Post by George Keen on Aug 31, 2008 15:08:18 GMT -4
McCaul, Sternberg, Erickson and Rector are Champions at Winston Speedway
Winston Speedway concluded their regular season on Friday August 29th. A huge crowd came out to see Sprint Car action along with the last night of points racing. Track Championships were not claimed until the end of the main events in three different divisions. Some drivers were left wondering about all the “What ifs” during the season while others were celebrating long after the track lights went out.
Sixteen Sprint Cars lined up for the main event. Brett Mann was the man of the hour as he drove to victory in the Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt Feature event. Mann used his front row starting position to the fullest holding off 2007 Series Champion Tim Norman along with Ben Rutan who was trying to make it two in a row at Winston. It was Mann’s second win of the season.
Mann and Louie Carufel started on the front row for the 25-lap main event. At the start Ryan Grubaugh tumbled end for end into turn one bringing out the red flag. It was the only halt of action for the main event. Grubaugh was uninjured.
Mann once again jumped into the lead during the restart while Carufel battled with Norman, Rutan, and Dalman for second. After battling for several laps Norman and Carufel banged wheels off the fourth corner with Norman taking the spot. Several laps later Rutan threw a big slide job on Carufel through turns three and four, sliding up the ledge on the top of the track to hold third.
Norman set sail after Mann through lapped traffic, but Mann masterfully worked his way around the back markers. Norman settled for second followed by Rutan, Carufel, and Steve Irwin.
Norman won the Dash event and a Heat race. Mann also won his Heat race.
Integra Racing Shocks and Springs Modified driver Mike Wilbern has been on both sides of the fence when it comes to seeing a Track Championship dominated by a single driver. Wilbern in 2006 pulled off double digit wins at Winston in claiming a Track Championship and a State Title. Wilbern knows the winning feeling John McCaul has enjoyed this season. McCaul has had a target on his back all season and Wilbern has been one of the arrows.
At the start of the feature Wilbern was on the pole. Wilbern quickly cleared John Hammerle at the start and moved to the high groove. Wilbern stayed on the very top of the track for the entire event. With ten laps to go there was a familiar car to his inside. McCaul was trying his best to get to Wilbern’s inside and clear him for the lead. They had the fans on the edge of their seats as they swapped the lead back and forth running completely different lines. A caution with three laps to go saw Wilbern able to pull away and pick up the win. It was the second time only this season that a driver other than McCaul celebrated in victory lane. McCaul finished second, but claimed the 2008 UMP Track Championship at Winston. It was McCaul’s third track championship at Winston in the last five years. McCaul also is in contention for State and National UMP Modified titles. Youngster Jeff Erickson continues to show that he will be a contender in 2009 as he gets better each week. Erickson’s pass of John Hammerle with four laps to go earned him the third position. Greg Smith completed the top five. Heat races were won by Wilbern and Hammerle.
The Sportsman division feature played out like a soap opera. If Chad Weinrick won the feature, Point leader Ralph Sternberg knew he would have to finish sixth or better to claim his second Port City Racing Sportsman track championship. Ralph Sternberg had won his heat race early in the evening but it turned out to be a double edged sword. Sternberg’s heat race win called for him to draw the inversion chip. The inversion placed Weinrick on the outside pole. Out front Weinrick went unchallenged in a caution free event. Ralph Sternberg started eighth and struggled to move forward. With laps winding down Ralph’s brother Rob started falling back from his fourth place running position. Could Rob Sternberg be losing positions in order to help his brother? The answer was no. Rob had broken a right upper “A” frame and was hanging on for dear life. Ironical ly Ralph’s pass of Rob for sixth place earned Ralph Sternberg the Championship by a mere two points. It was a stressful and exciting championship run for all the drivers and families involved. The fans loved it.
The race for second had three drivers slicing and dicing for the runner-up position. Dan Wilson edged Derek Poland and Bean Falbe after all three held the position at one point during their main event. Brad Afton rounded out the top five. Heats were won by Ralph and Rob Sternberg. The Dash for Cash event was taken by Weinrick.
