Vandermark – Makes it Happen at I-96 Speedway

By Richard Bila

After many years of trying, Lowell MI. racer Gary Vandermark won his first ever feature on the ½ mile at I-96 speedway Saturday night. Driving for the Sloan family, Vandermark took the lead during the second lap, and held off some heavy hitters to take the win in the Nesmith Ultimate Late model series powered by GM performance.

“I would like to thank my car owners Angie and Troy for giving me this opportunity. My car was so tight I could not turn it. I was blocking the best I could” stated Vandermark in victory lane surrounded by friends and family.

Driving the Woody’s Vac’s, Showboat Automotive, Earthworm Excavation,GRT late model, Vandermark was challenged the entire race by Jeff Kohn and Mike Nugent.

Once again, a great looking four wide salute to the troops, with each driver carrying a American flag, fireworks going off, it was time to get down to racing. Nugent jumped into the early lead during lap one, but the former track champion had his hands full, as Vandermark dove under his car during the second lap in turn three to take the lead.

A lap nine yellow for Paw Paw’s Zach Hanson who came to a stop in turn four. Hanson was done for the night. However, his night was not a complete loss, as during driver intro’s his proposal to his fiancé on the front stretch, on his knees, was accepted! On the restart, Sheridan’s Jeff Kohn took over second in his brand new Masterbuilt chassis, and was all over Vandermark for the lead.

The yellow flag waved again during the 10th lap for Kris Paterson Jr., Dave Harris, John McClure and Trevor Sloan. Only Patterson was unable to continue. On the restart, Vandermark bobbled exiting turn two, thus allowing Kohn to go on the outside and Nugent on the inside for a three wide battle going down the backstretch, with Kohn taking what looked like the lead! However, the yellow flag waved again before the lap was complete. Thus scoring reverted back to the last completed lap, placing Vandermark back into the lead. When asked about that, Vandermark had this to say, “I thought it was over then, I figured I blew my chance to win.”

Back under green flag conditions, great racing was seen throughout the field. Two more yellow flags waved during the 13th and 19th laps. On the restart for the 19th lap, Nugent got by Kohn and set sail after Vandermark. However, during the 22nd lap, Nugent dropped out, ending a good run for the Belding racer. At the checkered flag, it was Vandermark winning the 25 lap feature. Kohn held on second, last week’s feature winner Rick Stout in the Wing racing Rocket third, Wing in his own Larry Shaw fourth and Bill Trueblood Jr. rounding out the top five. Scott Fisk, Nugent and Trueblood took heat race wins.

The Nesmith Ultimate Late Models will take a couple of week s off and return to action on June 13th.


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