Crystal Motor Speedway hosted its 2018 season finale, the Great Lakes Nationals over the weekend, with 209 cars in the pits and nine different divisions.
The Outlaw Late Models saw Derrick Hilliker hit top speeds of over 105 mph as he won the main event over JC Witherspoon, Kinde, Ryan Lanphierd, Midland, David Hilliker, Midland, Wade Witherspoon, Kinde, and Carl Ries of Blanchard. Lanphierd won the fast car dash, with David and Derrick Hilliker picking up heat wins.
Veteran sprint driver Steven Irwin of Fenton driving the “Flyin’ Zero” machine picked up the feature win for the Michigan Traditional Sprint event. Gregg Dalman, Bellevue grabbed second, followed by Mike Galadja, Fenton, Steve Little of Ada, Oklahoma, and Chris Jones of Quincy. Joe Bares of Traverse City picked up the B Main win, with heats falling to Irwin, Michael Burkin of Clyde, Ohio, Andrew Scheid of Sparta, and Galadja.
In the Kentucky Fried Chicken Late Models, Rob Taylor of Muskegon held off all comers as he won the event over Drew Wilkerson of Ravenna, Michael Archer of Jackson, Scott Baker, Ionia, and Kyle Borgman of Muskegon. Wilkerson, Tom Dusen, Muskegon, and Zack Olger of St. Johns won heats with the Saturday Night Special race being won by Wilkerson.
AJ Ward of Ionia went home $3000 richer as he took the lead and the win in the closing laps of the Lane Automotive IMCA Modifieds feature. Brenten DeYoung, Crystal was second, followed by Myron DeYoung, Crystal, Joey Burch, Rosebush, and Chad Wernette of Sheridan. Kent City’s Mitchell Hunt picked up the B Main win, while Brody Bowser of Stanton, Kody Johnson, Vestaburg, Wernette, and Ward grabbed hat wins. Gary VanderMark of Lowell scored the Saturday Night Special.
Close to seventy Street Stocks machines showed up for the Next Level Graphics & Design LLC Street Stock event. With thirty cars starting the main feature, the early battle was just to stay in contention. As the laps wore down, Dustin Weber of Riverdale moved to the lead, and eventually the win over Josh Loomis, Weidman, Jake Thompson, Birch Run, Will Stanley of Weidman, and Chase Burda of Columbiaville. Alma’s Trevor Monk and Josh Sternberg of Muskegon picked up the B Main wins, while heats were won by Robbie Sternberg, Muskegon, Weber, George Wease, Hubbardston, Stanley, Dean Rake Sr., Muskegon, and Mike Spenser of Caro. Loomis also won the Saturday Night Special event.
Mike Currier of Fenwick moved up from the sixth position to win the Races On The Web Flinn Stock feature. Matt Brooms of Sheridan was second, followed by Mike Dexter, Spring Lake, Jason Barrus, Sheridan, and Paul Streeter Jr, of Sanford. Heats fell to Estevan Martinez of Muskegon and Currier. Martinez won the Saturday Night Special.
The Port City Racing Pro Stock feature found Kyle Hunt of Bannister picking up the win over Chad Bieri of Caseville. Mick VanderMark Jr was third, followed by Don Rohn, Sheridan, and Blake Hollenbeck of Greenville. Heats were picked up by Chad Bennett of Caro and Rohn. Jeremy Spencer of Deford picked up the Special.
Despite some heavy pressure by Vern Buskirk of Stanton, Curtis Rice of Muskegon added the GLN Engine Pro Pro Truck feature to his already impressive 2018 season statistics. Buskirk settled for second, followed by Jim Beltz, Kent City, Rob Putt, Fenwick, and Tim Sooy of Stanton. Rice also grabbed the heat and the Saturday Night Special to round out the season finale sweep.
In the Greenville Daily News Mini Wedge divisions, Zayden Buskirk of Crystal grabbed the win in the 6-9-year-old group, followed by Landyn Neitling, Saginaw, Jazzlyn Hale, Crystal, Anjel Martinez, and Carter Brown of Hubbardston. Hale and Buskirk picked up heat wins.
In the 10 to 14-year-old group, Zayden Olger of St. Johns took the feature win over Andrew Bogart, Howard City, Aby Brown, Hubbardston, Lilyann Montgomery, Crystal, and Brent Wonch of Stanton. Olger also claimed the heat win.
This event concludes the 2018 racing season at Crystal Motor Speedway. The next event will be the 2018 Awards Banquet scheduled for January 12, 2019. Call the track office at 989.235.5200 with questions, and watch the website at crystalmotorspeedway.com for details as they are solidified.
