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Ominous skies gave way early in the afternoon to sunshine, blue skies, warm temperatures and even hotter racing at I-96 Speedway Saturday night. Mini Sprints, Road Beaters, UMP Hobby Stocks, NeSmith Late models and UMP modifieds 24 strong made for an exciting evening of racing.

The unmistakable buzz of the 600c.c. Mini Sprints led us to the first feature of the night, 20 laps on the 3/8ths mile track was the distance as 15 year old Colin Irwin in the No. ce0 car took the win. After the race an overjoyed Irwin said “we had a pretty good starting position from inside the second row, but I really had to fight for second place. Then I set my sights on Nick Nelson No. 91N. I managed to catch the cushion just right and I managed to get around him and just fought to stay out front”. Colin’s sponsors include Service Steel and Framing, Brown Realty, Snap On Tools, and his mom and dad.

The I-96 Speedway road beaters took to the track next taking the green flag from Tim Beebe. Rob Neiman continued his relentless campaign for the 2009 track championship as he jumped out to the lead on the first lap and checked out on the field winning the 20 lap feature. When asked to what he attributed his success Rob replied “all the speed is in the driving line, it has little to do with the actual car. It’s all about how you drive it. Driving a front wheel drive race car is very different, so you have to adapt your driving style”.  Neiman wanted to thank his sponsor No Bull Graphix and special thanks to his dad for all his help this week.

Next up on the 3/8ths mile oval was the UMP Hobby Stocks. 20 intense laps of racing led to a familiar face in the winners circle as AJ Ward No. 20w took home the win. Ward went two for two on the night, but it wasn’t easy Ward explained,“We had to get a good jump on the start to beat the field to the first turn and I just hugged the tires so they would have to drive around me on the outside. The car was pretty good tonight, in fact, I think it was the best it’s been this season. The track was great tonight too, we took another gamble on what tire to use and it took a few laps to really come in but once it did the car was just awesome”.  Third place went to the Cortland Skoog No. 300, the overjoyed Skoog said “what a great race, this is my first season in a car and it been such a blast. We stayed smooth and didn’t get into anyone and just had a great race. AJ (Ward) has been helping me out a ton this season and it’s really paying off”.

The thundering late models of the NeSmith Ultimate Champion Late Model Series filled the air as 17 cars took to the ½ mile track. Rick Stout moved up from his third place starting position in the Wing Motorsports No. 55s and went on to take the win. After the race the modest Stout said “we had a good starting position and a great battle with Jeff Kohn until he broke mid race. The track was a little bumpy so we just had to make sure I took care of the car and everything stayed together for us. If Jeff hadn’t broke I don’t think I would have tried to pass him, where he was running was so rough I was sure something would have happened if I had tried. I just told myself I had to take it easy on the car and it worked”. Stout’s sponsors include Wing Motorsports, Berts Glass, North Star Towing and Recovery, and Tom Benson Realty. Finishing behind Stout was youngster Trevor Sloan No. 7, after the race Sloan said “we had a awesome car all day, we just put a new steering rack in the car and it’s been great so far. We still have some adjustments to improve the car, but each week we’re getting closer, so we hope we can improve on our second place finish before the end of the season”.

The last race of the night was the 20 lap UMP modified feature. Mark Anderson No. 43 was mired deep in the field with a fourteenth starting position, but nothing could stop Anderson as he went on to win his third race of the season at I-96 Speedway. After the race Mark said “it was a little scary starting that far back in the field, there where some newcomers we had to contend with. Then I ran out of tear offs so I couldn’t take my time anymore, I had to make my charge to the front before I couldn’t see at all”. Which explained Mark’s incredible bonsai pass on 3 or 4 cars on one of the restarts that helped propel him to the lead late in the race. Mark went on to say “this wouldn’t even be possible without all the help I get from a lot of people including John McClure and McClure’s body shop who straightened the frame of the car after a big wreck last week. John did a incredible job, the car is just as great as it was before it got bent”. “He’s the best”. Mark also thanked Nick Tap naming him “the brains behind the operation”, Close Racing, Glen’s  Gas and Welding, Showboat Automotive and Accurate Engines that provide him with all that horsepower.

Next week is celebrity night and NASCAR driver Kenny Schrader will take on the cars and stars in the UMP Modifieds at I-96 Speedway, along with the rest of the I-96 weekly program.