AMERICAN SPEED U.S. NATIONALS ALREADY OVER 20 ENTRIES
May 25, 2021 – Must See Racing officials today confirmed that the inaugural American Speed U.S. Nationals scheduled for this weekend May 28-29 has already topped 20 entries. The Must See Racing Sprint Series presented by Engine Pro will battle it out Friday and Saturday at Kalamazoo Speedway in Kalamazoo, Michigan with a 50 lap feature and a $5,000 payday on Saturday night.
After last weekend’s two-day visit to Anderson Motor Speedway near Anderson, South Carolina, it didn’t appear a strong field of cars would be available for this weekend’s event. A lap-one crash last Friday night saw nearly half the field collected in the accident after Jacob Dolinar did a slow lazy spin entering turn two. From there cars went crashing and the cars of Todd McQuillen, Joe Speakman and Charlie Schultz flipping.
For many of the MSR teams it has been a mad dash to get cars ready. The series is in the midst of a three-race stretch that will end with a two-day visit to the Indianapolis Speedrome June 4-5. Cars are at a premium right now.
Ohio car owner John Reiser regularly fields two cars in the series with drivers Adam Biltz and Charlie Schultz. It appeared as if he wouldn’t have any cars from his stable ready for this weekends race. A quick phone call to Reiser on Monday afternoon revealed that its full speed ahead for the team and they anticipated having two cars available. It first appeared both his cars may have been totaled. Reiser may have been hit harder in the accident than many other car owners.
“The #9s that Charlie Schultz drives for me is unrepairable” explains Reiser. ”We took it all apart and thought we could repair the frame. Its not worth repairing. We have another car in our stable that we are able to use for this weekend. People won’t be able to tell it’s a different car. Its already lettered and everything. It was just a matter of changing motors and plumbing.
The #8a that Adam Biltz drives was fine as far as the frame. It was just a lot of wing damage and front-end parts. We got spare wings and stuff. Both cars will be there”.
Reiser explained why it was important to get both cars back on the track to support the American Speed U.S. Nationals. “Every night we’ve last week, this weekend, and this week we’ve been working on the cars. Either tonight or tomorrow night we’re gonna shake down the other car. It doesn’t have any laps on it. I think most of the guys have been able to get their cars repaired in time for this weekend’s race except Joe Speakman. We don’t race for points. Its just a matter that we love racing. There aren’t a whole lot of races and I’m just worried we won’t have any races. I’m just trying to help the series out” concluded Reiser.
This weekend’s event will also feature the Midwest Supermodified Series and Maxima Racing Oils Midwest Lights. A rare triple header of open wheel racing. For those that cant make it the event will be streamed live at www.mustseeracing.tv for $19.99 or $24.99 for both nights of racing action
LJ GRIMM LATEST AMERICAN SPEED U.S. NATIONALS ENTRANT
May 19, 2021 – Seffner, Florida’s LJ Grimm is the latest driver to enter the inaugural American Speed U.S. Nationals Must See Racing Sprint Series presented by Engine Pro event at Kalamazoo Speedway May 28-29. Grimm will be aboard the Wayne Stickney owned Diablo Chassis Toyota powered #99.
It will be Grimm’s first appearance with Must See Racing and first sprint car event he’s participated in outside the state of Florida. The 27-year-old relative newcomer to sprint car racing started driving pavement sprint cars regularly in 2019 with the Southern Sprint Car Shootout Series (SSSS). Since then, he’s become a terror. He was crowned the 2020 SSSS Rookie of the Year. He currently has five pavement sprint car feature victories thus far in 2021, 4 non-winged and 1 winged.
Grimm explained how the deal to compete in the American Speed U.S. Nationals came together. “David Sink recommended me” explained Grimm. ”Then Wayne Stickney game me a call and we talked. It took about a week for him to decide. I guess I ran it good enough down here (Florida) for him to give me a shot at Kalamazoo.
I’m looking forward to driving a 410. Obviously the #99 is proven with Troy (DeCaire) and Tyler Roahrig lately. I’ve been to a few Must See Races while helping Shane Butler. I’m excited to get up there and race with Troy, someone I race with regularly down here. If I have any questions, I can ask him. He’s been all over the United States racing. I’m also looking forward to racing with everyone else who runs the series”.
Grimm has high expectations entering the event and realizes a strong finish could get him recognized, as he would ultimately like to run mor events up north. But he realizes things will be different that what’s he’s normally been used to with a change of scenery.
.“I’m excited for this opportunity. Racing with Must See Racing in Michigan is kind of a big deal to get my name out there. A win would be great. I wanna win obviously every time I roll out. Going to a new track, driving a new engine, and racing against new people, I’m gonna shoot for a top five finish this first time out” concluded Grimm.
Entries continue to come in for this event. In addition to the Must See Racing 410’s, the event will also feature the Maxima Racing Oils Must See Racing Midwest Lights Series, and the Midwest Supermodified Series.
Both nights of the American Speed U.S. Nationals will be streamed live on www.mustseeracing.tv as part of the Speed Sport TV network. More details on the event will be announced in the coming days.
DECAIRE WINS ANDERSON MUST SEE FINALE IN DOMINTING FASHION
May 15, 2021 – Williamston, South Carolina Troy DeCaire picked up his first Must See Racing Sprint Series presented by Engine Pro victory in several seasons in dominating fashion Saturday night. DeCaire picked up a win in the two-day finale at Anderson Motor Speedway near Anderson, South Carolina.
