6/15/2013
I-96 Speedway
Rich Neiser Claims Victory to $1500 Checkered Flag @ I-96
Lake Odessa, Michigan (Saturday June 15th, 2013): Members of the Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club made the trip to the I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, MI on Saturday night. They watched the show headlined by the Allstar Performance Michigan Dirt Cup Late Model Tour presented by Lane Automotive featuring the best UMP Super Late Model drivers in the state. Joining them were the Rudd’s Septic Service UMP Street Stocks, and Smyrna Bar & Restaurant UMP Sport Compacts. There was also a special Motocross event for ages 16 & up.
The Rudd’s Septic Service UMP Street Stocks made up the first main event of the night in a 20-lap showdown. 17 year old Carlind Forsythe and Derek Poland made up the front row. Poland would take the early lead, and stay there until lap 10. That was when defending track champion Josh Frye would make his way up front and take the lead and he would not be denied as he went on to be the winner.
This was the third win of the year in three nights for the Coopersville, Michigan driver in his Driftwood Bar & Grill / Chevrolet. Jeremy Holman was the runner up. Third spot went to Sadie Klein, Marty French and Corey Phelps made up the top five. Mike Hotchkiss, Zach Graham, Andy Chilcote, and Ron Wiers rounded out the top ten. Poland, Frye, and Holman picked up the heat race victories.
The Jud Night Auto Sales Pro Stocks were the next A-main to hit the track for 20-laps. They were brought out by the front row consisting of Jake Headley and Mike Huestead. Huestead would be the leader after lap 1. However Don Rohn would waste no time in getting to the lead as he would take it on the very next lap. Rohn went on to the win feature.
This was the first win at I-96 speedway for the Sheridan, Michigan driver in his knight’s auto sales machine. Headley finished second, Cody Cavangaro, Blake Hollenbeck, and Mark Davis rounded out the top five. Rohn also won the heat race.
Next it was the Smyrna Bar & Restaurant UMP Sport Compacts who battled in a 20-lap feature. Chuck Peterson and Nick Jenema made up the front row. Jenema would go right to work after the opening lap taking the lead. He would not have a challenger in his sights as he went on from there to victory, leading every circuit.
This was the second win of the season for the Wyoming, Michigan driver in his Vision Ink Screen Printing / Saturn SC2. The runner up position was taken by Chad Tomczak. Randy Larabee was third, Gary Larabee, and Curtis Bennett capped off the top five. Randy Whitten, Rick Edsell, Rick Nic, Caleb Klotz, and Christian Wynbelt were the rest of the top ten. Randy Larabee and Jenema were the heat winners.
Rich Neiser and Mark Andersen led the 21-car field of Allstar Performance Michigan Dirt Cup Tour drivers out for their 30-lap shootout. After the drop of chief starter Brett Farmer’s green flag Neiser took the early lead. He see the amount of challenges increase especially in the late stages of the race. However when it was all said and done Neiser was the driver heading to the P.A.T. Landscaping victory lane.
Neiser picking his first victory both at I-96 and for the Dirt Cup tour in his Baker Engineering / Mastersbilt. Defending Michigan Dirt Cup, UMP DIRTcar racing series north region, and I-96 Speedway champion Brandon Thirlby had to settle for second. J.R. Hotovy, Ryan Vanderveen, and Phil Ausra completed the top five. Billy Bray, Sam Epling, Dan Vance, Pat Ehlert, and Alan Vochaska finished off the top ten. Ausra, Thirlby, and Vochaska won the heats.
Article Credit: Brian Osborne
Submitted By: Brian Osborne