Factory Stock driver Scott Erickson in 2007 watched his son Robert win the Factory Stock division championship. Robert Erickson’s success put the racing bug back into Scott who had not raced in nearly ten years. Heading into the evening Scott Erickson was coming off two consecutive feature wins and held the point lead. Tonight Erickson did exactly what he has done all season. Erickson finished strong with a fifth place finish. Erickson’s consistency and level headedness in a division that has drivers aged 14 to 76 shined all year. Scott Erickson’s followed in his sons footsteps claiming the 2008 Factory Stock Championship. The main event winner of the night was Tony Weinrick. Weinrick battled his way by Derek Passenier midway through the event and later held off Bill Delong. The win was Weinrick’s fourth of the season. Delong’s charge to second wa s impressive as he started sixteenth. Passenier was third followed by Justin Gilland and Erickson. Heat races were won by Passenier, Gilland and Weinrick.
The Sprague’s Auto Parts Mini Stock division also was not decided until their final checkered flag was waved. CJ Rectors run off bad luck the last couple of weeks had put his top spot in the standings in jeopardy. Rector won his heat race, but drew an inversion chip of eight putting Luke Near in front of him for their main event. Rector had to finish within six spots of Luke Near to claim the championship. On the start of the event Near charged his way to the front with Carl McCann glued to his bumper. McCann entered the main event with a Heat race win and set third in points. McCann turned out to have the best car on the night. Near raced McCann hard but had nothing for him once McCann powered his way to the front. Near finished second followed by Andrew Bartozsek, and Brandon Tramper. Rector was able to ride without any traffic around him and cr uise to a fifth place finish. Rector’s run earned him a track championship by five points over Near.
Next Friday September 5th and Saturday September 6th Winston Speedway will be holding their annual “Fall Spectacular.” The weekend will be full of excitement. Friday will be “Fun Day” with Mechanic, Powder Puff, Push Me, and an Enduro race as part of the action. On Saturday the program is packed full with six classes of racing. Late Models, Modified, Sportsman, Factory Stock, Mini Stocks and Four Cylinder Warrior classes will be competing for the huge purses “Top Gun” challenge money being awarded in each class. It is a weekend of racing you will not want to miss. For the best in Family Entertainment along the Lakeshore make your way to Winston Speedway.
For Complete Results and News visit: www.winstonmotorspeedway.com
--
Mark Jalovec
Winston Speedway
www.winstonmotorspeedway.com
Winston Speedway concluded their regular season on Friday August 29th. A huge crowd came out to see Sprint Car action along with the last night of points racing. Track Championships were not claimed until the end of the main events in three different divisions. Some drivers were left wondering about all the “What ifs” during the season while others were celebrating long after the track lights went out.
Sixteen Sprint Cars lined up for the main event. Brett Mann was the man of the hour as he drove to victory in the Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt Feature event. Mann used his front row starting position to the fullest holding off 2007 Series Champion Tim Norman along with Ben Rutan who was trying to make it two in a row at Winston. It was Mann’s second win of the season.
Mann and Louie Carufel started on the front row for the 25-lap main event. At the start Ryan Grubaugh tumbled end for end into turn one bringing out the red flag. It was the only halt of action for the main event. Grubaugh was uninjured.
Mann once again jumped into the lead during the restart while Carufel battled with Norman, Rutan, and Dalman for second. After battling for several laps Norman and Carufel banged wheels off the fourth corner with Norman taking the spot. Several laps later Rutan threw a big slide job on Carufel through turns three and four, sliding up the ledge on the top of the track to hold third.
Norman set sail after Mann through lapped traffic, but Mann masterfully worked his way around the back markers. Norman settled for second followed by Rutan, Carufel, and Steve Irwin.
Norman won the Dash event and a Heat race. Mann also won his Heat race.
Integra Racing Shocks and Springs Modified driver Mike Wilbern has been on both sides of the fence when it comes to seeing a Track Championship dominated by a single driver. Wilbern in 2006 pulled off double digit wins at Winston in claiming a Track Championship and a State Title. Wilbern knows the winning feeling John McCaul has enjoyed this season. McCaul has had a target on his back all season and Wilbern has been one of the arrows.
