5/29/2022
Thunderbird Raceway
Thunderbird May 28th Winners and Race Recap
Saturday, May 28th, Memorial Weekend, saw Thunderbird Raceway with sunny skies, full pits, and a full race program led by Warriors being featured, racing for $500.00 to win the 2nd scheduled race in their Allstar Performance Challenge Series.
We kick things off with heat races along with the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort UMP Super Late Model qualifying. Three groups qualified with the Father-Son duo of Chad and Justin White qualifying sub 13 seconds with Chad (Father) turning a 12.960 and Justin (Son) being quickest overall with a 12.716.
Kicking off features were Mini Wedges. Podium finishers for the restricted class 1st-Aidan Cook 2nd-Elleighanya Sheren 3rd-Joshua Stafford with heat win going to Blake Passage and Sheren.
Podium finishers for the unrestricted class 1st-Dallyn Ellis 2nd-Brayden Wellman 3rd-Ajay Davidson with heat wins going to Kolton Wellman and Karter Juusola.
Next up it was feature time for the Auto Value Pro Late Models. The feature was dominated by pole sitter, Trevor Sloan, leading every lap for the win, 2nd place-Brad Bates and 3rd-Tyler Habetler. The heat race was also won by Sloan.
The Lakeshore Chrysler Factory Stock Feature rolled out next. The whole race would see the Top 5 mixing it up back and forth with the battle for the lead between Robbie Sternberg and Gary Vandermark stealing the show. Sternberg would win with Vandermark finishing 2nd, 3rd-Paul Namey, 4th-Logan Gilmore, 5th-Josh Sternberg with Josh improving 7 spots after starting 12th. Heat races were won by Chad Weinrick, Robbie Sternberg, and Gary Vandermark.
Up next was the featured event; The Allstar Performance Challenge Series for Warriors. $500.00 on the line and a driver from Allegan who usually races asphalt would take home the check. Jason Patterson would win after holding off a tough challenge by Estevan Martinez. 3rd place-Chris McCrimmon, 4th-Chase Willard, 5th-Cameron Hendrickson. B Main winner would be Heidi Barnhard. Heat winners were Mike Currier, Brandon Tichelaar, and Trevor Chesebro.
The Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort UMP Super Late Models rolled out next. Drivers saw two different lanes making great, exciting racing action. Travis Stemler would go on to win after surgically picking his way through slower traffic to hold off Dona Marcoullier and Rich Neiser who were both putting heavy pressure on Stemler. 4th went to JR Hotovy and 5th-Matthew Sprague. Hard charger shoutout to Derek Passenier starting 21st and finishing 7th. Heat winners were won by the fast qualifiers of each group, Chad White, Matthew Sprague, and Justin White.
The House of Hobbies Cyber Stocks were up next and after a few laps, an unfortunate collision would end the chances for two heavy contenders in Allen Hite and Josh Short. Leading every lap from the pole would see Ryan Hamm get the monkey off of his back for the feature win followed by Estevan Martinez, 3rd-Nick Jenema, 4th-Anthony Wood, and 5th-Mike Currier. Heat wins went to Hamm and Wood.
Closing out the show would be the BMR Motorsports IMCA Modifieds. Many open wheel heavy hitters showed up to do battle with Jacob Poel being the Victor. 2nd place went to AJ Ward, 3rd-"Bad Boy" Mitchell Hunt, 4th-"The one-handed bandit" John McCaul, 5th-Jerry Hunt. Heat races would see a first-time winner in John Clark and the other 2 would be won by Mike Epplett and "Bad Boy" Mitchell Hunt.
Join us next week for a Soaring Eagle UMP Super Late Model Special and IMCA Mods Fastshaft Qualifier!!
Photo Credit: Dirt XTC Images
Article Credit: Jeremy Pearson
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