8.3.19 American Ethanol Late Models Results
Lake City, MI (Sunday, August 4, 2019) – The American Ethanol Late Model Tour returned to Merritt Speedway for the second time in 2019 Friday and Saturday, joining in on the largest dirt late model race in the state of Michigan. The 31st running of the Ed Vanduinen WoodTic was paired up with the 2nd Annual Dan Salay Memorial. The blockbuster race paid $10,000 to win, on top of $20 per lap to lead the event, along with many other contingencies and prizes.
The special event began on Friday with American Ethanol Qualifying. Not only were drivers trying to set the overall fast time, but the fastest driver from each group would compete in a Fast Car Dash later in the evening. Group Number One was paced by Travis Stemler who turned in a 14.337, over Dona Marcoullier’s 14.534, and Steve Hiliker’s 14.643. In Group Two, Chad Finley powered his brand new chassis to a 14.413, edging out Brandon Thirlby and his 14.445, and Isaac Wolfgang’s 14.792. Group Number Three saw Rich Bell go to a 14.723 second lap time, however, right as he crossed the stripe, his engine expired, scratching him for the night. Rusty Schlenk set the pace behind him with a 14.922, and Eric Spangler turned in a 15.004. In the fourth and final group, defending Merritt Speedway Track Champion, Nick Kurtz qualified with a 14.927, besting Matt Shipley’s 14.991, and Andrew Terrill’s 15.191. Stemler was awarded the Motul Motor Oil and Lubricants Fast Qualifier Award, and he joined Finley, Schlenk (who replaced Bell), and Kurtz in the Senior Insurance Solutions Fast Car Dash.
That was the first of three dash races for the night, Schlenk dominated the event, besting Kurtz by over two tenths of a second. In the Dash for Cash races, Spangler and Josh Knoll went to victory lane.
In the heat races, no transfer spots were on the line, but a vital piece of the puzzle was up for grabs for the winner of the events; the top two finishers would redraw for starting spots in Saturday’s Odd/Even Features. Marcoullier, Thirlby, Spangler and Kurtz were all heat race winners
Saturday, the pressure was turned up, as the Odd/Even features were the first on track action of the day. The 26 lap contests helped set the starting line up for the 31st WoodTic, with the top 8 cars transferring to the show, while the top three redrew for the top six starting positions. The importance of the races were very clear, as a number of cautions, and a few red flags for track clean-up plagued both races. The Odd race saw Schlenk continue to show his speed as he raced to the win by a comfortable margin over Marcoullier and Stemler. In the Even race, Thirlby showed patience through the struggles of the race to pick up the win ahead of Finley and Kurtz.
The starting line-up was finalized after two last chance qualifiers, where the top two drivers from each were locked into the show. One American Ethanol Points Provisional was awarded, along with five Merritt Speedway provisionals, meaning some 26 cars rolled off for the 74 lap main event.
In less than 20 minutes, history was made as a new driver wrote their name onto the list of WoodTic Winners. Rusty Schlenk and Travis Stemler led the field to the American Ethanol Green Flag, and Schlenk took off as if he was shot out of a cannon. Schlenk was never again challenged for the top spot, leading all 74 laps en route to his first career WoodTic Victory. Chad Finley avoided a late race scare when he made contact with a lapped car, nearly spinning to the infield. He held on for a second place finish, some nine seconds behind Schlenk, ahead of Dona Marcoullier who was trying for another three-peat. The final driver on the lead lap was Kurtz who finished over 11 seconds off of Schlenk’s pace. Only four drivers managed to stay on the lead lap during the race, an oddity that Schlenk accredited to improved track preparation.
The next event for the AELMT is a double-header weekend into the state of Illinois during Labor Day weekend. Friday, August 30th the Tour makes its first ever trip to Farmer City Raceway, before a first time stop at Fairbury American Legion Speedway on Saturday, August 31st.