At the start of the feature Wilbern was on the pole. Wilbern quickly cleared John Hammerle at the start and moved to the high groove. Wilbern stayed on the very top of the track for the entire event. With ten laps to go there was a familiar car to his inside. McCaul was trying his best to get to Wilbern’s inside and clear him for the lead. They had the fans on the edge of their seats as they swapped the lead back and forth running completely different lines. A caution with three laps to go saw Wilbern able to pull away and pick up the win. It was the second time only this season that a driver other than McCaul celebrated in victory lane. McCaul finished second, but claimed the 2008 UMP Track Championship at Winston. It was McCaul’s third track championship at Winston in the last five years. McCaul also is in contention for State and National UMP Modified titles. Youngster Jeff Erickson continues to show that he will be a contender in 2009 as he gets better each week. Erickson’s pass of John Hammerle with four laps to go earned him the third position. Greg Smith completed the top five. Heat races were won by Wilbern and Hammerle.
The Sportsman division feature played out like a soap opera. If Chad Weinrick won the feature, Point leader Ralph Sternberg knew he would have to finish sixth or better to claim his second Port City Racing Sportsman track championship. Ralph Sternberg had won his heat race early in the evening but it turned out to be a double edged sword. Sternberg’s heat race win called for him to draw the inversion chip. The inversion placed Weinrick on the outside pole. Out front Weinrick went unchallenged in a caution free event. Ralph Sternberg started eighth and struggled to move forward. With laps winding down Ralph’s brother Rob started falling back from his fourth place running position. Could Rob Sternberg be losing positions in order to help his brother? The answer was no. Rob had broken a right upper “A” frame and was hanging on for dear life. Ironical ly Ralph’s pass of Rob for sixth place earned Ralph Sternberg the Championship by a mere two points. It was a stressful and exciting championship run for all the drivers and families involved. The fans loved it.
The race for second had three drivers slicing and dicing for the runner-up position. Dan Wilson edged Derek Poland and Bean Falbe after all three held the position at one point during their main event. Brad Afton rounded out the top five. Heats were won by Ralph and Rob Sternberg. The Dash for Cash event was taken by Weinrick.
Factory Stock driver Scott Erickson in 2007 watched his son Robert win the Factory Stock division championship. Robert Erickson’s success put the racing bug back into Scott who had not raced in nearly ten years. Heading into the evening Scott Erickson was coming off two consecutive feature wins and held the point lead. Tonight Erickson did exactly what he has done all season. Erickson finished strong with a fifth place finish. Erickson’s consistency and level headedness in a division that has drivers aged 14 to 76 shined all year. Scott Erickson’s followed in his sons footsteps claiming the 2008 Factory Stock Championship. The main event winner of the night was Tony Weinrick. Weinrick battled his way by Derek Passenier midway through the event and later held off Bill Delong. The win was Weinrick’s fourth of the season. Delong’s charge to second wa s impressive as he started sixteenth. Passenier was third followed by Justin Gilland and Erickson. Heat races were won by Passenier, Gilland and Weinrick.
The Sprague’s Auto Parts Mini Stock division also was not decided until their final checkered flag was waved. CJ Rectors run off bad luck the last couple of weeks had put his top spot in the standings in jeopardy. Rector won his heat race, but drew an inversion chip of eight putting Luke Near in front of him for their main event. Rector had to finish within six spots of Luke Near to claim the championship. On the start of the event Near charged his way to the front with Carl McCann glued to his bumper. McCann entered the main event with a Heat race win and set third in points. McCann turned out to have the best car on the night. Near raced McCann hard but had nothing for him once McCann powered his way to the front. Near finished second followed by Andrew Bartozsek, and Brandon Tramper. Rector was able to ride without any traffic around him and cr uise to a fifth place finish. Rector’s run earned him a track championship by five points over Near.
Next Friday September 5th and Saturday September 6th Winston Speedway will be holding their annual “Fall Spectacular.” The weekend will be full of excitement. Friday will be “Fun Day” with Mechanic, Powder Puff, Push Me, and an Enduro race as part of the action. On Saturday the program is packed full with six classes of racing. Late Models, Modified, Sportsman, Factory Stock, Mini Stocks and Four Cylinder Warrior classes will be competing for the huge purses “Top Gun” challenge money being awarded in each class. It is a weekend of racing you will not want to miss. For the best in Family Entertainment along the Lakeshore make your way to Winston Speedway.
For Complete Results and News visit: www.winstonmotorspeedway.com
--
Mark Jalovec
Winston Speedway
www.winstonmotorspeedway.com