Jun 29 2009 - HILLIKER BROTHERS WIN IN TOP DIVISIONS
HILLIKER BROTHERS WIN IN TOP
DIVISIONS
On June
27th the Winged Outlaw Late Models returned to Merritt Speedway for
the first of two shows, along with M.O.R.A. Sprints for the first of three
shows for the 2009 season. As the evening started with Outlaw Late Model
qualifying, fast time was an 11.48 second lap set by David Hilliker who
continued by winning the Dash and Heat 2, Heat 1 went to Josh Knoll of
Barryton. In the Feature, the field was fully inverted with Rob Harden of Ovid
and John Krusinsky of Montague on the front row. On lap 5 Hilliker had gained
10 positions to take the lead, by lap 7 Knoll had made his way to 2nd
and by lap 9, Brad Harden of Ovid had moved into 3rd. At lap 20
caution bunched the field for a 5 lap shoot out, as the green flow Hilliker led
the field into turn 1 and on to the win for the “hat trick” of checkered flags
for the night. Finishing out the top ten were Brad Harden, Knoll, Adam Thrush
of Mt Pleasant, Chad Wright of Kalkaska, Bob Hammar of Boon, Bob Harden of
Ovid, Don Erickson of Traverse City, Krusinsky and rob Harden.
During
UMP Modifed action Mark Kurth of Gaylord won the Dash and Heat 1, Heat 2 went
to Brian Brindley of West Branch, Jeremy Tulick of Cadillac took Heat 3 and
Gary McKinley of Fife Lake won the B Semi. As the Feature started, 2 and 3 wide
racing could be witnessed throughout the field, in a 4 car battle up front
Steve Hilliker of Midland worked his way into the lead on lap 5, with Joe Rokos
of Traverse City in “hot persuit”. With a very racy surface Hilliker held his
outside line to keep Rokos in check as Jeff Cade of Buckley and Roger Steig of
Reed City had noteable advances. Hilliker’s smooth run brought the 8 time
Merritt Speedway Champion the Feature win, ending a 13 year drought. Rokos held
on to 2nd, Ryan Richie of Gladwin 3rd, Stieg in 4th,
Kurth 5th, Brindley 6th, Cade 7th, Dave
Mairose of West Branch took 8th, Davin Reckow of Kingsley 9th
and Bob Baldwin of Petoskey rounding out the top ten.
In the
Pro Truck division, Blake Meyering of Cadillac won the Dash, Bob Hammar of Boon
took Heat 1 and Ian Knoertzer of Gladwin was victorious in Heat 2. During the
Feature Hammar took the early lead holding off Knoertzer and Dick Stout of
Prudenville until lap 9 when Stout gained the advantage. On lap 11 Hammar spun
exiting of turn 4 and had to restart on the tail of the field. On the restart
Stout held the lead and Hammar was moving up through the field. On lap 12
attempting to pass Marv Frey and Jerry Mynarcik of St. Hellen, Hammar rolled
the #21 machine several times in turns 3 and 4 ending his night, but the driver
was not injured. Stout continued on to the checkers, dedicating the win to his
wife Shelly. The remaining top ten were, Adam Brinks of Cadillac, Bob Green of Traverse
City, Meyering, Brent Neverth of McBain, J.T. Anderson of Cadillac, Richie
Sutherland of Merritt, Knoertzer and Mike Nelson Jr. of Cadillac.
In
Jimmy’s Collision Repair Center Factory Stocks and the Sportsman classes
several new faces were on hand getting ready for a make-up invitational
scheduled for July 11th. In the Sportsman class, Dan Hersey of
Traverse City won the Heat, with Tom Zundel of Fife Lake taking the Feature and
John Matthews of Houghton Lake winning both the Heat and Feature in the Jimmy’s
Collision Repair Center Factory Stocks.
The
buzz of 2 cycle engines also was heard over the speedway as the M.O.R.A.
Sprints darted up and down the straight-a-ways. Tom Duford of Benzonia took
Heat 2 and Cory Esch of Traverse City won Heat 1 and the Feature.
As the
calendar page is flipped to July, Merritt Speedway scheduled has 6 shows for
all to enjoy! With the “Green Mamba” Jet Car and School Bus races on July 2nd,
Mid Season Championships and Fireworks on July 4th, an invitational
for Jimmy’s Collision Repair Center Factory Stocks and the Sportsman classes on
July 11th, the 21st Annual “Wood Tic” on July 17th
and 18th, and Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club Night on July 25th. SEE YA’ AT THE RACES!
