Winston Speedway
Spatola claims first Late Model victory at Winston
Mike Spatola races to his first Late Model victory in the Player Hater 50. (Steve Datema)
ROTHBURY, Mich. (April 23) – After posting a string of strong finishes early in his rookie Late Model season, Mike Spatola of Manhattan, Ill., broke through for his first Late Model victory in Saturday night’s Player Hater 50 at Winston Motor Speedway.
The 20-year-old former open-wheel modified standout earned $2,500 for winning the UMP DIRTcar Late Model event. | Slideshow
Jon Henry of Ada, Ohio, finished behind Spatola to earn the runner-up finish while Brandon Thirlby of Traverse City, Mich., finished third. Eric Spangler of Lake City, Mich., and Curtis Roberts of Coleman, Mich., rounded out the top five finishers.
Notes: Spatola’s Pierce Race Car is powered by a Rhyne Competition Engine with sponsorship from Speedway Auto Parts & Wreckers, Chicago Heights U-Pull-It and Big Daddy Scrap. ... The race was Spatola’s fifth Late Model start. He scored top-three finishes in three of his four previous starts, including two runner-up finishes.
Player Hater 50: (1) Mike Spatola, (2) Jon Henry, (3) Brandon Thirlby, (4) Eric Spangler, (5) Curtis Roberts, (6) Sam Epling, (7) Matt Pickard, (8) Zack Olger, (9) Jeep Van Wormer, (10) Rusty Schlenk, (11) Curtis Deisenroth, (12) Devin Shiels, (13) Kyle Borgam, (14) Tom Sprague Jr., (15) Dona Marcoullier, (16) Rich Neiser, (17) Mark Anderson, (18) Dave Hartman, (19) Alan Vochaska, (20) Brian Ruhlman, (21) Ryan Vanderveen, (22) Josh Scott. Heat race winners (among 44 entries): Olger, Thirlby, Spatola, Anderson. Consolation race winners: Roberts, Pickard.
