Great Lakes Super Sprints

6/15/2019

GLSS-Great Lakes Super Sprints

THE OHIO GASMAN WINS AGAIN

Lake Odessa, MI - Phil "the Ohio Gasman" Gressman (Helena, OH) was late arriving in the pits, but made up for it by being the first across the finish line tonight at I-96 Speedway for his 3rd feature win in 4 outings.

Scaring a few people away tonight with the rains moving across Northern Michigan, I-96 Speedway was dry and we were able to get our 9th straight race in tonight in front a pretty vocal crowd.

Rolling out for qualifying, Brad Lamberson (Parma, MI) posted quick time with a 15.065 second lap. Dustin"Double D" Daggett (Portland, MI) posted a 15.214 second lap and Chase "Kid Rocket" Ridenour (Perry, MI) posted a 15.232 second lap. Gressman and Jared Lamberson (Parma, MI) rounded out the top 5.

Tonight was one of those nights that the fans were able to see the track get faster as the night wore on. In the second heat race, Daggett set a fast time for the night of a 14.532 second lap, a full 1/2 second faster than the best time in qualifying. In the feature, Gressman and Daggett were still fast with 14.842 and 14.874 second laps, respectively.

In the Kistler Engines and Racing Products Heat 1, Brett "the Hoosier Rocket" Mann (Goshen, IN) got off the line with a great start. Andrew Scheid (Sparta, MI) made the first circut,but as the field came out of turn 2, Mann was around Scheid for the lead. As they crossed the finish line, Mann was your winner, with Gressman, Lamberson, Scheid and Linden Jones (Edwardsburg,MI) rounding out the top five.

Kyle Poortenga (Woodland, MI) led out the Campbell Performance Heat Race 2 in his temporary #10 car for the night. (Poortenga was one of 7 of our regular members that sustained severe damage to their cars last weekend.) Going into turn 1, Daggett dices between the leaders and takes the lead. Danny "D3" Sams III (Northport, FL) started on the tail of the heat but followed Daggett across the line to secure a 2nd place finish! Garrett Saunders (Lakeville, IN), Jared Lamberson (Parma, MI) and Poortenga, rounded out the top 5.

The final heat, the Perfit/Engine Pro Heat Race 3, gets a clean start and Josh Shantz (Waterloo, ONT) gets on top of the track and runs the rim all the way to the checkered flag. With the run Shantz had going, the rest of the cars were playing catch up the rest of the race. Ridenour, Gregg Dalman (Bellevue, MI), Andy Chehowski, and Justin Ward (Benzonia, MI) rounded out the top five cars.

As the green flag dropped for the A-Main, the track was in great condition and the cars were flying into turn one like a swarm of bees! As the cars passed the flag stand with one lap under their belts, Gressman was in the lead and hoping for no cautions!

Working his way up from the 5th starting position, Daggett slides in behind Gressman in the 7th heat. This battle goes on for 10 laps, when Gressman encouters some lap traffic up high. Daggett, seeing this, comes in low along the infield tires where he gets a good run and comes out of turn 4 in the lead.

Cruising the top of the track, riding the cushion, Daggett is about 29 seconds away from victory lane, unfortunately for him we get a spun car in the bottom of turn 3 bringing out the caution flag. As the cars get lined up with just 2 laps to go, Daggett puts the peddle to the floor and leads the cars down the front stretch. What was bad for Daggett, was good for Gressman, who took advantage of his position and drove past Daggett to regain the lead. With the white flag flying, Daggett drove in hard, trying to keep Gressman close, but as the cars came out turn 4, Gressman finished with a 0,864 second lead over Daggett, Ridenour, Dalman and Sams!

Our next race will be tomorrow, Saturday, June 15th at Montpelier Raceway Park.

Thank you to our marketing sponsors, Beacon and Bridge Markets, Addvance Heating & Cooling, Specialty Fuels and Logistics and Hoosier Midwest. Also to our race sponsors, Kistler Engines and Racing Products, Campbell Performance, Perfit/Engine Pro and Engler Machine and Tool.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all the current pictures and activities. For our schedule, points and results go to our website at www.greatlakessupersprints.com.

Article Credit: Barry M. Marlow

Submitted By: Barry Marlow