Michigan Cup Results
Sunday, September 16, 2007

[more photos coming soon]

The Michigan Cup

Think back. It was 1991, a balmy 50 degrees, and race cars were plentiful in the Michigan Ideal Speedway pit. Now flip the calendar ahead 16 years, it was still hovering around 50 degrees, and 131 race cars filled the pit at the Springport Motor Speedway, marking the return of the Michigan Cup, to the high-banked 3/8-mile oval, in Springport, MI. Maurice Randall, promoter, once again took a giant leap of faith with the hope of bringing one of the largest races of the season, back to the speedway that he leased for the 2007 season. What a fitting way to bring the season to a close, by offering fans the opportunity to get one last huge dose of door handle to door handle racing. The fans were not disappointed, as eight of nine features were slated to be run during the September 16th show. Racers began showing up as early as Thursday, September 13th, to secure a campsite, pit slab, and get some seat time at Thursday's test and tune, before Friday practice. Many racers made a long weekend of it, bringing tents and motorhomes, as Randall generously opened the grassy parking area up for free camping, for the entire weekend.

A small portion of the pit area showing lots of activity
Bob Cantine Photo

The smell of bonfires wafted across the track, as spectators filed in for qualifying, qualifying races, and the VROA Modified feature on Saturday. One could tell from qualifying, that the features on Sunday were going to be hotly contested, as many competitors were within just tenths, hundredths, or thousandths of a second of each other.

Larry Mollohan in the Engine Pro Winner's Circle
Bob Cantine Photo

First on the docket, were the VROA Modifieds. This traveling series called the Springport Motor Speedway home for the 2007 season, and it was a pleasure to play host to them once again, as they always put on great show. "Last Minute" Larry Mollohan, of Vicksburg, was the fast qualifier, took the Australian Pursuit win, and made a clean sweep by taking the Saturday night feature win over Dan Fraser, Lou Caposey, Jimmy Lawson, and Steve Fuller.

A unique class of race cars debuted at the Michigan Cup, called the ABC Stock Car class. Competitors were placed in each class, based on their qualifying time. In other words, evenly matched cars would be competing against each other. This division saw everything from Limited Late Models to Pure Stocks, with anyone having a shot at taking home the prize. The Four Car Dash featured the four fastest qualifiers from the ABC Stock Car class, with Al Webber, of PawPaw, taking the win over Todd Foote, Jim Woodin, and Brandon Zachary. Qualifying races were held to determine starting position, and to allow competitors to bump others from the tail end of the A-, or B-Main, with Ian Jezylo able to race his way into the B-Main from the C-Main. Chuck Ammerman, a regular at SMS, was on the bubble for the A-Main, but dodged getting bumped and secured a spot in the A.

Some of the best racing happened during the qualifying races
Bob Cantine Photo

The racing was not only close, but it was hot and heavy
Bob Cantine Photo

The Super Mini Cup Series was a frequent visitor, at SMS, during 2007, with promoter, Maurice Randall jumping behind the wheel of one the little powerhouses for the weekend show.

Maurice Randall in the gold #24 favored the high side throughout most of the race
Bob Cantine Photo

Tim Phillips took the four car dash win, and also took the Sunday 30-lap feature win over Jim DeBaecke, Maurice Randall, John Dewey, and Ed Welch.

The Modified division made its second appearance of the 2007 season, with the first being Racin' and Rockin'. The competition on MI Cup weekend was a "Run What You Brung" event, with many drivers opting to loan out their rides to other drivers, some from other divisions. Three Late Model standouts that got behind the wheel of a modified were Phil Massuch, Jeff Hackworth, and Sonny Coito. Many of the cars went topless (had their roofs removed) or sported wings and billboards. Dan Loughan, of Charlotte, took the Pursuit win, while son-in-law, Wayne Haughton, brought home the heat win on Saturday evening.

The Modifieds were a sight to see with their Sprint Car wings and sideboards
Bob Cantine Photo

Sunday's 50-lap feature saw Jason Parish, of Eaton Rapids, run away from the field, as Massuch, in second place tried to reel him in. Massuch brought out the caution, on lap 42, with a flat tire, closing the field up behind Parish for the restart. Brother, Harry Parish, tried every move possible to get around Jason, but ran out of laps, as Jason took the win over Harry, John Mamula, Roger Hunyady, and "Papa" Jon Deford.

The MCR Dwarfs ran their Tommy Bowles/Bob Secord Memorial race at the SMS, on MI Cup weekend. Jeff Slayton, of Battle Creek, and 2007 MCR Dwarf Champion, Eric Hoffman, took heat wins.

