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RUHL WINS 2nd FEATURE

Lake Odessa, MI – Ryan Ruhl (Coldwater, MI) picked up where he left off last Saturday, picking up his 2nd feature win in a week last night at I-96 Speedway in the red hot Smith Motorsports 71H.

The Great Lakes Super Sprints presented by Engine Pro and ARP made their first visit since June 12th with a good field of 29 cars. The night started a little slow as it appeared the drivers were trying to socially distance from the push off area! But after getting heat in the motors and giving everyone hot laps, the track was looking good and things were lining up for a great night of racing.

As the cars started hitting the track for single car qualifying, it appeared the drivers were liking the feel of the track. Pulling on the track 23rd, Dustin Daggett (Portland, MI) set fast time with a 14.373 second lap. Phil Gressman (Helena, OH) was 2nd quick, with Devon Dobie (Wapakoneta, OH), Jared Horstman (Cloverdale, OH) and Chase Ridenour (Perry, MI) rounded out the top 5 qualifiers.

Ryan Coniam (Burlington, ON) rolled out last of 29 cars and was 8th quick with a 14.874 lap. Coniam missed his spot with some engine problems, but his time allowed him to start one spot out of a transfer spot, putting him 5th in the first heat race.

Leading off the night, Ridenour got up on the wheel and had his Wheeler Motorsports 16w on a rail in the Engler Machine and Tool Heat 1. Ridenour rode those rails to the heat win with Daggett taking 2nd. Andrew Scheid (Sparta, MI) and Dan McCarron (Bitton, MI) secured the final two transfer spots.

In the Beacon and Bridge Markets Heat 2, Steve Irwin (Fenton, MI) in the Gall Racing 81 car, jumped out to the early lead and was looking comfortable running the top of the track. Unfortunately, with his right rear tire going soft, the tire blew out as he set up in the top of turn 1 bringing the caution out after 3 completed laps. Taking the lead and the checkered flag was visiting Tyler Gunn (Napoleon, OH) driving the Williams Racing 27W. Gressman, Hud Horton (German Town, OH) and Andy Chehowski (Coldwater, MI) rounded out the 4 transfer spots.

Jay Steinbach (Hudsonville, MI) kept his streak of heat race wins intact winning the Kistler Engines & Racing Products Heat 3. Ruhl got by Steinbach at the half way point, but Steinbach was able to keep his momentum going to take back the lead. Ruhl secured 2nd and a redraw spot, while Dobie and Linden Jones (Edwardsburg, MI) locked in the remaining transfer spots.

Starting on the outside of the front row, Conner Morrell (Bradenton, FL) the GLSS Rookie of the Year 2018, got out front in the Engine Pro Heat 4 and never looked back. Max Stambaugh in the Joe & Diane Seeling 97 car pushed Morrell hard, but finished 2nd and grabbed the last redraw spot. Horstman and Gregg Dalman (Bellevue, MI) secured the last 2 transfer spots to the A-Main.

In the Beacon and Bridge Markets Last Chance race, six final transfer spots to run the feature were up for grabs. After 12 quick laps Coniam, Mike Astrauskas (Pierson, MI), Frank Neill (Vickery, OH), Justin Ward (Bensonia, MI), Eli Lakin (Buchanan, MI) and Alexis Adgate (Middleville, MI) punched their tickets and moved on to the A-Main.

With a great night of racing so far, the anticipation was high as the 22 cars were pushed out on the track. After firing, the cars quickly lined up and the fan favorite 4 wide salute formed. The socially distanced crowd was vocal and could be heard over the roar of the engines as the 22 cars went four wide from turn 1 all the way around the track to turn 1! The cars split and were lined back up and the next lap the field went green.

With a picture perfect nose to tail start by the whole field, Daggett won the sprint to turn 1 with Ruhl on his tail. The next 3 laps there was a lot of slicing and dicing, three wide coming out of 2 and in 3 and 4. As the cars settled in, we clicked off 20 laps in just under 5 minutes and then the caution flew as the 46 car got loose in turn 2, spinning out and coming to a stop. As with all cautions, it was good for some and not so good for others.

As the green flag dropped, it was Ruhl and Daggett still out front. Horstman who was 5th going into the caution, was able to get by Ridenour and Stambaugh and move into 3rd. With the laps clicking away, it appeared Daggett would be able to hold Horstman off, but in a last lap pass, Horstman got around and secured second and the Hoosier Racing Tires Hard Charger Award, after Ruhl took the checked flag. Daggett, Ridenour and Stambaugh rounded out the top five spots.

Thank you to our presenting sponsors Engine Pro and ARP, along with marketing partners Beacon & Bridge Markets, Addvance Heating & Cooling, Specialty Fuels & Logisitcs and Midland Steel. Please support our sponsors along with our race sponsors Engler Machine and Tool, Kistler Engines and Racing Parts, Campbell Performance and Hoosier Racing Tires.

For our most up to date racing schedule during this pandemic, go to our website www.greatlakessupersprints.com and look for our revised schedule. You can also visit www.greatlakessprints.com to check out our non-wing sprints and lightning sprints schedules. Please follow and like us on Facebook and Twitter (@GLSprints).

Our next race will be at Thunderbird Raceway on Saturday, July 25th. Check with the track for more details.

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