Lake Odessa, MI (Friday, July 2, 2021) - After a near month-long break for the Great Lakes Super Sprints Presented by Engine Pro and ARP (GLSS), the series is gearing up for the rest of the season with an Independence Day weekend doubleheader that kicks off Friday night. The Winged 360 Sprint Car Series kicks off the weekend at Lake Odessa’s I-96 Speedway before heading off to Crystal Motor Speedway on Saturday night.
The Friday night trip to I-96 marks the fourth appearance at the 3/8ths mile oval. So far this season, three different drivers have gone to I-96 Speedway victory lane in the first three trips - Ryan Ruhl won the season opener, Matt Covington won the ASCS co-sanctioned event, and Brad Lamberson grabbed his first career GLSS win in the last visit.
In the six completed races this season, four drivers have nabbed wins. The only two drivers to have multiple visits to the winner circle are Coldwater's Ryan Ruhl and Ionia's Dustin Daggett. Ruhl found success at I-96 and Tri City Motor Speedway, while Daggett’s wins came at Crystal and Butler Motor Speedway.
Ruhl has even more reason to be watched this weekend as he has stretched out a 54 point lead in the Championship Points standings over Max Stambaugh. Ruhl’s comfortable advantage gives him room to race with an all-or-nothing mentality at a pair of tracks he has success at. He’ll have to deal with a hungry field of competitors to get the wins, though.
Stambaugh, who has been consistent over the years with GLSS, hasn’t gone to victory lane with the series in a number of years. In fact, Stambaugh has been winless so far over the past two seasons. Also searching for wins is 2019 and 2020 series champions, Phil Gressman and Jared Horstman. Both Champion drivers have struggled to find solid speed so far this season, but will look to turn it around into the second half of the season. The Saturday night stop at Crystal Motor Speedway marks the final stop at the mid-Michigan facility in 2021.
For fans coming to the races Friday night, Pit Gates open at 4:00 PM with General Admission Gates opening at 5:00 PM. The night begins with single-car qualifying at 7:15 PM and racing begins at 8:00 PM. On Saturday, pit gates also open at 4:00 PM at Crystal Motor Speedway. For more information on the weekend’s events, log onto www.GreatLakesSprints.com and find Great Lakes Super Sprints on Facebook and Twitter.
Story - Zach Hiser, Horsepower Happenings
Photo - Jim DenHamer
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