The MCR Dwarf Series always had a great turnout
whenever they showed up at Springport in 2007
Bob Cantine Photo

The Memorial drew competitors from other states, with Cris Reynolds, making the long haul from New Jersey, while Bob and Braydon Basye made the trip from Illinois. Junior Gould, of Union City, took the win for the 25-lap feature race, with Craig Curtis glued right to his bumper. Curtis tried to find a way around Gould, but the wily veteran was able to hold him off. At the line it was Gould, Curtis, Reynolds, Hoffman, and Chad Goff.

Lansing's Wayne Beckner Jr. started the weekend off right, with a win in the Pony Stock Four Car Dash. Dennis O'Neil, of Eaton Rapids, 2007 Springport Pony Stock champion, started on the pole for the 30-lap feature, leading Beckner, and LaFontaine around the track for 17 laps.

The Pony Stocks turned out to be a strong class at Springport in 2007
and likewise was well represented during the Michigan Cup
Bob Cantine Photo

Beckner brought out the caution, giving up second to LaFontaine, while Todd Metz and Dan Gokee battled for third. LaFontaine got into Gokee, as Gokee made his way around him, moving Metz into third. Metz got around Gokee for second on the restart. LaFontaine made a last lap pass on Gokee to finish third, while Patrick McNamara rounded out the top five. O'Neil captured his second feature win in two weeks.

Larry Surber was awarded the Lawn Chair award for the slowest overall qualifying time, taking the opportunity to try out the lounger on the front stretch.

The FWD 6 cyl. Pure Stock division only had three entires, but the three that vied for the win were evenly matched, with Swartz Creek's Derek Lacey taking the fast car dash and the 10-lap feature win over Patrick McNamara and Blake Stenberg.

Kevin England, of Kalamazoo, and Mark Carson, of Dansville, brought the fifteen car field down for the start of the 25-lap C-Main for the ABC Stock cars. Carson led the first eleven laps, with John Krygowski, of Jackson, and Dimondale's Spencer Drake hot on his tail. Drake took the lead on lap twelve, but Carson regained the lead four laps later.

John Krygowski in the #15 during hotlaps on Saturday. Little did he know
he would pick up his first ever feature victory the following day
Bob Cantine Photo

Carson and Krygowski pulled away from the field, leaving Jacob Newman, of Mason, to defend the third position. Krygowski looked high and low for a way around Carson, and after a slight bobble by Carson, Krygowski was able to make his way into the top spot. At the line, it was a very elated Krygowski bringing home the win, followed by Carson, Newman, Harold Lock, and Chuck Goostrey. Rich Kinch, Spencer Drake, Kevin England, Jerry Schroll Jr., and Ben Miller rounded out the top ten.

Arnold Kirsch, of Eastpointe, and Bob Flotka, of Lansing, set the pace for the start of the 30-lap B-Main for the ABC Stock Car class. Flotka jumped out to the early lead, with Troy Turk, of Concord, trying to keep Flotka in his sights. Jordon Harvey, of Williamston held down the third position, with Darrell Taylor, of Lansing, making a great run from the tail of the field. Taylor got around Harvey on lap 19, while Turk, slowly but surely, reeled in Flotka. Flotka began showing some smoke around lap 20, but continued on, with Turk sitting right on his rear bumper. Flotka came down for lap 28, wiggled ever so slightly coming out of turn four, and that was the opportunity Turk needed. He drove under Flotka to take the checker, with Taylor, Ron Heeney, and Scott Selmi finishing third through fifth, respectively. Kyle Trinklein, John Culp, Kirsch, Martin French, and Mike Putnam finished sixth through tenth.

Eight different race tracks were represented in the 30-lap A-Main ABC Stock Car feature. Eighteen cars came down for the wave of green flag with Ed Santora, of Portage, and Mike Shewchuk, of South Bend, IN sitting on the front row. Santora took the early lead, and led until lap 11, when Jim Woodin, of Augusta, took to the high side and made his way around Santora. Al Webber, of PawPaw, followed Woodin around Santora to take away the second spot. Todd Foote, of PawPaw, made his charge to the front, from the rear, sitting third by lap 28, as Santora and Corey Kruzel battled for the fourth position. Paul Roberts moved into the top five on lap 32, while Kruzel, Buddy Head, and Mike Ammerman jockeyed for position. Woodin and Webber put some daylight between Foote and themselves, but Foote caught the lead duo on lap 38, and got around Webber on lap 42. Foote went to work on Woodin and took away the top spot on lap 47. Foote took the win, with Woodin, Webber, Head, Kruzel, Ammerman, Roberts, Brandon Zachary, Scott Sigman, and Dan Lewis scored as the top ten.

Thank you to everyone who made this Michigan Cup such a success. Please remember to patronize the businesses and sponsors who support short track racing. As always, we’ll see you at the races…hopefully in 2008!

ABC Stock Cars Second-round Qualifying

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