Saturday night at Crystal Motor Speedway was Season Championship Night for six of the seven divisions with 134 cars in the pits. The IMCA Modifieds will settle their title fight at the final event of the season, September 17th. All points races are subject to a review of season points.
The Kentucky Fried Chicken Late Model feature found “Flyin’ Ryan” VanderVeen of Six Lakes moving up from his tenth place starting position to bring home the event win. Zack Olger, St. Johns, had followed the winner from deep in the pack, but had to settle for second, followed by Michael Archer, Jackson, Scott Baker, Ionia, and Rachel Carpenter of Laingsburg. Garrett Wiles of Hubbardston joined the big dance by taking the win in the B feature. Heat wins went to VanderVeen, Chris Rinard, Ithaca, and Scot Church of Ithaca. Baker clinched the division title, his fifth straight division championship.
Rob Brillhart of Crystal mastered the Port City Racing Pro Stock feature event despite former division champion Chad Raby of Riverdale riding his bumper most of the event. Raby had to settle for second, followed by Josh Loomis, Weidman, Mike VanderMark Jr., Cedar Springs, and Derek Schestag of Ashley. Brillhart and VanderMark Jr won heat events. Schestag won the season title.
Mike Currier won the Races On The Web Flinn Stock feature with a comfortable win to take home the big trophy of the night while Allen Roszell clinched the season championship. Cory Baker of Belding was second, followed by Draven Grosvenor, Crystal, Allen Roszell, Sheridan, Kyleah Baker of White Cloud. Currier and Mack Piper of Shepherd took preliminary the top spots in their heat events.
Ionia’s AJ Ward was taking care of business as he assumed the early lead in the Lane Automotive IMCA Modified feature and was never headed. Myron DeYoung of Stanton came in second, followed by Myron DeYoung, Stanton, John DeYoung Jr., Crystal, Chad Wernette, Sheridan, and Mitchell Hunt of Greenville. Ken Zeigler of Ovid and Hunt claimed heat wins. The IMCA Modified title fight continues until the final event of 2017. Ward holds a twenty-one point lead over Myron DeYoung with two more points races to go.
Ryan Alexander learned the meaning of the old saying, ‘On A Wing and a Prayer’ in the Next Level Graphics and Design Street Stock feature after being involved in a multi car wreck in turn four that also included Jasen Wiley, the main stumbling block to his hopes for a division championship. Both men were able to continue, but with a lot of damage to their cars. Alexander finished the event with his rear bumper loose but hanging on to win the race over George Wease of Hubbardston, Wiley, Fenwick, Tony Vinton, Lake, and Dennis Parker Jr., of Crystal, winning his first championship title. Doug McKeown Sr. of Sidney won the B feature with Teven Kress, Michael Long of Coleman, and Alexander all collecting heat wins.
The Engine Pro Pro Truck event saw Milt Montgomery of Sheridan hold the lead for the first dozen laps or so, but he was stalked from the beginning by Grant’s Matt Pickard. Pickard passed Montgomery for the lead coming out of turn four at the halfway point and then cruised on to the win and the season title. Montgomery grabbed second, followed by Paul Grosnickle, Lansing, Andrew Fidler, Elwell, and Jim Beltz of Kent City. Rob Putt of Fenwick and Pickard grabbed heat wins.
Riley Bowen of Sheridan picked up the win in the ten to fourteen-year-old division of the Daily News Mini-Wedge beginners class. Andrew Bogart of Howard City followed in second, followed by, Thomas Parker, Wayland, Brent Wonch, Stanton, Zevon Nemetz, Crystal, Dillon Kohn, Sheridan, and Alexis Morris. Bogart took the heat and the season title.
In the six to nine-year-old class, Zayden Buskirk of Crystal took the win over Jazzlyn Hale, Crystal. Mason VanderVeen of Six Lakes grabbed the third place spot, followed by Lilyann Montgomery, Crystal, Cole Doty, Shepherd, Teegan Williams, Stanton, June Dora, Fenwick, Mikah Kurkowski, Sidney, and Eli Fellows from Crystal. Cole Doty of Shepherd collected the heat win while the season title went to Buskirk.
Next week at Crystal Motor Speedway is the big two day Labor Day Spectacular with racing on Saturday and Sunday. Admission for each night is $15 for adults, $5 for kids 5-11, and pit passes are $25. Saturday night features the final appearance of the Sprints On Dirt and a fireworks display. The Late Models have the night off. Sunday night has the Mini Wedge division and the IMCA Modifieds off but includes the annual Open Modified event and the Outlaw Late Models.
Gates open both nights at 4:30 PM, with racing starting about 7:30 PM. Further information can be obtained by calling the track office at 989.235.5200 or visiting the website at crystalmotorspeedway.com
