Orville, OH (Thursday, April 22, 2021) - The Great Lakes Super Sprints presented by Engine Pro and ARP (GLSS) season is now officially underway after their opening night last Friday at I-96 Speedway. The Rocket Man, Ryan Ruhl picked up his first win of the season holding off a hard-charging Jared Horstman and Ricky Peterson for the win. Now, the series looks to make their maiden appearance at Wayne County Speedway in Orville, Ohio on Saturday night.
A 3/8ths mile oval located in middle Ohio is traditionally home to 410 Sprints, Late Models, and Modifieds among other divisions. This weekend, the GLSS sanction has the chance to show the speedway some of the regions best in 360 Sprint Car racing, including a points battle that has picked up right where it left off in 2020.
Last season, Ruhl couldn’t quite find what he needed out of his Smith Motorsports ride to close the gap to eventual Champion, Horstman. While he was mathematically in contention for the championship coming into the final race, Horstman was all but perfect en route to his race win and second series Championship. This season, the two are back at each other with Ruhl getting the opening win at I-96 Speedway and Horstman trailing him at the finish. Heading into Wayne County Speedway on Saturday, Horstman is the only one of the two who has a start at Wayne County in the last five years. Back in 2017, Horstman brought home a 7th place finish. It doesn’t appear as though Ruhl has made any starts recently at Wayne County.
Other drivers expected to be in action Saturday night include Friday night’s third-place finisher, Ricky Peterson. Last season, Peterson found his way to victory lane with GLSS at I-96 and was disappointed with his podium finish last weekend. He’ll be looking to improve on Saturday night. Plus, another Ohio native, ‘Mad’ Max Stambaugh will haul down with his NEFCO no 5M searching for his first win with the series since June of 2018 at Crystal Motor Speedway.
Other contenders this weekend include former Champions, Phil Gressman (2019) and Chase Ridenour (2016). Over 20 drivers have already made commitments to race on Saturday night plus a number of other drivers who are likely to attend the event.
Gates open at 2pm on Saturday at Wayne County Speedway with Hotlaps at 5pm and Racing at 6pm. General admission is just $20 for the show featuring the Great Lakes Super Sprints presented by Engine Pro and ARP, plus 410 Sprints, Modifieds and Mod Lites. For more information on Wayne County Speedway, log onto www.WayneCountySpeedway.com.
For more on the Great Lakes Super Sprints presented by Engine Pro and ARP, log onto www.GreatLakesSprints.com. Search for Great Lakes Super Sprints on Facebook, and on Twitter @GLSprints.
Story - Zach Hiser, Horsepower Happenings
Photos - Jim DenHamer