McCune Rallies Back To Win Sandusky Must See Sprint
SANDUSKY, Ohio – After a solo spin during the Saturday portion of Border Wars weekend, four-time Must See Racing Sprint Car Series champion Jimmy McCune came into Sandusky Speedway fired up.
That fire was rewarded Sunday evening with a victory during the Border Wars finale, after a late-race pass of race-long leader Ryan Litt gave McCune his third win in five races this season.
Jimmy McCune (88) leads Ryan Litt Sunday afternoon at Sandusky Speedway. (David Sink photo)
A caution with 10 to go, for fluid from the ailing car of Bobby Komisarski, set up the winning move. Following a lap-21 restart, McCune charged from third to the lead in just two circuits, with a turn-three slide job giving the Toledo, Ohio native a lead he wouldn't relinquish.
McCune paced the final eight circuits for his 32nd career Must See Racing triumph, extending his own all-time series record.
To make the day even more special, he was celebrating his 44th birthday as well, becoming the first driver to win on his birthday twice in Must See Racing competition.
"How about that, huh? Happy birthday to me," McCune said in victory lane. "That's a little redemption for last night after I spun out. I hadn't done that in about 10 years, so I had a job (to do) and we had a really fast race car to do it with. We had a really fast race car last night, too; we just had to go to the tail come back up through there.
"A second last night, and a win and quick time today on my birthday? I'll take that," he smiled. "I think it's time for a Captain (Morgan). I wish I had some, but we've got to go home and get ready for Berlin."
Though McCune's nephew Anthony led the field to green from the pole after a six inversion, it was Litt who got the jump on the initial start from the outside pole – a position gifted to him when scheduled second-starter Charlie Schultz was unable to start the feature due to electrical issues on the pace laps.
From there, Litt took off like a rocketship, weaving deftly in and out of traffic lap after lap and holding the determined advances of Brian Gerster at bay for 20 hair-raising laps before the game-changing caution brought out by Komisarski's issue, later determined to be a broken radiator hose.
That put Gerster and McCune on Litt's tail tank for the lone restart of the night, and though the Canadian nailed the green flag to get away briefly, McCune tossed out his fish-hook and reeled Litt in.
McCune dove past Gerster on the outside with nine to go to take over second, then changed lanes for the winning pass the next time around and left Litt to deal with the heartbreak of a runner-up finish.
"Man, these nights bite," admitted Litt, who led a race-high 22 laps. "I thought my car was pretty good. It was a little bit loose off, but the 88 (Jimmy McCune) is just on another level right now. We're all trying to figure out what he's doing and catch up to him. Whatever he's doing, we've got to start doing.
"We were good tonight, just not good enough when it counted the most."
Jimmy McCune celebrates in victory lane at Sandusky Speedway. (Jacob Seelman photo)
Gerster completed the podium and entertained the fans after the race with his imitation of Litt in a faux interview before Litt's proper runner-up conversation on the front straightaway.
Anthony McCune and Tyler Roahrig crossed the line fourth and fifth, respectively.
RESULTS: Must See Racing Sprint Car Series; Sandusky Speedway; Aug. 25, 2019
Hamilton Trucking Time Trials (best of two laps): 1. #88 – Jimmy McCune, 15.266; 2. #50M – Brian Gerster, 15.384; 3. #99s – Tyler Roahrig, 15.446; 4. #07L – Ryan Litt, 15.473; 5. #9s – Charlie Schultz, 15.517; 6. #8 – Anthony McCune, 15.573; 7. #8a – Adam Biltz 15.635; 8. #75c – Jerry Caryer, 15.649; 9. #7 – Tom Jewell, 15.705; 10. #7k – Mike McVetta, 15.877; 11. #13 – Joe Liguori, 15.913; 12. #6k – Kevin Feeney, 16.007; 13. #26 – Jeff Bloom, 16.081; 14. #42 – Jason Blonde, 16.163; 15. #17 – Bobby Komisarski, 16.252; 16. #72s – Joe Speakman, 16.355; 17. #13d – Jacob Dolinar 16.378; 18. #85 – Rick Holley, 16.567; 19. #51 – Joshua Sexton, 16.825; 20. #90k – Joey Wyckoff, 16.866; 21. #99k – Brenden Torok, 17.054; 22. #32 – Todd McQuillen, 17.423; 23. #15 – Tim Henthorne, 17.453
Abe's Auto Parts Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Bobby Komisarski [2], 2. Tyler Roahrig [6], 3. Kevin Feeney [3], 4. Tom Jewell [4], 5. Anthony McCune [5], 6. Rick Holley [1], 7. Brenden Torok [7].
Abe's Auto Parts Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. Jason Blonde [2], 2. Brian Gerster [6], 3. Jerry Caryer [4], 4. Charlie Schultz [5], 5. Joe Liguori [3], 6. Jacob Dolinar [1], 7. Joey Wyckoff [7], 8. Tim Henthorne [8].
