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May 25th Racing Schedule

Brown Lays Down the Law at South Bend Motor Speedway

By Scott Binkley

South Bend, IN (5-18) In the first of four “Layin’ Down the Law” 100 lap features, Danny Brown Jr. picked up the win for the Street Stocks in front of a good crowd on Saturday night at the South Bend Motor Speedway. Tyler Roahrig, one of the top winners in recent history took top honors in the Bellman Oil Outlaw Late Model main while Rodney Smith scored his first Pro Late Model feature win of the season and Sean Stuart posted his first ever feature win in Front Wheel Drives.

With weather more seasonable this week, the crowd was much better as the speedway hosted the Street Stock portion of the special series for the four classes in competition this season. By driver vote, the race was shortened to 75 laps with no change in the top prize of $2000. A strong field of 17 drivers took the green from starter, Mike Stutsman, with Joe Coffin of Plymouth jumping out to an early lead over his brother, Jay Coffin of Hamlet. The two car battle soon became a four car fray as James Haisley of South Bend and Andrew Rigley of Mishawaka jockeyed for position. When Joe Coffin was caught ‘speeding’ and had to drop to the rear of the field, it opened up an opportunity that the faster cars had been waiting for. Danny Brown Jr of LaPorte worked through the field and took the top spot with Robbie Ferrier of Dowagiac hot on his heels. Ferrier fought hard as the pair battled side by side lap after lap. Late in the event, Kevin Clash of South Bend joined the fray, just waiting for the leaders to make a mistake. At the finish, Brown held off Ferrier for one of the biggest wins of his career. A number of fans commented, “That’s what short track racin’ is all about!” Clash held on for 4th ahead of Mark Swan of Mishawaka and Austin Woodcox of LaPorte. South Bend’s Cindy Stremme finished 6th over Doug Fox, also of South Bend, while Joe Coffin, A.J. Lubelski of North Liberty and Rigley rounded out the top ten. Cindy Stremme, Kevin Clash and Austin Woodcox were 1-2-3 in the fast car dash while Jay Coffin bested brother Joe and Andrew Rigley in the first heat. A very happy Vernon Knight of Michigan City took the win in heat two over Fox and Cindy Stremme as Brown bested Clash and Woodcox in the 3rd heat. Robbie Ferrier posted fast time with a lap of 13.284. Danny Brown Jr finds himself on top of the season points battle over Cindy Stremme and Kevin Clash.

In the Front Wheel Drive 20 lap feature, Sean Stuart of North Liberty took the lead and never looked back. At the finish, Brandon Cretacci of Walkerton closed in but was unable to catch the determined Stuart. James Trussel of Niles posted his best finish to date with a strong 3rd place over Kyle O’Dell of Plymouth and Aaron Agostino of South Bend. Braxdon Sims of Walkerton, Rich Hensley of South Bend, Dave Tomaszewski of Portage and Jason Horton of South Bend rounded out the field. In the fast car dash, Sims bested Horton and Tomaszewski while Brandon Cretacci took heat one over O’Dell and Hensley. Stuart scored the second heat win ahead of Horton and Tomaszewski. Jason Horton turned in fast time at a 15.226. Bryant Ragsdale of Mishawaka leads the points over Jason Horton and Sean Stuart.

In a rare appearance, area standout Tyler Roahrig of Plymouth showed why he is the winningest driver in Michiana. Roahrig took command of the Bellman Oil Outlaw Late Model 40 lap feature on lap 3 and was never challenged. In his best finish to date, Corky Knight of Hebron took the runner-up spot ahead of ‘birthday boy’ Scott Ross of Plymouth. Mike Tutino of Walkerton came home 4th with Fred Malecki of Elkhart, Josh Smith of Mishawaka, Ronnie McLean of South Bend, David Scheiber of South Bend and Andy DeVreese of Mishawaka completed the field. Mike Tutino took the fast car dash win over Malecki and Scheiber while Ronnie McLean beat out Corky Knight and Josh Smith in heat number one. Tutino, Malecki and Scheiber were 1-2-3 in the 2nd heat. Tyler Roahrig turned in fast qualifying at 12.095. Mike Tutino leads Scott Ross and John Long of Niles in the season point standings.

The Pro Late Model class was plagued with mechanical gremlins as well as many of the top drivers still not able to get their programs started for the season. In their 32 lap main event, Rodney Smith of Elkhart made his season debut and took the win over Corey Woods of South Bend. Rich Boal of Plymouth finished 3rd ahead of Greg Gifford of Michigan City and rookie Matt Sullivan of Hartford, MI. Ageless Dale Lancaster of LaPaz crashed hard into the turn 2 wall during the fast car dash, ending his night early while John Streeting Jr of LaPorte was sidelined with engine woes. Rodney Smith topped Woods and Lancaster in the dash while Corey Woods took the ‘Pink Cadillac’ to victory lane in the heat over Rodney Smith and Gifford. Woods toured the track with a lap of 12.827 to post fast time. Rich Boal holds a slight two point lead in the points over Woods while Streeting maintains 3rd.

