West Michigan Sand Dragway season hosted its eighth point series race of the season on August 18 followed by the annual “Winner’s Circle Weekend” races on Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day Weekend. The race on September 1 was the ninth point series race of the season while Sunday was a day of special events, as described below. Top Fuel
The TF class was contested on September 1 with four cars in attendance. John Rammacher was once again low qualifier with a 2.79 pass in the final qualifying session; however, he would break on the pass and not return for round one. Rammacher’s breakage allowed Bob Piunti to have a single in the first round while Pat Goodale shut down early to a 2.85-2.96 win over Jay Poortenga. This set up a final round match up between Piunti and Goodale. Bob was able to take a large starting line advantage and parlay it into a 2.93-2.79 hole shot victory. This was Piunti’s third TF class victory of the season.
Bob Piunti (Dawn Sobers Photo)
John Rammacher (Dawn Sobers Photo)
Top Eliminator
On August 18, three cars showed up for the TE class. Troy Turnock would be the top qualifier with a nearly dead-on 3.007. Brian Ambs would get by Steve DeLeeuw in round one to face Turnock in the final. Troy would take a starting line advantage to the win over Ambs 3.13-3.11. On September 1, Lori Goodale put her car in the #1 qualifying spot with a 2.98 pass. She was followed by Troy Turnock and Steve DeLeeuw in the top half of the six car field both with 3.05’s. In round one, Goodale received a single when Lee Courville couldn’t make the call while Steve DeLeeuw defeated Rob Lemon and Brian Ambs scored the upset victory over Troy Turnock. Turnock had to lift after getting out of shape on the pass, ending a seven race winning streak. The semi-final saw a bye run and a single as Ambs was unable to make the call sending Goodale and DeLeeuw to the final round. The final round saw a close 3.00-3.08 victory for Lori Goodale.
Lori Goodale (NSDN Photo)
Pro Index
Jay Poortenga took his “Drag Nasty” Jeep to consecutive class wins in Pro Index. On August 18, Jay ended Ed Engel’s attempt for three straight wins in the final round. Jay came back on September 1, and took the win over Matt Peel. Jay’s victories moved him into fourth in Pro Points, and only 6 behind Matt Peel for the Pro Index class points lead.
Pro Comp
Fred Hugo was the man to beat with his Jeep on August 18, taking home the PC class win over Kip Martin’s “Primal Scream” Jeep. Tim Holstege drove his Altered to the September 1 victory defeating Reny Villemure’s Buggy in the final round. Pro Comp points leader Randi Vsetula’s two race win streak ended on August 18 and she ended up with third round finishes at both events putting her 9 points behind Rich Wood for the Pro Point Series title with two races to go.
Fred Hugo (NSDN Photo)
Tim Holstege (NSDN Photo)
Pro Mod Truck
Jay Poortenga made it a double victory on August 18, also winning in Pro Index, defeating Fred Hugo in an all-Jeep final round. Mike Page won his first Pro Truck class race of the 2007 season, getting by Fred’s brother Bobby Hugo in the final round. Mike and Jay’s wins created a three-way tie atop the Pro Truck point standings with them being joined by Kip Martin with two point series races to go.
Mike Page (NSDN Photo)
Pro ATV
Pro ATV domination continued on August 18 with Rich Wood taking his sixth straight Pro ATV class win over Brian McWethy in the final round. However, the tables would turn on Wood in the first round on September 1 as Brian would end Rich’s win streak. McWethy would move on and take the Pro ATV class win over Corey Martz. Rich has a comfortable lead in the Pro ATV class point standings, and slim 9 point cushion over Randi Vsetula in Pro Points.
Brian McWethy (NSDN Photo)
Comp
Tom Bray kept the win streak alive on August 18 and September 1 making it six straight victories in the Comp class. Tom took the August 18 win over Mandee Reynders, who made it to her first final round of the year in her purple Jeep while the September 1 runner-up was Mark Groenink in the “Gone Green” Blazer. Tom’s wins moved him into third place in Sportsman Points, and into a 25 point lead in Comp class points.
