July 4
Merritt Speedway,
Lake City, MI
Sanction: Sunoco American Late Model Series - $10,000
Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated July 5, 10:31 am)
Stemler earns first ALMS win, $10,000 at Merritt
- Travis Stemler
- Chad Finley
- Greg Gokey
- David Mielke
- Mike Vandermark
- Brandon Thirlby
- Cody Bauer
- Ryan Lanphierd
- David Hilliker
- Dona Marcoullier
- Devin Shiels
- Dan Wallace
- Joey Burch
- Jeff Geis
- J.C. Witherspoon
- Logan Nickerson
- Curtis Roberts
- Dave Baker
- Carter Murday
- Rich Bell
- Rick Gokee Jr.
- Eric Spangler
Travis Stemler celebrates his $10,000 payday at Merritt.
What won the race: Leading all 50 laps from the pole, Travis Stemler of Ionia, Mich., won his first career Sunoco American Late Model Series feature at Merritt Speedway on Sunday. He beat Chad Finley of Lansing, Mich., to the finish line by 0.248 of a second to collect the $10,000 top prize.
Key notes: Finley closed within striking distance of Stemler late in the distance but settled for the runner-up spot. ... A winner of two special events at Merritt since May, Brandon Thirlby finished sixth. ... After scoring a $10,000 victory at Tri-City Motor Speedway in Auburn, Mich., on Friday, Dona Marcoullier advanced 11 positions and finished 10th. ... Curtis Robers, who won a preliminary feature at Merritt on Saturday, finished 17th. ... Sunday's feature, co-sanctioned by the Sunoco American Late Model Series and the Allstar Performance Late Model Challenge Series, was slowed by five separate incidents and lasted 31 minutes. Thirteen competitors completed all 50 laps. ... Merritt Speedway hosts the $33,000-to-win Wood Tic event Aug. 6-7.
On the move: Dona Marcoullier of Houghton Lake, Mich., started 21st and finished 10th.
Points chase: Going into the weekend, Rich Bell of Sheffield, Ill., led the ALMS standings with 272 points. Devin Shiels of Britton, Mich., was second with 218 points and Curtis Roberts of Coleman, Mich., was third with 197 points.
Current weather: Clear, 75°F
Car count: 31
Fast qualifier: Curtis Roberts
Time: 13.740 seconds
Polesitter: Travis Stemler
Heat race winners: Curtis Roberts, Travis Stemler, David Mielke, Chad Finley
Consolation race winners: Ryan Lanphierd
Provisional starters: Dona Marcoullier, Eric Spangler
Next series race: August 6, Merritt Speedway (Lake City, MI) $33,000
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.