Springport, MI (Tuesday, June 1, 2021) - On a nearly picture-perfect day, the drivers converged on Springport Mid-Michigan Speedway for Memorial Day weekend racing for the first time since 2018.
The feature events would begin with the Port Stocks B Feature. Bryson Beebe would be the story of the race. The Battle Creek, Michigan driver suffered fuel issues the entire afternoon, as a result he was unable to qualify and had to start dead last in the B-Feature based on his lap times from his heat race. Beebe would methodically work his way to the head of the field. Though he would be challenged in the closing stages it would be Beebe picking up his first career feature win. Tyler Reading was second, Jerry Pierman Sr. third, Jessica Nobach fourth, and Mike Rose completed the top five.
Ryan Hollister would win his fourth feature of the season in the Port Stock A-Feature. But it took some luck for him, and some misfortune for his competition to sew up the victory. A great battle took place between Hollister and Andrew Losey. Unfortunately, Losey would suffer a failed hub on the right front, sending him into the wall off of turn two. This would clear the path for a Hollister victory. Ryan Kinsey would come home second with Dillon Rose, Gavin McGuffey, and Eric Bennett completing the top five.
Heat races were claimed by Brad Robison, Mike Rose, Dan Shelts, and Ryan Kinsey. Fast time honors also went to Hollister with a 17.739.
The Dragon Racing Fuels Street Stocks had a barn burner of a feature for their main event. Defending Track Champion Jerry Pierman would have his hands full with Brock Ganus, both looking to add to their win totals on the season. The two would battle for several laps before the veteran wisdom gave Pierman the upper hand to take his fourth win of the season. But the Climax, Michigan driver had high praise for his young opponent.
“I may have won, but you’re going to be hearing about Brock Ganus for a long time to come,” Pierman said in victory lane.
Ganus came home second with Jeremy Young, Mark Flierman, and Mike Havens closing out the top five. Jon Beach and Mark Flierman won heat races, while Ganus set quick time with a 16.725.
Redemption was the word of the race for the Auto Lab Late Model Sportsman division. John Trudell of Onondaga, Michigan would take his first victory of the season, but that was not what was noteworthy about Trudell’s accomplishment. The last time the Late Model Sportsman division was on hand, Trudell would get caught up in another driver's incident and by all accounts, his car was destroyed. But the team went to work right away and got the car fixed and they were ready come race day. Trudell took the win over Chris Shannon making his first start of the season in a great battle. Cody Hall was third, Matt Sullivan fourth, and Bubbie Brooks completed the top five. Sullivan and Shannon took heat race wins with Trudell setting fast time at a 15.990.
The Modifieds Powered by NOS Energy would put on a stellar show to close out the evening's festivities. Nick Larabee, still a rookie to the Modified wars, would do his driving coach Nyle Weiler proud leading the opening laps of the race before being overtaken by Defending Champion Dominique Van Wierengen and Jason Parish. For a while it looked like it would be between those two to sort out the winner, but Bubba Brooks would seem to find an extra gear in the third position, and would go on to pass the two leaders and hang on to take the win. Van Wierengen would hang on for second over Parish, while Terry Trost and Walt Obrinske Jr. would complete the top five. Brandon Hoffman and VanWierengen would take heat race wins while Obrinske was fast time with a 15.755.
Springport Mid-Michigan Speedway will be back in action this Saturday night for the first of two Autograph Nights and the only one featuring the NAPA Outlaw Super Late Models! Racing begins at 7pm and also on the card will be the AutoLab Late Model Sportsman, Dragon Racing Fuel Street Stocks, Port Stocks, and Riverside Gear/T&N Dairy Kreme Mini Wedges.
Story - Chris Fobbe, Horsepower Happenings
Photo - Jason Pertanen File Photo