Auburn, MI (Friday, August 6, 2021) - An all open wheel show is on the card for Friday night at Tri City Motor Speedway with the entire Great Lakes Family of Sprint Cars. The Great Lakes Super Sprints Presented by Engine Pro and ARP (GLSS), the Great Lakes Traditional Sprints Presented by PERFIT (GLTS), and the Great Lakes Lightning Sprints Presented by Maxima Racing Oils (GLLS) will all be in action with a special autograph session to start the night for fans.
GLSS makes their second trip of the season to Tri City with a final trip still to come at the end of the season. In their last visit, Ryan Ruhl and Brad Lamberson put on a show to remember. Ruhl jumped out to the early lead in that race before Lamberson made a pass around the outside for what seemed as though it would be the win. Then, in lapped traffic, Ruhl got back to the front with just a few laps remaining to pick up the win. Lamberson held on for second with Max Stambaugh completing the podium.
Last weekend in GLSS competition, Stambaugh did his best to stretch out his points lead over Ruhl and Dustin Daggett, but the battle remains close heading in to the weekend. Stambaugh dominated the show on Friday night at I-96 Speedway leading from the drop of the green flag to pick up his third win of the season, tied with Ruhl and Daggett for most with the series. Then on Saturday night at Fremont Speedway, Dan McCarron grabbed the win with Stambaugh in second. Each night, Ruhl finished directly behind the Lima, Ohio driver to keep the battle close. With six races remaining after tonight, Stambaugh holds a 21 point lead over Ruhl with Daggett sitting 84 points back from the top spot.
For the GLTS this marks their first appearance to Tri City Motor Speedway this season. The non-wing 410 brethren of the GLSS last raced at Tri City in 2020. During that event, Hudsonville, Michigan’s Jay Steinebach methodically worked the bottom of the race track to pick up the win. The points battle going into the weekend shows a good race up front. Steve Irwin leads all comers in his Flying 0 machine, but Keith Sheffer, Jr is in the hunt. Sheffer nabbed his first career GLTS win last month at Merritt Speedway and now sits just 74 points behind Irwin with seven races remaining on the schedule.
GLLS return to Tri City for the first time since their season opener back in May. Darin Naida raced his way to victory lane holding off current points leader Jac Nickles. The points race is close with Nickles out in front of Bill Dunham by just 37 points with eight races remaining this season.
Racing tonight at Tri City Motor Speedway begins at 7:30 PM Friday night, but fans are encouraged to get to the track early for an Autograph Session. Fans will get a chance to meet and greet their favorite driver from 6:00 - 6:45 PM. For more information on the Great Lakes Family of Sprint Cars, log onto www.GreatLakesSprints.com. Find and follow all three divisions of sprint cars on Facebook and Twitter.
Story - Zach Hiser, Horsepower Happenings
Photo - Jim DenHamer
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