Full Results - http://www.motorstats.com/TrackHome.php?trackId=251
ESCANABA, Mich. (July 31, 2010) – Time is of the essence in racing – ask Tyler Winling. Just as fans and competitors wasted no time packing Upper Peninsula International Raceway Saturday, Winling wasted no time securing the lead in the Small Car feature to dominate the night’s main event.
Winling charged into the lead past pole sitter Terry Royer on a lap two restart.
Outside pole sitter Matt Ison caused the first yellow as he spun in front of the 16-car field exiting turn four on the first trip around the eighth-mile. As the field jostled after the green, Winling weaved through traffic into second from his tenth-place starting spot.
Tyler Winling - Winner Small Cars
Pulling to the inside of Royer in turn two, Winling wasted no time stretching out his newly claimed lead spot. The advantage quickly was erased, however, as Matt Adams flipped his racer on the third lap. Adam’s machine came to a rest on its lid in turn two, but Adams was able to make a quick exit and was unharmed.
Following the restart on lap three, Steve Labre filed into second behind Winling. As laps continued to click off in the 18-lap main event, Winling’s lead continued to grow. Labre remained unpressured for second after he turned away Fran Berube’s attempt to take the spot on lap eight.
Winling also claimed his heat race earlier night and completed an improbable sweep in a stellar 54-car field.
The 600 and 650 Micro Sprint divisions both saw repeat winners.
In the 650 Micro Sprints, Paul Hosking was again victorious. Hosking started on the outside of heat-race winner Karen Degnan and walked away with the 18-lap event.
Paul Hosking - Winner 650 Micro Sprints
Although a victory seemed assured for Hosking in the waning portions of the event, an uneasy moment raised some question marks. Leading by more than a half of a lap, Hosking lost control of his racer exiting turn four on lap 15. Hosking pitched sideways and slid to the infield. Calmly, Hosking regained control and cruised through the final three circuits without incident.
In a field that included travelers from the southern part of Michigan and Central Wisconsin, Nick Pinar collected his second consecutive 600 Micro Sprint Feature win.
Behind pole sitter Ben Ives, Pinar dashed to the outside line. After one circuit of following the leaders, Pinar slid back to the high line to power past Ives. Behind Pinar, Scott Degnan, who flipped his racer in the heat, kept pace.
Nick Pinar - Winner 600 Micro Sprints
With Pinar pacing the field up front, Bill Dunham, who traveled from Bellevue, Mich., began sifting through traffic. Dunham moved to third on lap seven, but was unable to catch the lead duo. Degnan closed the gap on several occasions as Pinar disposed of lapped traffic, but was unable to get within striking distance.
Tanner Resch made his family’s trek from Antigo, Wis., worth while by capturing the Kid’s Micro Sprint six-lap feature. Resch swiped the lead from Triple Crown Round One winner Jordan Ives exiting turn two on the second lap.
Tanner Resch - Winner Kid's Micro Sprints
As Resch pulled away, the capacity crowd was electrified by the run of Jesse James Liss. Liss’ machine appeared to be half the size of the other Micro Sprinters, but was just as fast. A last lap pass by Liss to secure second, garnered a loud cheer from the grandstand.
Dan Arts was credited with his second win in the Tough Truck/Car division. The division could have been renamed on the evening as Jerry Hansen participated in a modified school bus, much to the delight of spectators. Arts’ time of 11.13 seconds on his second run bested the first run of Bill Quarfoot at 12.06 seconds
The third and final round of the UPIR Triple Crown is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 21 during the UP State Fair. Only the Small Car and Micro Sprint divisions will compete. Racing begins at 1 p.m.
UPIR is an abbreviated 1/8-mile clay-surfaced course carved out of the existing course at the Delta Co. Fairgrounds. A Triple Crown in 2010 will be used to gauge the interest of race fans in the area and to fund the efforts of reopening the facility featuring a 3/8-mile asphalt oval in 2011.
The UPIR Triple Crown will take place on three Saturday evenings in 2010. The dates are June 12, July 31 and Aug. 21. Racing is slated to begin at 7 p.m. on June 12 and July 31 and at 1 p.m. on Aug. 21.
Rules and registration are available by contacting Boyd Widdis at 906-450-5112. For more information visit upirracing.blogspot.com or www.deltami.org.
