Champions crowned after Washtenaw RC Raceway Winter Series finale

WRCR Round#7 Points Race Report

Report by: Tom Erickson

Photos by: Kymm Thompson

 

The final round of the WRCR winter series ended on February 18th. This was the last chance to score improved finishes for the 2017 Season Championship. The weather was warm reminding everyone that outdoor racing is in our future. The season is coming to a close at the Washtenaw County Fairgrounds near Ann Arbor, Michigan. 

 

 

The 2017 season has been a new beginning for Terry Bush. Terry started this winter at WRCR learning fast. He has secured a few TQ positions and one win leading into this last round. Through qualifying Terry was the one to beat. Adam Corwin did his best to take the TQ away from Terry but as the end of qualifying finished Terry held onto it. The start of the Novice main event did not go Terry’s way as he and Adam tangled through the first section. Travis Massey was able to avoid the pile ups and take the early lead. Mark Kohler followed Travis through into the second position. Terry and Adam quickly get their composure and battle back to the second and third positions sending Mark back. Ethan Hartmeyer started in the fifth position and followed Adam and Terry into the top four early on. Adam began to pressure Travis as Ethan passed Terry for third position. Mark Kohler was able to move up as well. By mid race Adam and Travis traded positions for a few laps until Adam was able to put down smooth laps and gap Travis. Ethan was not far behind staying in contact with the leaders enough to capitalize on mistakes from both drivers to capture the lead for a lap. Adam quickly regained the lead leaving the battle for second with Ethan and Travis. Terry was in the mix as well as the event was coming to a close. Adam crossed the finish line in 1st place. Ethan held onto 2nd place with Travis securing 3rd place. With the 2017 season closing out Terry Bush was able to put enough points to win the Novice division. 

 

 

Novice A-Main Podium

Season Champion: Terry Bush

 

 

The Open Mini class was new to the program for WRCR. Thirteen unique entries have run the program this winter. Joe Gates has set the tone early on in the season leading the points from the start. This final round Joe fought hard to secure the top qualifying spot without success. Matt Lemorie was able to set a faster qualifying time and gain the pole position for the main event. The first lap was no surprise as Matt led the group through to the start-finish line. On the second lap Matt flipped his mini revo allowing Joe by for the lead. Ben Belote was holding down the third. Joe laid down fast laps making it hard for Matt to make contact and start a battle for the lead. Matt made contact and passed Joe for a lap but Joe was able to regain the lead and put down his fastest lap of the event. Joe ran away from that point and finished in 1st place. Matt held onto 2nd place. Ben finished in 3rd place.

 

 

Open Mini A-Main Podium

Season Champion: Joe Gates

 

 

The entry count for the Stampede class has only grown in the four seasons the class has run. This class is getting National exposure with other programs adding this class. Traxxas has also helped by adding more models this season with the new Bigfoot body. Jconcepts released a new body too! This season Ben Belote has dominated the points chase. Only last season Champion, Matt Lemorie, was able to challenge him. This round Matt secured the TQ with Ben way back in fourth spot. C.J. Boka and Joe Gates started in second and third respectively. The start was clean as Matt lead the field through the early section. Ben kicked it into high gear and passed both Joe and C.J. crossing the line in second place. He set his sights one Matt and charged forward setting his fastest lap and getting by Matt as they both crossed the line on the second lap. Once by he never looked back as Matt flipped his truck giving second to Joe. Matt regained the lead as Joe endowed his truck letting even C.J. by. The battle for third was intense as Joe and C.J. swapped spots for few laps. As the tone sounded Ben crossed the line right at the 7 minute mark in 1st place. Matt was 13.2 seconds back in 2nd place. C.J. was able to hold of Joe for 3rd place. Ben Belote secured the season Championship

 

 

Stampede A-Main Podium

Season Champion: Ben Belote

 

 

The Stock Buggy class has been the most competitive class of the season...behind Kenny Ferris. Kenny has dropped only one point from perfect all season. He already had two drops leading to the final round leaving wins to Danny Dresselhouse and Tom Erickson. The top five have been close all season. Kenny set the early TQ but it would not hold. Dan was able capitalize on changing track conditions and grab an important point for the season Championship.

 

Stock Buggy B-Main

 

Gary Reiser also qualified well securing the BQ position for the B-Main event. The opening lap of the five minute event was all about Nat Potter. He started hard and got by Gary right away leading the open laps. Nat rolled his buggy on the double near the driver’s stand letting Gary by for a lap. Behind the leaders the battle for third was between Mark “Peanut M&M” Thompson and Jimmy Hill. They traded positions in the early stages but Mark was able to maintain a consistent pace. The tone sounded with Nat finishing in 1st place, Gary in 2nd place and Mark in 3rd place. 

