American Late Model Series
Mt Pleasant Speedway
August 5, 2011
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Thirlby wins Sunoco ALMS, Hotovy sets track record at Mt. Pleasant



Mt. Pleasant, Mich. — The Sunoco American Late Model Series made its second stop of the 2011 season at the Mt. Pleasant Speedway on Friday, August 5 for a $2,000 to win feature.

Although low on car count because of a conflicting race in Ohio, the field was still packed with plenty of star power as 14 of the best UMP Late Model drivers from around the Midwest made the call.

At the drop of the green in the 25-lap feature No. M14 Brandon Thirlby was on a mission to get to victory lane. The Traverse City native did not disappoint the packed crowd as he set blistering laps around the three-eighths mile clay oval. Deeper in the field there was a lot of jogging for positions as several drivers swapped spots among the top five.

When all was said and done Thirlby would get the huge payday and get his Thirlby Automotive Late Model into victory lane. Following Thirlby were Houghton Lake’s No. 6M Dona Marcoullier, ClarkLake’s No. 49 Brian Ruhlman, the defending ALMS champion, Blanchard’s No. 85 Mark Andersen, and St. Johns’ No. 18 Zack Olger rounding out the top five.

The night also got off to a blazing start as seven Late Model drivers broke the previous Mt. Pleasant Speedway Late Model track record set on May 27 this year by No. 91 Rusty Schlenk at 14.04 seconds. Those shattering the record included Olger, Epling, Marcoullier, Andersen, Thirlby, No. 23v Ryan VanderVeen, and new record-holder No. 13H J.R. Hotovy of Muskegon with a mark of 13.64 seconds.

American Late Model Series
August 5, 2011

A-Main
1 M14 Brandon Thirlby Traverse City, MI
2 6M Dona Marcoullier Houghton Lake, MI
3 49 Brian Ruhlman ClarkLake, MI
4 85 Mark Andersen Blanchard, MI
5 0X Zack Olger St. Johns, MI
6 15 Jon Henry Ada, Ohio
7 23 V Ryan Vanderveen Six Lakes, MI
8 28 Sam Epling Perry, MI
9 27 Eric Spangler Lake City, MI
10 13B Scott Baker Ionia, MI
11 13H J.R. Hotovy Muskegon, MI
12 79 Josh Knoll Barryton, MI
13 52X Brad Harden Ovid, MI
14 91 Adam Thrush Farwell, MI