6/28/2022
Tri-City Motor Speedway
Jones Continues Winning Streak at Tri-City Motor Speedway
06/24/2022 IMCA Modified Allstar Performance Challenge Series/ FastShafts Qualifier
Feature Winners:
Mini Wedge Restricted: 116x Lucas Lanphierd
Mini Wedge Unrestricted: #02 Addy Wade
AutoValue Pro Stocks: #69 Nate Murphy
Rowleys Tires & Automotive Services - Bay City and Great Lakes MotorSports and IMCA Modified: #79 Nate Jones
Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort Late Models: #4 Travis Stemler
Auto House Factory Stocks: #18 Nick Putnam
XLT Engineering 4-6 Cylinders: #88 Chad Freeman
06/24/2022 (Auburn MI) The final June Friday night at Tri-City Motor Speedway was another excitement-filled night of racing. Over 100 drivers across six divisions of cars came to Auburn with hopes of capturing the checkered flag in their respective racing classes. This night was the ALLSTAR Performance Challenge for the IMCA Modifieds presented by Rowley’s Tires and Great Lakes Motorsports.
The Soaring Eagle Late Models had 25 competitors vying for the 20 available starting positions in the feature event. Chad Finley, defending Champion Eric Spangler, and four-time Champion Andrew Terrill secured their spots in the 30-lap main event by winning their qualifying heats. Rod Laney took home the checkered flag by winning the last chance qualifier. The feature field was led to the green flag by late model rookie Chase Burda and Ionia’s Travis Stemler. Stemler wrestled the lead immediately from Burda at the drop of the green flag and held that position for all thirty circuits in the caution-free event. Behind Stemler at the finish were Spangler, Finley, and last week’s winner Derrick Hilliker. Vestaburg’s Logan Nickerson was the fastest qualifier of the evening with a lap time of 12.591 seconds.
The ALLSTAR Performance Challenge Series was with the Rowley’s Tire and Great Lakes Motorsports IMCA Modifieds. All twenty-two competitors took the green flag in the 25-lap $1500 to win feature. Last week, Nate Jones snapped his losing streak at TCMS by winning his first feature of the season. He started the feature in row two behind pole-sitter and defending track Champion Collin Thirlby and rookie Nick Putnam. Thirlby took advantage of the low groove as he used that line to lead the first 23 laps of the race. Jones, however, had been patiently working the top groove. As the inside line grip started to disappear, Jones started to reel in Thirlby. With two laps remaining, Jones made the winning pass on Thirlby and held him off to win his second feature in a row. Behind Jones and Thirlby at the finish were Mitchell Hunt, Myron DeYoung, and Kendall Morrison. Gavin Hunyady was a heat race winner along with Morrison and Putman.
In the Auto Value Pro Stocks, Teri Lynn Murphy and Danielle Robinson grabbed heat race wins in convincing fashion. It was Teri Lynn who took early control of the main event leading the first six laps before Champion Nate Murphy got by for the lead. While he and Teri Lynn battled for the lead, Jacob Wassmann worked his way from his 11th place starting position to swipe the lead from Murphy before a late race caution brought the field together for a two-lap shootout for the win. Nate Murphy had a better restart than the leader Wassmann. In turn two, Murphy snagged the lead back as Wassmann spun, in turn, two of the restart. Murphy held on for the final laps and secured another big win. Robinson overcame a flat tire early in the event to salvage a runner-up finish behind Murphy. The remainder of the top five included Teri Lynn, last week’s winner Andrew Steele, and Scotty Armstrong.
The ALLSTAR Performance Mini Wedge restricted motor class had defending Champion Cason Murphy winning his heat race and was in contention for the feature win until contact passing for the lead sent him to the pits early. The contact at the front of the field handed the lead to Lucas Lanphierd. Once Lanphierd had the lead, he would not give it up as he won his first feature of his career. Lanphierd edged out Bowen Jaynes, Brantley Reil, and Bryson DeShano at the finish line. Pierson DeShano was the strongest of his competitors in the Unrestricted Mini Wedge division as he easily won his heat race. However, Addy Wade proved to be the strongest in the night’s feature event. She finished ahead of Kyron, Pierson, and Brennan DeShano.
Once again the story was Chad Freeman in the XLT Engineering 4-6 cylinder race. He, along with Robert Hankinson and Hunter Garchow picked up their heat race victories. It was Brad Williams leading early before Hankinson motored by for his turn at the front. That was short-lived as two laps later Freeman passed Hankinson to lead the second half of the event and win his fourth feature of 2022. The defending Champion led current point leader Christopher Wassmann, Hankinson, Williams, and Charles Ellithorpe to the finish.
Auto House Factory Stock season points leaders Dale Kaake III and Eric Lake brought the field of twenty drivers to the green flag for the divisions twenty-lap feature. Lake and Kaake had a terrific battle at the front of the field. Both of them raced cleanly side-by-side putting on a great show for the fans. Putman, who had run the IMCA feature earlier, had his factory stock set up perfectly for the track conditions. He put his car between Lake and Kaake to take the lead which he would never relinquish. Putman was able to outrun runner-up Jordan Lechota, Kaake, Jacob Flickinger, and Lake. Heat race gold was won by Putnam, Lake, Kaake, and Blake Meylan. Rick Beauchamp won the last chance qualifier.
Next Friday kicks off the Independence Day weekend!! The ALLSTAR Performance Late Models will be back at TCMS competing for top prize of $4000. All of our divisions will also be in action for a night of racing you will not want to miss! Pit gates open at 3:30 with general admission grandstands opening at 4:30 pm. The first green flag will wave at 7:00 pm. Visit our Facebook page for updates as well as our website tricityracetrack.com. Of course, you also check out instant results and point standings all season long by downloading the MyRacePass app on your smartphone or other devices.
Photo Credit: Randy Ellen
Article Credit: Roger Williams
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