6/21/2014
Winston Speedway
Josh Sternberg Takes Port City Racecars Bomber Special at Winston
Rothbury, Michigan (Saturday, June 21st, 2014): Even though the summer solstice signals the day’s becoming shorter, the short track racing season is still in full swing. The fast 3/8ths (0.375) mile semi-banked dirt oval of the Winston Speedway in Rothbury, Michigan held another full show featuring a Factory Stocks/ Bombers Special presented by Port City Racecars. Plus the UMP DIRTcar Late Models, UMP DIRTcar Modifieds, UMP DIRTcar Street Stocks, Four-Cylinder Mini Stocks, Four-Cylinder Warriors, and Young Guns.
Chops Barnhard and John Krusinsky led the feature event for the UMP DIRTcar Late Models out onto the speedway for their 25-lap contest. Krusinsky took the early lead. However it did not take long for the six time and defending track champion Rich Neiser to find his way to the lead. Neiser had all but won the race with one lap to go, but his would suffer mechanical issues and give the lead to two time track champion Tom Sprague Jr. who picked up the win.
This was the second win of the season for the 30-year old Muskegon, Michigan native driving his Sprague Auto Parts / Rocket Chassis. Krusinsky finished second. Bill Workman, Mike Wilbern, and Denny Anderson completed the top five. Bill Bray and Rich Neiser won the heat races.
The Factory Stocks / Bombers special presented by Port City Racecars was out next in a 20-lap shootout. Mel Whitten and Dan Wilson Jr. made up the front row. 2012 track champion Josh Sternberg was able to take control of the lead early, and he never had to look back from there as he went on to make the trip to the winner’s circle.
The Muskegon, Michigan native won while driving his Stern’s Towing / Chevrolet. Dan Wilson Jr. was the runner up. Mike DeJonge, Defending track champion Robbie Sternberg, and Mel Whitten finished off the top five.
The Young Guns were out next with their 10-lap A-Main with a front row consisting of Hedi Barnhard and Madison Crane. After the opening sequence it was Morgan Smith jumping out front with the lead. She would be able to gain a healthy advantage over the rest of the field and go on to take home the checkered flag.
This was the second victory of the season for the 14-year old Muskegon, Michigan driver, in the Smith Racing machine. Trent Musk picked up the second place finish. Kristina Johnson, Hedi Barnhard, and Bailie Wynbelt made up the top five. Musk was the winner of the lone heat race.
The UMP DIRTcar Modifieds 20-lap feature was next. They were led by a pair of Muskegon, Michigan drivers Kevin Cavanaugh and Derek Passenier. Cavanaugh jumped out with the advantage in the early going. On lap 4 the two-time and defending UMP DIRTcar Modified Michigan State Champion David Mielke worked his way to the front to take the lead. However he would soon be chased down by Travis Stemler who was able to take the lead with 13 laps to go.
The 23-year old from Ionia, Michigan drove his Bert’s Glass / Rocket By Ruhlman Racecar to victory lane. Finishing second was two time and defending track champion Andy Sprague. Mielke, Stan Dodds, and Cavanaugh rounded out the top five. Stemler and Paul Johnson were the heat race winners.
Then it was time for the Four-Cylinder Warriors 12-lap main event. Christian Wynbelt and Mindi Holy were on the front row. Holy took the lead after the first circuit, but would then see Mike Goodwin weave his way passed and take the lead. He would have a solid lead until; in the final laps he would see a challenge from Gary Larabee, but when the dust settled it would indeed be Goodwin getting the win.
The Muskegon, Michigan native picked up his fourth win of the season. Larabee had to settle for second. Buck Spencer, Randy Larabee, and Brian Hammond were the top five. Goodwin was also the winner of the lone heat race.
The UMP DIRTcar Street Stocks feature event was led out by 14-year old Drew Wilkerson and Ralph Sternberg. Sternberg took the top spot early on. However when the checkered flag dropped it would be Mike Epplett scoring the win.
This was the first win of the year for the 29-year old from Muskegon, Michigan in the J&J Machine / Chevrolet. The Defending UMP DIRTcar national champion Josh Frye was the runner up finisher. Jeremy Holman, Kendall Marlink, and Mark Farber rounded out the top five. Frye and Defending track champion Sadie Klein won the heats.
The Four-Cylinder Mini Stocks held their 12-lap main event. Rich Lieb and Ryan Hamm led the field of cars down to the green flag. The 2011 track champion Paul Namey would find his way to the lead and he would never look back from there as he went on to take home the checkered flag.
Namey, the 56-year old from Ada, Michigan scored his fifth win of the season in his River City Motors / Honda. Brian Carson would cross the line in second. Ryan Hamm. Christian Wynbelt, and Chad Tomczak capped off the top five. Tomczak was the winner of the lone heat race.
This Saturday June 28th the Winston Speedway will be welcoming back the star studded Allstar Performance Michigan Dirt Cup Modified Tour presented by Lane Automotive for their second and final visit of the season. This will be the traveling series fifth event of 2014. The program will also feature the UMP DIRTcar Late Models, UMP DIRTcar Street Stocks, Factory Stocks / Bombers, Four-Cylinder Mini Stocks, Four-Cylinder Warrriors, 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