Auburn, MI – The Great Lakes Lightning Sprints presented by Maxima Racing Oils kicked off their ambitious 20 race season at Tri-City Motor Speedway Friday night; Which will find them at 10 different Michigan tracks this summer.
With some new clay laid down earlier in the week, GLLS rolled out to be the first cars to hit the track. Jac Nickles (Harrod, OH) set fast time with a 12.485 second lap. He bested that time during his Engler Machine & Tool Heat Race win with a 12.22 second lap which was an average speed of 110.4 mph! Naida and Brendon Cascadden (Traverse City, MI) rounded out the top 3.
Nickles got around 3 cars in a hurry to take the lead in the Engler Machine & Tool Heat Race 1, where he led all 8 laps for his first heat race of the season. Justin Ward (Benzonia, MI) slipped back to 5th, but battled back to finish 2nd in the heat, while Lindsey Erickson (South Boardman, MI) rounded out the podium with a 3rd place finish.
In the Chaney Creek Construction Heat 2, Naida was leading at the end of the first lap and never looked back, winning the heat after leading all 8 laps. Mack Erickson (South Boardman, MI), starting 6th, worked his way up to a 2nd place finish with Bill Dunham (Bellevue, MI) rounding out the podium with a 3rd place finish.
Last years points Champion, Brendon Cascaddan (Traverse City, MI) starting 4th, he led all 8 laps to take the checkered flag in the Beacon & Bridge Markets Heat Race 3. Matt Cogley (Findlay, OH) finished 2nd with Johnny Roberts (Wheeler, MI) finishing 3rd after starting on the tail.
The top two cars from each heat race were part of a redraw for their starting spots in the feature. Starting with the fast qualifier, Nickles, draw a 6 placing him on the outside of the 3rd row. With Naida drawing a 5, that put the two quick time drivers in the 3rd row, side by side. Putting Cascadden on the pole with Cogley on the outside front row and Mack Erickson and Ward in the second row. With the feature set, the field of cars rolled out for the Maxima Racing Oils A-Main Feature.
With the track going dry and slick, Naida took advantage of the perfect conditions moved to front and taking the lead on lap two. With Nickles working his way into 2nd and keeping Naida in his sights as they started to work their way through lapped traffic. A late caution hurts Nickles charge to reel in Naida thru lapped traffic. Naida takes the checkered with Nickles in pursuit and Cogley, Cascadden and Ward rounding out the top 5.
Bud Schrader (Benzonia, MI) takes the Hoosier Hard Charger, starting 13th and moving up 6 spots and finishing in the 7th spot.
Thank you to our sponsors and supporters, Maxima Racing Oils, Perfit/Engine Pro, Engler Machine & Tool, Chaney Creek Construction, Beacon & Bridge Markets, Midland Steel and Hoosier Racing Tires.
To stay up to date with our drivers and schedule, follow us on Facebook and go to www.greatlakessprints.com for the latest results and points race.
- Barry Marlow on May 24, 2021
- Article Date: 5/23/2021 by Great Lakes Sprints Staff