Miller Dominates ALMS

Posted on Sat, Aug 31, 2013 by announcerdude

Matt Miller earned a $2,000 win after a dominating performance in Saturday night’s American Late Model Series (ALMS) event at Oakshade Raceway over some very stout competition.

The 1991 Oakshade Raceway Track Champion started on the outside of the front row of the ALMS feature and took command at the drop of the green flag over pole-sitter Jeff Babcock. The only caution period of the race came out on lap two for Kevin Reeve from Hanover, Michigan after he had problems in turn 4. The final 28 laps were run caution free with Miller leading the entire distance. Brian Ruhlman, the 2012 ALMS champion, got by Babcock for second and tried to reel in Miller while negotiating through lapped traffic. Ruhlman was unable to make much of a dent in Miller’s lead and started to slip back as Babcock reclaimed the second position about halfway through the race. Ruhlman, Babcock and Dona Marcoullier had a good battle going for the second through fourth positions late in the race, about half a lap behind Miller who went on to win his third Oakshade Raceway feature race of the year. Ruhlman got back around Babcock to finish second with Marcoullier, who unofficially wrapped up the 2013 track championship last week, finishing third. Babcock held on for a fourth place finish with Jason Jaggers from Wyanet, Illinois, rounding out the top five.

After a set back the week before, Tim Line was back in top shape and eventually took the lead over Mike Jessen after battling early in the Sportsman feature. A big pile up on lap three involving Richard Patton, Joe Smith, Jamie Grochowski and Chane Stuckey tore up a few good race cars and set up a double-file restart which gave Jessen another shot at Line for the lead. Line had other ideas and shot out to a big lead over Jessen who was last week’s feature winner. It was the eight feature win of the year for Tim Line, which only slightly increased his point lead over Jessen with two races remaining this season. Jessen’s second place finish still keeps him alive in the championship points race, 68 points behind Line. Bob Gregory is third in points and finished third in the race ahead of Bob Krumm and Jim Scout.

Richard Riffe, Greg Detray and newlywed Jeff Foks raced three-wide for the lead at the start of the Bomber A Main with Riffe eventually coming out on top. Foks moved into second and pressured for the lead until Riffe spun out while leading on lap seven which brought out the caution flag and turned the race over to the defending champ. Foks went on to pick up another easy victory, his ninth of the year, which moved him back up to third in points behind Adam Noonan and Terry Rushlow. Rushlow finished the race second with Chris Sands third. Rick Dixon started tenth and drove to a fourth place finish with Detray slipping back to end up fifth.

An ugly incident on the first lap of the combined Hornet/Sport Compact four-cylinder classes brought out the red flag when Kacy Crispen got crossed up exiting turn four and slid back up in front of traffic causing a hard multi-car crash. Also caught up in the wreck were Jeff Goodman, Breanna Franks and John Anderson Jr.

In Sport Compact action, “Sparky Marky” Gillingham Jr. and Matt Brazeau battled side by side the final two laps for the lead. Brazeau, who was on the inside, pushed up into the side of Gillingham in the final corner and got his car a little out of shape which was all Gillingham needed to take the checkered flag. “Junior” Jerry Hoot beat out Austin Casteneda for third with Terry Rushlow Sr. finishing fifth.

In Hornet action, Cody Laney worked his way up toward the front of the pack and was leading the Hornet class until he had to check up for another car which allowed last week’s feature winner, Brandon Myers, to get by and win his second feature event in a row. Breanna Franks followed Laney with a third place finish with Abby Burton and John Anderson Jr. rounding out the rest of the top five finishers.

Brandon Clark from Lyons, Ohio, led flag to flag in the Bomber B Main after starting on the pole. Joe Heffner ran second the first part of the race until getting caught up in a lap six incident with Craig Dippman and Derek Morris which ended the night for all three drivers. Clark picked up the victory over Satch Crispen and Terry Rump. Roscoe Stetten and Donovan Paskan both started deep in the field and finished fourth and fifth respectively.

