Stan Yee Memorial 150.

 

If I have a wrong sponsor or name, let me know, I use a transcription program and about 98% correction. If it’s wrong I’ll fix.

 

I love hearing from the teams, so send me a few sentences on your race and I’ll get the comment into the article. I’m behind in my statistic file. My late mother used to do it over the winter for me, but it didn’t get done. If you write weekly on your Facebook or website, please let me know, I’ll be happy just to grab that for my article. Contact me on messenger www.facebook.com/icechips or email me at ddomby@juno.com.

 

 

Scott Hantz dominated the Stan Yee 150 Memorial race. He led a commanding 115 of 150 laps. When the fifth caution came out, it erased over a 10 second lead and he was right behind third and fourth place to lap them. “That was a great run for me. Got to thank Pat Moran and Dick Barker for all that. Two out of the last three (Stan Yee 150s), man, got kind of put that into perspective. Pretty good. Yeah, I'm getting the hang of it finally after what, 40 years,” said the Angola, Indiana, driver of the #72 Moran Chevrolet.

 

Jeff Vrsek finished second it was a career best finish in the Stan Yee 150, his previous best was third in 2019. “Yeah, it was a lot of fun, man. It's awesome being back in these outlaw cars. I love driving these are the most fun race cars to drive on the planet. Kind of rode around the first 75 (laps), and just kind of taking care of my tires and stuff, and you know all that stuff happened back there. Some people don't like getting moved and throw a little hissy fit, but this CNV Enterprises, Carleton Hotel Bar, KND Safety, VanDoorn Racing Development, 1 Stop Speed Shop car was bad to the bone. Got to thank my guys, Schroeder, Guy Fire, all my crew guys did an awesome job today, helping make this car fast, said the driver from Carleton, Michigan.

 

Chris Benson finished third it was a career best finish in the Stan Yee 150, his previous best was fourth in 2024. “With about 50 laps ago, I either had one plug wire, two plug wires came off, and then I had no power on it straight away, and then it just got real tight there, and I trying to just keep it in one piece and finish … and finish the top five. That was my goal. Who makes this all possible for you? Well, CNV Enterprises, Carleton Hotel Bar, KND Safety, VanDoorn Racing Development, 1 Stop Speed Shop and stuff. I can't do without those guys,” said the driver from Southgate, Michigan.

 

Stan Yee Jr finished fourth it was a career best finish in the Stan Yee 150, his previous best was fifth in 2021, Stan has only missed one race in the 18 times the race has been won and is second on the all-time list, only Paul Pelletier has more starts. “We haven't had a lot of luck this year. We had a fast race car, and just all kinds of trouble. Took the front end off, had to repair it a bunch of times, but at least we got the finish. We had a good run at my dad's race and thank everybody for coming. And a bunch of friends of mine came tonight. Really appreciate that, guys. We're gonna have some fun tonight. I'm going to tell you that right now. So, anyways, I'm looking forward to the rest of the year. We kept it pretty much in one piece, and I'm looking forward to win some races this year.” Said the driver of the Yees Collision, GT Concrete, Winners Electric, Tremb Performance, Diamond Pistons, Pac Springs, Ring and Pinion Shocks #33 from Roseville, Michigan.

 

Paul Pellitier came across the line fifth, after getting lapped on the last lap. Paul has raced in every Stan Yee Memorial race, the only driver to do so. After a scoring check he was moved back to sixth. “Well, something's been up there, you know. They're all trying to win down the first lap, you know. But yeah, again, the ‘23 old car that we built, we didn't buy it, you know. So I'll take it. The guys worked their butts off getting it back together, you know, and I think it's towed in like an inch. Both front tires are blistered, so I'll take it. Yeah, you can only crutch it so much, you know, to fix it. So we just tried to, you know, gimmick it, and it just didn't work,” said the driver of the Auto Quest Collision, Bill & Marilyn Nunya Performance, Duanes Roadrunners, Blue Water Compressor, ABC Plumbing #44 from New Boston, Michigan. Paul is the defending division champion and has the most wins in the division (three) this season.

 

The driver was awards the fifth-place Steve Hawes. He got the Lucky Dog award on the final caution, but it wasn’t updated, show at the end of the race he posted as sixth a lap down. Steve was driving his dad, Joe’s, car as his was wrecked a few weeks ago. Like most of the top five finishers it was Steve’s best Stan Yee 150 finish, his previous best was sixth in 2024 (his last three Stan Yee 150s have been fifth, seventh and sixth). That’s for emailing me Steve, “First of all, big thanks to my father for letting me jump in his car for the Stan Yee 150. The car felt pretty neutral in practice, we didn’t have to make many changes. We didn’t qualify great, but we did catch the invert, which had us start on the front row. We got shuffled back early, but the car was pretty consistent all night long and I felt we actually had a pretty strong long-run car. The 392 hemi-powered dodge ran strong all night, and we were able to pick up some spots to get a solid top-5 finish. We needed a good run after tons of bad luck this year. Thank you to my dad, Tom, Keith, Mike, Michael, Mick, Bolick, Amy, Uncle Johnny and my wife Brittany.”

