CARLSON FLIES TO MORAN CHEVY-YEE MEMORIAL 150 WIN
CARLSON FLIES TO MORAN CHEVY-YEE MEMORIAL 150 WIN
CARLSON FLIES TO MORAN CHEVY-YEE MEMORIAL 150 WIN
Flat Rock, MI—July 23, 2016: Dakota Carlson steamed by race leader Scott Hantz on the high groove with 18 laps to go on his way to victory in the Moran Chevrolet Stan Yee Memorial 150 Saturday night at Flat Rock Speedway. Pat Moran of Moran Chevrolet and Ann Yee presented the trophies to Dakota in the 7-Up Winner’s Circle. The race was leg number 5 of the 6-race Royal Truck and Trailer Sales Late Model Gold Cup Series.
The 150 lap main event was, in some respects, 3 different races. The first 49 laps ran all green flag, while the next 60 laps were filled with yellow flags for mostly spins, drastically slowing the action. The final 40 laps provided some great racing as the shootout began for the win. A total of 34 cars were on the grounds.
The 7-car inversion put Justin Claucherty and Justin Schroeder on the front row. Schroeder shot off into the lead on the start and set a very quick pace as the 24 car starting field battled for position. Fast qualifier Brian Bergakker began to move to the front, getting to third by lap 39 and took second on lap 47. The first of many yellows appeared on lap 49 when Steve Needles and Terry Senneker tangled in the backstretch. Both drivers re-started at the rear of the field. The driver on the move was Frankie Jiovani, who started 23rd and was up to 12th spot by the first yellow of the night.
A barrage of yellow flags would follow as the field could not get settled in. On lap 51, Jimmie Ward Jr. spun in turn 3, collecting Needles in the process. The incident ended the night for Needles, who was looking for his fifth straight Gold Cup win. Bergakker took off on the lap 55 restart and took the lead away from Schroeder. Brian had company as Scott Hantz took up the challenge. Hantz went up to the top groove and got door to door with Bergakker on several tries, but could not pull off the pass. A lap 68 yellow slowed things again, and Begakker pitted as the #12 appeared to have rear end issues. Hantz was now the leader and was strong out front as he took control of the top spot. A decent stretch of green flag racing put some more laps on the board as Hantz led the field at lap 100, followed by Jimmy Thiel, Eric Lee, Dakota Carlson, Jiovani, Corey Duane, Harold Fair Jr., Craig Everage, Matthew Bullock and Paul Pelletier.
Carlson began his charge to the front, but Thiel was battling Hantz for the lead by lap 110. With a bit of traffic now in play, three-wide action for the lead saw Carlson slide into second, only to have Thiel zip right back as Hantz hung on to the number 1 spot. At lap 132, Carlson, in the second and sometimes third groove, flew into the lead, but the pressure was still on from Thiel, Hantz, Lee and Jiovani. Jiovani worked hard and got by Lee and Hantz to move into third spot. Thiel’s car sputtered to a halt on lap 139 when he ran out of fuel. Carlson was able to build a slight lead until he narrowly missed 2 spinning cars on lap 139, which brought out the final caution flag of the race. With Hantz and Jiovani poised to strike, they were joined by Bobby Stremme. The first-time Flat Rock visitor stayed in the top 10 most of the night and was now in the mix. Jiovani’s #45 ran out of fuel, ending his spectacular run with just 5 laps to go. Carlson stretched his lead and sailed to the big win. Hantz was second, Stremme third, Lee fourth and Pelletier came home fifth, despite fighting an ill-handling car. Brad Riethmeyer, Duane, Stan Yee Jr., Steve Cronenwett Jr. and Bullock completed the top 10.
Brian Bergakker posted the quick time for the 34 cars at 11:663, picking up $533 for his fast lap, courtesy of Diamond Racing Products ($333), Moran Chevrolet ($100) and DTS Drive Train Specialists ($100). Carlson collected the $500 Mystery Award Bonus. By finishing in the top 5 at the Joy Fair 100 in June, the $500 was up for grabs if one of those top 5 won the 150. Yee Jr. collected the weekly Moran Chevrolet Hard Charger $50 bonus, while Nick Bailey was the winner of the random draw for a set of tires, courtesy of Moran Chevrolet.
A pair of 15 lap last-chance races had the top 2 advance to the 150. Michael Simko and Bullock were the top 2 in the first event, while Nick Bailey and Cronenwett Jr. advanced from race number 2.
The 25 lap B Main race winner was Nick Grodi. Dennis Strickland, Tadek Stadniczuk, Dave Stehouwer, Joe Hawes, Sam Coulter, Will Sahutske and Tom Cronenwett were next in line at the finish. Rob Randa and Jeff Vrsek were scratches due to mechanical issues.
The ARCA DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stocks were also in action on the warm Saturday evening. 15 year-old Windsor, Ontario driver Ray Morneau Jr. withstood several challengers on his way to victory in the 25 lap A Main contest, his second of the year. Rob Moore, Scott Selmi, Landon Schuster and Greg Studt rounded out the top five, while Jeff Metdepenningen, Kyle Worley, Pete Shrake, Randy Cornett and Craig Lange completed the top 10.
Rookie Todd Burtscher, in just his 3rd night of competition, captured the 15 lap B Main, working the outside lane to take the lead from Joe Rozek on his way to the win. Rozek, Rich Abel, Jeffrey Kurzyniec, Stephanie Bradley and Adam Jezylo trailed the winner. Metdepenningen, Robbie Moore Jr., James Pankow and Kurzyniec captured the heat races. Studt was the Fastime Racing Engines and Parts fast qualifier for the 28 car field at 13:690. Abel led the B cars at 14:402.
Flat Rock Speedway will jump back into action Saturday, July 30 with a Tribute to Bob Rae. Rae competed in the Late Model, Figure 8 and Street Stock classes in a career that spanned 6 decades. Bob passed away last season. The ARCA Victory Lane Oil Change Figure 8’s and the DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stocks will be in competition.
The pit gates open at 3, practice begins at 4:30, the front gates and ticket office open at 4:30, time trials are at 6 and racing get the green flag at 7 p.m.