From MPH Promotions
Clio, MI — (May 16, 2015) — The Broaster Chicken ICAR Top Speed Modified Tour Northern Division was back in action on Saturday, May 16th with the first of three appearances at the historic Auto City Speedway, located north of Flint in Clio, Michigan. The tricky 0.393 mile semi-banked paved oval served as hosts of the Genuine Broaster Chicken 50 as the Northern Division contingent has shown early on that each event throughout the 2015 racing season will be wide open in terms of who are the front runners for the rest of the year.
In the 50-lap main on the unique layout of the Eastern Michigan speed plant, Travis Eddy, the son of legendary seven-time ASA National Champion Mike Eddy, passed his teammate, Joe Morisette Jr., with just two laps to go and hung on for his first ICAR win of the 2015 racing season. The Beaverton, Michigan driver in his #78 Howe Racing Enterprises / Don’s Towing entry also won the Economy Auto Parts Fast Qualifier Award earlier in the day to start the clean sweep of the racing action in East Michigan.
“We got the win. A real good night for everyone on this team. If I was going to battle somebody for the win, I’d want it to be Joe (Morisette Jr.),” The happy 25-year-old stated in victory lane after the race. “We had a real good car throughout the day here and we’ve turned a lot of laps around the place over the years. It’s good to get back into victory lane though that’s for sure. Second win overall since Speedweeks in Florida back in February.” The 2009 Track Champion at the Clio, Michigan speed plant added.
After Eddy pulled a redraw inversion of an eight, he would place Morisette Jr., and 17-year-old Tristan Van Wieringen on the front row of the 50-lap main. From the drop of the green flag, Morisette Jr., would charge out into the lead and try in vain to get away from the rest of the field. Several cautions slowed the action and each time, Morisette Jr., would dart out into the lead as the rest of the field behind him jockeyed for position.
Eddy started eighth and survived the carnage going on around him to maneuver his way up to the second spot and would begin stalking his teammate all over the unique layout of the former dirt track. As the laps continued to click off, Eddy began his charge for the lead. With two laps to go, Eddy made the winning pass and saw the checkered flag first for his fifth career ICAR event victory. Three of his trips to victory lane in ICAR Top Speed Modified Tour competition have come at Auto City Speedway.
Morisette Jr., lead the first 48 laps before getting passed by Eddy. Still the 28-year-old driver from Port Huron, Michigan in his #4 Don’s Towing entry would hang on to score a career high second place finish to complete the 1-2 sweep for the Don’s Towing / Howe Racing Enterprises teammates. Veteran, Dan Loughan, in his first start of the season after missing the season opener at Springport Motor Speedway (MI) scored the final podium finish of third in his #72 Beacon Sales & Service open-wheeled ride. The 63-year-old competitor from Charlotte, Michigan put Outlaw Super Late Model veteran, Phil Massuch in his modified for the opener two weeks ago.
Overall and Rookie of the Year points leader, Jason Parish, who won the 2015 Northern Division Season Opener at Springport back on May 3rd, backed up that showing with a fourth place finish in his #31 Painless Dentistry ride. The 41-year-old from Eaton Rapids, Michigan would also collect his second straight M.P.H. Promotions Rookie of the Race Award for his efforts. Home Track favorite from Clio, Michigan, Nick Clemens completed the top five in his #34 O’Guinn Family Funeral Homes entry. The 31-year-old driver is a 2008 Track Champion at the tricky facility.
Greg Fullarton made his first Northern Division appearance of the season and scored a sixth place effort as Van Wieringen hung on for the seventh place finish. Joe Hodgeson Jr., in his first start with ICAR since the 2007 season grabbed an eight place finish as two more Rookie of the Year contenders, Donny Matteson Jr., who tied a career high finish with a ninth and Mike Occhipinti completed the top 10. Ricky Glasscock collected the Top Speed Fabrication Hard-Charger Award for his 24th to 16th place effort while Bobby Heyink left the track with the Genuine Broaster Chicken Hard-Luck Award for finishing 19th after qualifying seventh and starting third.
Earlier in the afternoon in Economy Auto Parts Qualifying, Eddy set the mark over the 27 cars on the property with a lap measured at a 16.160 which equals out to 87.550mph around the unique 0.393 mile semi-banked paved oval. The Track Record still belongs to Eddy who turned a 15.810 back on May 17th, 2014. In the special Heat Races, Morisette Jr., Dave Christensen and Occhipinti collected those checkered flags.
The next event on the calendar for the ICAR contingent will be the rescheduled ICAR Top Speed Modified Tour Southern Division season opener, the Broaster Chicken 50 Presented by Burkett-Nester Racecars on Saturday, May 23rd at Baer Field Speedway (IN). The field has been set by Economy Auto Parts Qualifying as Bud Adams won the award back on May 9th over the 26-car field with an 18.327. His lap equaled out to 98.216mph on the 1/2 mile. The ICAR Track Record remains in the possession of Adams who, back on September 18th, 1999, almost 16 years ago, turned in a 17.790.
Adams then drew the maximum redraw invert of a 12 which will place Rookie Matt Dimit and Dave Dobbins on the front row of the Broaster Chicken 50 Presented by Burkett-Nester Racecars. The 10-Lap Last Chance Race, which will be the first event of the night on Saturday, May 23rd, will see Trei Deubel and Damon Breedlove start on the front row. Any teams that were not on the property on May 9th can enter for the rescheduled date of May 23rd and would start at the rear of the starting lineup behind the cars who have already qualified for the show. In addition, all grandstand tickets as well as pit passes will be honored or the rest of the season at the Summit City speed plant.
The next event for the ICAR Top Speed Modified Tour Northern Division will be a return date to Springport Motor Speedway on Saturday, June 13th. The Broaster Chicken 50 will mark the second of three appearances at the fast 3/8s (0.375) mile semi-banked paved oval located north of Jackson and south of Lansing in Springport, Michigan. In the tours’ first appearance back on May 3rd, 2015 Rookie of the Year title contender, Jason Parish scored the victory in the Cabin Fever 100 Presented by Genuine Broaster Chicken.
For more information about the 2015 racing season within both divisions of the Broaster Chicken ICAR Top Speed Modified Tour, please go to the series website located at: www.topspeedmods.com You can also follow along on the Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/TopSpeedModifieds and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ICARModifieds For more information about Baer Field Speedway, go to: www.baerfieldspeedwayin.com Finally for more information about Springport Motor Speedway, the host track for the third race of the 2015 racing season for the ICAR Top Speed Modified Tour Northern Division, go to: www.springportmotorspeedway.com