 

There were 19 cars in the pits but Conner Zbozien who has had hideous luck the last three weeks (engine problem, crash and engine problem again tonight after qualifying first) and George Rangel with mechanical problems. Of the 17 cars that started only eight cars finished, dropping out for various mechanical problems or overheating. Five cars finished on the lead lap.

 

We had a new driver come tonight. I always like seeing the new guys, especially those I remember seeing elsewhere in my travels for the series I’ve worked with over the years. This time I got watch Doug True. He’s for the other side of the state. Thanks, Doug, for letting me use your note on your Facebook page. “Crossed another track off my bucket list Saturday. After Kalamazoo canceled on Friday, we thrashed around to get the white around to try out Flat Rock Speedway for the Stan Yee 150. Great hospitality from the track, drivers, and almost the entire field of customers. We had no notes for a setup and basically went to have some fun. We made 60 laps or so in the 40-minute practice session and ultimately kept tightening the car up so it was drivable for qualifying. 11.40 in the scuff session but way to tight. Made a small stagger change for qualifying but it wasn’t enough and slowed down in qualifying to 11.62. The 11.40 would have made the invert I believe. First lap someone decided to wreck half the field and we missed it. Got back running and was clicking off laps and closing in on the top 4 when the RF went flat. The spare we put on was small and made the car drag the track so we pulled in early. Knowing what to expect, I’d love to go back. Think we had a decent car. The “fix it before you come back” list doesn’t seem economically viable for this year. Maybe we’ll get lucky and the track will have an epiphany to align their rules with the rest of the outlaws. My dad and I made it to a new track together. I didn’t completely embarrass him lol. That made it worth the trip for me.”

We couldn’t do it without help from Rob True and True’s Towing, Michiana Pools, C Group Solutions. Hudson is on his second race helping out on the crew and doing well. Stacy spotted again for the first time in decades, can’t thank him enough for all he does. Those guys fought the heat and all the changes we made.

 

Bill Heeney made the trip to Flat Rock for the first time in over 20 years.

 

This was the 18th Stan Yee Memorial 150 race although the 150-lap event has been going since the late 1990s.

 

Statistics for the 18 Stan Yee Memorial 150: A total of 98 have raced in this race.

 

	WINS
1	Brian Bergakker	4
2	Mike Root, Scott Hantz	2
4	Craig Everage, Dakota Carlson, Eric Lee, Harold Fair Jr, Hayden Sprague, Jeff Ganus, Jimmy Thiel, Justin Schroeder, Mike Luberda, Phil Bozell	1
	TOTAL RACES
1	Paul Pelletier	18
2	Stan Yee Jr	17
3	Harold Fair Jr	15
4	Eric Lee	14
5	Chris Benson, Dennis Strickland, Scott Hantz, Steve Cronenwett Jr	13
9	Joe Hawes. Justin Schroeder	12
11	Craig Everage, Scott Pemberton	11
13	Mike Root	10
14	Brian Bergakker, Frank Jiovani, Jimmy Thiel, Ron Allen	8
18	Conner Zbozien, Nick Bailey	7
20	Dakota Carlson, Dan Trosen Jr, George Rangel, Jeff Vrsek, Jim Bailey, Steve Hawes	6
	TOP 5
1	Dennis Strickland	7
2	Brian Bergakker, Eric Lee, Paul Pelletier, Scott Hantz	6
6	Conner Zbozien	5
7	Harold Fair Jr, Hayden Sprague, Justin Schroeder, Mike Root	4
11	Chris Benson, Craig Everage	3
13	Brad Riethmeyer, , Dakota Carlson, Frank Jiovani, Jeff Vrsek, Jimmy Thiel, Mike Luberda, Stan Yee Jr, Terry Senneker	2
	TOP 10
1	Paul Pelletier	13
2	Scott Hantz	11
3	Dennis Strickland, Eric Lee	9
5	Brian Bergakker	7
6	Craig Everage, Harold Fair Jr, Justin Schroeder, Mike Root	6
10	Chris Benson, Conner Zbozien, Dakota Carlson, Hayden Sprague, Stan Yee Jr	5
15	Frank Jiovani, Ricky Kargel, Steve Cronenwett Jr	4
8	Andy Bozell, Brad Riethmeyer, Mike Luberda, Phil Bozell, Ron Allen, Scott Pemberton, Steve Hawes	3

