TRACKSIDE TIDBITS

TRACKSIDE TIDBITS

July 2

   Connor Zobzien won his second career Outlaw Late Model feature win. “Oh, yeah, they (Paul Pelletier, Eric Lee) gave me run tonight. We've had a few hiccups to start off the season, but I've been working with Butch and Johnny VanDoorn a lot and they've helped us get this car back on track and made it a rocket ship for tonight. We had a little bit of work to do through the field and a couple restarts to perfect to get that but made it happen. It’s a very historic racecar. I got to thank Pat Moran, Jake Parker, for giving me this opportunity. It's amazing to be in a ride like this, the legacy behind this car.”

  From his Facebook page:

A little late to the Facebook post this morning but we parked the #45 Moran Chevrolet in victory lane last night! This VanDoorn Racing Development car ran awesome! Qualified 2nd, started 5th with the invert, had a battle with the #44 before taking the lead. A late caution came out with 4 laps to go and had a great battle with the #5 for the win! It was awesome having Pat Moran at the track for support last night, thank you! Thank you to Dick Barker for everything he does for me! I still can’t believe I have this opportunity to drive for these two! I appreciate everything they do for me! Thank you to all of my sponsors as well :Moran Chevrolet, McQuade Heating and Cooling, PPG, Painter Supply and Equipment, Michigan independent Door Co, JV Auto, The Pleasure Zone, Thank you to my crew and support team!”

   The OSLMs weren’t big in quantity, being a holiday weekend, but that doesn’t mean it was a boring race. This one had a lot of side-by-side racing and was quite entertaining.

   Dennis Whisman Jr won the Figure 8 feature. It was his sixth career Figure 8 feature win of his career. “It was a great race and I want to thank everyone for driving clean. I felt them back there. I heard him (Billy Earley) back there. I knew he was back there but all my sponsors, counter consultants rebel racing custom graphic tees, affordable trains, Royal Guards Toybox everyone that helped me throughout the year finally get one done. Just wanna thank my dad for everything he does. Jeff Minnick for all the hard work and all the guys down there helping every week. Also, my sponsors, Counting Consultants Tom and Corinne Collins, Royal Truck and Trailer, Marks Toy Box, Rebel Racing Custom Graphixs, Affordable Transmission. And I want to thank my wife, Madison, for always being there and having to hear about racing 24/7 lol. Also, my mom for letting me and my dad do what we love to do. And my aunt Tammy.”

 

Street Stock 100

Greg Studt won his fourth Street Stock A division 100-lap feature. The four wins in this event is the most of any driver in the 17-year history of the race. “Yeah, it was a slow pace early in the race and noticed we got ourselves to the front and the high side disappeared. The 45 (Johnny Rangel) slipped and got there. Otherwise, just managing the right rear (tire). I was getting really loose in the end and I was praying I could fight them off if anyone got up there. (After the 20-minute red flag) It had helped early because tires cooled down. as I was getting looser and looser while I ran. So, the other competitors’ tires cooled down and bought me 10 or 15 laps after when the restart where the car was good again and then it started tailing off, I had a good lead. This (racing) isn't cheap, and we get a lot of help from Apollo Broach, Budget Tire, Wine Town Party Store, Mark Sherrard, Kenny Ahlgren and Carl Furniture, and my dad helps a lot. Thanks, everyone, for coming out.”

   Rob Moore Jr finished second, “Yeah, I ran a lot of laps on the outside a little more than I wanted to. It was good at the beginning, I mean, ball hard on the outside, but ultimately, I think that's what kind of hurt us at the end there. Just had no drive. Car was real free sliding, in the tires and were real hot … so it is what it is. Not bad coming from eighth to second seconds so good night, car’s in one piece. Trying to catch Greg, just didn't have nothing for him. So, we're both lying around and staying about the same amount away. So, you know, it's it is what it is. It's in one piece. It's still good night. So, thank you to all the fans for coming out our sponsors on the car. couldn't do this without any of them. I want to thank my sponsors, Ventcon, Sheet Metal Workers Local 80, Off Leash K-9 Training, In Memory of Casen John Hemphill, Moore Racing, Dow Engines, Goon Squad, North American Iron and Metal, Southgate Transmission. I would like to thank my dad, mom, sister, fiancé (Cierra), and everyone that helps on this car.”

