6/1/2022
Springport Mid-Michigan Speedway
Pierman Continues Winning Ways in New Class
After unsuccessfully battling Mother Nature four out of the last five weeks, Springport Mid-Michigan Speedway finally was able to reconvene for a night of short track racing excitement on Memorial Day Weekend.
The festivities would begin with the Dragon Racing Fuel Street Stocks putting on a thriller of a race. Jon Beach would head the field for the majority of the event. Showcasing a strong car at the front as the rest of the field worked to sort itself out and chase down the Muskegon, Michigan pilot. While Beach looked to have the race in hand a late race caution would erase his advantage and restack the deck. Unfortunately for Beach he would be overtaken and forced to settle for second as young Gabe Carr showed he was the real deal, sealing his first career Street Stock victory at the venerable 3/8s mile oval. Beach was second with Buddy Head, Mike Havens, and Race Bible completing the top five. Beach and Andrew Rutherford would find victory lane in the heat races, while Carr was also quickest in qualifying with a 16.689.
The next event on the track would be the feature event for the Auto Lab Late Model Sportsman. The meat of the race was composed of a thrilling cat-and-mouse style battle between two of the most prolific Champions in track history. John Trudell, a five-time and Defending Champion of the Late Model Sportsmen class, and Jerry Pierman, who had won the last three consecutive Street Stock Championships before jumping into the Late Model Sportsman class. Pierman would have the lead, but Trudell would be incrementally faster, closing in lap after lap to Pierman. Finally in the waning stages of the event, Trudell would get close, but alas, it would be the Climax, Michigan driver holding on for his first win in the new class. Trudell settled for second, with Brock Ganus, Kenny Head, and Buddy Head completing the top five. Heat races were claimed by Brock Ganus and Chris Munson, while Trudell was quickest qualifier with a 15.837.
The Modifieds powered by NOS Energy would finally open their 2022 season with a dominating performance by 2017 Track Champion Aaron Taylor. Taylor would get the lead early after overtaking 2019 Champion Dominique Van Wieringen. Van Wieringen would do a great job playing defense to those behind her, but it would allow Taylor to escape to victory. Jon McNett would slip by into second, with Van Wieringen would hang on to third with Dan Leeck and Tom Rutherford completing the top five. Curtis Spencer was the winner of the Australian Pursuit, while Jeff Ganus was quickest in qualifying with a 15.659.
The final class of the night was the Port Stock Division. The A Division would be a thrilling event with Gord Alblas coming from deep in the field to take victory over Matthew Brauer. Ryan Osborne would bounce back from an adventurous night of racing to claim the third spot over Gavin McGuffey and Ryan Drumhiller. The B Feature would be the final event of the night with Brad Robison picking up his first career victory at Springport in a very emotional victory he dedicated to his father. Mike Rose was charging but would settle for second, with William Trudgeon, Tabatha Nemethy, and Keera Allen completing the top five. Corey Gaskell, Shawn Osborne, Scott Casaday, and Ryan Hollister were heat race winners with Gavin McGuffey setting fast time with a 17.741.
Earlier in the day, the T&N Dairy Kreme Mini-Wedges were in competition on the .072 mile dirt track. Owen Ritter was the Junior Division feature winner over Dylan Casaday, and Ashlynn Poniatowski. LJ Pierman was the winner of the Senior Division over Gretchen and Brooklynn Hopwood.
Submitted By: Chris Fobbe
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