8.3.18 Merritt Speedway Results
Nearly 150 race cars checked in to compete on night 1 of the 50th Anniversary weekend, and the action was non-stop all night long. Setting up what is sure to be a thrilling night 2. Every division ran their heat races to qualify for the semi-features which helped set up the lineup for Saturday’s main events,
Cole Shanteau picked up his second feature win of the year in the Allstar Performance Mini-Wedges (Restricted) division. Dillion Liggett, Pierson DeShano, Cole Schymanski, and Jake Erickson rounded out the top five. Liggett won the heat. In the (Un-Restriced) division it was Nathan Winters getting the win, his third of the year. Bella Erickson, Kyron DeShano, Morgan Bujarski and Clay Lachcik were the rest of the top five. Lachcick won the heat race.
The Lake City Materials Factory Stocks ran a 12-lap semi feature with 13-year old Chase Burda taking the early lead. Burda would hold his ground until the in the last two laps he would take the leaders into some lap traffic and Jake Thompson who held with Burda the whole way was able to make the pass and take the big win. Rick Spencer won the battle for second. Burda, 16-year old Dale Kaake III, and 18-year old Brendan Powell rounded out the top five. Powell and Thompson won the heats.
The Diesel Freak B-Modifieds would see Scott Payton get his fourth win of the year in the 20-lap race. Payton started fifth and propelled his way up through the front of the field. Mike Vandermark Jr. was the runner-up, 15-year old Austin Harnick, Scott Smith, and Reid Sanders capped off the top five. Vandermark, Mike Stevenson, and Payton scored the heat wins.
The Cadillac News Lightning Sprints competed in a 20-lap semi-feature with Mack Erickson picking up his third win of the season finishing just ahead of Johnny Roberts who was charging up the field in the late stage of the event. Lindsey Erickson, John Norder, and Brendon Cascadden finished out the top five. Roberts, and Mack Erickson won the heats.
The Soaring Eagle UMP DIRTcar Late Models took to the speedway for a 25-lap feature. Brandon Thirlby took the lead off lap 1, and David Mielke wasted little time in wrestling the top spot away. The race would see several cautions but Mielke continued to hold the lead as great battles were taking place behind him. Mielke would be the first to the checkered over Thirlby who took second. 2-time UMP DIRTcar National Champion Rusty Schlenk, 2-time American Ethanol Late Model Tour champion Dona Marcoullier and Greg Gokey completed the top five. Wade Witherspoon, and Kory Maurice won the Last Chance Races. Thirlby won the four-car dash. 6-time track champion Eric Spangler, Schlenk, Marcoullier, and Mielke won the heats. Nick Kurtz was the overall fast qualifier with a time of 13.628.
In the XLT Engineering Four-Cylinders “A” division, it was 2017 track champion Willard VanHaitsma getting the win. 19-year old Cheyanne Emery took second. John Lowes, Jacques Julin, and George Finney Jr. made up the top five WanHaitsma also won the heat.
Meanwhile, in the XLT Engineering Four-Cylinders “B” division rookie driver Bobby Fetters earned his first main event win. 18-year old Trent Matthews, 14-year old Gabby Susdorf, Blake Gokee, and Bob Craycraft rounded out the top five. Fetters also won the heat.
The Cadillac Tire Center UMP DIRTcar Modifieds hit the track for their 20-lap semi-feature. “Hot Rod” Joe Rokos pulled away with the top spot early with 4-time track champion David Mielke hot on his trail. It would take several laps, but Mielke would manage to pull ahead with the lead. This race also featured many great position battle for many different positions. Mielke looked to be pulling away until he would get company in the form of the 2017 American Ethanol Modified Tour Champion Jacob Poel. The two remained in close contention, but when all was said and done it was Mielke getting the win. Poel, Collin Thirlby, Rokos, and Bauer made up the top five. 4-time track champion Brent Banning won the four-car dash. Mielke and Rokos were the heat winners.
Finally, in the Auto Value Pro Stocks 20-year old Jacob Flickinger won his third main-event of the season after a great battle with Chad Bieri. During the race Flickinger and Bieri would trade the lead for several laps, until Flickinger was finally able to pull away in time. Bieri did finish a strong second. Tim Tabaczka, Nate Murphy, and Joe Fisher rounded out the top five. The heats were won by Murphy, Tabaczka, and Fisher.
Now it’s on to night 2 of the 50th anniversary weekend. The Pit gates will open at 3:00pm. Grandstands will open at 5:00pm. The drivers meeting will take place at 6:30pm, and the green flag is set to wave at 7:00pm.