6/10/2018
Tri-City Motor Speedway
6/8/2018 Race Results
06/08/2018 Michigan CAT and MacAllister Rentals Night
- Main Street Seed and Supply IMCA Modified: #27 Matt Szecsodi
- Mueller’s Performance Engines Pro Stock: #69 Nate Murphy
- Suspension MAXX Street Stocks: #M65 Rick Spencer
- Melling Performance Late Models: #2 Travis Stemler
- Thornton Brothers Sewer and Septic Service Bomber Stocks: #7 John Staszak
- Walker’s Ideal Trophies Mini-Wedge 6-9 Yr Olds: #54 Addison Clink
- Walker’s Ideal Trophies Mini-Wedge 10-14 Yr Olds: #24c Caden Anderson
Staszak Snags Bomber Stock Victory at Tri-City Motor Speedway
06/08/2018 (Auburn, MI) The 2018 racing season resumed last Friday night at Tri-City Motor Speedway in Auburn, Michigan. 109 competitors travelled from across the state of Michigan and Ohio in hopes of parking their machine in victory lane at the end of the night. However, only seven of those drivers would end up celebrating their winning efforts. A great crowd was on hand to enjoy what turned out to be a fantastic night of competition. The Thornton Brothers Sewer and Septic Service Bomber Stocks were the evening’s spot light division as they raced for a $518 top prize for the winner of the 28-lap main event. Michigan Cat and MacAllister Rentals was the evening sponsor.
The Thornton Brothers Sewer and Septic Service Bomber Stocks had twelve competitors take the green flag for the 28-lap big money race. Bay City driver #21 Alex Keit would lead the initial lap of competition before seventh place starter #7 John Staszak would take the lead making the pass from the top groove. Staszak would continue to use the high line in an attempt to pull away from the field. By the halfway point, it was a three car race with #9 Ethan Robarts and #03 Preston DeShano within striking distance of the leader. DeShano would eventually lose sight of Staszak and Robarts as they fought for the top spot. Robarts, using the shortest distance around the track, pulled alongside Staszak numerous times but was unable to complete the pass. Staszak would capture his third feature win of 2018 and the biggest win of his young career. Robarts would finish runner-up with DeShano third. #01TK Brad Treichel and #80 Daryl McBride rounded out the top five finishers. Staszak and Robarts also dominated their heat races.
The Melling Performance Late Models, once again, provided the “edge of your seat” entertainment that spectators have become accustom to on Friday nights. Ravenna driver #78 Drew Wilkerson took the lead from #75 Rod Laney at the start of the 30-feature. The young driver would take seven circuits as the leader before Midland rookie #71 Timmy Near would ride the rim of the track to take over as the leader. He would amass a straightaway lead over the field with lap times nearly a half second faster than the field he was leading. However, the back of the field would bring the front of the field closer together as Near found it difficult to maneuver through the slower traffic. This allowed ninth place starter and point leader #2 Travis Stemler the ability to catch Near with five laps remaining. The two fought each other and the lapped traffic before Stemler was able to best Near and complete the winning pass from the low side in turn four coming to the white flag. This was Stemler’s second win of season to go along with three runner-up finishes. Near finished a season best second ahead of #6m Dona Marcoullier, Champion #4t Andrew Terrill, and hard charging #87 David Mielke (from 12th position). #3 Kyle Roberts won the last chance B-Main. Heat race winners included Stemler, #19 Derrick Hilliker, and #6 Carl Ries.
The Walker’s Ideal Trophies Mini Wedge drivers continue to show that they have just as much grit and determination as the older drivers as the 6-14 year olds had impressive battles in their feature events. The group of 6-9 year old drivers had #80 Preston Mieske, after numerous attempts to start the race, lead the nine competitors in the 10-lap A-Main. However, it was not long before 8-year old point leader #54 Addison Clink made her move to the front. Once she got past Mieske, she was untouchable. She took the checkered flag and first place trophy. The top five finishers included #27 Pierson DeShano, #5 Brennan DeShano, #12 Morgan Bujarski, and Mieske. B. DeShano and #28 Kyron DeShano won their respective heat races. The 10-14 year old class saw another great battle between Mount Pleasant driver #24c Caden Anderson and Shepherd’s #15 Cole Doty. The two friends would cleanly race each other for the entire ten lap feature with Anderson holding on for his second feature win. Doty, #0x Zayden Olger, and #2e Easton Murray would finish within the top four. Doty was the heat race winner.
