July 9, 2011 Highlights

 Crystal, MI - Another beautiful Saturday night brought lots of fans and a big field of cars to the Crystal Motor Speedway. The evening was sponsored by Gratiot Heating & Cooling.

Felicia Rohn took the early lead in the Races On The Web Flinn Stock division and was holding a steady lead when Austin Bean went for a wild ride over the turn three berm, bringing out a red flag. Once under green again, Rohn pulled back out front while the battle for second was three and four wide for several laps. She went very high coming out of a turn and scrubbed the wall, allowing Charles Peterson to take the lead as Rohn slipped back to fourth. Zach Rummer made one last run for the lead coming in for the checker but Peterson held on for the win. Taylor Daniels and Alex Richards won heats.

Scott Phillips jumped out front of the KFC Late Model feature with Ryan VanderVeen tight behind. About six laps in, Phillips went high coming out of turn two and VanderVeen moved into the lead with Carl Ries in tow. Phillips slid into Mike Nugent, bringing out the caution and sending the slider to the rear. Roger Wing came into the picture running the high side and soon moved Nugent to third, only a length or so behind the leader. Wing began to look high and then low to pass VanderVeen. They ran side by side for three laps before Wing took the lead coming out of turn two. Several battles behind Wing had two and three wide fights, allowing Wing to pull away. With eight to go, Wing began to lap cars and build up a decent lead. With about three to go, Wing began to coast, working the high side and went on to win his third feature of the season. Phillips, CJ Reisbig, and Carl Reis grabbed heat gold with the B-Main going to Tom Dusen.

The Port City Pro Stock feature saw Doug McKeown Sr. take the point but soon Ryan Kent got around him and moved out to a hefty lead for several laps until a caution slowed the field. Mike Husted bumped McKeown and both went spinning, collecting up Reb Marble and Chad Raby. Back under green, it was Kent and Gary Buskirk running one-two. Bad news in the form of Chaney Newland came into the picture as he began to give Buskirk a hard time but at the same time, Buskirk was challenging Kent. Just as Newland began to make his move for the lead, Barry Rinard had mechanical problems, bringing out the yellow one more time. Kent took off on the green, leaving Newland, Gary Buskirk, Vern Buskirk, and Jacob Headley to fight it out. Kent continued to lead as a huge battle for position raged behind him, Newland made one last run for the lead but Kent went on to win his second feature of the season. Kent and McKeown told heat wins.

Bob Griffin jumped out to a huge lead in the Engine Pro Pro Truck feature. Carl Thayer quickly worked his way to second. Ashlee Scott ran third with Scott Nieman and Chance Allen tight behind. As they reached the half way point, several drivers took their machines to the pits with mechanical issues while others had issues but stayed out to collect championship points. Griffin ran a super smooth rail and went on to win his second feature of the season. Allen and Thayer posed for heat win photos.

The Engine Pro IMCA Modified feature went green to checker as Myron DeYoung wasted no time showing the field he had not forgotten how he used to dominate the field several years back. DeYoung held a huge lead as Greg Wiles, Chad Wernette, Mike Shanteau, and Rodney King in the top five. Wiles and Wernette fought it out for second as DeYoung began to lap the field. Chad Maurer and AJ Ward joined the fray for the top five just as DeYoung took the white flag. He went on to win his third straight feature. Wernette, Wiles, and DeYoung brought home heat victories while Cliff Denman won the B Main.

The final event of the night was the Smoker’s Club Street Stocks feature. Shane Spencer grabbed the lead but he had a ton of competition that at times was four wide coming down the stretch. Larry Bulson took the lead but he had four drivers right on his bumper. Spencer blew a tire coming out of turn four, collecting the wall and bringing the field to a crawl. With just four to go, the field took off again being led by Bulson with JR Schmid tight to his bumper. Bulson went high coming out of turn one and two, handing the lead to Schmid. Mike VanderMark made a quick look to the lead but Schmid won by a bumper in one of the best races of the month. Doug Helsel and Spencer put heat wins in the record books.

Next week at Crystal Motor Speedway finds the Late Models taking the night off to make room for the SOD Sprints as they hold their Mid Season Championship event at CMS. Pit gates open at 4:30 and grandstand gates open at 5PM. Adult admission is $12 and kids 5-11 are $4. Pit passes are $25. Further information can be found by calling the track office at 989-235-5200 or visiting the website at crystalmotorspeedway.com

• < Prev
• Next >