Local Headlines

UPIR CHAMPIONSHIP NIGHT FEATURES 106 RACERS The Island Resort and Casino of Harris, MI. sponsored Championship Night at Upper Peninsula International Raceway. The best weather of the summer brought out a nice crowd and over one hundred race cars from Upper Michigan and Northeastern Wisconsin, including several I.M.C.A modifieds that normally race at Shawano and Seymour Speedways. Going into the event, only 2 points separated defending Modified champion Matt Valiquette of De Pere, WI and Dale Peterson of Rapid River, MI in the championship points battle. The traveling modifieds made for an intense modified feature, which was eventually won by Eric Arneson of Oconto Falls, WI. Finishing second in the Modifieds was Dale Peterson and third was Jeremy Hanson of Lena, WI. Matt Valiquette and Lonnie Dalgord of Escanaba rounded out the top five. Peterson's strong run in a wild feature, with a record number of seventeen mods, was enough to give him the championship. Heat 1: 1st Chuck Carmin, Gladstone, MI., 2nd Pat Richer, Schaffer, MI., 3rd Lonnie Dalgord, Escanaba, MI. Heat 2: 1st Eric Arneson, Oconto Falls, WI., 2nd Tyler Winling, Escanaba, MI., 3rd John Ostermann, Niagara, WI. Jesse James Liss of Bark River, MI. completed the hat trick in the Junior Sprint Division by winning the heat race, the feature and the championship. Logan Getzloff of Wilson, MI. was second in the feature, Joey Stankowicz of Escanaba, MI., was third. Drake Degnan of Escanaba, MI and Maggie Martin of Bark River, MI.completed the top five. Heat: 1st Jesse James Liss, Bark River, MI., 2nd Tyler Getchell, Marinette, WI., 3rd Joey Stankowicz, Escanaba, MI. In the 600 Sprint Division, Nick Pinar Jr. of Escanaba, MI. won the feature event. followed by Matt Petersen of Rapid River, MI. and Todd Belanger of Escanaba, MI. finished third, Scott Degnan of Escanaba, MI and Jered Cech of Rhinelander, WI. rounded out the top five. Matt Petersen was crowned the champion of the 600 Sprint Division. Heat 1: 1st Todd Belanger, Escanaba, MI., 2nd Jered Cech, Rhinelander, WI., 3rd Nick Pinar Jr., Escanaba, MI. Heat 2: 1st Scott Degnan, Escanaba, MI., 2nd Steve Miller, Gladstone, MI., 3rd Josh Bartel, Wilson, MI. Heat 3: 1st Brock Smith, Bark River, MI., 2nd Matt Petersen, Rapid River, MI., 3rd Jamie St. Jacques, Escanaba, MI. Semi-Feature: 1st Gregg Brayak, Wilson, MI., 2nd John Mathias, Wilson, MI. In the 650 Sprint Car Divison, Gary Dubord Jr. of Escanaba, Michigan won the feature event, followed by Christian Groleau of Gladstone Michigan. Dave Hosking of Bark River, Michigan was third and Karen Degnan of Escanaba, MI. and Paul Hosking of Bark River, MI. were fourth and fifth. Heat 1: 1st Gary Dubord Jr., Escanaba, MI., 2nd Christian Groleau, Gladstone, MI., 3rd Austin Berg, Bark River, MI. Heat 2: 1st Justina Liss, Bark River, MI., 2nd Kyle Getchell, Wilson, MI., 3rd Dave Hosking, Bark River, MI. In one of the most exciting races of the summer, Ron Jenshak of Bark River Michigan edged out Ron Borchert of Gladstone Michigan by inches, to gain his first feature win on dirt. Bill Ebben of Lakewood, Wisconsin returned to the speedway after a horiffic crash about a month ago to finish third. Paul Wagner of Escanaba, Michigan and Joe Johnsen of Escanaba, Michigan rounded out the top five. Johnsen's top five finish was enough to win him his first Street Stock Championship. Heat 1: 1st Zach Wennesheimer, Rapid River, MI., 2nd Rob Kirkpatrick, Gladstone, MI., 3rd Paul Wagner, Escanaba, MI., 4th Joe Johnsen, Escanaba, MI., 5th Ron Jenshak, Bark River, MI. Heat 2: 1st Ron Borchert, Gladstone, MI., 2nd Eric Mathieson, Escanaba, MI., 3rd Bill Ebben, Lakewood, WI., 4th Corey DeGrave, Escanaba, MI., 5th Greg Bruce, Gladstone, MI. In the Four Cylinder Division, Tom Dubord Jr of Escanaba, MI. won the first qualifier with Eric LaFreniere of Vulcan, MI. finishing second. Erik Marenger of Escanaba, MI. won the second qualifier ahead of Randy DeGrave of Escanaba, MI. Tyler Corwin of Gladstone, MI. won the feature event. Championship drama played out between Matt Johnsen of Escanaba MI., and Tom Dubord Jr whom were separated by a few points going into the event. Dubord Jr. did not finish due to an electrical problem, Matt Johnsen finished third. Unofficially the championship was ended in a first ever tie at the Upper Peninsula International Raceway. Randy DeGrave and Dan Mathieson of Escanaba, MI. finished the feature fourth and fifth. Heat 1: 1st Tyler Corwin, Gladstone, MI., 2nd Justin Lauscher, Escanaba, MI.; 3rd Dan Mathieson, Escanaba, MI. Heat 2: 1st Matt Johnsen, Escanaba, MI., 2nd Scott Brunette, Escanaba, MI., 3rd Jared Demeuse, Gladstone, MI. Heat 3: 1st Kirk Millette, Escanaba, MI., 2nd Ron LeJeune, Chatam, MI., 3rd Tiny Baldwin, Escanaba, MI. Heat 4: 1st Shaun Olson, Escanaba, MI., 2nd David Rumfelt, Escanaba, MI., 3rd Robert Bridges, Escanaba, MI. The next U.P.I.R event will be the fourth (Yooper) Fall Classic held September 13 and 14 at the Escanaba fairgrounds. Racing will be Friday at 6 PM EST with the usual slate of racing and Saturday afternoon from 1 to 4 PM EST will feature Powder Puff and Mechanics Races. After racing a picnic and awards ceremony will recognize drivers, sponsors and volunteers of the 2013 race season. www.upirracing.com By: John Ostermann

This article posted by Upper Peninsula International Raceway. Click here for more track information.