Saturday night at Crystal Motor Speedway found over 139 cars were on hand despite the wet conditions from a Friday night and early morning rain shower.
Scott Baker of Ionia moved from eighth to win the KFC Late Model event. Travis Stemler, also from Ionia, started in the row right behind Baker followed him forward to claim second. Michael Archer, Jackson, was third followed by Ryan Lanphierd, Midland, and Josh Borton of Crystal moved from the last row to take home a fifth place finish. David Hilliker of Midland won the B feature with heats falling to Logan Love of Vestaburg, Archer, and Lanphierd. With the season points down to about four more events, Baker holds a commanding 67 point lead over Hilliker and Josh Knoll of Lake.
The Lane Automotive IMCA Modified event saw Brady Hollenbeck, Greenville, take his second feature win in a tight race with Nick Stormzand of Lowell. Mitchell Hunt, Greenville, finished third, followed by Chad Wernette, Sheridan, and Justin Wonch of Stanton. Heats fell to Gary VanderMark, Hunt, and Stormzand. The Modifieds have an additional points event than the rest of the divisions, with the season ending September 17th. AJ Ward, Ionia holds a 23 point led over Wonch, with Myron DeYoung, Stanton, Brenten DeYoung, Crystal, and Stormzand clumped 30 to 40 points behind Ward.
Brandon Weber of Coleman won the Next Level Graphics and Design Street but had to hold off furious charges from Ryan Alexander, Stanton and Jasen Wiley of Fenwick, both of whom started deep in the pack. Dustin Weber, Riverdale and Andrew Fidler of Elwell rounded out the top five. Lake resident Tony Vinton grabbed the B Main with Wiley, Gabe Gesselman, Muir, and Christopher Snyder of Shaftsburg winning their heat events. Wiley holds a 19 point edge over Alexander with George Wease of Hubbardston Dennis Parker, Crystal, and Geselman about thirty points behind them.
Lansing’s Paul Grosnickle held off a determined Chris Malek from Alma to win the Engine Pro Pro Truck feature. Kenny Dittenber of Carson City, Scott Harris, Lakeview, and Rob Putt of Fenwick. In the points race, Matt Pickard of Grant holds a six point lead over Curtis Rice of Muskegon. Malek is just ten more points back with Jim Beltz, Kent City and Dittenber rounding out the top five in points.
Draven Grosvenor of Crystal took the win in the Races On The Web Flinn Stock event in a race of attrition over Cory Baker, Belding, Collin Schafer, Muir, Kolby Rohn, Sheridan, and Allen Roszell of Sheridan. Heats were won by Rusty Sowles of Howard City and Roszell. The points race in the division finds the top five separated by about forty points Roszell leading the pack. Cory Baker, Belding, is second, followed by Kolby Rohn, Sheridan, Ronald Fuhrman, Belding, Schafer, Grosvenor.
Jeramie Raby of Mt Pleasant held on to add another 2017 win in the Port City Racing Pro Stock event over Chad Raby, Riverdale, Mike VanderMark Jr., Cedar Springs, Don Rohn, Sheridan, and Josh Loomis of Weidman. Rohn and Chad Raby took preliminary heat events. Jeramie Raby holds a single point lead over Derek Schestag of Ashley in a strong field of competitors. Eric Baird of Lowell is a mere ten points back, with Matt Muha of Greenville and VanderMark rounding out the top five in points.
Thomas Parker of Wayland grabbed win in the ages 10 to 14 Greenville Daily News Mini-Wedge youth division over Riley Bowen, Sheridan, Rylee Knoll, Lake, Brent Wonch, Stanton, Alexis Morris, Zevon Nemetz, Crystal, and Andrew Bogart of Howard City. Bogart took the preliminary heat. In the 6 to 9-year-old division, Jazzlyn Hale of Crystal picked up her second feature win over her sister, Lilyann Montgomery, also of Crystal. Cole Doty, Shepherd, Eli Fellows, Crystal, Mikah Kurkowski, Sidney, June Dora, Fenwick, Teegan Williams, Stanton, and Zayden Buskirk of Crystal. In the older division, Bogart holds a one point lead over Bowen with Knoll just eight points behind them. Nemetz and Wonch round out the top five. The younger group is lead by Buskirk a mere two points ahead of Hale. Dora, Kurkowski, and Montgomery follow in a tight pack behind the leaders.
Next weekend at Crystal Motor Speedway closes out July with a full slate of all seven divisions plus a steeple chase. Gates open at 4:30 PM, with racing starting about 7:30 PM. Adults are $12, kids 5-11 are $5, and pit passes are $25. Further information can be obtained by calling the track office at 989.235.5200 or visiting the website at crystalmotorspeedway.com