To learn more about the American Ethanol Late Model Tour, visit aelmt.com and follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Unofficial Results: Night One
FK Rod Ends Dash 4 Cash Race #1:
27 Eric Spangler
6M Dona Marcoullier
79 Nick Kurtz
M14 Brandon Thirlby
2 Travis Stemler
42 Chad Finley
44 Matt Shipley
4T Andrew Terrill
21S Steve Hilliker
41P Jesse Playter
CJ1 Rusty Schlenk
9 Isaac Wolfgang
Merritt Speedway Dash 4 Cash Race #2
87K Josh Knoll
1W Michael Luberda
25CB Chris Brindley
24N Kyle Novak
15 Dave Baker
33T Bob Timmer
16 Mike Staszak
04 Wade Witherspoon
1R Todd Rosebrugh
3 Jeremy Tulick
44S Colin Shipley
Rick & Bobbi Jones Heat Race #1:
6M Dona Marcoullier
2 Travis Stemler
21S Steve Hilliker
25CB Chris Brindley
33T Bob Timmer
1R Todd Rosebrugh
52 Brad Harden
19X Cody Bauer
44G John Goodrich
41X Mike Vandermark Jr.
Bill Hill Heat Race #2:
M14 Brandon Thirlby
42 Chad Finley
9 Isaac Wolfgang
87K Josh Knoll
44S Colin Shipley
24N Kyle Novak
87M David Mielke
113 Kyle Roberts
21A Logan Arntz
1X Greg Gokey
Todd & Tonya Pease Heast Race #3:
27 Eric Spangler
CJ1 Rusty Schlenk
41P Jesse Playter
15 Dave Baker
16 Mike Staszak
3 Jeremy Tulick
73 Steve Nieuwenhuis
42A JT Anderson
23 Preston Deshano
Pro Power Racing Heat Race #4
79 Nick Kurtz
4T Andrew Terrill
44 Matt Shipley
1W Michael Luberda
10 Brett Miller
04 Wade Witherspoon
73L Logan Love
42JR Mike Nelson Jr.
03 JC Witherspoon
25JB Jim Billett
Senior Insurance Solutions Fast Car Dash:
CJ1 Rusty Schlenk
79 Nick Kurtz
2 Travis Stemler
42 Chad Finley
Motul Motor Oil Fast Qualifier:
2 Travis Stemler 14.337
Unofficial Results: Night Two
31st Ed Vanduinen WoodTic:
CJ1 Rusty Schlenk
42 Chad Finley
6M Dona Marcoullier
79 Nick Kurtz
87M David Mielke
2 Travis Stemler
113 Kyle Roberts
M14 Brandon Thirlby
27 Eric Spangler
21B Rich Bell
44 Matt Shipley
21A Logan Arntz
24N Kyle Novak
1X Greg Gokey
25CB Chris Brindley
15 Dave Baker
21S Steve Hilliker
41X Mike Vandermark Jr.
44S Colin Shipley
03 JC Witherspoon
10 Brett Miller
19X Cody Bauer
16 Mike Staszak
41P Jesse Playter
52 Brad Harden
9 Isaac Wolfgang
Last Chance Race #1:
41X Mike Vandermark Jr.
25CB Chris Brindley
16 Mike Staszak
21S Steve Hilliker
41P Jesse Playter
42A JT Anderson
3 Jeremy Tulick
44G John Goodrich
73 Steve Nieuwenhuis
1R Todd Rosebrugh
23 Preston Deshano
Last Chance Race #2:
1X Greg Gokey
24N Kyle Novak
87K Josh Knoll
9 Isaac Wolfgang
42JR Mike Nelson Jr.
10 Brett Miller
73L Logan Love
25JB Jim Billett
44S Colin Shipley
Odd Feature:
CJ1 Rusty Schlenk
6M Dona Marcoullier
2 Travis Stemler
21B Rich Bell
15 Dave Baker
27 Eric Spangler
19X Cody Bauer
52 Brad Harden
25CB Chris Brindley
16 Mike Staszak
23 Preston Deshano
44G John Goodrich
33T Bob Timmer
41X Mike Vandermark Jr.
73 Steve Nieuwenhuis
21S Steve Hilliker
41P Jesse Playter
1R Todd Rosebrugh
3 Jeremy Tulick
Even Feature:
M14 Brandon Thirlby
42 Chad Finley
79 Nick Kurtz
113 Kyle Roberts
87M David Mielke
44 Matt Shipley
03 JC Witherspoon
21A Logan Arntz
24N Kyle Novak
1X Greg Gokey
87K Josh Knoll
9 Isaac Wolfgang
73L Logan Love
42JR Mike Nelson Jr.
25JB Jim Billett
4T Andrew Terrill
04 Wade Witherspoon
10 Brett Miller
1W Michael Luberda
44S Colin Shipley