Lake Odessa, Michigan (Tuesday August 6th, 2013): The doors opened to the I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, Michigan for a special show on a Tuesday night. The show was headlined by the traveling cars & stars of the Super DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds making the second every journey to the wolverine state to take on the famous 1/2 (0.500) mile clay oval. The Carbon Green Bio-Energy UMP DIRTcar Modifieds were also in action on the big track. There was also a special invitational for Pro Stocks and Pro Truck drivers who joined the Rudd’s Septic Service UMP DIRTcar Street Stocks and Smyrna Bar & Restaurant UMP DIRTcar Sport Compacts in action on the fast 3/8ths (0.375) mile track.
The Blake Hollenbeck Auto Sales Pro Stocks started off the main events with a 20-lap feature. Don Rohn led the first lap of the contest. He would manage to pull out to a very healthy lead over the rest of the field, and went on after leading every lap to the P.A.T. Landscaping Victory Lane. A.J. Ward finished second. Craig Vance, Jason Playter Jr., and Kyle Borgman completed the top five. Rohn also won the lone heat race.
The Rudd’s Septic Service UMP DIRTcar Street Stocks made their way out for their 20-lap feature event. Derek Poland the 57-year old driver from Muskegon, Michigan made his way to victory lane after the checkered flag came out. This was his fourth win both for the year and in a row at I-96 Speedway, in his Arizona Charlie’s Wholesale / Chevrolet.
Marty French finished in the second spot. Defending track champion Josh Frye, two time and defending UMP DIRTcar East Region champion Dan Dykman, and Justin Giddings made up the top five. Brenton DeYoung finished sixth ahead of; Zach Graham, Andy Chilcote, Drew Wilkerson, and 17-year old Carlind Forsythe who completed the top ten.
Next, the Carbon Green Bio-Energy UMP DIRTcar Modifieds entered the racing surface to square off in a 20-lap main event. 43-year old Lowell, Michigan driver Mark Anderson was able to take the lead mid-way through the race and fend off a late charge by Travis Stemler to score the win. Anderson picking up his second win in a row in the Accurate Engines / CRS Chassis.
Then it was time for the 100-lap feature for the Super DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds. Keith Flach and Six time Super DIRTcar Series Champion Brett Hearn led the field down to chief starter Dave Farney’s green flag. Hearn was able to jump out early and lead lap one while everybody fought for position behind him. There would be several cautions throughout the race slowing the field down, but that would not stop Hearn as he was able to lead every single lap and take the checkered flag.
Three time and defending series champion Matt Sheppard finished second. Billy Dunn, Jimmy Phelps, and 2004 series champion Gary Tomkins rounded out the top five. Dale Planck, Brian Swartzlander, Matt Billings, four time series champion Danny Johnson, and Pete Britten finished off the top ten. The preliminary heat races were won by Hearn, Justin Haers, and Dunn. Britten set fast time in qualifying breaking the track record that he set last year with a time of 18.461.
The final main event of the night was courtesy of the Smyrna Bar & Restaurant UMP DIRTcar Sport Compacts in a 20-lap A-main. When it was all said and done it was two time and defending track champion Rick Peck earning the victory. This was Peck’s third win of the year behind the wheel of his Frisbee & Son’s Plastering / Saturn SC2. Chuck Peterson II finished second. Christian Wynbelt, Gary Martin, and Randy Kretzinger Jr. capped off the top five. Nick Jemema won the heat.
The I-96 Speedway will take a two week break after which they will hold their 2013 season championship night on Saturday August 24th. The show will feature great racing from the Carbon Green Bio-Energy UMP DIRTcar Modifieds, Rudd’s Septic Service UMP DIRTcar Street Stocks, and Smyrna Bar & Restaurant UMP DIRTcar Sport Compacts.
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.
- Brian Osborne on Jun 24, 2015
- Article Date: 8/6/2013 by Brian Osborne