7/16/2018
Tri-City Motor Speedway
7/13/2018 Race Results
07/13/2018 Faster Pastor Night Presented by Thrivent Financial
- Melling Performance Late Model: #4t Andrew Terrill
- Suspension MAXX Street Stocks: #x5 Eric Lake
- Main Street Seed and Supply IMCA Modified: #79 Nate Jones
- Walker’s Ideal Trophies Mini-Wedge (6-9yr old): #12 Morgan Bujarski
- Walker’s Ideal Trophies Mini-Wedge (10-14yr old): #24c Caden Anderson
- Faster Pastor: Ean Green (Community Wesleyan Church)
Green Grabs Gold As Fastest Pastor at Tri-City Motor Speedway.
07/13/2018 (Auburn, MI) Ten area churches were represented in the 2018 Faster Pastor charity event this past Friday at Tri-City Motor Speedway in Auburn MI. The possibility of severe weather and hot and humid temperatures didn’t deter the competing pastors and their congregations from pouring into the grandstands to see who would take home the travelling six-foot trophy as the winner of the main event. In addition, Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Mini-Wedge, and Street Stocks treated the capacity crowd with their typical Friday night excitement. Wolverine Fireworks Display Inc also wowed the crowd with a colorful and patriotic fireworks show.
The 2017 Faster Pastor races raised almost $30,000 for area charities and had a repeat feature winner. With last year’s winner not a part of the event in 2018, it ensured that a new pastor would grace victory lane. Ed Meyer (St. Mark Lutheran Church and Preschool), Ean Green (Community Wesleyan Church), and David Warren (Calvary Baptist Church) won their heat races and were automatically locked into the main event. Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church’s Rob Schmidt took the final starting position for his church having raised the highest amount of money out of the pastors that didn’t qualify into the main event. The four drivers took to the track in the TCMS prepared front-wheel drive racecars. They immediately had the crowd on the edge of their seats as they battled around the track as if they were grizzled racing veterans. When the dust settled, it was Green who hoisted the six-foot traveling trophy in victory lane. Schmidt, Warren, and Meyer finished behind Green. In all, a record amount of just over $33,000 in donations was collected for the churches to disperse to their chosen charities.
Long-Standing TCMS racer #75 Rod Laney took his front row-starting position and parlayed that advantage into what could be considered his strongest run of 2018 in the Melling Performance Late Models. #11 Ryan Lanphierd, #4t Andrew Terrill, and #6r Carl Reis took numerous runs at Laney over the first half of the 30-lap feature. A late restart due to a caution had Laney, again, pull away from the field. But, just like last week, defending Late Model Champion #4t Andrew Terrill tracked down the leader and slid past Laney in turn four to take control and pace the final seven laps to his second victory in a row. The fourth generation TCMS racer was followed by #21s Steven Hilliker, Laney, Lanphierd, and Ries. #03 JC Witherspoon and Hilliker also won their preliminary heat races.
Most of the 2018 season, shy #12 Morgan Bujarski has been learning how to wheel her Walker’s Ideal Trophies junior division (6-9yr old) Mini Wedge like the others. Tonight, however, the 7-year old girl was able beat the boys at the finish of her 10-lap feature. She fended off #27 Pierson DeShano, #28 Kyron DeShano, #3 Jett Gohr, and #5 Brennan DeShano for her first trophy of the year. Pierson DeShano won his heat race that also included #54 Addison Clink launching her car into the air landing unhurt with the car on its side. The senior division (10-14yr old) had both #15 Cole Doty and #24c Caden Anderson doing their typical Friday night battle. Doty took the heat race win in convincing fashion. However, he had handling issues in the feature race that he could not overcome. It was Anderson that would dominate the 10-lap race and reach the checkered flag a second ahead of Doty, #36 Jeniffer Young, and #2e Easton Murray.
Every week, TCMS fans can expect the SuspensionMAXX Street Stocks to race three and four wide with ease. This Friday, the slick track proved to be a challenge for the field. The first half of the 20-lap affair was marred by numerous cautions including a multi-car crash that included defending Champion #x5 Eric Lake and Champion contender #7r Kevin Newcomb. Newcomb had to be taken off the track via a safety wrecker while Lake continued. #85 Al Spiekerman inherited the lead on lap five when #91 Gary Shank was penalized for numerous jumped restarts prior to the designated restart zone. #16 Steve Doty and #72 Bobby Kosha kept Spiekerman busy at the front of the field. Kosha was able to clear Spiekerman near halfway for the lead. Spiekerman would eventually suffer a transmission failure which dropped him from contention and to an 11th place finish. Doty was forced to retire with a 12th place finish due to mechanical issues, as well. Kosha, an earlier heat race winner and looking for his first win of 2018, was left to contend with Lake. Lake, who admitted that his car handled better after the earlier accident, grabbed the lead with five to go and gobbled up yet another feature victory. Kosha held on for the runner-up spot. #21 Kyle Thomas, #15.2 Robert Cunningham, and #99 Rick Beauchamp survived to take the remainder of the top five positions. The other two heat race winners were Lake and Doty.
After a season that started with a streak of six straight finishes in the top two, it looked as if #79 Nate Jones was a lock for the 2018 Main Street Seed and Supply IMCA Modified Championship. However, over the past few weeks, experimental set-ups have cost Jones some ground in the championship chase. During Jones’ struggles, 2011 TCMS IMCA point runner up, #27 Matt Szecsodi has collected consistent top five finishes to take over the point lead. Both started mid-pack as they watched #23 Preston DeShano lead the feature field of 19 during the opening laps. Beaverton MI racing veteran #4s Toby Steele, who is at his best on a slick track, took his turn at the lead. DeShano, running in the top three suddenly pulled out of the race early with two other top contenders, #615 Chad Wernette and #42 Craig Vance. Jones wasted no time on the restart as he overtook Steele to collect his fourth TCMS feature of the year. #2 Tanner Pray, Szecsodi, Steele, and 2017 TCMS Champion #19jr Kody Johnson finished as the top five. #33 Todd Matheson and Jones each captured heat race gold.
Next Friday brings the return of the Great Lakes Super Sprints to TCMS!! Who will wheel their winged sprint car at an average speed of over 100mph to the feature win?? Come early to find out and get the best seats! Walk in with ease without standing in the long lines by purchasing your tickets online today at www.tricityracetrack.com . IMCA Modifieds, Mini-Wedge, Street Stocks, Pro Stocks, and FWD Bomber Stocks will also be part of the race card. Don’t let summer slip away without a visit to Michigan’s ultimate dirt track racing destination: Tri-City Motor Speedway.
Article Credit: Roger Williams
Article Media
