MICHAEL SCORES IN NIGHT ONE OF MIDGE MILLER MEMORIAL
Story By: KOLBY RAMEY / BRIDGEPORT SPEEDWAY MEDIA
Photos By: TIM MORAN / URC PHOTO
SWEDESBORO, NJ –November 5, 2016– Nine time United Racing Club Champion, Curt Michael led current URC point leader to the checkered flag for the win in the inaugural URC Big Track Classic supported by Michalski Heating and Air. The competitors in this URC/360 event are paying tribute to former racer and club official, Midge Miller during this two day event.
Chris Coyle and Franek lead the starting field to the wave of the green flag but it was Michael who came away with the lead when Coyle faltered on the start. Officials called the start back and the field lined up for a complete restart.
This time it was Franek who took command as Coyle again struggled on the start. Troy Betts, Jimmy Stitzel and Michael gave chase as Franek pulled away. Coyle brought out the caution on lap four when the Kennedy No. 56 slowed in turn four.
Franek had his hands full with Betts on the restart as Betts raced ahead of the leader as the field ran through turns one and two. Franek regained the lead as he and Betts battled through turns three and four. Franek held the lead over Betts, Michael and Davey Sammons through lap ten as Stitzel gave up a top five spot when he got turned around between turns three and four, bringing out the caution.
Betts went back to work on the leader on the restart and this time, held the edge over Franek as they raced to complete lap eleven but Franek was back out in front on the next circuit. Michael came out on top of a three way battle for second dropping Betts to third ahead of Josh Weller and Lucas Wolfe.
The leaders caught the back of the field and Michael closed in on Franek as they raced through traffic. Michael chased Franek on lap eighteen, taking the lead one lap later with a move to the inside of the leader in turns three and four. Michael had the lead on lap nineteen but Franek was right on as tail as they took the five to go sign.
Michael gained some breathing room has he diced through lapped traffic, racing to the checkered flag for the win ahead of Franek. Wolfe charged into third with two laps to go. Betts finished fourth after battling for the lead earlier in the race. Sammons passed Weller in the final laps to round out the top five.
“I can’t say enough about this race track,” Michael exclaimed in Victory Lane. “Keith Hoffman does a great job – it’s smooth, it’s wide.”
Bobby Dmuchowski drove Steve Davis’ No. 13 to the win in the Underdog 20 – a twenty lap event for non-winners in the 2016 season. Nick Nicostra was the early race leader before yielding to Dmuchowski. Jeff Bubori raced up to second but could not challenge Dmuchowski for the lead. Billy Briggs finished third followed by Kyle Lilick and Nicostra.
Brian Papiez and Dave Damiano set fast laps during timed hot lap sessions to earn starting spots in Saturday night’s $1,250 to win Crate/Sportsman event.
United Racing Club Big Track Classic – Night 1 (25 laps)
1 – Curt Michael, 2 – Davie Franek, 3 – Lucas Wolfe, 4 – Troy Betts, 5 – Davey Sammons, 6 – Jason Schultz, 7 – Josh Weller, 8 – Sean Michael, 9 – Justin Whittal, 10 – Mike Haggenbottom, 11 – Ryan Stillwaggon, 12 – Ed Aiken, 13 – Matt Tanner, 14 – Dave Brown, 15 – Will Feggimann, 16 – Travis Radivoy, 17 – Brett Michaelski, 18 – Mark Sasso, 19 – Jason Cherry, 20 – Cody Jourdan, 21 – Chris Allen, 22 – Jimmy Stitzel, 23 – Justin Barger, 24 – Kyle Purks, 25 – Chris Coyle
UNDERDOG 20
1 – Bobby Dumchowski, 2 – Jeff Bubori, 3 – Billy Briggs, 4 – Kyle Lilick, 5 – Nick Nocostra, 6 – Dean Bachman, 7 – Tom Sherby, 8 – George Nardelli, 9 – Mike Koffel, 10 – Scott Hulmes, 11 – John Gilroy, 12 – Clyde Cox, 13 – Chuck Potts, 14 – Roger Gaskill, 15 – Pete Serra, 16 – Tom Holding, 17 – Matthew Luzi, 18 – Glenn Knell, 19 – Tom Errico, 20 – Dave Damiano, 21 – Andrew Belmont