 

 

Greg Studt won the Street Stock feature. “We've had a lot of good starting spots. I've lost from worse starting spots. You know the car ran real well, over-adjusted a little bit for the feature, but it was enough. Thank all my great sponsors: Apollo Brooch, Carlton Hotel Bar, Budget Tire, Mark's Toy Box, Big One Auto Sales. Without all them and my dad, we wouldn't be here. Yeah, it's uh, I mean lapped traffic is good and bad. You're the first one to get to them. You got to make the first decision, but you never know what goes on behind you. I see once I cleared them, I had a gap. So just hoping for no caution. Those two cars, the 71 (Doug Litigot) and the 45 (Johnny Rangel), have been almost unbeatable lately. So, it's nice to sneak one in.”

 

Logan Bunting won the Factory Stock feature. “Hot rod, good race there with the #1 (Kyle Metdepenningen). Yeah, it's always good racing with the #1 (Kyle Metdepenningen and the #4 (Rayce Metdepenningen) because they're really hard to beat, and I'm finally glad to get one. Yeah, the 34 car too is pretty hard to beat too. These are the same tires from two years ago. We'll keep running them. Thank you for my family and Sparks Concrete and Construction, and thanks, all the fans for coming out.” (hope the sponsorship is correct, it’s how my program transcribed it. Please let me know if it’s wrong and I’ll correct it.)

 

July 11

Eric Lee won the Outlaw Late Model feature, his 33rd career OLM feature. “Well, I tell you what, Dad, Dick, for that one. I mean, that was an interesting race, and we always say once a caution, then there's another caution. Then there's another. I don't know why that is in racing, but had a great hot ride and did a great battle with Gary Cronenwett. Yeah, yeah, that was a good run. We went really really fast all year, and I tried. I think we pushed the limits on how many how many laps we can get on these tires. So, I was kind of struggling there the last half of the race, and I knew we were quick, and I was hoping he would just give me a little room out there. And finally, that last racer gave me a little bit of room, and I was able to get around him. But my guys have been all busting their butts for the last couple weeks. Ron, Rob, Todd, everyone. I couldn't do without these guys, and it just feels good to get this thing back in Victory Lane. We've been real close, and finally got it back in here. Well, there you go, and you got some sponsors you want to thank. Yep, Action Drywall, Lee Motorsports, and Schultz Auto Parts.’

 

Paul Pelletier finished second. “Well, the little marbles that this place kicks up now just a little bit, but when you get up there, and I just got a little too high going in and just lost it there (turn 3-4). I'm going really, but I tell you what, you had a heck of a drive back and a heck of a battle with Gary Cronenwett and Eric Lee. Yeah, I think we found our limit. Like three weeks on the tires is probably enough. So, but other than that, not too bad.

 

Gary Cronenwett finished third, his career best finish in an Outlaw Late Model. He had a fourth earlier this year. Other than the Joy Fair 100 (and the Stan Yee 150) all his weekly races have been top10 finishes. “Thank you. It's uh, it's hot. I'm uh, definitely out of shape. That's for sure and I'm under the weather. I've been under the weather since Wednesday, so trying to bide my time. Damn, wish I would have had that win. Cautions kind of bit me, but big thanks to all the guys, Uncle Tom, everything he does, the track, everybody here, all you fans coming out, supporting us. Thank you, my kids, my wife at home. I thought that I couldn't be here. My mom supporting me every day.. My grandma passed away June 6. I was trying to get that win, but Grandma, this one's for you.

 

Johnny Rangel won the Street Stock 50-lap. His second win of the year. “Yeah, it was quite a battle (with #71 Doug Litigot). It just really took everything in me to get that done and stuff. I'm just glad it was. We were able to do a good, good race like that, and just keep side by side for as long as we did. It was definitely fun. I can't believe we traded the lead so many times. I just definitely not expecting that one.

 

Doug Littigot finished second and earlier in the evening set a new track record in qualifying (12.694). ‘Yes, sir. It was a fantastic race. Thanks for everybody for coming out. And me and Johnny raced a clean gray race, and that's two very fantastic street stock races in a row. And it's  been nice to be a part of for sure. I started getting a little bit loose, kind of in qualifying, and I thought it was going to be okay and tighten up in the race, but it happens sometimes. But it was a blast. Thanks for all the fans for coming out, and thank you to all the sponsors that helped me out, like Captain Nemo's, Corrigan Race Fuels, Automotive Supply, Hoppers, Heavy Haulers, One Stop Speed Shop, Curbside Junk Removal, Nash CPA and Advisors, and everybody else that helps that out and makes it possible. And thank you guys for coming out and making this possible too, because we couldn't do without the fans.