The twenty lap Suspension MAXX street stock feature had one of their most competitive races of the 2018 season. Early favorites that won their preliminary heat races included #84 Eric Watz, #M65 Rick Spencer, and #21 Kyle Thomas. Pole sitter #46 Tyler Moore was the first driver to lead in the 20 lap main event. By lap four, it was #41 Ryan Nethers pacing the field. Two laps later, last week’s winner, #7r Kevin Newcomb would become the third leader of the event. Most of the field spent the event racing three and four wide with the most intense racing at the top of the leader board. By lap ten, Whittemore veteran Spencer took the lead from Newcomb and threatened to pull away from the field. Numerous cautions would regroup the field allowing for the top five to take their shots at the leader. Defending track Champion, #x5 Eric Lake tried numerous race lines on the track to gain an advantage on Spencer. On the final lap, it was evident that it was going to come down to these two drivers. Lake gave it everything he had but ended up looping his car on the front stretch just shy of the start/finish line. Spencer would earn his first feature of the year. Newcomb and #15.2 Robert Cunningham would sneak past the spinning Lake to finish second and third. Lake would finish in forth with Thomas completing the top five finishers.
The Mueller’s Performance Engines Pro Stock feature also ended in similar fashion. #10 Brent Reil took advantage of his front row starting position to lead the 16-car field through the opening five laps. #9 Marc Super found some grip and speed as he motored from his sixth place starting spot to grab the lead on lap six. The Munger veteran looked like he was well on his way to his first TCMS victory until Coleman’s #69 Nate Murphy reeled him in at the closing laps. The final five laps showcased the talents of Super and Murphy with Super doing everything he could to keep Murphy behind him. Coming to the checkered flag, Murphy used the extreme top of the track to pull alongside Super and snatched the win by a fender over a spinning Super. #28 Jared Rizer, #77 Chris Malek, and #K11 Kendall Morrison crossed the line as top five finishers in the adrenaline-fueled event. #99 Rick Beauchamp and Reil took heat race gold.
The Main Street Seed and Supply IMCA Modified features could be dubbed the “#79 Nate Jones Show” as he has won three of the five features ran with two runner-up finishes. He won his earlier heat race as did Champion contender #27 Matt Szecsodi and Clio’s #33 Todd Matheson. The start of the feature was dominated by #42 Craig Vance as he drove the bottom line to pace the field. At lap nine, it was #615 Chad Wernette that fought his way from mid pack to lead. It would only last a lap as Szecsodi took over the lead. Jones would also fight his way through the field to get to second place. But, without the help of any caution flags, Szecsodi’s lead was too big to overcome. Szecsodi would park in victory lane with his second feature win of 2018. Jones grabbed his third runner-up finish of the season. Jones was followed by Wernette, Drasco, AR driver #68 Heath Grizzle, and #03c Chris Cohoon (from 19th place).
Next Friday night at TCMS is the 8th Anniversary of our first dirt race! Join us for the Annual Greased Pig 8.0 Comp Cams/Lane Automotive IMCA Modified Challenge Presented by Allstar Performance. This race will be a 41-lap race paying $2018 to win and $150 to start the race. If that wasn’t enough, it is also Kids night and Autograph night!! Kids under 15 that are accompanied by a parent receive free general admission! Bring them out early as the autograph session begins at 7:15! All six divisions of race cars will be there to battle for the TCMS checkered flag. You will not want to miss it! On June 22nd, the Winged Sprint Car stars of Sprints On Dirt will visit TCMS for the first time in a few years. Get your tickets today and avoid waiting in line by purchasing them online at www.tricityracetrack.com. We look forward to having you and your family joining us for the best dirt racing Michigan has to offer!!
Article Credit: Roger Williams
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