Abe's Auto Parts Heat #3 (8 laps): 1. Ryan Litt [5], 2. Adam Biltz [4], 3. Jimmy McCune [6], 4. Jeff Bloom [2], 5. Joshua Sexton [7], 6. Todd McQuillen [8], 7. Joe Speakman [1], 8. Mike McVetta [3].
Border Wars A-Feature (30 laps): 1. Jimmy McCune [5], 2. Ryan Litt [2], 3. Brian Gerster [4], 4. Anthony McCune [1], 5. Tyler Roahrig [3], 6. Jason Blonde [12], 7. Joe Liguori [9], 8. Jerry Caryer [7], 9. Adam Biltz [6], 10. Tom Jewell [8], 11. Kevin Feeney [10], 12. Brenden Torok [18], 13. Joey Wycoff [17], 14. Joshua Sexton [16], 15. Rick Holley [15], 16. Todd McQuillen [19], 17. Tim Henthorne [20], 18. Bobby Komisarski [13], 19. Jeff Bloom [11], 20. Mike McVetta [21], 21. Jacob Dolinar [14]. 22. Charlie Schultz (DNS).
Lap Leader(s): Ryan Litt 1-22, Jimmy McCune 23-30.
Hard Charger: #42 – Jason Blonde (+6)
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Jacob Seelman
Freelance Writer
Series Announcer for Must See Racing
Jimmy McCune Rekindles Qualifying Prowess At Sandusky
SANDUSKY, Ohio – Jimmy McCune has been counting points ever since a rare engine failure in July relegated him to the role of the pursuer in the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series championship hunt.
Jimmy McCune poses with son Jimmy IV after topping Must See Racing qualifying at Sandusky Speedway on Sunday. (Jacob Seelman photo)
McCune picked up 10 of those valuable points Sunday afternoon at Sandusky Speedway, topping Hamilton Trucking Time Trials for the finale of Border Wars weekend.
The four-time defending series champion toured the flat half-mile in 15.266 seconds (117.909 mph) with his No. 88 Abe's Auto Parts & Sales/ B&B Machinery Movers/Rev-X Oil sprinter to lead a 23-car field.
Sunday's effort was the 10th Hamilton Trucking Fast Time Award of McCune's career, third all-time.
"The car was definitely fast there," said McCune. "We went home after last night, because I was pretty disgusted with the way the car was after we spun out ... and just got to working on it because that's not anything that usually happens to me, especially with that race car. So we went home and worked for four or five hours last night and this morning, stripped it down and put it back together.
"So far, it's paid off really well. That was a consistent lap we laid down in qualifying."
McCune's longtime rival, Brian Gerster, was second-quick (15.384/117.005) with the No. 50m RAM Engineering Midwest entry for Dick Myers Racing, followed by Tyler Roahrig and Canadian Ryan Litt.
Charlie Schultz, a local favorite and former Midwest Supermodified Ass'n, completed the top five.
Anthony McCune qualified sixth, followed by Adam Biltz, Jerry Caryer, Tom Jewell and Mike McVetta.
Racing at Sandusky Speedway is scheduled to kick off shortly after 6:30 p.m.
QUALIFYING RESULTS: Must See Racing Sprint Car Series; Sandusky Speedway; Aug. 25, 2019
#88 – Jimmy McCune, 15.266
#50M – Brian Gerster, 15.384
#99s – Tyler Roahrig, 15.446
#07L – Ryan Litt, 15.473
#9s – Charlie Schultz, 15.517
#8 – Anthony McCune, 15.573
#8a – Adam Biltz 15.635
#75c – Jerry Caryer, 15.649
#7 – Tom Jewell, 15.705
#7k – Mike McVetta, 15.877
#13 – Joe Liguori, 15.913
#6k – Kevin Feeney, 16.007
#26 – Jeff Bloom, 16.081
#42 – Jason Blonde, 16.163
#17 – Bobby Komisarski, 16.252
#72s – Joe Speakman, 16.355
#13d – Jacob Dolinar 16.378
#85 – Rick Holley, 16.567
#51 – Joshua Sexton, 16.825
#90k – Joey Wyckoff, 16.866
#99k – Brenden Torok, 17.054
#32 – Todd McQuillen, 17.423
#15 – Tim Henthorne, 17.453
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Jacob Seelman
Freelance Writer
Series Announcer for Must See Racing
Ryan Litt Fast Early Around Sandusky Half-Mile
SANDUSKY, Ohio – One night after setting the fastest time in qualifying during Border Wars weekend, Canadian Ryan Litt kicked things into high gear a little earlier in the day Sunday at Sandusky Speedway.
Litt posted the fastest time in Must See Racing Sprint Car Series practice at the flat half-mile, touring the track in 15.710 seconds (114.577 mph) with his No. 07L BS&B Radiator/Xtreme Metal Worx sprinter.
