June 18, 2011 Highlights

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Written by Trevor Hollis

 Crystal, MI - Saturday night was one of the nicest nights for racing yet of the 2011 season at Crystal Motor Speedway, making it the perfect backdrop for the Mid Season Championship night for all six divisions, sponsored by Engine Pro.

The Port City Pro Stock feature saw Don Rohn take a lead with Larry Kosloski tight on his tail. Things were just getting settled in when Gordy Snyder had a flat that sent most of the field scattering to avoid. Kosloski had taken the lead and started out front with Jacob Headley and Rohn following. Ryan Kent began to move up and break into the top five. Rohn was able to retake the lead about lap eight but Kent and Chaney Newland took over second and third with Mike Husted moving into top five. Newland and Kent pulled a train run on the top side of Rohn about half way through the event and made the pass for the lead. Once out front, Newland set a steady pace and took his third feature win of 2011 over Kent, Rohn, Kosloski, and Husted. Chad Raby made his way into the final event by winning the B Main while Kent, Snyder, and Raby added heat wins to their 2011 stats.

Milt Montgomery held the lead early of the Kentucky Fried Chicken Late Models but Tom Dusen soon overtook him, relegating him to second. Roger Wing had bobbled early in the race and fell to near the rear but slowly began to work his way back to the front. In the mean time, Kyle Borgman hauled in and over took the leaders to take his turn at the point. Borgman pulled away while Montgomery, Dusen, Matt Pickard, and Mickey Carmen fought for position behind him. The caution flew as Montgomery spun about half way through the event in turn three. Carmen slipped up and Jeff Kohn grabbed second just as Wing entered the top six. With five to go, Kohn began to close on Borgman as the leader came into lapped traffic, allowing Kohn to move to the back of his bumper with five to go. Kohn began an all out assault to take the win but Borgman opened up a car length lead to take the win over Kohn, Keith Gentz, Pickard, and Wing. Scott Haney and Scott Baker collected heat wins.

A flat tire inspired first turn- first lap wreck collected up most of the field but only Ryan Paradise was unable to continue. Back under green, Verhaar grabbed the early lead with Chance Allen second and Ashlee Scott third. Carl Thayer challenged and over took third from Scott. A caution bunched the field again and Paradise was able to rejoin the field. Once back to green, Verhaar staked his lead but Thayer began to slowly reel him in and took advantage of a bobble by Verhaar to assume the lead about the tenth lap. Bob Griffin and Tim Wood began to charge forward to put the top four under a blanket. Verhaar and Thayer began to pull away and fight their own fight and Griffin fell back and then out with mechanical problems. With three to go, Thayer took a one length lead as he entered lapped traffic. Just as the white was to fly, Verhaar spun on his own in the middle of three and four, leaving a two lap shoot out between Wood and Thayer with Nieman and Scott tight behind. Thayer jumped out front and went on to win over Wood, Nieman, Deal and Scott. Verhaar and Griffin took firsts in the heats.

Greg Wiles staked out the early lead in the Engine Pro IMCA Modifieds with Jerry Hunt not too far back. Jason Borton was in the top five but had mechanical problems and left the battle field. Hunt slipped under Wiles and took the lead and a lap later, Mike Shanteau lost it in turn one, bunching the group again. Hunt led the group once the green fell with Wiles and Chad Wernette right behind him. Wiles slipped momentarily, allowing AJ Ward and Dan Minikey to move up. Wernette took the lead from Hunt and began to slowly pull away and went on to win over Ward, Hunt, Wiles and Nate Jones. B Main wins went to Brody Bowser and Jones while Aaron Raby, Myron DeYoung, and Jim Hale Jr went home with heat gold.

Shane Spencer led a tightly bunched group in the first lap with JR Schmid, Kyle Prochazka, George Wease, Will Stanley and Tim Buskirk in one tight pack. Spencer held his lead despite being under a heavy attack by Schmid. They ran side by side for several laps before Schmid took a solo lead. With to only three to go, Will Stanley spun to tighten the field once again but when the final green fell, Schmid pulled away again to win over Mike VanderMark, Kyle Prochazka, Buskirk and Wilkins. Schmid and VanderMark nabbed heat wins.

Bob Whitcomb took the early lead in the Races On The Web Flinn Stock feature, followed by Alex Richards and Garrett Wiles. Whitcomb held tight to his lead while Wiles, Richards, Austin Bean, and Zach Rummer battled behind him. Rummer moved to fourth as Charles Petersen spun, bringing out the yellow. Whitcomb got a good jump but Bean got a better one as he made a pass on the high side for the lead. Bean opened up a comfortable lead as Taylor Daniels moved into third with five to go. Bean went on to win over Daniels, Whitcomb, Wiles, Rummer, Richards, and Chris DeCamp. Petersen and Bean claimed heats.

Next Saturday night at Crystal Motor Speedway in a full show of all six divisions and is sponsored by Praxair Supply Company. Pit gates open at 4:30 while the grandstand gates open at 5PM. Adult admission to the stands is $10 and kids 5-11 are $4. Pit passes are $25. The Lions Club continues its Wednesday night shows at 7PM. Further information can be obtained by calling the track office at 989.235.5200 or visiting the website at crystalmotorspeedway.com

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