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Hoose, Eddy, Riley, Shinabarger, and Burton take wins on Autograph and Picture Night at Dixie Motor Speedway

Sunday June 7, 2009

 

By Matt Prieur – Dixie Motor Speedway

Birch Run, Michigan (Friday, June 5, 2009): It was Autograph and
Picture Night at the Dixie Motor Speedway on Friday, June 5th as the
doubleheader weekend in Birch Run, Michigan began with the fans in the
grandstands getting the chance to go out onto the front stretch to
meet and greet their favorite cars and stars during the 45-minute
Autograph session at Intermission. Then it was Feature Time!

The Wieland Contracting Modifieds rolled out first for their 30-lap
feature as 19-year-old Travis Eddy and Rick Wiecorek led a strong
19-car field to the green flag. Eddy pulled out ahead and rocketed
away from the pack, setting a torrid pace early on. At one point, Eddy
opened up a full straight away lead over the field before the first
caution flew on Lap 20 when Matt Severn slapped the Turn One wall
while at the same time, Don Gilbert lost an engine down the backstretch.

After an extensive clean-up, two more cautions flew. In the meantime,
two-time defending track champion, Chuck Silva had climbed his way up
to second place and with the Double File Restarts at the Birch Run,
Michigan speed plant, that placed Silva on the outside of Eddy on what
would be the final restart. After a couple of laps of side by side
racing, Silva had built the momentum on the high side and took over
the lead. Eddy tucked in behind Silva and followed him all around the
4/10s (0.400) mile progressively banked paved d-shaped oval.

As the white flag flew, Eddy made his move coming out of turn two and
completed the pass coming out of four and the Midland, Michigan
teenager in his Howe Racing Enterprises Chevrolet went on to win his
first career Dixie Feature on the 4/10s mile. Earlier this season, the
19-year-old won Round I of the Modifieds Short Track Series, which
utilizes the adjoining 1/3 (0.333) mile semi-banked paved oval!

Silva finished second on the track, but was later disqualified in
post-race tech, giving second place to new points leader and
Schaefer-Bierlein Dodge of Frankenmuth Hard-Charger of the Race, Nick
Clemens. Bobby Murany inherited third while Dave Christensen, Larry
Wallace, Jeff Reamer, Gavin Hunyady, Rookie Jeff Vrsek, Wiecorek, and
Mike Luberda Sr., completed the Top 10. Eight-Time Track Champion,
Tony Brabbs was the fastest qualifier for the second week in a row
with a 16.180 while Gilbert and Wiecorek scored heat race wins.

The Teamtech Motorsports Sportsman were next with their 25-lap feature
as Chet Allen and Jon Giffel led the field down to the green flag.
Both drivers remained side by side for several laps until Allen
grabbed the lead for himself. New Track Record Holder and current
points leader, Don Riley worked his way up through and caught the
leaders.

Riley quickly got by Giffel and set his sights on Allen. Just like two
weekends ago at Dixie’s sister track, the Owosso Speedway in that
tracks Pro Stocks division, Allen and Riley again commenced to
battling. Riley pulled up next to Allen and the two drivers traded the
lead back and fourth several times. Finally as the 1/2 way signal
was given on Lap 13, Riley made the pass that would count and the Bay
City, Michigan veteran in his Steven’s Cycle Chevrolet went on to
score his second Feature Win of the 2009 racing season, extend his
points lead in the season long points chase, and earn the
Schaefer-Bierlein Dodge of Frankenmuth Hard-Charger Award for his
efforts in a caution free feature!

Allen settled for second as Giffel, Joe Cunningham, Tony Basalone,
defending track champion Kevin Harder, Chris Stearns, Mike Ulman Jr.,
Gary Shank Jr., and Larry Plamondon rounded out the Top 10. Riley
lowered his own track record for the second time this season over the
15-car field, with a new mark of a 17.155. His old record, set back on
May 22nd, was a 17.184. 16-year-old Jimmy Novak and Giffel picked up
heat race wins.

The RacingPartSales.com Bombers division saw Troy Shinabarger and
Figure 8s points leader, Andrew Burton start on the front row of their
20-lap Feature. Shinabarger beat Burton to the first corner to take
the early advantage while the rest of the field jockeyed for position
behind him.

Shinabarger set a torrid pace early on in the feature while current
points leader, Jeff Roethlisberger Jr., worked his way through the
field. Roethlisberger Jr., got into a dogfight with 2008 Rookie of the
Year, Chad Congdon, and Cam Hiltz, who won his first career feature
during the 5/15 make-up race on 5/29. All the while Shinabarger, in
his National Roofing never let up the entire race and by the time
Roethlisberger Jr., who earned the Schaefer-Bierlein Dodge of
Frankenmuth Hard-Charger Award for his efforts, couldn’t catch
Shinabarger in time as Shinabarger led all 20 laps to give the
Montrose, Michigan driver his first feature win of the 2009 season.

