5/10/2014
Winston Speedway
Travis Stemler Lead’s All 40 Laps In Michigan Dirt Cup’s 2014 Opener
Rothbury, Michigan (Saturday, May 10th, 2014): Saturday night at the fast 3/8ths (0.375) mile semi banked dirt oval of Winston Speedway played host to the Allstar Performance Michigan Dirt Cup Modified Tour presented by Lane Automotive. The traveling series brought the best drivers in and around the state of Michigan to the Rothbury, Michigan speed plant for their first event of 2014. The show also featured racing from the UMP DIRTcar Late Models, UMP DIRTcar Street Stocks, UMP DIRTcar Warriors, UMP DIRTcar Mini Stocks, and Young Guns.
The night’s feature events kicked off with the running of the 10-lap feature for the Young Guns division. 13-year old Trent Musk and Morgan Smith led the field down to the green flag. Smith was able to take the early lead. However, when it was all said and done it was Musk who found his way to lead and took home the checkered flag picking up his third win of the season.
Musk drove his Wylie Electric / Honda to victory lane. Finishing second was Smith. Kristina Johnson, Gabe Flores, and Jamye Woodring capped off the top five finishers. Musk also won the heat race.
The Factory Stocks / Bombers class was out next for their 15-lap A-main. The front row consisted of Nate Trick and Bill Frey. Once the race was underway, it was Dan Wilson who found his way to the front as the race leader. The fans saw some great battles for the top four spots. But, when the checkered flag waved it was Wilson who lead the pack across the finish line.
The Muskegon, Michigan native picked up the win in his Wilson Motorsports machine.The runner up position was taken by Mike Fekken. Barry Mendendorp Jr., Mike Dejonge, and Frey rounded out the top five finishers. Josh Grabe won the lone heat race.
The UMP DIRTcar Street Stocks made their way out next for a 15-lap main event. Defending track champion Sadie Klein and Derek Poland made up the front row. Klein took lead right from the start and managed to pull away with Poland close behind. Those two would battle for the lead through the much of the contest. The battle came down to the checkered where it was Klein hanging on to capture the win.
The 23-year old from Muskegon, Michigan picked up the win in her Enterprise Iron & Metal / Oldsmobile. Poland was forced to settle for second. Kendall Marlink, Mike Epplett, and Chuck Smith completed the top five. The preliminary heat races were won by Klein and Poland.
Eric Spangler and Bill Bray led out the 20-lap feature event for the UMP DIRTcar late models. Dona Marcouiller wasted no time and found his way to the front and took the lead the early stages. He would manage to go all the way to the checkered flag and pick up the win.
The 29-year old from Houghton Lake, Michigan earned his second win of the year in his Northside Towing / Rocket Chassis. Six time and defending track champion Rich Nesier took second. Greg Gokey, Spangler, and Aaron Morey finished the top five. Spangler and Bray won the heats.
The Four-Cylinder Mini Stocks were led out by Bob Cook and Brittany Morris for their 15-lap feature event. Buck Spencer was able to charge ahead to the lead in the early going. However 2011 track champion Paul Namey powered his way to the front of the field and found himself in victory lane once the checkered flag was displayed.
Namey, the 56-year old from Ada, Michigan picked up his first win of the year in his River City Motors / Honda. Second place went to Brian Carson. Chris Gagnon, Spencer, and Scott Boyd were the remainder of the top five. The lone heat race was also won by Namey.
The Four-Cylinder Warriors were next and they were led by Gary Larabee and Dennis Bauer. Larabee jumped out front with the early lead. He ran strong throughout the entire event until on the final lap he was passed by Mike Goodwin who crossed just a nose length ahead of Larabee.
This was Goodwin’s third win in a row in his Goodwin racing machine. Larabee had to settle for second place. Rick Nic, Randy Larabee, and Terry Woodard made up the top five. Randy Larabee and Goodwin won the heat races.
The final event of the night was saved for the 40-lap main event for the Allstar Performance Michigan Dirt Cup Modifieds presented by Lane Automotive. Travis Stemler and Robbie Sternberg led the 20-car field down to the green flag. After the first lap it was Stemler who held the race lead and multiple battles commencing behind him. However despite all of the attempts made by the rest of the field Stemler managed to go green to checkered for all 40-laps to pick up the first Michigan Dirt Cup feature win of the year.
This was the 23-year old Stemler’s second win of the season at the Winston Speedway in his Bert’s Glass / BMS Chassis. Defending UMP DIRTcar Michigan State and Michigan Dirt Cup Tour champion David Mielke finished as the runner up. Two time Michigan Dirt Cup champion Jacob Poel, J.R. Hotovy, and two time and defending track champion Andy Sprague rounded out the top five. Hotovy, Derek Passiner, Sternberg, and Stemler won the heat races. Andrew Terrill and Dave Baker won the B-Mains.
Next Saturday May 17th will see the Winston Speedway feature a full racing program highlighted by a Factory Stock / Bomber special presented by Port City Racecars. Plus, the UMP DIRTcar Late Models, UMP DIRTcar Modifieds, UMP DIRTcar Street Stocks, Four-Cylinder Warriors, Four-Cylinder Mini Stocks, and Young Guns. The Pit Gates Open at 3:30p.m., Grandstands Open at 4:30p.m., Practice Starts at 5:30p.m., and Racing Begins at 7:00p.m.
Winston Speedway is located at 7834 South 72nd Avenue in Montague, Michigan. For more information, please call: 1 (231) 737-9223 or go to the website located at: www.racewinston.com You can also follow everything that is happening on and off the track by becoming a fan on the tracks Facebook Fan Page and following along on Twitter as well. Just go to: www.facebook.com/WinstonSpeedway and www.twitter.com/WinstonSpeedway and click on “Like" and “Follow” buttons today.
Article Credit: Brian Osborne
Submitted By: Brian Osborne