Zach Tipton and Shaun Sharp battled for the lead in the Bomber C Main. Sharp was able to take the lead briefly after a lap six restart, but Tipton fought back and regained the lead. Craig Strow’s spin as the field was taking the white flag set up a one-lap race to the finish and a final shot for Sharp at Tipton, but Tipton held on to win over Sharp, Joe Elliot, Derek Zuver and Scott Robertson.

Usually held on Sunday afternoons, a special 200-lap/Two Hour Enduro race will be run on Saturday evening, September 7. Gates open at 4pm and the race time will be at 6pm. General admission for the Enduro is just $5!

Topless UMP Late Models return to Oakshade Raceway the following week on Saturday, September 14, along with the Sportsman, Bombers, Hornets and Sport Compact classes.

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Schlenk Picks Up Third Win Of Year

Posted on Sat, Aug 24, 2013 by announcerdude

Despite coming up just short on an unprecedented sixth Oakshade Raceway track championship, Rusty Schlenk managed to finish the points season on a high note picking up his third UMP Late Model feature win of the year.

Things started off rough for the unofficial 2013 Oakshade Raceway UMP Late Model Track Champion Dona Marcoullier. For the second time in a row, Marcoullier from Houghton Lake, Michigan, was caught up in a major first lap pile-up that also included Chris Keller, Bob Mayer, Casey Noonan, Dusty Moore, Mike Miller and B.J. Gregory. Once all of the cars were separated, Marcoullier was able to continue on with only Moore, Miller and Gregory retiring to the pits.

Once the green flag finally dropped again on the UMP Late Model Season Championship Night, Steve Kester led the field over Keller’s damaged car. Schlenk closed in on Kester and took over the race lead for good on lap seven. Marcoullier worked his way up to third and then began to battle with Kester for second in the closing stages of the race.

After a long green flag run, the caution flew for the final time on lap 21 for debris on the track. This set up a four-lap sprint to the finish and wiped out the lead Schlenk had built up over Kester and Marcoullier. Marcoullier managed to get by Kester for second after the restart, but was unable to close in on Schlenk in the final couple laps. The defending track champion took the checkered flag and congratulated Marcoullier on his championship season as the two drivers raced each other hard all season long. Kester finished third behind Marcoullier with Brian Ruhlman finishing another strong performance in fourth after starting 14^th. Casey Noonan finished fifth.

Mike Jessen took a big chunk out of Tim Line’s point lead in the Sportsman class at Oakshade Raceway with his second consecutive feature win. Bruce Stuart took the early lead with Tim Line pressuring. Stuart got into Line coming off turn two while battling for the lead and caused a huge crash on the backstretch which took both drivers out of contention. Also caught up in the incident were Rich Ruff, Kyle Turley, John Laney, Steve Meeks, Chane Stuckey and Kevin Alverson. Line pitted but rejoined the field just before going back to green. Jessen took advantage of the situation and grabbed the lead after the restart. The battle for third place got ugly on lap 15 when Jim Scout and Jamie Grochowski got together to bring out the yellow. Both drivers went back to the pits ending a top five run for each driver. Line, still running near the tail of the field, fell off the pace after the restart and retired to the pits with a 14^th place finish. Jessen went on to claim his fifth feature win of the year and made up 40 points on Line to be 61 points back with only a few races remaining this season. Bob Gregory finished second followed by Joe Smith, Richard Patton and Rich Ruff.

Rick Dixon started on the pole of the Bomber A Main, but spun his rear tires at the start allowing Roscoe Stetten to gain the lead. Point leader Terry Rushlow took the lead away on lap six and added just a little bit of a cushion in his slim 14-point lead over Adam Noonan in the points chase with his second win in a row. Stetten held on to a second place finish with Curt Lancaster in third. Gregg Detray gained a spot in the points battle up to third with his fourth place finish. Garry Domoe ended up fifth.

Hornet point lead Codey Laney retired to the pits on the first lap of the combined Hornet/Sport Compact feature event. Brandon Myers took the Hornet lead from Brandon Leighton on the first lap and went on to pick up the victory over Leighton and Breanna Franks. In Sport Compact action, Matt Brazeau and “Sparky Marky” Gillingham Jr. battled for the lead most of the race with Brazeau hanging on to take the checkered flag ahead of Gillingham, “Junior” Jerry Hoot, Cory Gumm and Devin Goodman.