Saturday’s finale fared far better than the opener Friday night. Friday’s event involved several multi-car incidents including a lap one pile-up that sent two cars flipping. In addition, two separate battles for the lead resulted in damaged cars and egos. It was chaotic to say the least. Saturday’s finale didn’t resemble the previous night’s carnage filled program in the least.
DeCaire started in the sixth position in the 30-lap feature that saw only 11 cars take the green due to availability of cars from the previous night’s event. In typical DeCaire fashion, he jumped to the outside on the green flag and made it three-wide going into turn one. By the time DeCaire exited turn two he was already in second position behind race leader and Friday night winner Joe Liguori. Four laps later DeCaire took command of the event and never looked back in dominating fashion.
DeCaire finished 6.598 seconds ahead of Liguori and built nearly a half lap advantage over third place finisher Jimmy McCune. Rounding out the top five were Anthony McCune and Jacob Dolinar.
Nolan Allison was the night’s fast qualifier with a lap of 13.571 seconds.
“We haven’t run a lot of 410 races in a while” DeCaire explained in victory lane.”I had a couple of them taken from us lately I feel like. Finally, it feels good to close the deal here”.
DeCaire’s early charge to the front may have been the difference. “This place is really hard to pass on. I feel like passing is at a premium here, especially when you can air it out. It sticks really good in the first turn at a lot of places. I really worked on that all day. I didn’t necessarily know I was gonna start on the outside. On the start I got over the top of the right front of the #48 and he gave me the lane. It got a little close with the #7. But to eliminate four cars in the first corner, they say you can’t win it on the first lap, but you can save a little tire” concluded DeCaire.
The series will be back in action May 28-29 at Kalamazoo Speedway for the inaugural American Speed U.S. Nationals and a $5,000 payday.
FINISH:
- Troy DeCaire (36)
2. Joe Liguori (13)
3. Jimmy McCune (88)
4. Anthony McCune (8)
5. Jacob Dolinar (48)
6. Nolan Allison (16)
7. Steve Surniak (81)
8. Tom Jewell (7)
9. Bobby Koisarski (17)
10. Joshua Sexton (90)
11. Rick Holley (85)
DNS Todd McQuillen (2)
LIGUORI SURVIVES WRECK FEST TO WIN MUST SEE OPENER
May 14, 2021 –Williamston, SC - Joe Liguori survived a wild night that included multiple crashes to win his first career Must See Racing Sprint Series presented by Engine Pro feature event Friday night at Anderson Motor Speedway near Anderson, South Carolina.
The event was the first of two nights of racing that officially kicked off the twelfth season for the 410-winged asphalt sprint car series. The event drew drivers from six different states including two series regulars from the Southern Sprint Car Shootout Series.
photo of Liguori courtesy of David Sink
Liguori bested the field to claim quick time with a lap of 13.460 seconds.
The front row for the 30-lap feature saw Jacob Dolinar on the pole and Joey Aguilar on the outside front row. When the green flag waved, polesitter Jacob Dolinar lazily spun the car while leading exiting turn two. It appeared there was no contact from any other cars. The spin started a multi-car melee that saw Charlie Schultz and Joe Speakman get upside down. Additional cars were involved that included Rick Holley, Todd McQuillen, Tom Jewell, and Adam Biltz. Several other cars including Jimmy McCune received damage but returned after minor repairs.
When the race resumed after no laps were competed, Aguilar took command of the event. Aguilar had managed to build up a sizeable lead through 15 laps but DeCaire began to reel him in only a few laps later. DeCaire was able to close the gap and put pressure on the race leader. McCune had snuck into the fray and passed an unsuspecting DeCaire as he was battling Aguilar for the lead in heavy lapped traffic.
On lap 27 McCune moved to the outside of Aguilar entering turn 1. The duo raced side-by -side down the backstretch until making contact and eliminating McCune after contacting the wall. When the race resumed, DeCaire made a challenge for the lead several times. DeCaire was able to get alongside Aguilar exiting turn 2 and race alongside Aguilar until two made contact in turn 4 on the final lap. As both spun, Liguori dipped under the spinning leaders to race across the stripe for his first career MSR victory followed by Nolan Allison and Jacob Dolinar.
In victory lane Liguori explained how surprised the final laps played out. “We were riding around in fifth forever” explained Liguori.”The motor was running hot and I was like ‘I’m content with running fifth’. Then Jimmy (McCune) kinda got stuffed in the fence, and then a yellow flag came out, and I had gotten to third.
On the restart I saw the leaders (Aguilar and DeCaire) kinda get together on the backstretch. I was thinking ‘if they wreck each other were gonna win the race. If they don’t, we’re gonna run third’. Coming to the checker there at the end they wrecked each other, and we ended up winning. Its luck, 100 percent. We did not have the greatest car, but it was good enough to do what it did. The checks gonna clear the bank, and it doesn’t matter which way you look at it” concluded Liguori.
As victory lane ceremonies were taking place, MSR officials were putting out fires from several hotly contested teams, angry how the final laps of the race played out. MSR officials explained the top three finishers were official, but the finishing positions beyond that could be subject to revisions. Positions fourth on back were not official at the time this story was written.
30-Lap Finish:
1. Joe Liguori (13)
2. Nolan Allison (16)
3. Jacob Dolinar (48)
4. Joey Aguilar (11)
5. Troy DeCaire (36)
6. Joshua Sexton (90)
7. Jimmy McCune (88)
8. Anthony McCune (8)
9. Jay Dunham (51)
10. Rick Holley (85)
11. Charlie Schultz (9s)
12. Adam Biltz (8a)
13. Joe Speakman (72s)
14. Todd McQuillen (6)
15. Tom Jewell (7)
DNS Steve Surniak (81)
DNS Jeff Bloom (26)
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