Cherry Raceway
July 13, 2012
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Thirlby, McCaul, Tabaczka, Brinks, Durga, and Beeman All Score Feature Wins At Cherry Raceway 

by Matt Prieur
FIFE LAKE, Michigan (Friday, July 13th, 2012): It was another great night of racing at the “Great White North’s” Fastest Dirt Track; Cherry Raceway in Fife Lake, Michigan as it was a full six in one show that was once again highlighted by the high-powered UMP Super Late Models. Also in action were the UMP Modifieds, Street Stocks, Cruiser Bombers, Four-Cylinder Warriors, and Four-Cylinder Compacts as another capacity crowd swelled the grandstands on a hot and humid night in Northern Michigan.

The first Feature of the night would be for the tracks beginners division, the Four-Cylinders Compacts and the front row would consist of a pair of 13-year-olds’; Dylan Roush and Autumn Beeman and it would be Beeman leading the first lap. Three quick cautions slowed the pace down, but on each restart, Beeman would pull away from the rest of the pack.

Beeman was never seriously challenged as the Buckley, Michigan teenager in her #016 Beeman’s Towing / Ford would walk away with her second in a row and fourth Feature Win of the 2012 racing season. 15-year-old Ryan Andras finished a career high second over Current Points Leader, 13-year-old Chris Casey who finished third. 15-year-old Rheanna Doberstein and Roush finished off the top five. Casey won the lone Heat Race.

Tim Tabaczka and John Skaggs started on the front row of the 15-Lap Street Stocks Feature but it would be 17-year-old Rookie James  Clem sneaking by the front row to lead lap one. Tabaczka reclaimed the lead the next lap and tried in vain to pull away, but Clem kept Tabaczka within his sights throughout the entire distance of the race.

However, Tabaczka wouldn’t be denied and after a season full of bad luck, the Manistee, Michigan driver in his #45 Parkdale Auto / Chevrolet would finally put it all together to win his first Feature of the 2012 racing season. Clem settled for second while Bob Green, Overall & Rookie Points Leader, 19-year-old Allen Oyer, and 16-year-old Andy Nickerson III completed the top five. The winner of the only Heat Race was Clem.

The premier division in Fife Lake, Michigan the UMP Super Late Models were up next for their 20-Lap main event and it would be Brett Chalker and Greg Gokey leading the field to Chief Starter Tim Beebe’s green flag. Gokey would lead the first two laps before Current Points Leader Brandon Thirlby dove underneath the outside pole-sitter to take the lead for himself on lap three.

From there it was all Thirlby as the Traverse City, Michigan fan favorite in his #m14 Thirlby Automotive / Mastersbilt Racecars entry would walk away with his fifth straight Feature Win in five starts to extend his points lead in the chase for the 2012 Track Championship. Gokey was second over a pair of rookies as Brook Brasington and Alex Beeman were trailed by Steve Zakrajsek who finished up the top five. Gokey and Thirlby won the Heat Races.

Nick Jenema and Andrew Austin started on the front row for the Four-Cylinders Warriors Feature with Austin leading lap one and pulling away from the field. On lap six, Austin lost a left front wheel giving the lead to Jenema who lost the top spot on the restart to Jim Durga. From there Durga, the Overall & Rookie of the Year points leader would pull away from the rest of the field.

Durga would survive a late charge from Bob Craycraft to score his second Feature Win of the year in his #9 Brickyard Towing / Acura. Craycraft, in his first appearance of the season finished an impressive second over Jenema while Austin returned to the track and finished fourth as 15-year-old Nick Olds, last Friday’s Feature Winner rounded out the top five. In the Heat Races, Durga and Austin would visit victory lane.

The Cruiser Bombers would roll out next as Jeremiah Woebbeking and Karl McClellan started on the front row. Woebbeking led the first two laps before Current Points Leader; 14-year-old Jimmy Hiller grabbed the lead for himself. He then spun in turn two, doing a complete 360 and in turn handing the lead back to Woebbeking, who then spun a lap later handing the lead to Adam Brinks.

Brinks made no mistake the rest of the way as the Cadillac, Michigan driver in his #7b Duane Schram Racing / Chevrolet would make the most of his first appearance of the season by picking up the Feature Win ahead of Woebbeking who recovered to finish second ahead of McClellan. Rookie Points Leader Alicia Roszczewski was fourth as Hiller would wrap up the top five. Roger McQueen and Hiller would score the Heat Race triumphs.

The final Feature of the night would be the 20-Lap main event for the UMP Modifieds as Current Points Leader John McCaul and Defending Track Champion Joe Rokos brought the field to the green flag. McCaul took the early lead while Rokos faded in a hurry. On lap two, Rokos brought out the caution flag with a left rear flat tire and pitted. McCaul then had to battle with Dennis Taghon and Paul Johnson the rest of the way.

Through it all though, McCaul was up to the challenge and for the sixth time in 2012 the Montague, Michigan veteran would steer his #27 Stuberg Construction / Xtreme Racecars machine into victory lane and extend his points lead in the process. Taghon and Johnson were second and third while Wade Schmidt finished a career high fourth as Rookie Points Leader, 16-year-old Andy Nickerson III finished off the top five. McCaul and Rokos would grab the Heat Race victories.

This Friday, July 20th the fire breathing, winged warriors of the Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt Presented by ARP will invade the fast 3/8s (0.375) mile high-banked dirt oval. Current Points Leader and last event winner Gregg Dalman, along-with former series champions Dustin Daggett, Brett Mann, Ryan Grubaugh, and stand out touring stars like Ryan Ruhl, Jared Horstman, Darren Long, Greg Wheeler, Andy Teunessen, Robert Huisken, Marques Huffer and more will all make the trek north.

Joining the Winged Sprint Cars will be the Street Stocks, Cruiser Bombers, Four-Cylinders Warriors, and Four-Cylinders Compacts. Ticket Prices for Friday, July 13th are: Adults (13-59): $15.00 – Seniors (60 and Over): $12.00 – Children (6-12) $6.00 – Kids (5 and Under): FREE – Pit Passes: $25.00. The Pit Gates Open at 5:00p.m., the Grandstand Gates Open at 6:00p.m. Practice Starts at 6:30p.m., as well and then after Pre-Race Ceremonies / Invocation / National Anthem(s), Racing Begins at approximately 7:30p.m.

Cherry Raceway is located at: 8649 East M-113 in Fife Lake, Michigan. For more information, please call: 1 (231) 468-1477. Don’t forget to check out the track website at: www.cherryraceway.com You can also follow us on Facebook by going to: www.facebook.com/cherryraceway and clicking on the “Like” button as well as on Twitter by going to: www.twitter.com/cherryraceway