   Jeremy Vanderhoof finished third. The top three drivers have all won features in 2022. “I tried to save as much as I could at the beginning. Just try and run into hotspot so don't get stuck on the high side, but these tires fall off … it was hot. The 33 (Greg Studt) was good, so he kind of forced everyone else to pick up the pace and I think we just use that for stuff but congratulations to him. Well-deserved win. Congratulations to the top five and thank all the fans for coming out. Keep coming out every week. Keep doing this for you guys. Thank you to my sponsors Alliance Catholic Credit Union, Arrow Truck Blossom Florist, Gary Patrick Signs, SP Guns and Ammo, B&F 4x4, Seigel Chiropractic.”

   Doug Litigot was in his first 100 lap feature and finished fourth, ‘I was trying my best to move forward but it was getting pretty loose. But otherwise, pretty good. Was pretty hot. I have to thank my sponsors Automotive Supply, One Stop Speed Shop, Grumpy's Fabrication, Tonys Tires, Mark’s Toy Box. We worked hard on the car this past winter and replaced the front clip.”

   Kenyon Knight made his first career start in the Street Stock division, running Enduro races and finished fifth. “You know this has been a childhood dream to be up here race. We've tried to do it. And I have to thank Tadek, Ethan and Dave Stadniczuk; my dad, my mom all my support, my aunt and Uncle Steve and Sam for putting these nice little decals on here. I can't thank him enough and it's been just a childhood dream and I can't be happier. Think the thing I learned tonight is that tires go away fast, very fast, and had no tires at the end. Just I learned a lot and that's got to stay with us. Stay with a man works.”

   B feature winner: Taylor Papineau is on quite a streak. Four feature wins in a row in the Street Stock B division and even missing the first two weeks because he ran in the A division feature, he’s still only 155 (in third place) behind B division points leader Mike Miller, with a possible seven races left in the season. “The Papineau Racing team is on a mission, we’re clawing and scratching to make up every point we can to try and capture the 2022 B main championship. It’s gonna be an uphill battle the entire way, but we’re ready to make every opportunity count. We came into the 2022 season with one goal, to be the champs, and we are going to make every effort we can to make that goal become reality. My entire team is to thank for all of our accomplishments, my parents Brenda and Dennis Papineau, my fiancé Caitlin Shores, and last but certainly not least, the mastermind behind our team my brother Conor Papineau. They bust their butts week in and week out to make sure the 03 is running flawlessly. We’re hoping to make it five in a row this weekend, with some more hard work and just a tad bit more luck, I think we can make it happen.”

   I’m not sure fans know how rare it is to win four races in a row. Taylor’s four in a row is only the eighth time it’s happened since 2004. During this timeframe (2004-2022) Jeremy Vandeerhoof (Figure 8s) was the last one to do it in 2018. Others was Billy Earley (Figure 8s) 2017; Rich Abel (B division SS), 2016; Eric Lee (Late Models), Regan Ford (A division SS) and Vanderhoof (Figure 8s) all did in 2004. Scott Selmi (A division SS) had five in a row in 2011, so this is the next mark for Taylor to attempt to tie (I got back to 2000 and never found another five races in a row).’’

