Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame inductee Rick Stout battles for 3rd win of the season.

By Richard Bila

Lake Odessa, MI. June 13, 2009 - “It has been a great week!” That is the first words out of the usually soft spoken Rick Stout in victory lane Saturday night at I-96 Speedway. After being notified on Wednesday that he had been elected to the Michigan motor sports Hall of Fame.

Driving for 2004 fellow MMSHOF racer Roger Wing, in the Bert’s Glass, Babcock Clutches, Benson Remax, Rocket chassis, Nesmith Ultimate Late Model, Stout took the lead on lap 14, and held on to win his third feature of the year.

“I want to thank everyone who has ever been involved on my racing career. I have had people that I do not even know who have helped me and continue to help”, an emotional Stout also stated in victory lane.

Trevor Sloan and newlywed John McClure lead the late models to the green flag. McClure was married on Friday night and racing on Saturday night. Sloan led the first lap, and then Stout made his move in turn three to take the lead.

Fifth starting Jeff Kohn, in is brand new GRT Chassis followed Stout’s move and the two veterans took off and left the rest of the field to fight for second. Kohn took the lead on lap seven, then on lap 14 disaster struck for Kohn while lapping a slower car. Kohn was unable to continue.

On the restart, the yellow again waved for Wing who came to a stop in turn two. Back under green flag racing, Stout checked out and left the field to fight for second. And what a fight it turned out to be, as six cars where racing under a blanket for that runner up spot.

T. Sloan held off the determined group of racers for is best finish for the former mini stock champ, in an Ultimate Late Model. Dan Hubble, former sportsman champ also picked up his best finish placing a solid third. McClure held off former late model champ Mike Nugent to round out the top five. Phil Hendershot, driving Kris Patterson’s car was sixth, Bill Bray, Bill Trueblood Jr., Zach Hanson and Scot Ehlert rounded out the top ten.
Wing and Stout took home the heat race wins.

The UMP modifieds put on another great show also on the ½ mile. Front row starters Steve Shellenberger and Rich Robinson Jr. brought the 24 car starting field to the green flag. Robinson took the early lead. A lap six yellow for last weeks winner Jacob Poel in turn four bunched the field for the double file restart. Once under green, Justin Fleming hit the turn one wall to bring out the yellow flag again. Fleming was able to rejoin the field.
Back under green flag racing, and 14th starting Mark Anderson was on the move. He was running seventh on lap four, and by lap eight was all the way up to second. During lap 12, Anderson raced by Robinson on the outside in turn two to take the lead. The yellow waved again during the 18th lap for Jeff Reay. Back under green and no one had anything for the Lowell driver as Anderson won his third feature of the year. Robinson held off point leader Todd Feutz for second. Johnny Deyoung was fourth, Travis Stemler, Shellenberger, Jared Guinn, Joe Rokos, Pat Ehlert and Ken Smith were the top ten.
Deyoung, Poel and Anderson won the heat races.

Action on the 3/8 mile track was exciting as well. In the street stock feature, Ionia Bowl 300 team mates Cort Skoog and A.J. Ward brought the strong field to the green. Ward took the lead. Lap two saw Ron Chaffee Jr. hit the wall along the back stretch and almost roll over. Chaffee was ok, but the car was unable to continue. Ward continued to lead, while Ronald Wiers began to put heavy pressure on Ward for the lead. The yellow waved during laps 18 and 19. Wiers tried all he could to pass Ward but could not. Wiers took second after racing Ward clean. Richard Hyvarinen, Skoog, Aaron Wolf, Cody Denny, Jeff Loomis, Hillary Smith, Randy Adams and Ronnie Mathis were the top ten finishers. Bob Wolf and Ward were heat race winners.

The mini sprints, also racing on the 3/8’s track. Nick Nelson took the early lead until Waterloo, IN. driver Collin Erwin took the lead and held on for the win. Tucker Erwin was second, Nelson, Jay Steinebach, Al Halbert, Greg Fawley, Ronald Brown, Quinton Hehrer, Trevor Stevens and Derek Donaldson rounded out the top ten. Hehrer and C. Erwin took the heat races.

The road beaters might have to have a bounty on Rob Nieman, as he is undefeated in every race he has raced in this year. Nieman took the heat and his sixth feature of the year. John Primm, Brad Kress, Terry Henderson, Jason Feutz, Scott Rumsey, Steve Wawiernia, Nikki Primm and Ben Fust chased Nieman in the feature.
This Saturday night June 20 will see all five divisions in action. In addition, four time NASCAR winner Ken Schrader will be racing in the UMP modifieds, and is trying to line up a ride in the Nesmith Late models as well. Schrader will sign autographs and will be available for interviews during the night.