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Forty of the midwest's best Super Late Model drivers made their way to the Mt. Pleasant Speedway on Friday, May 22 for the Sunoco American Late Model Series $2,000 to win special.

Making their first ever appearance at the Mt. Pleasant Speedway, the event was stop one of three over the holiday weekend that would see the traveling series land at Wauseon, Ohio's Oakshade Raceway on Saturday and Rossburg, Ohio's Eldora Speedway on Sunday.

History was made before the racing action even got underway. With a $250 bonus on the line to any driver who broke the Mt. Pleasant Speedway Late Model track record of 14.71 set in 2007 and set the night's fast time, all drivers had the gas pedal flattened during qualifying. Coming out sixth in line, Rusty Seaver No. 18 of Stanton blazed around the three-eighths mile clay track at a time of 14.68 seconds to break the track record. But that wasn't the end of the fast times as two cars later Zack Olger No. 0X of St. John's, who set the top mark in 2007, would not be outdone. Olger screamed around the track at an amazing time of 14.06 seconds to reclaim the track record and the $250 bonus.

With 40 Late Models on hand there would be four heat races with the top four locking into the night's feature event and the others moving into one of two semi-features that would take the top two from each for the main event.

Those on hand for the big show included current ALMS point leader Rusty Schlenk No. 11 of Jackson, Dona Marcoullier No. 6M of Houghton Lake, Tyler Boggs No. 11 of Warsaw, Ind., Brian Ruhlman No. 49 of Clarklake, Michigan Motorsports Hall of Famer Roger Wing No. 55W, and Mt. Pleasant Speedway regulars including Alvie Haynes No. 18 of Mt. Pleasant, two-time defending champion Justin Robinson No. X1 of Shepherd, Adam Thrush No. 91 of Farwell, and David Hilliker No. 21H of Midland.

Prior to the racing each of the competitors said they were looking forward to a great night of racing.

"I just want to keep the nose clean and get out of it with a top 10 and make a good points night out of it," Schlenk said.

Already a five-time feature winner this season at Oakshade, Cherry Raceway and Merritt Speedway, the 25-year-old Marcoullier said

"When they come into town you want to run just as good as them," Marcoullier said of the traveling stars.

For Mt. Pleasant regulars like Robinson and Haynes the chance to compete against the creme of the crop Late Model stars on their home surface was what the night was all about.

"The reason I'm here is because I know I can beat some of these guys and I want to prove a point to myself," Haynes said.

"It's nice to see all these guys at our home track," Robinson said. "It's a good measuring stage, if you can do good against these guys you can do good most anywhere."

Grabbing heat race wins in the ALMS Late Models were Jon Henry No. 1H of Ada, Ohio, Scott Baker No. 13 of Ionia, Kerry Mathew of Rensselaer Ind., and Marcoullier. Others locking into the big 30-lap $2,000 to win ALMS feature through heat races were: Olger, Casey Noonan No. 1N of Sylvania, Ohio, Seaver, Ky Harper No. 34 of Holland, Ohio, Ryan Vanderveen No. 23V of Six Lakes, Robinson, Ruhlman, Shawn Negangard No. 16 of Indiana, Hilliker, Justin McNeill No. 15 of Gladwin, Andy Sprague No. 1S of Muskegon, and Eric Spangler No. 27 of Lake City.

Getting semi feature ALMS wins were Rich Neiser No. 87 of Fruitport and Schlenk. The others making their way to the main event through the semi-features were Boggs and Mike Wilbern No. 99.

There was racing in the Smokers Club Street Stock, NAPA Modified Mini Stock and Mt. Pleasant/Clare Automotive Stock Mini classes as well.

Heat wins in the Street Stocks went to David Mielke No. 87 of Gladwin and Josh Loomis No. 11 of Weidman, while Modified Mini Stock heat win went to Mark Eastman No. 89 of Midland and the Stock Mini heat victory was picked up by Mike Schnettler No. 88 of Sanford.

With $2,000 on the line and $250 to start, the ALMS 30-lap Late Model feature rolled out first to the excitement of the jam packed Mt. Pleasant Speedway crowd. Making up the front row were Ky Harper and Jon Henry. As the green flag dropped the fans were on their feet as Harper led Henry. A red flag early for a crash involving Tim Sabo No. 84 of Fremont, Ohio and Wilbern stopped the action, both drivers would be OK.

As the racing continued it was clear the Harper was the class of the field, but not to be outdone was Marcoullier, who started in row three, would not give up as he worked his way up to second. Hot on the heels of Harper, Marcoullier would go high and low trying to get around Harper, but when the 30-lap feature's checkered flag flew Marcoullier ran out of time and despite a valiant effort could not get around Harper. The ALMS feature win went to the 18-year-old Harper, who was making his first ever visit to the Mt. Pleasant Speedway after a three and a half hour drive. The feature victory was also Harper's first of the season. Marcoullier would end up second, followed by Henry, McNeill, Andy Sprague, and Ruhlman to round out the top six.

"Wow," Harper said climbing from his car in victory lane. "I just don't know what to say. The track was really racey. It was a good track and we had fun. This is just an awesome place"

In the Smokers Club Street Stock feature, Mielke claimed his third straight feature win of the season over Rob Brillhart No. 77 of Crystal and Loomis, who after an early exit worked his way to the third place finish from last.

In the final two features of the night, Derick Neitling No. 21 of St. Charles grabbed his second feature win of the season over Jeff Fowler No. 29 of Saginaw, Trever Fedewa No. 68 of Mt. Pleasant, Eastman and Cindy Malcolm No. 25 of Harrison. In the Mt. Pleasant/Clare Automotive Stock Mini feature, Schnettler added his second main event win of the year over Bob Baltierrez No. 711 of Mt. Pleasant and Shane Aeschliman No. 53 of Gladwin.

This Friday, May 29 brings a full show of racing to the Mt. Pleasant Speedway plus a Taco Boy sponsored Chuck's Discount Foods UMP Modified $750 special.