July 4
Merritt Speedway,
Lake City, MI
Sanction: DIRTcar Racing (non-touring) - $10,000
Information provided by: Track reports (last updated July 5, 10:49 am)
Schlenk claims $10,000 victory at Merritt
- Rusty Schlenk
- Travis Stemler
- Chad Finley
- David Mielke
- Brandon Thirlby
- Curtis Roberts
- Logan Arntz
- Dave Baker
- Mike Staszak
- Cody Bauer
- Torrey Ahrens
- J.C. Witherspoon
- Kyle Roberts
- Kyle Novak
- Dona Marcoullier
- Dave Bowen
- Jake Thompson
- Eric Spangler
- Steve Nieuwenhuis
- Rob Lewis
- Rod Laney
- Isaac Wolfgang
presented by
Steve Datema
Rusty Schlenk poses with his trophy following his $10,000 July 4 win.
What won the race: Third-starting Rusty Schlenk of McClure, Ohio, overtook Eric Spangler for the lead on lap three and proceeded to run away to a $10,000 victory in Saturday night’s AllStar Performance Challenge Series event at Merritt Speedway. Schlenk topped Travis Stemler by 1.979 seconds the 50-lapper.
Key notes: Schlenk registered his seventh overall triumph of 2020 in an AllStar Performance Challenge Series event that highlighted a two-night race weekend at Merritt. … Fifth-place finisher Brandon Thirlby was involved in a crash that left the Traverse City, Mich., driver with two broken wrists and his car “not repairable” according to his Facebook page. Thirlby plans to see an orthopedic surgeon on Monday. … Action kicked off Friday with David Mielke of Gladwin, Mich., grabbing a $2,000 win. Mielke was fourth on Saturday. … Schlenk finished seventh in Friday’s weekend opener. … Saturday’s program boasted of the “largest fireworks display in northern Michigan.”
On the move: Chad Finley of Lansing, Mich., started 11th and finished third.
Winner's sponsors: Schlenk’s Domination Race Car is powered by a Mullins Engine and sponsored by Buckeye Concrete Coatings, Tom Finch Automotive, Dominator Race Products, Velocita USA, Landrum Performance Springs, VP Racing Fuel, Vahlco Racing Wheels, Wilwood and CP-Carrillo, Bilstein, ML Performance, Allstar Performance.
Points chase: Entering the event, Dona Marcoullier and Chad Finley were tied atop Merritt’s standings with 161 points each.
Current weather: Clear, 73°F
Car count: 23
Fast qualifier: Travis Stemler
Time: 13.727 seconds
Polesitter: Eric Spangler
Heat race winners: Travis Stemler, Dona Marcoullier, David Mielke
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.
