8/2/2014
Winston Speedway
Winston Awards Seven Feature Winners in Full Show on Saturday Night
Rothbury, Michigan (Saturday, August 2nd, 2014): It was Race fans vs. Cancer night at the Winston Speedway in Montague, Michigan located just west of Rothbury, off of U.S. 31. Various events and activities were held all to raise funds to help the Johnson Cancer Center in Muskegon. The speedway also welcomed the members of the Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club for their vist. The racing program featured action from the UMP DIRTcar Late Models, UMP DIRTcar Modifieds, UMP DIRTcar Street Stocks, Factory Stocks / Bombers, Four-Cylinder Mini Stocks, Four-Cylinder Warriors, and Young Guns. This made up yet another full 7 in 1 show for the fast 3/8ths (0.375) mile dirt oval.
The Factory Stocks / Bombers were up first with their 15-lap feature event. 2012 track champion Josh Sternberg and Mike Fekken made up the front row. Once the green flag waved it was Sternberg who jumped out front with the lead. However on the second lap Josh Grabe would be able to charge to the font of the field after starting fifth. Grabe would never have to look back from there as he went on to pick up the win.
Grabe, a 33-year old from Muskegon, Michigan picks up his fifth win of the season in his Cancoon Connection / Oldsmobile. Two time and defending track champion Robbie Sternberg finished just behind in second. Josh Sternberg, Fekken, and Dan Wilson Jr. rounded out the top five. Bethany May and Robbie Sternberg won the heat races.
The UMP DIRTcar Street Stocks were led out by a front row of Chuck Smith and Mark Farber for a 20-lap feature. Smith jumped out front with the lead off the start. He would soon face a challenge from the defending UMP DIRTcar Stock Cars National Champion Josh Frye. However no matter what Frye attempted there was no stopping Smith who was able to lead the entire event from start to finish getting the win.
This was the 29-year old Muskegon, Michigan native’s second win of the season in the Mulberry Manor Child Care / Chevrolet. Frye was forced to settle for the second place finish. Justin Giddings, Defending track champion Sadie Klein, and Farber finished off the top five. The heat victories went to Frye and Klein.
Next was the 10-lap Young Guns A-Main feature led by the front row of Hedi Barnhard and Morgan Smith. Smith took the lead after the green flag waved. She was able to stay out front for a majority of the race. However she would be involved in a late race caution forcing to leave the race with damage. This gave the lead to Trent Musk who was able to hold off the rest of the field for the final lap and he picked up the win.
This was the 14-year old Muskegon, Michigan driver earned his tenth win of the year his Wylie Electric / Honda. 16-year old Kristina Johnson finished as the runner up. Gabe Flores, Bailie Wynbelt, and Madison Crane made up the top five. Musk was also the winner of the heat race.
The 25-lap main event for the UMP DIRTcar Late Models hit the speedway next led by the front row of Six time track champion Rich Neiser and Rob Taylor. Neiser wasted no time in jumping out front with the lead. He would gain a very healthy advantage and lead the entire race from green to finish and pick up the win.
This was the seventh win of the season behind the wheel of the Baker Engineering / Mastersbilt Racecar for the 44-year old Fruitport, Michigan native. Mike Wilber finished second. Taylor, Bry Sloan, and Derek Thebo completed the top five. Neiser and Taylor won the heat races.
Brian Kiester and Two time and defending track champion Andy Sprague led out the UMP DIRTcar Modifieds for their 20-lap feature event. Sprague was the first to the lead after the completion of the first lap. He would be able to hold his line despite a strong protest from Aaron Morey in the late stages of the race, but nothing would stop Sprague from making the trip to the winner’s circle as the winner.
The 32- year old Muskegon, Michigan native Sprague won his third feature of the year in his Sprague Auto Parts / Rocket By Ruhlman Racecar. Aaron Morey finished just behind in the runner up spot. Collin Thirlby, Travis Stemler, and two-time UMP DIRTcar Modified Michigan State Champion David Mielke capped off the top five. Steve McClees and Thirlby won the heats.
The Four-Cylinder Warriors were the next division to hit the speedway for their 12-lap A-Main. Mike Goodwin and Buck Spencer led the field down to chief starter Mike Lee’s green flag. Goodwin would shoot to the lead once the green flag waved. There would be no stopping Goodwin as he would go to lead every lap in and take home the checkered flag getting the win.
This was the eighth win of the year for the Muskegon, Michigan driver. Finishing second was Gary Larabee. Chris Gagnon, Spencer, and Randy Larabee rounded out the top five. Larabee won the lone heat race.
The final race of the night belonged to the Four-Cylinder Mini Stocks for a 12-lap shoot out. Chad Tomczak and Brian Carson made up the front row. Carson jumped out front with the early advantage. He would be able to lead the entire event from start to finish and make the visit to victory lane.
This was the seventh win of the year for the North Muskegon, Michigan driver. 2011 track champion Paul Namey finished just behind in second. Chad Tomczak, John McCaul Jr., and Bob Halberstadt finished the top five. Carson also won the heat race.
This Saturday August 9th will be Fan Appreciation night at the Winston Speedway. The show will again be headlined by the high-powered UMP DIRTcar Late Models. They will be joined by the UMP DIRTcar Modifieds, UMP DIRTcar Street Stocks, Factory Stocks / Bombers, Four-Cylinder Mini Stocks, Four-Cylinder Warriors, 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
