Lake Odessa, MI.
09/19/2009
By Lucas Bila

Saturday night at I-96 speedway was Race for Life and American Cancer Society fund raising night. U.M.P. modified driver Travis Stemler was able to raise over 3,000 dollars for the cancer society with his wrapped race car in pink for breast cancer awareness. A great gesture by Stemler who sold $10 stickers to place on his race car; all total over $5,000 was raised for the battle against cancer. A big thank you from the I-96 family to all who were able to help and make the night a big success!

Season Championships were on the line for all divisions. The U.M.P modified division title had been wrapped up by Todd Feutz and the Nesmith Ultimate Champion Series Late Model title had been just about wrapped up with Rick Stout leading Mike Nugent by 41 points. The street stock feature was what really came down to the line with Aaron Wolf having just a four point lead over A.J. Ward.

Roger Wing in his North Star Recovery and Towing, Babcock clutches, Bert’s glass, Rocket chassis, was the pole sitter for Ultimate Champion Late Model Series and would take the early lead and really put some distance between himself and outside pole sitter Jimmy Fairbanks. While Wing checked out, all eyes were on Rick Stout and Mike Nugent. On lap eight Stout exited the speedway with some tire problems. This put Nugent in a better chance to win the points lead, but meant he would have had to win in order to have any real shot at the championship. Then on lap sixteen Nugent went off the track with similar issues as Stout. That gave the champion ship to Stout. Wing would go on to win over Fairbanks, Trevor Sloan, Kris Patterson, Scott Ehlert, Gary Vandermark, John McClure, Dan Hubble, Dave Harris, Bill Jacoby, Gary Bowerman, Bry Sloan, Kris Patterson Jr., Bill Trueblood Jr., Mike Nugent, Rick Stout, and Bill Bray. Heats were won by Wing and Fairbanks Jr.

Larry Vanderwoude and Justin Fleming lead the U.M.P modifieds down to the green flag. Fleming would take the lead early and would lead lap one. Sixth and seventh starting spots Todd Feutz and Mark Anderson made their way up to second and third on lap two. Anderson running the very high side went a little too high off of turn two and went off the track and brought out the caution on lap three.

On the restart Feutz would make his move for the lead and come down to lead lap number four and would begin to check out and would only be slowed down one time for a caution on lap five and after that he was gone and would go on to win over Fleming, Jared Guinn, Vanderwoude, Travis Stemler, James Kimmel, Shannon Fisk, Steve Shellenberger, Tim Stemler, Jeff Sayles, Bryant Dickinson, Andy Galgoci, Dave Baker, Jacob Bailey, Jack Waldfogel, Mark Anderson, Ken Smith, Rick Robinson Jr., and Ken Beutler. Marc Kurth was unable to make the start. Heats were won by Anderson, Feutz, and Kimmel.

CJ Reisbig and Cody Denny would lead the street stocks down to the green flag. Reisbig would take the early lead but on the first circuit Denny would spin out and bring out the caution flag. This would move Aaron Wolf into the second spot bettering his chances for the title. Back under green and Reisbig would begin to open up a little lead over the rest of the field but would be slowed on lap three for a caution. Under caution Reisbig would slow and be pushed off the track and that would give the lead to Wolf. Meanwhile A.J. Ward moved into the third spot from his ninth starting spot.

Back under green and Ward was glued to Wolf’s bumper. But a caution would interrupt the brief green flag period for a big wreck on the front stretch collecting multiple cars. Ward was right on the bumper of Wolf but Wolf was showing the experience and drove the right line so Ward could not get around him. Then on lap eleven would come the break Wolf had been looking for. While under caution Ward pulled off the track and was overheating and would not return to the track for the night. Wolf would win over James Kimmel, Randy Adams, Cody Denny (from the rear), Ron Hodges Jr., Ron Harper, A.J. Ward, Ronnie Mathis, Mike Hotchkiss, Richard Hyvarinen, Hillary Smith, Ronald Wiers, and C.J. Reisbig. Heats were won by Hyvarinen and Kimmel.

The mini sprint feature was an exciting feature to watch. Collin Erwin would take the early lead while Derek Donaldson and Mike Fountain were in hot pursuit right behind him. On the fifth circuit Al Halbert would flip while going into turn one. He would be done for the night but was free of all injuries. While battling for lead Erwin and Donaldson would lock tires coming out of turn two and both would flip down the back stretch. So this gave the lead to Fountain he would go on to win over Nick Nelson, and Jay Steinbach would be the only runs left running. The Heat was won by Fountain.

Ryan Clem would lead all twenty laps in the road beater feature and would win over Jason Feutz, Jordan Bailey, Colee Ruesink, Tyler Quillan, James Cramer, Caleb Schuiling, Richard Smith, and Steve Wawiernia. Heats were won by Smith and Clem.

The season’s last race will be October 3. The 3rd annual Dirt Cup will feature the Nesmith Ultimate late models in the great crate debate against the UMP type late models. An open modified special, open street stocks, school buses, 4 cylinders and mini sprints.