July 25
Merritt Speedway,
Lake City, MI
Sanction: DIRTcar Racing (non-touring) - $3,000
Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated July 27, 10:33 am)
Stemler tops Spangler at Merritt for $3,000
- Travis Stemler
- Eric Spangler
- David Mielke
- Dona Marcoullier
- Brandon Thirlby
- Cody Bauer
- J.C. Witherspoon
- Andrew Terrill
- Ryan Lanphierd
- David Hilliker
- Chad Finley
- Torrey Ahrens
- Greg Gokey
- Kyle Novak
- Dave Baker
- Mike Staszak
- Craig Foster
- Rod Laney
- Rob Lewis
- Steve Nieuwenhuis
- Logan Arntz
- Rusty Schlenk
- Jake Thompson
- Dave Bowen
Randy Ellen/randyellen.smugmug.com
Travis Stemler earned $3,000 for his Merritt victory.
What won the race: Travis Stemler of Ionia, Mich., turned back challenges from 19th-starting Eric Spangler to capture a $3,000 victory in the Allstar Performance Challenge Series feature at Merritt Speedway on Saturday night, completing a sweep of the series weekend doubleheader. Stemler took the checkers 2.988 seconds ahead of Spangler to extend his lead atop the series points standings.
Key notes: With his $3,000 victory Friday night at Tri-City Motor Speedway, Stemler completed the weekend sweep on Saturday evening to claim $6,000 in weekend earnings. … Twelfth-starting Brandon Thirlby of Traverse City, Mich., claimed a top-five finish with splints on both wrists from fractures sustained in a Fourth of July wreck at Merritt. … Merritt Speedway hosted the second leg of the weekend doubleheader for the The Allstar Performance Late Model Challenge Series presented by American Ethanol. The first-year series is a challenge series between Merritt and Tri-City Motor Speedway and offers a $10,000 payout to the champion.
On the move: Eric Spangler of Lake City, Mich., started 19th and finished second.
Winner's sponsors: Stemler's Anklam Racing Rocket Chassis has a Pro Power Racing Engine and sponsorship from McCallister Cat Rental, Great Lakes Directional Drilling, AP Smillie Contracting, Britt Heinz Tree Services, Cusack Collisions, Heim Electric, Gary and Sharon Patrick, Positive Cleaning, The Twisted Monkey and Fisk Trucking
Points chase: Stemler entered the weekend with 214 points to lead second-place Rusty Schlenk, who had 200 points before Friday’s race.
Current weather: Clear, 79°F
Car count: 24
Fast qualifier: Rusty Schlenk
Time: 13.697 seconds
Polesitter: Travis Stemler
Heat race winners: Travis Stemler, Andrew Terrill, Logan Arntz
Next series race: August 7, Merritt Speedway (Lake City, MI) $10,000
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.