take the lead from #0 Will Small. Once Jones got to the front, he was long gone from the rest of the field taking the win easily over point leader #27 Matt Szecsodi, #71 Brenten DeYoung, B-main winner #19jr Kody Johnson, and #38 Mitchell Hunt. Jones also won his heat race along with #615 Chad Wernette and #18 Chase Burda.
Next week at TCMS is the rescheduled Greased Pig 9.0 for the IMCA Modifieds as well as Selfie Night and Fireworks! If taking a selfie isn’t your style come on out and have a cartoon drawing of yourself! Join in on the fun and take pictures with selfie frames, win prizes, and enjoy a fireworks show! Only 50 spots open for caricature drawing. Sign up today at www.shopTCMS.com/products/caricature. It is also Freeland and Saginaw Night! All adults 16+ that live in Freeland or Saginaw and bring ID get in for just $10! The Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Pro Stocks, Street Stocks, Bomber Stocks, Mini Wedge (6-9 yr), Mini Wedge (10-14 yr) will all be back on the track! If that wasn’t enough, we bring back the popular SuspensionMAXX Truck Drags! Purchase your tickets online early at www.tricityracetrack.com and get here early to claim your seat! For contact information, directions, and instantaneous race results visit www.tricityracetrack.com.
- administrator on Jul 14, 2019
- Article Date: 7/13/2019 by Roger Williams