 

Jeremy Vanhoof finished third. “It was a great battle with Greg Stoop for that third spot. Yeah, we burned the clutch out of it so it wouldn't come off the corner. So, all I could do was try to stay on the bottom. But I don't know. I want to thank all the fans are coming out. Congrats to Johnny and Douglas. They're just in their own zip code right now. Got all of us chasing some speed, but I just want to thank our sponsors on the car: Car Care, Bill's Transmission, Segal Chiropractic, MTVIV Truck Repair, Alliance Credit Union, and definitely my father-in-law. He and he's been going through some stuff, but he's heart and soul of what we're doing, and I can't thank him enough for putting me in the car week in and week out.”

 

I’m sorry to the drivers that won in June. I missed a few races, and somehow I lost the on-track interviews. Congratulations to all our June winners since the Joy Fair 100.

 

June 13 winners: Street Stock A division, Regan Ford won but maybe the most interesting thing was he was followed by his brother Dan and son, Regan Jr. I can get back to 2005, and did find three family members finishing in the top three spots. The Metdeppeningens, Rayce, Jeff, Kyle did it August 24, 2024, in the Enduro division. The win was Regan’s 28th in the Street Stock A division, putting him in a tie for third overall with Rick Bundon and behind Brian Norton at 52, Ron Allen 47.

 

Rayce Metdepenningen won the Enduro 100 series race.

 

Billy Earley continued his winning ways with a win tonight, his fifth of the season.

 

June 20 Billy Earley won his sixth race of the season. He’s now third on the all time list, six races outside of second (Denny Pace, 67 wins).

 

Paul Pellitier won his third Outlaw Late Model race. The three races this season gives him 37 career wins, three races behind second place Dave Kuhlman’s 40.

 

STREET STOCK 100

This weekend is the Street Stock 100. This will be the 21st 100 lap for the Street Stocks. Below are the statistics for the first 20 races. A total of 133 drivers have raced in the 100 over the years.

 

	WINS
1	Greg Studt	5
2	Chad Guinn, Dan Ford Jr	2
4	Clyde McKee, Jeff Metdepenningen, Kenyon Knight, Randy DeMaggio, Ray Morneau Jr, Rob Moore Jr, Rob Randa, Ron Allen, Steve Cronenwett Jr, Tadek Stadniczuk, Tim Moore	1
TOTAL RACES
1	Kyle Worley	17
2	Rob Moore	15
3	Arnold Kirsch	13
4	Greg Studt, Landon Schuster, Scott Selmi	12
7	Clyde McKee, Tim Moore	11
9	Rich Frantz	10
10	Craig Lange, Rob Randa	9
12	Jeff Metdepenningen, Nick Shanks, Rob Moore Jr, Ron Allen	8
16	Dave Tanner, Grant Hedges, Guy Fire, Jarod MacZink, Regan Ford	7
TOP 5
1	Greg Studt	8
2	Tim Moore	5
3	Dan Ford Jr, Kenyon Knight, Rob Moore, Ron Allen	4
7	Chad Guinn, Grant Hedges, Jeff Kurzyniec, Jeff Metdepenningen, Randy DeMaggio, Ray Morneau Jr, Rob Moore Jr, Tadek Stadniczuk	3
15	Arnold Kirsch, Brian Norton, Derek Wiley, Guy Fire, Jarod MacZink, Jeremy Vanderhoof, Jonathan Rangel, Landon Schuster, Nick Shanks, Rich Frantz, Rob Randa, Scott Selmi	2
TOP 10
1	Greg Studt, Rob Moore	11
3	Arnold Kirsch, Tim Moore	8
5	Jeff Metdepenningen, Landon Schuster, Rich Frantz, Rob Randa, Ron Allen, Scott Selmi	6
11	Jeremy Vanderhoof, Tadek Stadniczuk	5
13	Chad Guinn, Dan Ford Jr, Derek Wiley, Grant Hedges, Guy Fire, Jeff Kurzyniec, Kenyon Knight, Kyle Worley, Nick Shanks, Randy DeMaggio, Ray Morneau Jr, Rob Moore Jr	4

 

If you missed any of the racing you can find it here: www.youtube.com/@MikeMiller28. If anyone else tapes all the races let me know and I’ll add you to the list.

 

If you got to the end, I’d love to hear from you. Contact me on messenger www.facebook.com/icechips or email me at ddomby@juno.com.