Derek Morris passed Teri-Lynn Murphy for the lead on the fourth lap of the Bomber B Main, but one lap later, Morris spun all by himself to bring out the yellow flag. That turned the lead back over to Murphy with Bill Reeves Sr. running second. Later in the race, Reeves fell off the pace and retired to the pits. Chris Sands started dead last, but caught Murphy in the last few laps. Sands made a last lap pass as Murphy slid up high coming off the final corner to win in an exciting finish to the B Main. Murphy got all crossed up coming to the checkered flag, but managed a second place finish despite finally spinning out just past the finish line. Brandon Clark finished third with Derek Morris recovering to a fourth place finish after his troubles earlier in the race. Satch Crispen started 17^th and wound up fifth.

Multiple cautions marred the night’s final event, the Bomber C Main. Dave McMannamy spun on the first lap to bring out the first yellow flag and then Jody Burton, Chris Montgomery and Jared Smith wrecked in turn two bringing out another caution period. Maverick Wright led most of what few laps were run under green flag conditions until contact from Steve Reeves sent Wright spinning to bring out another caution. Reeves was sent to the tail with Wright for rough driving. That turned the lead over to Scott Robertson who went on to victory after the race distance was shortened due to the time limit elapsing. Henry Walls Jr. finished second followed by John Gamer, Duane Fletcher and Nick Fenner.

Oakshade Raceway will be the place to be on Saturday night this coming Labor Day weekend with the final $2,000 to win American Late Model Series program in addition to a full show of Sportsmen, Bombers, Hornets and Sport Compacts. Gates open at 4pm with racing at 7pm. Adult general admission is just $12!

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Schlenk & Marcoullier Dual Push Truck Challenge Winners

Posted on Sat, Aug 17, 2013 by announcerdude

Racing in Saturday night’s Dual Push Truck Challenge was intense as the UMP Late Model points race at Oakshade Raceway draws to a close. Defending Track Champion Rusty Schlenk hoped to make up a lot of ground on Dona Marcoullier’s heading into next Saturday’s Season Championship Night with a chance to rack up extra points in two 25-lap UMP Late Model features that make up the Dual Push Truck Challenge.

Schlenk entered the night’s competition 90 points behind Marcoullier and took the lead at the drop of the green flag in the first feature event. He pulled away from last week’s feature winner, Brian Ruhlman, early in the race. Schlenk survived a close call on lap 11 when Mark Pifer spun just in front of the leaders to bring out the yellow flag. Schlenk again opened up his lead after the restart with Marcoullier and Ruhlman battling for second. Marcoullier eventually got by Ruhlman and began to close in on Schlenk while working through slower traffic. Schlenk was able to pick up the victory, but only gained five points on Marcoullier. Jeff Babcock finished third ahead of Ruhlman and Steve Kester.

Schlenk’s championship hopes seemed to light back up slightly after a massive pile up on the first lap of the second 25-lap feature left Marcoullier’s car resting on top of Matt Lindsey’s. Also involved in the melee were Devin Shiels, Brian Ruhlman, Dusty Moore, Ron Miller, Herb Reich and Curtis Diesenroth. After all cars were finally separated, most were able to continue despite some mangled sheet metal. Drivers who did not pit were allowed to restart in their original starting position. One of those drivers was Dona Marcoullier.

Once the green flag finally flew again, pole-sitter Chris Keller snatched the early lead with Marcoullier following in second. Marcoullier took command on lap eight and started to pull away as Keller and Schlenk battled for second behind him. Once Schlenk got by Keller, he began to close back in on the race leader. Schlenk had just about caught Marcoullier with a couple laps remaining when disaster struck. Schlenk tried to squeeze under the lapped car of Mark Pifer coming off the second turn. The two drivers made contact that broke the right rear shock on Schlenk’s car and that would pretty much end his chances for an unprecedented 6^th championship.

