July 6, 2022 – The Maxima Racing Oils Must See Racing Midwest Lights Series will be back in action this Saturday night when the series invades Lorain Raceway Park for race #4 on the 2022 schedule. LRP has become the unofficial home for the series as it plays host to the most events on the MSR Lights 2022 schedule.
The series will headline the 2nd annual ‘Comet Classic’. JJ Henes won the most recent MSR Lights event on June 17 when he recorded fast time and picked up the feature victory at LRP during night #1 of the inaugural ‘Super Crown Nationals’. Other series winners this year include Cody Gallogly and rookie Andrew Bogusz.
LRP has played an important part in the success of the series that dates to 2020. Most of the series events have been contested at the northern Ohio speed plant. Nearly every event to date has featured multi-groove racing with passing galore. Saturday looks to be no different.
Saturday nights program will include a full racing program with qualifying, heat races, and a 30-lap feature event. Expected drivers include series point leader Gallogly, Henes, Bogusz, Tim Henthorne, Sawyer Stout, Junior Gould, Charlie Bauer, Lauren DePasquale among others.
A competitor to keep an eye on would be Joshua Sexton. Sexton competed in this past weekend’s MSR National event in Rockford, Illinois. Sexton tapped the wall in practice and broke the front axle. The Sexton owned team went to work and thrashed to get the car ready for the A-main thanks to the welding assistance of fellow competitor Charlie Schutz.
Sexton was able to start the A-main but only lasted 9 laps due to a flat tire. The team must be commended from not giving up and being persistent about racing. Sexton’s father Steve explained the team traveled too far to not be able to race and not getting to race would be unacceptable. Keep an eye on the S & S Racing #51 this weekend. For more info on the Midwest Lights series please visit www.mustseeracing.com.
July 2, 2022 – Loves Park, Illinois – Before Saturday night, Joe Liguori had never raced at Rockford Speedway. By the end of the night, it looked like he had visited the track on multiple occasions.
Photos by David Sink
Must See Racing Sprint Series Presented by Engine Pro made its first appearance at Rockford Speedway since 2018. Jimmy McCune won that event nearly four years ago on a last lap pass of Charlie Schultz.
Liguori was the night’s fastest qualifier when he ripped off a 11.732 second lap around the high-banked quarter mile despite it being his first time at the track.
A 7 was the number drawn for the feature inversion. At the drop of the green, veteran Tom Jewell got the jump on outside front row starter Adam Blitz. Jewell would lead the first four circuits before surrendering the lead to Jacob Dolinar. On lap thirteen, Dolinar and Schultz would make contact exiting turn two while battling for the lead. Unfortunately, Dolinar would come to a stop and have to restart at the tail.
When the green flag waved again, Jimmy McCune became the new race leader before Liguori took command a lap later. Liguori would survive a couple of double-file restart that saw Schultz and Jimmy McCune lined up next to Liguori. Liguori would get the jump both times to remain in control.
McCune and Schultz would make heavy contact coming to the checkered. McCune still managed a second-place finish and Schultz a third-place finish despite damage to both cars.
In victory lane Liguori explained he used lap traffic to his advantage to go from seventh into the lead in only fourteen laps. “I knew lapped traffic was gonna be really big” explained Liguori. “This track has two lanes, I changed my line but their just really narrow. You just gotta be methodical. I played with my wing a little bit. We were tight at one point. I got free and put the wing where the car felt neutral. I changed my line and did what I had to do to be fast. Once you get into clean air you can control the race” concluded Liguori.
The Must See Racing Sprint Series Presented by Engine Pro will now be idle until July 22, when the series invades Birch Run Speedway in Birch Run, Michigan.
Feature (50 laps): 1. Joe Liguori 13, 2. Jimmy McCune 88, 3. Charlie Schultz 9s, 4. Adam Biltz 8a, 5. Rick Holley 85, 6. Tom Jewwll 7, 7. Tom Geren 11g, 8. Tim Henthorne 15, 9. Jacob Dolinar 48, 10. Joshua Sexton 3k, 11. Jeff Bloom 26, DNS Joe Speakman 72
June 30, 2022 – When Charlie Schultz heads to Rockford Speedway this weekend, he will do so as the current Must See Racing Sprint Series Presented by Engine Pro points leader. It will be the first time the MSR 410 winged sprints have raced at Rockford Speedway since 2018.
