By Trevor Hollis
After a couple weeks of the worst weather conditions mother nature could throw their way the Lane Automotive Michigan Traditional Sprint cars were finally able to get a show in on Saturday. In what was supposed to be the second of a two day weekend 24 of the best non-wing sprint car drivers in the state of michigan invaded the Merritt Raceway to start the 2011 season off with a bang.
Saturday nights feature even took a little bit of patience by the men and their machines but was eventully able to get going. A couple of cautions slowed the field down early, but right from the drop of the green flag it was the Greg Dalmann show. Dalmann started the Northwestern Auto Machine A-main on the front row and never looked back. Mike Galajda was able to keep within site of the 49T from Bellevue for most of the show but was never able to mount much of a challenge. Just when it looked like the leader was going to come up on some lap traffic, giving those chasing Dalmann a chance to overtake him, the yellow would fly for a spin and the field would bunch up yet again with much the same results. Galadja was able to hold on for a second place finish, third went to Joe Bares, fourth was Mike Astrauskas, and rounding out the top five was Chad Wilson. Chuck Wilson was able to pick up a win in the Full Circle Energy heat race number one, John Watson was victorious in Hoosier Tire heat race number two, and Tim Evilsizer picked up the checkered flag in All-Star performance heat three. The Kreitz Oval Track Parts b-main was won by Chad Wilson.
The Lane Automotive Michigan Traditional sprints will be back in action for a make up of the previously rained out show at Cyrstal Motor Speedway on July 2nd. The sprints will be part of a full show at the Crystal Motor Speedway that will include all of their weekly divisions plus a fireworks show to celebrate the 4th of July weekend. Racing starts at 7:30 with gates opening at 4:30, hot laps at 6:00pm. Admission is only $12 for adults, children 5-11 $4.00 and pit passes are $25. Be sure to check out www.mtsprints.com for information on this or any other upcoming MTS show.
A-feature finish: 1-49t Gregg Dalman, 2-2 Mike Galadja, 3-19 Joe Bares, 4-3a Mike Austrauskas, 5-14 Chad Wilson, 6-9e Tim Evilsizer, 7-31 Chuck Wilson, 8-77 Keith Love, 9-00 Joe Irwin, 10-1h Kevin Hawk, 11-8 Tim Champlin, 12-82 Nick Landon, 13-66 Ernie Kuehneman, 14-18 Mark Irwin, 15-5k Randy Kreple, 16-35 Mark Strpko, 17-06 Don Bostrom 18-10 Jay Stienabach, 19-12 Mike Baker, 20-26 John Watson