June 27 2009 - Not even a rain delay could cool off Dustin Daggett’s hot streak in Engine Pro ASCS Sprints on Dirt presented by ARP competition.

By T.J. Buffenbarger and Richard Bila

Daggett won Saturday night’s feature event at I-96 Speedway. The win was Daggett’s sixth in a row at the Lake Odessa half mile oval in ASCS SOD competition and seventh win of the 2009 season.

Daggett started in 10th after suffering a flat tire in his heat race event and used a tremendous start to quickly shoot through the field and take the lead from his father after the restart for the only caution flag during the 25-lap event.

“The car was on a rail,” said Daggett in victory lane. “I need to thank Phil and Marty Mott, my family, crew, and all of my sponsors.”

Mike Daggett and Louie Carufel started on the front row with Mike Daggett leading into turn one. Dustin Daggett used a tremendous start to move into fourth by the second corner and third by the end of the first lap. Daggett then quickly disposed of Steve Irwin for second and started to chase down his father for the lead.

Dustin caught his father for the lead when the caution flag occurred for Sean Robinson’s off track excursion. Mike Daggett hung on for a couple of laps after the restart battling high and low with his son until Dustin was able to dive under his father to take the lead off turn two.

From there Dustin Daggett took off and lapped up to sixth place at the finish. Gregg Dalman came on late in the event and eventually took second place away from Irwin to maintain his point lead. Brett Mann and Tim Norman rounded out the top five.

Gary Fast, Gregg Dalman, and Steve Irwin won heat race events. Tim Norman won the dash after two drivers were penalized from a jumped start.
Also racing on the ½ mile track were the UMP mods. Lap one of the feature saw two former track champions; Todd Feutz and Shannon Fisk bring the field to the green flag. During the first lap, Jacob Poel, Tim Stemler and Mark Anderson brought out the yellow with a wreck on the back stretch. Poel went pit side for repairs and later returned several laps down. Back under green and Fisk led the first lap. During the fourth lap, Steve Shellenberger went off turn one hard, bringing out the red flag. Shellenberger’s car was pretty torn up, but he was ok.
            Back under green flag racing, with Fisk leading, Feutz tried to pass Fisk pulling along side on the inside several times, but was unable to make the pass. During the lap eight restart, “young gun” Travis Stemler got around Feutz for second. A lap 11 yellow bunched the field again. Fisk pulled away, leaving the battle for second thru fourth.
During the closing laps Stemler was closing the gap, but in the end, Lowell racer Fisk, held on for his first win of the year, in the Lucky Brand race cars, and Fisk Trucking sponsored mod. Ionia’s Stemler was second, last weeks winner Anderson was third, and Ada racer and point leader Feutz held on for fourth. Heat race winners were Anderson and Jacob Poel.
In racing on the 3/8 mile track, Ionia racer AJ Ward won his third feature race of the year. Driving the Main Street Bar, Ionia 300 bowl street stock, Ward led all 20 laps. It was not easy for the young racer as he had to hold of Clarksville driver Aaron Wolf. Several yellow flags helped keep the pack tight.
A lap 17 yellow elimited Hillary Smith, Jeff Bissett and Rich Piercefield in a turn two crash. All drivers were ok.  Back under racing conditions and Ward held off Wolf, Ronald Wiers and Cody Denny for the win.
In micro sprint racing also on the 3/8 mile, and Jay Steinebach took the early led. During the fourth lap, a rain shower moved thru the area, and delayed action for about an hour. Once racing resumed in the micro sprints, during the fourth lap, Nick Nelson came to rest on his side in turn two, he was able to drive away unhurt.
Steinebach held the lead until the tenth lap when Collin Erwin took over the top spot. Also during the tenth lap, Ronald Brown hit the back stretch wall and flipped. He was ok, but the car was done for the night.
Back racing, and Erwin held on to win his second feature in a row.
Road beater action on the 3/8 mile as well, saw Rob Nieman win another feature, as he led all 15 laps.
For a complete run down of the night’s action, check out, www.tjslideways.com and www.i96speedway.com.
This Saturday night July 4, the I-96 speedway will not be racing.