Roethlisberger Jr., finished second while Congdon, Hiltz, Anthony
Jurek, Burton, Jim Wirsing, Joyce Derminer, Kyle Callahan, and Mike
Wirsing finished off the Top 10. C.J. Davis was the fast qualifier for
the second time this season with an 18.138 over the 17-car field while
Gerry Persails Jr., and Burton picked up heat race wins.

Back to the ultra competitive 4/10s mile and the Top Notch Motorsport
Pro Late Models lined up for their 30-lap feature as Timmy Near,
making his Pro Late Models debut, and Adam Rowe brought the field down
to Chief Starter, Carl Wanks’ green flag. The front row stayed side by
side for several laps until Rowe took the lead for himself on Lap six.

In the meantime, Marty England passed Near and set his sights on Rowe
when the caution flew on Lap 9. During the caution period, Rowe
developed a right rear flat tire, which gave the lead to England. His
lead was short-lived however as Mark Klein, who was in second, took
advantage of the double file restarts and powered his Dodge Crate
engine around the outside and took over the top spot on lap 11.

Klein began to pull away while Tony Hoose also slipped by England as
well to take over second spot. Hoose then went to work on the inside
of Klein and the two were side by side for the next several laps
before Hoose maneuvered by on lap 19 to take over the lead and the
Linden, Michigan driver, a two-time track champion at Dixie’s sister
track to the Southwest, Owosso Speedway, never looked back and drove
his Hoose Construction Chevrolet into victory lane for the first time
in 2009.

Two-Time Defending Track Champion and current points leader, Ed Doutre
Jr., finished second while Mark Welch earned his third
Schaefer-Bierlein Dodge of Frankenmuth Hard-Charger Award of the
season finishing fourth as Fast Qualifier, Curt Genow, cracked the Top
Five. Near was impressive in finishing sixth in his Pro Late Model
debut after starting the season in a Modified while Joe Hodgeson Jr.,
16-year-old Blake Childers, Rowe, and Robbie Johnson rounded out the
Top 10. Genow bested the 19-car field with a 16.268 in Qualifying
while Rick Osborn Jr., and England won heat races.

Finally to complete the night, the Checkered Flag Promotions Figure 8s
15-lap feature saw Troy Shinabarger go for his second feature win of
the night as he and fellow front row starter, John Hitsman battled all
over the inner figure 8s track. Shinabarger led the first four laps
until Hitsman slapped his way by to take over the lead on lap five.

Two-Time Feature Winner in 2009 and current points leader, Andrew
Burton, who started eighth in the pack got up to second and after an
intense battle with Hitsman, took over the lead on lap eight and never
looked back as the Flint, Michigan driver in his Custom Car Shop
Chevrolet won his third feature in a row in three starts, extended his
points lead, and picked up the Schaefer-Bierlein Dodge of Frankenmuth
Hard-Charger Award for his efforts.

Gerry Persails Jr., finished second while Hitsman, Shinabarger, and
Ray Derminer were the Top Five. The Figure 8s do not Qualify or run
Heat Races as they draw for their Feature starting positions during
the Drivers Meeting.

The doubleheader weekend continues this Sunday, June 7th as it is the
first Eve of Destruction of the 2009 racing season! The School Bus
Figure 8s highlight the night of carnage while there will also be a
Figure 8s Trailer Race, Chain-Gang Races, Dixie Crash Cars, a Flagpole
Race, and Spectator Drags.

Joining the excitement that is the Original, Often Copied, Often
Imitated, But NEVER EVER Duplicated, EVE OF DESTRUCTION will be the
Midwest Classic Racers (M.C.R.) Dwarf Cars Series.

NOTE THE NEW SUNDAY STARTING TIMES: Pit Gates Open at 12:00p.m., while
the Grandstand Gates Open at 2:00p.m. Practice for the M.C.R. Dwarf
Cars begins at 3:00p.m., as Qualifying will start at 4:00p.m. Racing
and Carnage gets underway at 5:00p.m.

General Admission for Sunday, June 7th is; Adults – $15.00, Seniors /
60 and over – $13.00, Students (13-17) – $12.00, Children (6-12) – $6.00 and Kids Five (5) and Under are absolutely FREE. Pit Passes are
$25.00.

For more information, please call: 1 (989) 624-9778 or 1 (989)
709-6113. You can also log onto the website for more information at:
www.dixiemotorspeedway.com

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This report was provided by an outside PR source and posted by Kim DeHaven.

 

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