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Saumier Jr. and Murdoch bag the big bucks at Birch Run!

Big Money was on the line for the Street Stocks and the Front Wheel Drives as FastLane Auto Exchange presented the "Rolling on the Dixie' Invitational for the two classes, along with a regular show for the Pure Stocks, Trucks, and Figure 8s.

Fast time award for the night went to:
Nelson Hydraulics American Trucks - Cam DeLong 17.086
Finish Line Seamless Gutters Pure Stocks - Jim Miller Jr. 17.138
Front Wheel Drives - Nicholas Murdock 16.195 for a new track record!
Showcase Auto Sales Street Stocks - Adam Rowe 15.741

Heat race wins went to:
Nelson Hydraulics America Trucks Heat One - Jason Dvorscak for his first-ever heat race win!
Nelson Hydraulics American Trucks Heat Two - Zane Cruz
Finish Line Seamless Gutters Pure Stocks Heat One - Duane Damon
Finish Line Seamless Gutters Pure Stocks Heat Two - Andrew Burton
Front Wheel Drive Heat One - Rodney Nettleton for his first heat race win at Birch Run Speedway!
Front Wheel Drive Heat Two - Nicholas Murdock for his first ever heat race win!
Showcase Auto Sales Street Stocks Australian Pursuit - Lonnie Saumier Jr.

Anthony Duvernois was the early leader in the Nelson Hydraulics American Truck feature until Zane Cruz passed him. Cruz tried to stretch his lead, but lapped traffic slowed his momentum as Cam DeLong made his way up to challenge. The duo stayed in line from the halfway point of the 25-lap affair until the white flag flew. DeLong looked to the inside of Cruz off of turn two and made the inside line work as he beat Cruz to the line to win a thriller! DeLong's victory was the second of the season for the pilot of the Motor City Core/Pierson Rd Muffler Man number 95. Cruz finished second ahead of Charles Hamilton, Duvernois, and Jason Dvorscak.

Duane Damon led early in the Finish Line Seamless Gutters Pure Stock feature while the field battled two and sometimes three-wide behind. Andrew Burton made his way to second and after a caution for a blown engine, would eventually get by Damon for the lead. Burton led Damon and point leader Jim Miller Jr. until the next caution flew for a spin in turn four. Miller moved into second on the restart as Hunter Doutre got to the inside of Damon for third. Miller and Burton ran side-by- for two laps until Hunter Doutre made a three-wide bid for the lead off turn four. Contact between the cars of Doutre and Burton entering turn one sent the 05 of Burton spinning and both drivers to the rear of the field. Miller inherited the lead and held off several challenges from Kyle Callahan to put his Angie Ridley's Complete Realty/Fish Bone Lures number 9 in the winner's circle for the fourth time in 2024. Rounding out the top five were Andrew Shelters, Bruce Dunton Jr., and Brent Voris.

The Front Wheel drives were racing for a $1,000 payday and several visitors came to try and take home the big check. Logan McCaslin led the opening four trips around the one-third-mile before the faster-qualified cars caught up. Rodney Nettleton went to the outside of McCaslin and Nicholas Murdock went low as they entered turn one on lap five Murdock was sent into the infield and the caution was thrown. Nettleton led for a lap until the caution flew again. Michael Workman lined up to the outside for the restart and took the lead. He would lead for four laps until Randy Moore worked his way by. Seven laps later Murdoch caught and passed Workman for second and one lap later made his way to the outside of Moore for the lead. The driver of the Marion Springs Conservation Club/Modern Shiawassee #79 never faltered in picking up the 30-lap win. Moore settled for second ahead of Workman, Dan Hassard, and Corbin Kelley.

After a one-year hiatus, Lonnie Saumier Jr. showed no signs of rust in the Showcase Auto Sales Street Stocks. After picking up the win in the Australian Pursuit, Saumier was at the point for the drop of the green flag and that is where he stayed for the entire 25-lap duration. One caution slowed the event, but that and the challenges from Jesse Collinge never phased the Davison driver as he parked the Lonnie's M57 Towing/Stearn's M15 Garage number M15 in victory lane! Collinge finished ahead of Adam Rowe, Jake Thompson, and Tyler Praysner, who made the long haul from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario to race.

The night wrapped up with the always exciting figure 8s. Andrew Burton got the lead early but couldn't hold off hard-charging Anthony Williams. Williams started ninth and was able to avoid near misses at the intersection to get to Burton and pass him for his first Figure 8 win of the season in his Custom Drywall/Top Speed Motorsports #97. The top five was completed by Duane Damon who just beat Burton to the line, Anthony Duvernois, and Jason Dvorscak.

This Friday is Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club Night, with card-carrying members will be granted free admission to watch the Wheeler Trucking Modifieds, the finale for the Mr. Asphalt/Bridge Lake Auto&Truck Parts Sportsmen, Finish Line Seamless Gutters Pure Stocks, Nelson Hydraulics American Trucks, Front Wheel Drives, and the Top Speed Motorsports Spectator drags. Advance tickets can be purchased at www.birchrunevents.com

All photos courtesy of Race Photos by Mike on Facebook

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