 

Stock Buggy B-Main Podium

Stock Buggy A-main

 

The start of the A-main was not as clean as most of the season. In the stock class it is always about running clean and avoid mistakes. Dan lead the field through the first turn with Kenny close behind. Tom Erickson, who started in sixth place cut the first turn hard under the rest of the field and exited through the rhythm in third place. The rest of the field tangled up allowing Conner Stanley through in fourth place. Kenny pressured Dan from the start. Tom was struggling to stay in contact with the two. Behind the lead pack Forrest Remington was able to get past Conner for fourth place. To turn fast laps you have to hit your breakpoints and run smooth through the 6-pack. Dan missed enough to let Kenny get past him. Kenny quickly began to increase the gap between them as Tom began to close in on Dan. Conner and Forrest continued to fight for the fourth position swapping spots. Half way through Dan flipped his buggy allowing Tom to get past into second place. Another mistake on the next lap let Forrest bet by for third place. As the event came to a close Forrest closed the gap to Tom and the last laps were very exciting. The last lap started for Tom only a fraction of a second ahead of Forrest. Forrest worked every angle to pass Tom without success. They both crossed the line for a final time with 0.118 seconds between them. Kenny finished in 1st place, Tom just made it for 2nd place leave Forrest in 3rd place. Kenny lost only one more point from the perfect season racing just enough rounds to capture the Championship. 

 

 

Stock Buggy A-Main Podium

Season Champion: Kenny Ferris

 

 

The Stock Short Course Truck class has been full of participants all season. Dan Dresselhouse lead off the season with the first of many wins. After six rounds he had already secured the overall title leaving second position in play for Tom Erickson and Sean Carney to fight over. Sean and Tom were tied in points meaning the bonus point for TQ was up for grabs. Dan set the early TQ in the first round with a good run but far from clean. Tom was on pace to capture TQ in the second round when a back marker blocked the line causing his truck to flip over in a bad spot. Dan improved on his time from the first round to secure the pole position in the main and leaving Tom and Sean tied. Dan and Tom sped off as the start tone sounded. Nose to tail through the early section. The rest of the pack bottled up behind the lead group sending Sean back to fifth place. C.J. Boka laced his TLR SCT through traffic to cross the line in third place with Andy Dresselhouse in tow. On the second lap Sean spun at the end of the front straight. Another truck plowed into him at full speed breaking his truck and ending his chances to score better points. Second place overall was then in Tom’s hands. He had to finish in fourth or better. In a few laps Tom was able to get around Dan to claim the lead. Dan had a few bad laps slipping back to sixth place. C.J. and Andy moved up to second and third position as Kenny Ferris secured fourth place after starting from twelfth place. Patrick Ferris then moved into fourth place as Kenny passed C.J. shifting the group up the order. Dan was not done as he charged back into the pack. At the mid-point Tom had a large lead, Kenny moved into the second spot and Dan up to third. Dan’s pace was impossible to hold back as he pressed hard and passed Kenny as Patrick joined in. On the closing laps Dan was gaining on Tom each lap closing the large gap down. Kenny was battling for the last podium spot with his brother Patrick. As time ran out Tom held off the late charge to finish in 1st place only 2.9 seconds ahead of Dan in 2nd place. Kenny was able to finish strong in 3rd place with his brother less than a second ahead of his brother. This finish gave Tom enough gain to edge out Sean for the second place overall.

 

 

Stock SCT A-Main Podium

Season Champion: Dan Dresselhouse

 

 

Conner Stanley dominated the 4x4 Short Course Truck class all season. Heading into the last round he had already secured the Championship title capturing all but one TQ point with a near perfect season. Matt Lemorie was the only other driver to score a win this season. Qualifying was all about Conner Stanley run fast and furious each heat grabbing another TQ Point. Andy Dresselhouse drove his SC10 4x4 smooth and steady to secure the second spot to start the main event. At the start Conner wasted no time gapping the field from the start. Matt jumped in to the second position getting around Andy in the opening laps. Midway through the event Andy was able to get back to pace and press Matt for the second spot. Conner had lapped nearly the entire field closing on Matt in third place. Andy was able to stabilize second place but not nearly close enough to challenge Conner. The finish tone sounded giving Conner 1st place and the points to complete a perfect season of 606 points. Andy held onto 2nd place and Matt finished in 3rd place.

