Tri-City Speedway
Pierce rules Tri-City, gets third ALMS win
PONTOON BEACH, Ill. (Sept. 21) — It turned out that rain was the only thing that could stop Bobby Pierce during Tri-City Speedway’s three-race weekend.
Pierce, the 16-year-old second-generation racer from Oakwood, Ill., claimed a $2,000 victory on the Sunoco American Late Model Series Saturday night, backing up his triumph in Thursday night’s weekend opener at Tri-City’s 3/8-mile oval. His chance at a clean sweep of the weekend was washed away by a rainout of Friday’s action.
Randy Korte of Highland, Ill., was second in Saturday’s feature while Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., who leads Pierce in the UMP national points chase, was third after finishing second to Pierce Thursday night. Billy Laycock of Marine, Ill., and Dustin Griffin of Camp Point, Ill., rounded out the top five.
Notes: Pierce’s Pierce Race Car has a Pro Power Racing engine and sponsorship from Champion Spark Plugs, Murphy Trucking, Petersen Aluminum, American Metal Supply Co. and Keyser Mfg. ... Pierce earned the third ALMS victory of his career; his two previous wins came this season at Vermilion County Speedway in Danville, Ill., on May 19 and at Quincy (Ill.) Raceway on Aug. 11. ... Thursday's event wasn't ALMS-sanctioned. ... Next up for ALMS competitors is a Sept. 27-28 doubleheader at Paducah (Ky.) International Raceway and Tri-City Speedway in Haubstadt, Ind.
UMP @ Tri-City: (1) Bobby Pierce, (2) Randy Korte, (3) Brandon Sheppard, (4) Billy Laycock, (5) Dustin Griffin, (6) Tanner English, (7) Scott Weber, (8) Rick Salter, (9) Rickey Frankel, (10) Mark Burgtorf, (11) Michael Kloos, (12) Tim Manville, (13) Jason Perry, (14) Brandon Thirlby, (15) Phil Ausra, (16) Brian Diveley, (17) Jeff Herzog, (18) Dewayne Kiefer, (19) Ryan Unzicker, (20) Allan Murray, (21) Jason McBride, (22) Craig Smith. Fast qualifier (among 37 cars): Frankel, 14.619 seconds. Heat race winners: Pierce, Korte, Laycock, Weber, Griffin. Consolation winners: Diveley, Herzog.
