6/20/2017
Tri-City Motor Speedway
6/16/2017 Race Results
06/16/2017 Greased Pig 7.0 Presented by Isabella Bank
Melling Select Performance Late Models: #6m Dona Marcoullier
Elgin Pro Stock: #28 Jared Rizer
Suspension MAXX Street Stocks: #x5 Eric Lake
Thornton Brothers Sewer and Septic Service Bomber Stocks: #66 Mike Schnettler
Walker’s Ideal Trophies Mini Wedge: #7 Dakota Vennix
Comp Cams / Lane Automotive IMCA Modified Challenge, Presented by: Allstar Performance: #511 Chaz Pray
Pray Captures First Feature Win with Greased Pig 7.0
6/16/2017 (Auburn MI) Tri-City Motor Speedway celebrated seven seasons of dirt track racing this past weekend with 108 teams and drivers packing the pits and fans convening at the Auburn clay oval on a comfortable evening. It was also Kid’s night, which allowed fans and drivers to partake in a massive autograph session compassing the front stretch of the track. The evening’s festivities were sponsored by Isabella Bank.
Every anniversary weekend of the re-opening of the Tri-City Motor Speedway the Main Street Seed and Supply Modified division commemorates the occasion with the running of the Greased Pig feature. This year’s version, the 7.0, was a 41-lap Comp Cams / Lane Automotive IMCA Modified Challenge, Presented by: Allstar Performance paying $1077 to the winner. Qualifying heat races were needed to narrow the field down to the 20-best drivers of the night that would compete for the top prize. In addition to the increased top prize, the winning driver would also be placed on the IMCA all-star ballot for the chance to compete against the countries best drivers at the annual Super Nationals at Boone Iowa in September. #98 Austin Wonch, #615 Chad Wernette, and #511 Chaz Pray would show themselves as early contenders by capturing the wins in their heat races. Rookie driver #97 Nick Stormzand would win the last chance qualifier to secure his spot in the feature field. Point leader #19 Kody Johnson would have the luxury of starting on the pole for the start of the 41-lap battle. However, outside pole sitter Pray would get the superb start and pace the field. He was able to overcome numerous cautions that would tighten the field and lead from start to finish in winning his first ever TCMS feature event. He would hold off his brother #27 Matt Szecsodi, last week’s winner #71 Timmy Near, Johnson, and fourteenth place started #187 Gavin Hunyady
Shepherd driver #15 Cole Doty would win the heat race in the Walker’s Ideal Trophies Mini Wedge division Friday night. Doty would lead a majority of the 10-lap feature event before point leader and last week’s winner, #7 Dakota Vennix, caught Doty. He would make the winning move on the outside of Doty with two laps to go to pick up another feature win. Doty would have to settle for the runner-up spot and was followed by #3 Mason Clements, #36 Jennifer Young, and #80 Preston Mieske.
Twenty-Two Melling Select Performance Late Models took the track for their 30-lap feature. Front row starters, #86 Scott Clifford and #21 Logan Arntz led the field to the green flag with Vestaburg driver, Arntz, leading the field for a number of laps. However, as most of the fans have seen a multitude of times over the past few season, Houghton Lake standout #6m Dona Marcoullier would maneuver his way from his twelfth place starting position and snatched the lead from Arntz by lap ten. From there, he would cruise to a half lap win over the rest of the field. Ionia’s #2 Travis Stemler would finish a distant runner-up. Stemler was followed by defending track Champion #4t Andrew Terrill, #21s Steven Hilliker, and #76 Torrey Ahrens in the top five. Arntz, Terrill, and Marcoullier captured heat race gold.
The Suspension MAXX Street Stock feature was led to the green by #50 Jake Thompson and #16 Steve Doty. It was Thompson that would flex his muscle early by leading the first half of the event. Ninth place starter and former champion #M65 Rick Spencer, in his station wagon, would find Thompson and put the pressure on for the lead. While they battled, #x5 Eric Lake would use the low line from his twelfth position start to make it a three car battle for the win. Lake would eventually clear both Spencer and Thompson to capture his fifth feature of 2017. The top five finishers were Lake, Spencer, Thompson, #7k Dan Krause Jr., and Doty. Earlier heat races were won by Thompson, Lake, and Spencer. Dirt rookie #4c Jason Congdon capture the last chance feature.
27 Rob Westergard, #99 Rick Beauchamp, and #10 Brent Reil would win their heat races to help set up the starting line-up for the twenty lap Elgin Pro Stock feature. Front row starters #01 Randy Radabaugh and #36 Jeremy Spencer would fight for the lead in the opening laps of the hotly contested main event. Six different lead changes amongst five different drivers kept the crowd on the edge of their seat throughout the event. Spencer, Radabaugh, #69 Nate Murphy, Westergard, and last week’s winner #28 Jared Rizer all took turns leading the field before it calmed down to a three car battle on the final lap. Rizer would nip the field at the finish line narrowly beating out Murphy, Westergard, Beauchamp, and #57 TJ Gilbert. This would be Rizer’s second career victory and second win in a row.
The Thornton Brothers Sewer and Septic Service Bomber Stock division started the night similar to the week prior. #21 Andy Koczenasz would dominate his heat race and lead a majority of the fifteen lap main event. However, Koczenasz would once again be denied his first win of the season as #66 Mike Schnettler would catch him and make the winning pass with two laps remaining. Point leader and last week’s winner #18 Nick Putman would overtake Koczenasz for second. #7 John Staszak and #3 Bobby Fetters III would complete the top five finishers.
Join TCMS next Friday night for another full night of family friendly stock car racing entertainment with five different types of car divisions competing once again! Follow along with the races and play bingo with a twist! In addition, we will have the popular Suspension MAXX truck drags!! There is no need to stand in line on race days anymore! You can purchase all your tickets online at www.tricityracetrack.com !! The grandstand gates open at 5:30pm with practice beginning at 6:30. Family Fun Friday action begins at 7:55 with our preliminary races. All the details for this event and the rest of the 2017 schedule are online now!
Submitted By: Erika Puvalowski
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