The yellow flag came out for debris on the track from that contact setting up a two lap shootout to the finish. Schlenk remained on the track in second behind Marcoullier as the field came back to the green flag, but peeled off to the pits on the backstretch just before taking the white flag. Marcoullier was able to take his damaged race car to victory lane for the fourth time this season and increased his point lead to an insurmountable 131 points leading into Season Championship Night. Chris Keller finished second with Casey Noonan third and Dusty Moore ending up fourth after getting a piece of that first lap wreck. Brian Ruhlman also had some pretty heavy damage in the first lap incident, but drove to a fifth place finish and moved up to third in points.

Tim Line wanted to continue his Sportsman feature win streak and extend it to five, but Mike Jessen had other plans. Line took over the race lead from Rich Ruff on the second lap and by lap eight, Jessen had caught Line. The two drivers raced side by side for many laps and swapped the lead back and forth. Jessen held the lead late in the race, but Line dove back to the inside of Jessen with two laps to go. They were side by side again at the white flag, but Jessen made a move back to the inside on the final lap to secure his fourth feature win of the year. Line had to settle for a second place finish followed by Bob Gregory, Rich Ruff and Joe Derbeck.

A wild Bomber A Main followed the Sportsman feature with some great racing action at the front of the field. Terry Rump took the lead at the start with Craig Dippman pressuring. Dippman took the lead by a nose on lap four, but got sideways the following lap and collected Satch Crispen who came to a stop which brought out the caution flag. Rump, Dippman and Adam Noonan fanned out three-wide for the lead on the ensuing restart. Multiple caution flags kept the field tight behind race leader Terry Rump. Jeff Foks worked his way into the lead battle with Rump, Dippman and Noonan. Both Dippman and Foks were sent to the tail after contact between the two drivers resulted in Dippman spinning out. Terry Rushlow carried a slim two point advantage over Noonan in Bomber points at the beginning of the night and charged into the lead by lap 11. The final caution period after Perry Cox slammed hard into Amy Clair’s slowing car on the backstretch caused the allotted time limited to expire and resulted in a single lap race to the finish. Rushlow was able to hang on for the win with Rump edging out Noonan and Dave “Gumby” Golembiewski Jr who were battling three-wide for second. Garry Domoe started 15^th and wound up gaining ten positions to finish fifth.

Cody Laney and John Anderson Jr. got hooked together on the first lap in the combined Hornet/Sport Compact feature event and nearly went head on into the wall coming off turn two. Nick Jenema started on the outside of the front row and shot out to a huge lead. He opened up more than a half lap advantage over his nearest competitor on his way to pick up his first Sport Compact feature win at Oakshade Raceway. Austin Casteneda finished a distant second followed by Matt Brazeau, “Sparky Marky” Gillingham Jr. and Cory Gumm. Laney recovered after his early race miscues to pick up his eighth feature win of the year. Brandon Leighton was second with Breanna Franks third. John Anderson Jr. wound up fourth.

Teri-Lynn Murphy started on the pole of the Bomber B Main and opened a big lead early. Richard Riffe’s spin on lap three brought out the caution and wiped out Murphy’s advantage. After the restart, Chris Sands and Roscoe Stetten battled three-wide with Murphy for the lead. The three ran out of race track coming off turn four with Sands on the inside. He pushed up causing Murphy to get into Stetten who then got into the front stretch wall. The contact with Stetten cut down a tire on Murphy’s car which put an end to her good run. Rick Dixon made his presence known late in the race when he pressured Sands for the lead, but Sands managed to drive to the victory over Dixon. Dan Plath, Roscoe Stetten and Jim Remley were the rest of the top five finishers.

Jesse Burgett, Stephanie Miller and Eddie Goins wrecked on the backstretch on the first lap of the Bomber C Main just as a few others wrecked coming off turn four coming to the yellow flag. Joe Nickloy drove out to the lead at the once things finally got going with Zach Tipton in second. Tipton took the lead on lap seven and went on to victory over Bill Reeves Sr., Joe Nickloy, Brandon Clark and Derek Zuver.

The 2013 Oakshade Raceway UMP Late Model Champion will be determined after Season Championship Night for UMP Late Models this coming Saturday. The Sportsman, Bomber, Hornet and Sport Compact classes will also be in action. Gates open at 4pm with racing beginning at 7pm.