6/20/2021
Merritt Speedway
Nickels Dominate in Lightning Sprints Return to Merritt Speedway
The Great Lakes Lightning Sprints invaded the grounds of the Merritt Speedway this past Saturday Night. The traveling cars and stars made their first visit to Lake City, Michigan speed plant of the 2021 season. They were joined by the Cadillac Tire Center UMP DIRTcar Modifieds who ran in a $2000 to win special event. The Troll Smokehouse B-Modifieds, and XLT Engineering Four & Six Cylinders competead in their own $1000 to win feature events. The Allstar Performance Mini-Wedges, Auto Value Pro Stocks, and Thirlby Automotive Factory Stocks were part of the program as well.
The Allstar Performance Mini-Wedges kicked off the racing events of the night. Harbor Springs, Michigan native Tucker Warner won the feature event for the restrictor plate division with Charlene Erickson and Rachel Erickson finishing out the podium. The Un-Restricted division feature event would see Addy Wade score the win, finishing ahead of Troy Yetter and Leilynd Strehlke who finish out the top three. The heat races were won by Warner (restrictor plate) and Preston Mieske (un-restricted).
Chase Rosebrugh and Michael Luberda led out the Troll Smokehouse B-Modifieds for their $1000 to win special feature event. The 25-lap main began with Luberda jumping out in front after the drop of the green flag. Luberda was able to withstand the event leading every lap of the event to get the big win. This was the 19-year-old Au Gres, Michigan native’s first win of the season in the #1w. Collin Thirlby finished second. Brenton DeYoung, Rosebrugh, and Richie Sutherland rounded out the top five. Luberda 2020-track champion Gary Vandermark, and Scott Payton won the preliminary heat races.
The Thirlby Automotive Factory Stocks were out next for their 20-lap A-Main. Larry Wiggins and Ryan Nethers brought the field down to the green flag. Nethers took the early race advantage. However, on the very next lap 2016-track champion Jim Miller Jr. powers his way past with the lead. Miller would manage to lead the remainder of the event and made the trip to victory lane. This was the second win of the year for Miller, the native of Clio, Michigan in his #9. Jacob Flickinger finished second. Wiggins, 3-time track champion Rick Spencer, and Dan Lautner completed the top five. 2015-track champion Jim Miller Sr. and Milller Jr. won the heats.
The Great Lakes Lightning Sprints rolled onto the race surface for a 20-lap main event. Thomas Parker and Shelby Yeaples started on the front row and roared the field to life at the drop of the green. Parker took the lead after the opening circuit, but his lead would only last until lap 2. That was when Jac Nickles made the pass for the top position. That would turn out to be the final move Nickles needed to make, as he would lead all of the remaining laps and score the win. Nickles, the driver who calls Harrod, Ohio home won from behind the wheel of his #31. Brendon Cascadden would finish second. Mack Erickson, Parker, and Ryan Lanphierd capped out the top five. The heat race victories went to Nickles, Erickson, Cascadden, and Lanphierd.
The Auto Value Pro Stocks hit the speedway for a 20-lap feature event led by the front row of Anthony Schweifler and Tim Murphy. Schweifler stormed off with the lead in the early stages of the race. Things would not change until lap 15 when 2020-track champion Nate Murphy charged past to take the lead for himself. Muprhy would pick up the win. The Coleman, Michigan driver scored his third win of the season in his #69. Tim Muprhy would finish second. Brendan Powell, Brad Britting, and Randy Seeley rounded out the top five. Cody Wing and Nate Murphy won the heat races.
The 30-lap $2000 to win special event for the Cadillac Tire Center UMP DIRTcar Modifieds. Caleb Kill and 3-time track champion Chad Bauer led the field at the start of the event. Bauer would
answer on lap 2 taking the lead away. The lead would change hands yet again on lap 4, when Jacob Poel was able to pull off the pass for lead. Poel would go on from there to pick up the big pay day. This was the second win of the year for Poel, the native of Spring Lake, Michigan in the #82. Bauer had to settle for second. Kill, Wyatt Baker, and Brian Brindley completed the top five finishers. Kill, Poel, and Brindley won the heats.
The Final feature event belonged to the $1000 to win special for the XLT Engineering Four & Six Cylinders. Chad Freeman and Megan Wiggins started up front for the 20-lap main. Freeman grabbed the lead in the opening circuit as everyone else fought for positions throughout the field. On lap 5, Herb Freeman worked his way up threw the field to take over the lead. The finish would come down to the final lap with 2019-track champion Cheyanne Emery racing threw the field after starting fourteenth would pull off the pass for the lead as the checkered flag was waved. Chriss Wassman finished second. 15-year-old Clay Lachcik, Chris McCrimmon, and Brad Wassman rounded out the top five. Emery also won the last chance qualifier. McCrimmon, Herb Freeman, and Cody Steinly were the heat race winners.
The Merritt Speedway will return to action this Saturday June 26th with “Modified Night” featuring at $2000 to win Cadillac Tire Center UMP DIRTcar Modified special. The Troll Smokehouse B-Modifieds will also compete in a $1000 to win special event. The Soaring Eagle Casino DIRTcar late models, Auto Value Pro Stocks, Thirlby Factory Stocks, XLT Engineering Four & Six Cylinders, and Allstar Performance Mini-Wedges will also be part of the show. Stay tuned to the Merritt Speedway Facebook page for all of the latest information.
Photo Credit: Randy Ellen
Article Credit: Brian Osborne
Submitted By: Justin Sharp
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