Racing to Return in 2011
Full Results: www.motorstats.com/TrackResults.php?trackId=251
ESCANABA, Mich. (September 18, 2010) - Racing can be a roller coaster of emotions. It can be a physical roller coaster too. Tyler Winling experienced both in Saturday’s Upper Peninsuala International Raceway Fall Finale Small Car feature.
Winling charged to the front of the field from mid-pack, flew over a jump in the infield losing several spots and stormed to the front again. “I wanted to put on a show, and I think I did,” Winling said in victory lane.
Randy Degrave and Justin Sprins led the field to the start of the 18-lap main event. Degrave secured an early lead, pacing the first five circuits with Erik Marenger riding in the second spot. While Marenger attempted to wear down Degrave, Bret Widdis ascended into the top three by lap four.
After a lap-five restart Marenger overtook Degrave for the lead. Widdis started alongside Winling in the second row, and the duo traded spots on laps seven and eight. As Widdis went to the outside Winling inadvertently slid to the infield. With the Tough Truck/Car jumps just five feet away Wiling had a choice, slow down or storm over the jump. Winling mashed the gas and flew over the jump, keeping him in contention.
Another caution for a stalled Curt Knauf placed Widdis and Winling in second and third. On the lap-eight restart Winling stormed around Widdis and Marenger into the lead. Winling maintained the lead through another restart on lap ten and flexed his muscle over the final eight circuits. John Bordeau finished second after transferring through the last chance race, Alex Constantino was third, Matt Adams was fourth and Marenger rounded out the top five.
The Small Car division had a branch off class with the six cylinder and dual overhead cam four cylinder cars competing in a race. Rick Martin started on the front row of the 12-lap feature. Martin broke away early but was reeled in by Triple Crown Round Three winner Dan Carne. Carne challenged Martin over the final three circuits. Multiple challenges by Carne where thwarted by Martin who picked up his first victory of the season.
Steve Ives dominated the ten-lap 650 division Micro Sprint Feature event. Ives started on the front row and dashed away from Cole Possi at the drop of the green. John Mathias made a late pass on Possi to finish second.
When the 600 division Micro Sprints hit the track, Ives was looking for a repeat. He came up one spot shy, however, as Scott Degnan captured the 15-lap event. Degnan and Triple Crown champion Nick Pinar started on the front row with Pinar grabbing an early lead.
The two broke away from the pack as Degnan continued to challenge Pinar. Degnan made his pass on Pinar on lap ten. A yellow on lap three for a stalled Mike Richer bunched the field up and set up a last chance for Pinar to overtake Degnan. On the restart Degnan broke away and Pinar experienced mechanical issues. Degnan cruised to a comfortable win. Ives and Jake Relf rounded out the top three.
Crowd-pleasing Jesse James Liss won his first feature of the season in the Kids Micro Sprints. Liss passed Trent Peppin at the line on lap one of the eight-lap race and cruised to victory.
Bill Quarfoot topped the Tough Truck/Car division with a time of 12.41 seconds.
Donna Sundstrom, Sarah Johnson, and Leanne Vaughn won powder puff races. Tom Bordeau, Dan LaMarche, John Johnson, Darren Winling, Wayne Peppin and Nick Pinar Jr. were victorious in the mechanics races.
UPIR officials announced that racing will be held again in 2011 at the U.P. State Fairgrounds. Funding has yet to be completely secured for the reconstruction of UPIR into a multiple-use motorsports facility, but the possibility still exists.
All money raised in the four races in 2010 will be used to build a track. If funding is not secured UPIR’s eighth-mile will remain in action. More details will be available through the off-season at the UPIR Web site and at www.deltami.org
UPIR is an abbreviated eighth-mile multi-surfaced course carved out of the existing course at the Delta Co. Fairgrounds. A Triple Crown in 2010 was used to gage the interest of race fans in the area and to fund the efforts of reopening the facility in 2011 on a full-time basis as a multi-purpose motorsport facility featuring a 3/8-mile asphalt oval.
For more information visit upirracing.blogspot.com or www.deltami.org.