 

 

4x4 SCT A-Main Podium

Season Champion: Conner Stanley

 

 

The championship was far from solidified in the highly competitive 4wd Buggy class. Dan Dresselhouse and Forrest Remington both needed improved finishes to capture the title. Conner Stanley was also in the hunt and had to grab all the points for the day to put the pressure on Dan and Forrest. Running back-to-back, Conner had the track time to run hard and fast. After qualifying Conner had started the day increasing his point total with the TQ. Forrest and Dan positioned right behind him. The main event was exciting the title weighing in the balance. Forrest needed to finish two places ahead of Dan to force the tie he needed to capture the championship. Starting in second was a good place to be ahead of Dan even before the start of the race. The tone sounded and Conner repeated his 4x4 Short Course start charging fast from the start. Dan was able to get ahead of Forrest on the opening laps with Forrest close behind. The rest of the field could not maintain contact with the leading drivers. As Conner continued to lay down lap after lap in the lead, Dan and Forrest swapped positions jockeying for the advantage. Conner did what he needed to do and finished in 1st place securing third overall in the championship. Dan finished in 2nd place solidifying the Championship ahead of Forrest in 3rd place.

 

 

4wd Buggy A-Main Podium

Season Champion: Dan Dresselhouse

 

 

The Stock Truck class had already crowned a champion for the season with Dan Dresselhouse grabbing five of the seven wins as the final round began. Second place overall had three drivers in the running. C.J. Boka, Conner Stanley and Andy Dresselhouse all needed top finishes. In qualifying Dan secured another TQ for the season forcing the rest of the pack to fight hard in the main event for precious points. Dan lead the pack through the first lap with C.J. and Uncle Bob close behind. Conner found himself upside down and off track on both of the opening laps sending him back to ninth place. Midway through the event Dan extended his gap while C.J. held second with a comfortable lead over Uncle Bob. Andy steadily gained time from the opening lap carnage and began to challenge Uncle Bob. Dan crossed the line with a commanding win. C.J. cruised by in 2nd place and Andy was able to pass Uncle Bob on the closing laps to finish 3rd place. Dan secured the championship adding another win to his list. With another second place finish C.J. improved his point total and captured the second overall ahead of Conner and Andy.

 

 

Stock Truck A-Main Podium

Season Champion: Dan Dresselhouse

 

 

The Modified Short Course Truck class is another class that saw dominance through the season. Gary Reiser has demonstrated his steady hand each round opening the season with wins. Matt Lemorie began to challenge him as the mid season track change arrived. Anthony “Unkown” Wright and Mark “Peanut M&M” Thompson also saw mid-season improvements mixing up the points. Gary had secured the championship leading into the final round. Matt had likewise secured the second place overall leaving the third spot in the championship between Anthony and Mark. Anthony grabbed the early TQ working to gain a precious point over Mark. In the last heat Gary bested Anthony’s TQ run to claim the extra point. At the start Gary and Anthony charged through the initial turn and rhythm section with Tom Erickson chasing behind. Anthony landed the soft double hard causing his truck to tumble on its lid. Tom charge by chasing Gary as Matt and Mark were able to get through ahead of Anthony. Tom clipped a tube flipping his truck as Matt and Mark sped by. Gary continued on a smooth run with a large lead. Mid-race Tom put down fast laps and first passed Mark and then Matt to move back into second position. Anthony also ran his fastest laps and regained position over Mark into fourth place behind Matt. The only late action was between Matt and Tom trading spots for a lap with Tom edging out Matt for the 2nd place finish. Gary finished in 1st place with a 14.4 sec lead. Matt finished in 3rd place only 1.5 seconds behind Tom. Anthony finished ahead of Mark which was enough to capture the overall third place spot.

 

 

Mod SCT A-Main Podium

Season Champion: Gary Reiser

 

The season finale of the 2016-17 season was exciting. Dan Dresselhouse secured three of the championships wins this season in the most competitive classes. Kenny Ferris holds the Honar of the Stock Buggy title for the season. Ben Belote win’s the Stampeded title after two season with Matt Lemorie on the top box. Joe Gates, known for mini class championships, wins the first season of Mini for WRCR. Gary Reiser secured his first Championship at WRCR in the Mod SCT class. Novice Season Winner Terry Bush now needs to decide if he moves out of Novice in 2018. This Saturday, March 4th, is the Season ending Fun Run, Prize give-away and Awards event. Doors open at 8AM with racing starting at 10AM, two rounds and mains. Five entries make a class.  The 2017-18 season schedule will be posted soon on www.WRCR.biz or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WashtenawRcRaceway/