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Bennett, Spangler, Miller Jr., Freeman, and Murphy Win For Second Time in a Row at Tri-City Motor Speedway

08/13/2021 (Auburn MI) It was Fan Appreciation Night last Friday night at Tri-City Motor Speedway. Fans were greeted with a $5 General Admission, an autograph session with all 130 drivers, and a huge main event paying $3000 to the victor of the Auto House Factory Stocks. The packed house saw some of the best racing of 2021 for all race divisions with the same top drivers coming out on top at the end of the final checkered flag.

The racing program began with the children in the ALLSTAR Performance Mini Wedge drivers. In the restricted motor division, Cason Murphy outlasted heat race winner and defending champion Jett Gohr in the 10-lap feature. The unrestricted motor class had the 2020 defending track Champion Kyron DeShano overtook the lead from heat race winner Addy Wade to win his third feature of the year.

The Troll Smokehouse IMCA Class had nineteen drivers take the green flag for the 20-lap main event. Mount Pleasant driver Kevin Miller was dominate early as he shot from his pole position starting spot to lead the first seven laps. Unfortunately, a mechanical issue caused him to retire from the race and hand the lead over to Austin Harnick. Harnick led the next four circuits before last week’s winner Chad Bennett drove the bottom groove to the lead. He led the final 8 laps to pick up his another feature win. Former Champion Kody Johnson was able to chase Bennett down but ran out of laps to finish second. Matt Szecsodi, Harnick, and Collin Thirlby completed the top five finishing order. Harnick and rookie Kendall Morrison captured heat race wins.

The Auto Value Pro Stock class was packed full of early race heartbreak. Front row starter Ray Meylan led the opening trio of laps before looping it in turn four ending his night. This handed the lead to pole sitter and multi-time track Champion Jared Rizer. He, too, would end up retiring early from the event on lap five. It was Teri Lynn Murphy’s chance to lead the race until Nate Murphy took over the race on lap eight. He held a strong lead for a majority of the race, but was not able to hold back a hard charging Andrew Steele. Steele ran Murphy down to make the winning pass on lap 18 to take his fifth feature win of 2021. Murphy held on for another runner-up finish ahead of Tim Murphy, Danielle Robinson, and Teri Lynn Murphy. Steele and Tim Murphy grabbed the heat race wins.

The Auto House Factory Stock typically race for about $600 to win a feature. A $3000 top prize is well above any regular or special purse that is typically seen in Michigan for this class. The increased top prize brought 35 Factory Stock drivers to Auburn in hopes of capturing the ALLSTAR Performance Challenge Series event. Twenty-Three drivers took the green flag for the 25-lap main event. Jacob Flickinger took control from his front row starting spot. By lap three, it was Jake Thompson at the front of the field. However, just as it was the week prior, Jim Miller Jr. ran his machine from eighth place to get underneath Thompson and take command on the fourth lap. He went on the lead the remaining 24 laps to win his second feature in a row and collecting the top pay. Sternberg, with his first night at TCMS, was on the back bumper of Miller Jr., but could not find an opportunity to make the pass and ended up with a strong second-place finish. Loren Short, Josh Loomis, and 22nd place starter, Nick Putnam completed the top five. Sternberg, Flickinger, Loomis, and Thompson won their qualifying heats. A B-main was run for those drivers that didn’t make the feature race. That race was won by Aaron Spearling.

Twenty XLT Engineering 4-6 Cylinder drivers took the green flag in the 15-lap main feature. Peter Hennard, who won his heat race, led the opening lap before Herb Freeman took his turn at the front. A bad push on Hennard’s vehicle opened up the bottom groove where Herb Freeman slipped through to take control of the race. Herb had a comfortable lead for awhile until his nephew, Chad Freeman, pulled alongside. They race side-by-side for a number of laps before Chad cleared Herb to finish the race as the winner and Herb in second. The Last Chance Qualifier was won by Nick Bullock and was able to move up thirteen spots during the main feature to finish third. He was followed by Paul Street Jr. and Troy Miller at the finish. Both Freeman’s also won their heat races.

Usually when Dona Marcoullier starts on the front row of the 30-lap Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort Late Model feature, he ends up in victory lane. With a front row starting position Friday night, it looked like another feature win was going to be his. However, it was not to be as he led just one lap before quickly diving into the infield with mechanical issues ending his night. Once Marcoullier left the race, it was Spangler that pounced on the top position. He was able to hold onto that race lead as he slipped through lapped traffic over the remaining 28 laps and was the first to the checkered flag. David Hilliker outraced his son Derrick Hilliker for second place. Both Travis Stemler and Tyler Norton finished the race in fourth and fifth behind the Hilliker’s. Marcoullier and Stemler took heat race accolades earlier in the evening.

This Friday is the much anticipated UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals Hell Tour. Last year Dona Marcoullier beat all the UMP stars to pick up the $10k top prize. Come out and see if he can do it again in 2021! In addition, The DIRTcar Summit Modified Nationals including NASCAR personality Kenny Wallace will also take to the track Friday Night. IF that wasn’t enough action, the Auto Vale Pro Stocks also will have their ALLSTAR Performance Challenge Series event paying $3000 to win. For updated and instant results, season and Challenge Series point standings and the 2021 race schedule, visit the TCMS website at tricityracetrack.com or download the MyRacePass app.

Photo Credit : Randy Ellen

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