Throughout the weekend, various other tracks, drivers and fans joined the South Bend Motor Speedway and held fund-raising events for injured driver, Mike Wortinger of New Paris who was seriously injured on May 11 in a crash at the New Paris Speedway. As Mike continues to improve, the night was dedicated to his recovery. Several drivers, along with South Bend’s own ‘Superfan’, Jeff Skwiat passed through the crowd with their helmets collecting donations for the family. Along with the proceeds from the 50/50 drawing, drivers donating part of their pay and other donations, just under $2000 was raised. Other tracks participating in the effort included, Kalamazoo Speedway, New Paris Speedway, M40 Speedway, Baer Field Raceway in Fort Wayne, and the Historic Mottville Speedway. Bellman Oil Outlaw Late Model Driver, Bobby Stremme collected over $6000 by selling advertising space on his number 35 car. On behalf of everyone associated with the South Bend Motor Speedway, we would like to thank each and every one who helped with this event. From the anonymous donor who slipped a $100 bill into one of the helmets to the casual fan who offered prayers for Mike and his family, You’re a class act and we’re proud to know you.

This Saturday will feature round 2 of our “Night of Demo-struction” events. A front wheel drive enduro will open the show along with a Powder Puff sedan demo, a mini car demo and a Sedan demo derby. Adam ‘Big Dog’ Ewing will take on all challengers in the popular Rollover contest and the night will be capped off by a huge $1000 to win trailer race. Last time there were 29 drivers competing in the trailer race so you won’t want to miss this one. Pit gates open at 4 pm with the grandstands opening at 5. Action will get underway at 7pm. Adult admission is just $15 with kids 6-12 just $5 and 5 & under are free with an adult admission. Small Coolers are welcome but NO glass or alcohol is allowed. For rules or more information, please visit our website at www.RaceSouthBendMotorSpeedway.com or follow us on Facebook. We hope you’ll join us this Saturday for an action packed night…at the races.

Street Stock:

A Feature:

1) Danny Brown Jr - LaPorte, IN
2) Robbie Ferrier - Dowagiac, MI
3) Kevin Clash - South Bend, IN

Dash:

1) Cindy Stremme - South Bend, IN
2) Kevin Clash - South Bend, IN
3) Austin Woodcox - LaPorte, IN

Heat 1:

1) Jay Coffin - Hamlet, IN
2) Joe Coffin - Plymouth, IN
3) Andrew Rigley - Mishawaka, IN

Heat 2:

1) Vernon Knight - Michigan City, IN
2) Doug Fox - South Bend, IN
3) Cindy Stremme - South Bend, IN

Heat 3:

1) Danny Brown Jr - LaPorte, IN
2) Kevin Clash - South Bend, IN
3) Austin Woodcox - LaPorte, IN

Qualifying:

1) Robbie Ferrier - Dowagiac, MI - 13.284

Front Wheel Drives

A Feature:

1) Sean Stuart - North Liberty, IN
2) Brandon Cretacci - Walkerton, IN
3) James Trussell - Niles, MI

Dash:

1) Braxdon Sims - Walkerton, IN
2) Jason Horton - South Bend, IN
3) Dave Tomaszewski - Portage, IN

Heat 1:

1) Brandon Cretacci - Walkerton, IN
2) Kyle O’Dell - Plymouth, IN
3) Rich Hensley - South Bend, IN

Heat 2:

1) Sean Stuart - North Liberty, IN
2) Jason Horton - South Bend, IN
3) Dave Tomaszewski - Portage, IN

Qualifying:

1) Jason Horton - South Bend, IN - 15.226

Belman Oil Outlaw Late Model

A Feature:

1) Tyler Roahrig - Plymouth, IN
2) Dennis (Corky) Knight - Hebron, IN
3) Scott Ross - Plymouth, IN

Dash:

1) Mike Tutino - Walkerton, IN
2) Fred Malecki - Elkhart, IN
3) David Schreiber - South Bend, IN

Heat 1:

1) Ronnie McLean - South Bend, IN
2) Dennis (Corky) Knight - Hebron, IN
3) Josh Smith - Mishawaka, IN

Heat 2:

1) Mike Tutino - Walkerton, IN
2) Fred Malecki - Elkhart, IN
3) David Schreiber - South Bend, IN

Qualifying:

1) Tyler Roahrig - Plymouth, IN 12.095

Pro Late Model:

A Feature:

1) Rodney Smith - Elkhart, IN
2) Corey Woods - South Bend, IN
3) Rich Boal - Plymouth, IN

Dash:

1) Rodney Smith - Elkhart, IN
2) Corey Woods - South Bend, IN
3) Dale Lancaster - LaPaz, IN

Heat:

1) Corey Woods - South Bend, IN
2) Rodney Smith - Elkhart, IN
3) Greg Gifford - Michigan City, IN

Qualifying:

1) Corey Woods - South Bend, IN - 12.827

This Weeks Photos