 

Street Stock 100 tidbits:

A Division:

  • Starts (A division, 100-lap): Rob Moore, 15; Kyle Worley, 14; Arnold Kirsch, Scott Selmi, 12; Clyde McKee, Tim Moore, 11; Rich Frantz, 10; Greg Studt, Landon Schuster, 9; Nick Shanks, 8; a total of 114 drivers have competed in at least one 100-lapper.
  • Wins: Greg Studt, 4; Chad Guinn, Dan Ford Jr, 2; Clyde McKee. Jeff Metdepenningen. Randy DeMaggio. Ray Morneau Jr. Rob Moore Jr. Ron Allen. Steve Cronenwett Jr. Tadek Stadniczuk. Tim Moore, 1
  • Podium (Top 3) finishes: Greg Studt. 5; Dan Ford Jr, Tim Moore. 4; Chad Guinn. 3; Brian Norton, Jeff Metdepenningen, Jeremy Vanderhoof, Randy DeMaggio, Ray Morneau Jr, Rob Moore, Rob Moore Jr, Tadek Stadniczuk, 2; 19 drivers with a podium (Top 3) finish, 1
  • Top 5s: Greg Studt, Tim Moore, 5; Dan Ford Jr, Rob Moore, 4; Chad Guinn, Grant Hedges, Jeff Kurzyniec, Jeff Metdepenningen, Randy DeMaggio, Ray Morneau Jr, Tadek Stadniczuk, 3; 12 drivers with Top 5s, 2; 22 drivers with 1 Top 5
  • Top 10: Rob Moore, 11; Arnold Kirsch, Greg Studt, Tim Moore, 8; Rich Frantz, Scott Selmi, 6; Tadek Stadniczuk, 5; Chad Guinn, Dan Ford Jr, Derek Wiley, Grant Hedges, Guy Fire, Jeff Kurzyniec, Jeff Metdepenningen, Landon Schuster, Nick Shanks, Randy DeMaggio, Ray Morneau Jr, 4; nine drivers had 3 Top 10s; 11 drivers had 2 Top 10s and 25 had a Top 10 finish
  • Average Finish (must have 3 starts): Chad Guinn, 3.25; Ray Morneau Jr, 4.00; Greg Studt, 4.56; Jeremy Vanderhoof, 4.67; Randy DeMaggio, 5.20; Tadek Stadniczuk, 6.17; Jeff Kurzyniec, 6.40; Dan Ford Jr, 7.00; Guy Fire, 8.14; Tim Moore, 8.36

B Division:

  • Starts (B division): Rich Abel, 16; Lonnie York, 10; Chris Diovardi, 9; Ian Jezylo, 8; James Pankow, 8; Troy Brehmer, 6; Anthony Camilli, James Rae, Jim Selmi, John Huebner Sr, Larry Smouthers, Wilburn Parks, 5
  • Winners: James Pankow, Lonnie York, Rich Abel, Troy Brehmer, 2; Darrell Krause, Dave Stadniczuk, Ian Jezylo, James Rae, Jason Burkhart, Jim Selmi, Michael Kieffer, Taylor Papineau, Tim Moore, 1
  • Podium (Top 3) finishes: Troy Brehmer, 5; Lonnie York, Rich Abel, 4; Ian Jezylo, James Pankow, James Rae, Wilburn Parks, 3; Darrell Krause, 2; Don Burkhart, Jerry Farmer, Michael Kieffer, 2; 18 had a Top 3 finish
  • Top 5s: Lonnie York, Rich Abel, 6; Troy Brehmer, 5; Chris Diovardi, 4; Ian Jezylo, James Pankow, James Rae, 3; Jerry Farmer, 3; Wilburn Parks, 3; 7 with 2 Top 5s; 34 had a Top 5 finish
  • Top 10: Rich Abel, 11; Lonnie York, 9; Ian Jezylo, 8; Chris Diovardi, Troy Brehmer, 6; James Pankow, 5; Anthony Camilli, James Rae, Jerry Farmer, Wilburn Parks, 4; 5 with 3 Top 10s; 21 with 2 Top 10s; 41 had a Top 10 finish

 

If you missed any of the racing you can find it here: www.youtube.com/c/MikeMiller28

 

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