5/31/2014
I-96 Speedway
Five Time World of Outlaws Series Champion Schatz Tops Rumble at I-96
Lake Odessa, Michigan (Saturday May 31st, 2014): A sellout crowd jam packed the campus of the I-96 Speedway located east of Grand Rapids and west of Lansing last Saturday night. The attraction for the evening was the proclaimed “Greatest Show on Dirt” featuring the high powered ultra-fast fire-breathing winged warriors of the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Cars taking to the fast 3/8ths (0.375) mile semi banked dirt oval. The UMP DIRTcar Modifieds were also on hand for both a make-up feature from May 9th and another full show as well.
The night began with the running of the make-up UMP DIRTcar modified feature from May 9th. The winner was 2011 track champion Jacob Poel who started on the outside of the front row. Two time and defending UMP DIRTcar Modified Michigan State champion David Mielke finished second. Tim Stemler, Defending track champion Travis Stemler, and Collin Thirlby completed the top five.
The UMP DIRTcar Modifieds then ran a full program for Saturday evening which led to another stellar main event. When it was all said and done it was again Poel who picked up the victory after starting on the pole. Mielke once again had to settle for second. Mark Anderson, Travis Stemler, and Thirlby finished the top five. Adam Thrush won the B-Main. Poel, Mielke, Thirlby, and Steve McClees were the preliminary heat races.
Finally, the World of Outlaws STP Sprint cars held their 30-lap $10000 to win feature which took place after the traditional Four-Wide Salute. Grass Valley, California‘s Brad Sweet and Cody Darrah of Red Lion, Pennsylvania led the thundering herd down to chief starter Brett Farmer’s green flag. Sweet pulled away with the early advantage with everyone else in hot pursuit. He was able to hang on until lap 21 where it would be the five time series champion Donny Schatz working his way to the lead and closed out the final nine laps of the event and scored the big win.
The 37-year old from Fargo North Dakota notched his fifth win of the year in his STP #15. Sweet was forced to take the second place finish. David Gravel, Defending series champion Daryn Pittman, and Paul McMahon rounded out the top five. Shane Stewart was sixth. Joey Saldana, Kerry Madsen, James McFadden, and Logan Schuhart capped off the top ten. Sweet, Pittman, and McMahon won the preliminary heat races. Gravel set fast time in qualifying with a NEW track record of 13.985.
This Friday June 6th will see the I-96 Speedway host the Allstar Performance Michigan Dirt Cup Modifieds presented by Lane Automotive for the first time this season. This will be the Dirt Cup’s third sanctioned event of the season after being postponed back on May 16th due to rain. Joining the Modifieds will be the UMP DIRTcar Pro Modifieds, Pro Stocks / Pro Trucks, UMP DIRTcar Street Stocks, and UMP DIRTcar Sport Compacts. Pit gates will open at 4:30pm, Grandstands will open at 5:30pm, Hot Laps will take place at 6:30pm, and after pre-race ceremonies/Invocation/national anthem(s) racing is set to star at 8:00pm.
I-96 Speedway is located at 3823 Portland Road in Lake Odessa, Michigan. For more information about the on-going 2012 racing season, please call: 1 (616) 642-0555 or visit the website at: www.i96speedway.com You can also follow along all season long by becoming a fan on the tracks Facebook Fan Page. Just go to: www.facebook.com/i96speedway and click on “Like” button. You can even follow us on Twitter as well, just go to: www.twitter.com/i96speedway and “Follow” us today.
Article Credit: Brian Osborne
Submitted By: Brian Osborne