8/8/2021
Merritt Speedway
Schlenk Wins on Last Lap Pass in WoodTic Thriller for 33k to Win
One of the biggest short-track racing events of the season took place this past weekend at the Merritt Speedway in Lake City, Michigan. The fast 1/4 mile dirt oval hosted the 33rd Annual WoodTic where some of the top racing contenders took part in the historic event. The race program was headlined by the $33,000 to win event for the DIRTcar UMP Late Models in the running of the 4th Annual Dan Salay Memorial. The race was part of the Allstar Performance Challenge Series presented by Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort. The Cadillac Tire Center DIRTcar UMP Modifieds, Troll Smokehouse B-Modifieds, Auto Value Pro Stocks, Thirlby Automotive Factory Stocks, XLT Engineering Four & Six Cylinders, and Allstar Performance Mini-Wedges were all in competition as well. The 2-day show started with Preliminary events on Friday and concluded with the main events running on Saturday.
The Allstar Performance Mini-Wedges started things off Saturday night. The restricted division was up first, and it was Coleman, Michigan’s Cason Murphy getting the big win. He finished just ahead of Dominic Fowler, and Tucker Warner. In the un-restricted division, it would be Ryan Read of Stanton, Michigan going to victory lane. Addy Wade, and Troy Yetter completed the top three.
The Thirlby Automotive Factory Stocks hit the racing surface for the running of a 25-lap A-Main with Eric Watz and 2015-track champion Jim Miller Sr. starting on the front row. Miller would grab the top position after completing the opening lap. The lead changed hands on lap 3 when Chaney Newland took over the lead. On lap 9 Nate Murphy would take the spotlight as the leader, but Newland would answer on lap 11 by taking the lead back. He would seem to have the win in hand, but in the closing laps his car would suffer mechanical issues handing the lead over to Jake Thompson who went on to pick up the win. This would mark the second win of the year of the Birch Run, Michigan native in his #50. John Taylor finished second. 3-time track champion Rick Spencer, Katie Robinson, and Cameron Gordon rounded out the top five.
The XLT Engineering Four & Six Cylinders were out next for a 25-lap event with the front row of Chris Wassman and Elizabeth Ridge leading the field to the green flag. Wassman managed to win the battle for the lead on the first circuit. He would not be denied as he would go on from there to make the trip to victory lane. Wassman, the native of Whittamore, Michigan scores his first win of the year in his #25. Herb Freeman would be the runner up finisher. Ian Travis, Chad Freeman, and Peter Hennard capped off the top five.
The Cadillac Tire Center DIRTcar UMP Modifieds rolled out for a 40-lap main event. Jeff Erickson Jr. and 2018-DIRTcar Regional Champion Collin Thirlby started at the front of the field when the green flag waved. Thirlby wasted no time in taking the lead after the opening lap. Erickson would power past for the lead on lap 3. Things would change until lap 17, that was when 2011-DIRTcar Regional Champion Jacob Poel made the pass for the lead. The battle would not end there as the white flag waved signaling the final lap Erickson would pull ahead of Poel with the advantage and go on to win. The Muskegon, Michigan driver notched his first win of the year in his #1E. Poel took second. 3-time track champion Chad Bauer, Thirlby, and 2-time track champion Rich Robinson Jr. completed the top five.
The Auto Value Pro Stocks were led out by Tim Tabaczka and Teri Lynn Muprhy for a 25-lap main. Tabaczka would win the fight for the early race lead after lap one. That would turn out to be the move of the race for him as he would go on from there to pick up the feature win. The Freesoil, Michigan native, Tabaczka earned his second win of the season in the #45T. Andrew Steele would finish second. Teri Lynn Murphy, Tim Murphy, and Anthony Schweifler finished out the top five.
The Troll Smokehouse B-Modifieds were up for a 25-lap feature event with Richie Sutherland and Calvin Stemler on the first row. The green flag waved, and Sutherland jumped out in front of the field. On Lap 5 however, Collin Thirlby would gain the race advantage pulling ahead of Sutherland. Thirlby would maintain his lead for the rest of the event and would go to victory lane. 19-year old Austin Harnick finished in the second position. 19-year old Michael Luberda Jr., Kevin Miller, and Scott Smith made up the rest of the top five.
The final race of the night belonged to the DIRTcar UMP Late Models for the Allstar Performance Challenge Series presented by Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort. The $33000 to win 4th Annual Dan Salay Memorial was brought to the track by 3-time DIRTcar National Champion Rusty Schlenk alongside 6-time track, and 5-time DIRTcar Regional champion Eric Spangler. The 75-lap event took the green and it would be Schlenk leading the opening circuit with everyone else battling for position behind him. Spangler would challenge and take the lead on lap 12. The lead would change hands again on lap 17 when Schlenk would go to the top of the leader board, but Spangler would answer by taking the lead on lap 23. Spangler would lead the next 51 laps. However, the on the final lap Schlenk would gain momentum and pulled up alongside Spangler on the front straightaway and took the lead at the checkered flag to take win in dramatic fashion.
The win marked the first of the season at Merritt Speedway for Schlenk, the native McClure, Ohio driver of the #91. Spangler would settle for second. Dona Marcoullier, 2-time American Late Model Series Champion Brandon Thirlby, and Rich Bell rounded out the top five finishers.
Merritt Speedway will return to action this Saturday August 14th for “Fan Appreciation Night” where grandstand tickets will be ONLY $5. The night will feature an Autograph session with the drivers as well. The race program will feature a $3000 to win special for the Thirlby Automotive Factory Stocks. They will be joined by the Soaring Eagle DIRTcar UMP Late Models, Troll Smokehouse B-Modifieds, Auto Value Pro Stocks, XLT Engineering Four & Six Cylinders, and Allstar Performance Mini-Wedges. Racing is scheduled to start at 6:00pm. Stay tuned to the Merritt Speedway Facebook Page for the latest updates.
Article Credit: Brian Osborne
Article Media
