August 24
Tri-City Motor Speedway,
Auburn, MI
Sanction: American Ethanol Late Model Tour (DIRTcar) - $4,000
Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated August 25, 4:19 am)
Marcoullier wins Ethanol finale, wraps up title
- Dona Marcoullier
- Ryan VanderVeen
- Brian Ruhlman
- Nick Kurtz
- Rich Neiser
- Austin Dillon
- Jeep Van Wormer
- Chad Finley
- Kris Patterson Jr.
- Bill Bray
- Rusty Schlenk
- Brandon Thirlby
- Jason Playter Jr.
- Mathew Chapman
- Carl Ries
- Rich Bell
- Steven Hilliker
- Devin Shiels
- Eric Spangler
- Kyle Roberts
- Joe Hanson
- Travis Stemler
Dona Marcoullier (3) outdueled Ryan VanderVeen (23v) in the finale.
What won the race: Clinching the American Ethanol Tour title in style, sixth-starting Dona Marcoullier of Houghton Lake, Mich., led the final nine laps Wednesday at Tri-City Motor Speedway for a $4,000 payday and his third series victory of the season. Marcoullier regained the lead from polesitter Ryan VanderVeen of Six Lakes, Mich., amid traffic on the 32nd of 40 laps for a victory in his 11th straight Tri-City Motor start.
Quotable: "I've got a lot of laps around here; this place will just change. It starts out real aggressive and by the end it's black-slick and you just have to be patient with the lapped cars, and that's what I did," Marcoullier said. "I never let (VanderVeen) go far enough (ahead). It was just enough just to make a move when we got all balled up. According to my signal guy, I had a pretty good lead at the end — I don't know if it was big, but it was big enough."
Key notes: Marcoullier is unbeaten in seven 2016 starts at Tri-City Motor Speedway and won his previous four starts at the track last season. ... After his regular No 6m was sidelined because of financial struggles, Marcoullier took over a car he'd sold to Chad Foster Sr. (the driver) and his former car owner Robert Wilson. ... Brian Ruhlman led three laps before Marcoullier slipped by after an early restart, but the high-running Ryan VanderVeen took over on the fifth lap and led through lap 31. ... VanderVeen and Marcoullier ran side-by-side many laps. ... Tyler Norton earned $1,000 for winning the non-qualifiers' race. ... Among drivers failing to make the feature lineup: Kevin Reeve, Curtis Roberts, Scott Phillips, Ryan Lanphierd, Chad Anklam, Andrew Terrell, Josh Haynes, Ken O'Connor, Logan Arntz and Josh Knoll.
On the move: NASCAR star Austin Dillon of Welcome, N.C., who is sponsored by American Ethanol, started 21st and finished sixth. Teammate Dale McDowell will run a Team Dillon entry at Michigan's Merritt Speedway in Aug. 26-27 World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series action.
Winner's sponsors: Marcoullier drove a Chad Foster and Robert Wilson-owned Rocket Chassis sponsored by H&H Construction, Anderson Builders, Don's Auto Clinic and Budget Transmission.
Points chase: Marcoullier clinched the series title; he entered the race with a 33-point lead on Rusty Schlenk, who finished 11th.
Car count: 46
Fast qualifier: Austin Dillon
Time: 12.776 seconds
Heat race winners: Ryan VanderVeen, Rich Bell, Rich Neiser, Brian Ruhlman, Mathew Chapman
Consolation race winners: Carl Ries, Jeep Van Wormer, Travis Stemler
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.