Tom Bray (Dawn Sobers Photo)
Modified
Dan Genge took home his first win of ’07 on August 18 with a final round victory over Tom Bray. The September 1 race once again featured an all Jeep final with Mandee Reynders taking her Purple Jeep to the win over Roger Young’s “Runnin’ Wild” Jeep in the final. Tom Bray has a big lead in Modified class points; however his Sportsman Points lead has dwindled to just 8 over Rich Wood.
ATV
The ATV class saw Rich Wood sweep the August 18 and September 1 events, making it four event wins in five races in the ATV class for him. Rich’s August 18 win was over Travis Raspotnik while the September 1 runner-up was Reanna Hessoun. Rich is now trailing Sportsman Points leader Tom Bray by just 8 points with two races remaining.
Rich Wood (NSDN Photo)
Junior Dragster
Jordan Lirones continued his late season charge with strong victories over his brother Tyler on August 18 and Elise Shaffer on September 1. Jordan’s lead has grown to 22 in his quest for three-straight WMSD Junior Dragster point series championships.
Junior ATV
Points leader Cody Turnock continued his winning ways on August 18 with his fourth victory of the season, defeating Jake Bringehahl in the final round. September 1 would see Samantha Schyett take her first victory of the season defeating Mitchell Duram in the final round. Points leader Turnock missed the September 1 event, dropping him back to only a 6 point lead over second place Caitlynn Page.
Mighty Midgets
Morgan Villemure was on a mission taking home the victory on August 18, and a runner-up on September 1. Kelsey Ambs was the runner-up to Morgan on August 18 while the class winner on September 1 was Avery Villemure. Tight action in the class has the top five in points separated by only 17 points with two races left, lead by Joshua Rammacher.
Special Events
Thunder From Down Under
WMSD held its annual special event for the junior class point series competitors called the “Thunder From Down Under” on August 18. The racers qualify for this even during their time trials for the normal August 18 race with the 8 best reaction times qualifying for the show later on in the evening. Big prizes for the kids bring about some great racing in this special Pro Tree bracket race. Tyler Lirones would take home the top honors in Junior Dragster defeating Taylor Lottes in the final. Cody Turnock made it a sweep of the day in Junior ATV winning in the final round over Katie DeBoer. Avery Villemure drove to the Mighty Midgets class win over Alexis Highers.
Big Bud Shootout
This annual event is held on September 2 featuring a Pro Tree bracket race opened up to competitors running 5.99 seconds and faster with a $1000 to win pay out. The final round of this race came down to a battle of the veterans with Reny Villemure taking the win in his Subaru-powered Buggy over Tom Hartman’s Chevy-powered Blazer.
Top Gun Eliminator
The Top Gun event is a race that racers qualify for when they win a class during the regular point series season at WMSD. These racers are eligible to run for the first place pay out of $500. Tom Bray would end up taking home the top money driving his Jeep to the final round victory over Brian McWethy’s Snowmobile-powered ATV.
Buggy Brawl
The Buggy Brawl event is an open event for all buggy racers with a substantial payout put up by the local Brown Bear restaurants. Keith Hendricks would take his Chevy-powered Buggy to the victory over Randy Vsetula in his daughter’s Ford V6-powered Buggy. Jon Sorg represented the VW buggy racers as the sole semi-finalist in the class with his “Unleashed” buggy.
Keith Hendricks (NSDN Photo)
Junior Top Gun Eliminator
The Junior Top Gun is structured the same way as the adult Top Gun with racers qualifying in throughout the season as they win their class during the regular point series season. Caitlynn Page continued her impressive season taking the final round victory on her ATV over Junior Dragster class points leader Jordan Lirones in the final round.
Photos Courtesy Dawn Sobers (WMSD Track Photographer) - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. & NSDN