Ryan Litt at speed at Sandusky Speedway on Sunday afternoon. (Jacob Seelman photo)
He hopes to snap a winless drought with the 410ci winged asphalt sprint car tour dating back to the series opener at Florida's Five Flags Speedway in 2013, his most recent and only Must See victory.
Second on the speed charts Sunday was Indiana's Tyler Roahrig, a pavement late model ace who won Saturday night's non-winged sprint car feature at Baer Field Motorsports Park. Roahrig turned a lap of 15.868 seconds (113.436 mph) with the No. 99 Stickney Racing Team entry.
Behind Roahrig was a quartet of Buckeye State veterans, led by four-time defending Must See Racing champion Jimmy McCune, who was third overall at 15.908 seconds (113.151 mph).
Engineer and reigning Midwest Supermodified Series champion Mike McVetta landed fourth on the board (15.996/112.528), followed by point leader Anthony McCune and Adam Biltz.
Brian Gertser, Charlie Schultz, Kevin Feeney and Jason Blonde completed the top 10.
Qualifying for the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series is scheduled for 4:15 p.m.
PRACTICE RESULTS: Must See Racing Sprint Car Series; Sandusky Speedway; Aug. 25, 2019
#07L – Ryan Litt, 15.710
#99s – Tyler Roahrig, 15.868
#88 – Jimmy McCune, 15.908
#7k – Mike McVetta, 15.996
#8 – Anthony McCune, 16.010
#8a – Adam Biltz, 16.013
#50m – Brian Gerster, 16.022
#9s – Charlie Schultz, 16.096
#6k – Kevin Feeney, 16.222
#42 – Jason Blonde, 16.254
#7 – Tom Jewell, 16.291 (13L)
#75c – Jerry Caryer, 16.422
#26 – Jeff Bloom, 16.423
#72s – Joe Speakman, 16.510
#17 – Bobby Komisarski, 16.740
#13 – Jacob Dolinar, 16.932
#51 – Joshua Sexton, 16.998
#85 – Rick Holley, 17.092
#90k – Joey Wyckoff, 17.160
#99s – Brenden Torok, 17.347
#15 – Tim Henthorne, 17.677
#32 – Todd McQuillen, 18.198
#13 – Joe Liguori, NT
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Jacob Seelman
Freelance Writer
Series Announcer for Must See Racing
Home-State Pride Driving Torok At Sandusky
SANDUSKY, Ohio – After a solid showing during his Must See Racing Sprint Car Series debut, teenager Brenden Torok is hoping to take the next step in Sunday's Border Wars finale at Sandusky Speedway.
Torok, 15, enters the half-mile after an 11th-place finish during his maiden voyage at Anderson (Ind.) Speedway back in May, carrying confidence in his No. 99 Koyan Racing team.
Brenden Torok is making his second Must See Racing sprint car start this weekend at Sandusky Speedway. (Jacob Seelman photo)
What's more, he's returning to the 410ci winged asphalt sprint car series at his home race track, buoyed by a crate sprint feature win at Lorain County Speedway following his Must See debut.
The opportunity to compete at the famed facility is one that's not lost on the young Torok.
"It's awesome, especially with Lorain County closing for the rest of the year, to be able to put down some laps at a track that I grew up around," said Torok. "To be able to race there with some of the people that I grew up watching and looked up to is super special for me at this stage in my career. Out of all the tracks in Ohio, I feel like Sandusky is one of the best choices to bring the Must See series to.
"I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of people there that might not otherwise get a chance to watch these amazing race cars, and hopefully we can put on a great showing for them."
Torok also knows that there's home-state pride on the line at Sandusky and wants to perform well, considering that a majority of the full-time Must See Racing drivers hail from the state of Ohio.
"Any time you come to a race in your home region, you want to go out and run strong, and it's no different this weekend at Sandusky," Torok noted. "We want to grab as many positions as we can and really end up with a great day for Dave Koyan and all the people who support this No. 90 team.
"It does add a little bit of pressure, considering that you're racing in front of a lot of family and friends, but we thrive on that and want to rise up to the intensity," he added. "We'll just see what happens."
As far as his personal goals for the event, Torok hopes to crack that top-10 threshold on Sunday evening and put himself among the frontrunners at the end of the 30-lap Border Wars finale.
"My goal for this week is definitely to get up inside the top 10," he explained. "I almost got there ... and actually ran inside the top 10 for a lot of the race back at Anderson, so I think we're definitely capable of making it happen. Having more laps at this track, compared to others, I believe will help us as well.
"As long as we roll it back into the trailer in one piece, we'll be happy, but we're aiming high this week."
Qualifying for Sunday's Border Wars finale at Sandusky Speedway is scheduled for 4 p.m.
For more information on Must See Racing, visit www.mustseeracing.com.
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Jacob Seelman
Freelance Writer
Series Announcer for Must See Racing
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