Winston Speedway
Thirlby wins Cup finale, wraps up $3,000 title
Brandon Thirlby heads for his third Michigan Dirt Cup victory and the series title. (Jim DenHamer)
ROTHBURY, Mich. (Sept. 14) — Brandon Thirlby of Traverse City, Mich., wrapped up the championship on the first-year Michigan Dirt Cup in style on Friday night, winning the series finale at Winston Speedway.
The 25-year-old Thirlby, a former power boat racer, earned $2,000 for his Throw ’N Dirt Shootout by Allstar Performance victory and $3,000 for his series championship. | Slideshow
Zack Olger of St. Johns, Mich., finished second in the feature event while Rich Neiser of Fruitport, Mich., the runner-up in series points, was third. Phil Ausra of Dowagiac, Mich., and Scott Baker of Ionia, Mich., rounded out the top five.
Thirlby notched his series-leading third victory of the season on the eight-race tour.
Notes: Thirlby’s MasterSbilt Race Car is sponsored by Thirlby Automotive, Allstar Performance and Integra Racing Shocks. ... Thirlby notched his third title of 2012; he’s also the track champion at two Michigan dirt tracks, I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa and Cherry Raceway in Fife Lake. ... Winston’s finale was added a few weeks ago after the original scheduled season-ender at Hartford Motor Speedway was cancelled. ... The Throw ’N Dirt Shootout continues Saturday with a $2,000-to-win modified event and action in other divisions.
Throw ’N Dirt Shootout: (1) Brandon Thirlby, (2) Zack Olger, (3) Rich Neiser, (4) Phil Ausra, (5) Scott Baker, (6) Andy Galgoci, (7) Adam Thrush, (8) Keith Gentz, (9) Dale Sheehy, (10) Eric Spangler, (11) Ryan VanderVeen, (12) Dona Marcoullier, (13) Alez Kazmarski, (14) Charlie Liggett, (15) Bry Sloan, (16) C.J. Heskett, (17) Kyle Borgman, (18) Roger Wing, (19) Brad Harden, (20) Mike Wilburn. Heat race winners (among 29 cars): Thirlby, Neiser, Wilburn, Olger. Consolation winners: Borgman, Sloan.