If anyone would remember the last visit of MSR to Rockford Speedway, it would be Schultz himself, unfortunately. Schultz led 49 out of the 50-lap feature only to be passed by Jimmy McCune for the lead on the final lap. An ill-handling race car was the culprit, ultimately costing Schultz a victory. Schultz returns to Rockford Speedway for this Saturday night’s MSR event as the current MSR points leader, with several solid finishes, and a new track record under his belt thus far in 2022.
“You never really think about the points” explained Schultz. “But we started off the season strong with a second and a fourth. Jimmy’s (McCune) had some issues. You gotta go into every race wanting to win and be fast qualifier. At the end of the night, if you come up short, you say it was a good points night so-to-speak. Hopefully we’ll knock off one or two wins here soon. Obviously, this Hurricane has been treating us well since we got it put together late last year”.
Even though his last visit to Rockford ended in sorrow, he’s eager to return.” I’ve been there twice. The last time I was there I led 49 of 50 laps and Jimmy McCune stole one from me and we finished second. We were pretty good early in the feature. We weren’t sure what the track would do when the sun went down. I was already fighting a tight condition. The car continued to get tighter as the race went on.
There are two grooves at Rockford. I was running the high line because it was better suited for what the car was doing at that time. Jimmy was able to get underneath me on the last lap. I couldn’t get it done with the tight condition. I got beat at the line by just a little bit. I needed it to be 40 laps instead of 50.” laughed Schultz.
“It wasn’t all that bad. I got my First MSR win a week later at Berlin. One thing I’ve learned, you can win or lose them on the last lap” concluded Schultz. Schultz will take a 14-point lead over Joe Liguori into Rockford Speedway, hoping to get his first win of the season, and extend his lead. Schultz will be joined by other MSR regulars for a full night of racing capped off by a 50-lap feature event.
For more info on Must See Racing please log onto www.mustseeracing.com or follow us on Facebook.
June 28, 2022 – Rockford Speedway in Loves Park, Illinois is set to host the “Fastest Short Track Cars in the World” this Saturday night July 2 when the Must See Racing Sprint Series presented by Engine Pro invades the speedway for the first time since 2018.
Rockford Speedway, which opened in 1948, is one of the most entertaining speedway the winged sprint cars will participate at in 2022. The unique quarter mile is highly popular with many of the Must See Racing teams due to the high-banked speedway which features 22-degree banking in the corners. The straightaways are relatively flat. The track layout has provided thrilling races for winged sprint cars in years past, and 2022 is expected to feature another entertaining race.
It has been since 2018 that MSR last raced at Rockford Speedway. Jimmy McCune won that event on July 28, 2018, nearly four years ago over Charlie Schultz and Jacob Wilson. Anthony McCune was the nights fast qualifier (11.601) Jimmy McCune and Shultz are expected to compete in this year’s event as well.
Besides the Instant Jungle Presents Must See Racing Sprint Cars, the program will also feature the annual Late Model Star Spangled 76. In addition, the racing program will include Bandits, HSR, and Powder Puffs. The Star Spangled 76 is annually one of the most popular racing programs on the Rockford Speedway calendar.
The MSR portion of the event will include single car qualifying, heat races, autograph session, and will be capped off with a thrilling 50-lap feature event. Charlie Schultz currently holds a 14-point lead over Joe Liguori and a 48-point lead over Jacob Dolinar. Schultz will be looking to add to his series points lead in his quest for his first series championship.
For more information on Must See Racing please log onto to www.mustseeraacing.com.
SOUTH AMHERST, Ohio – J.J. Henes returned to the Must See Racing Midwest Lights Series this season determined to win a series title after narrowly missing out on the crown one year ago, and he took a major step toward that goal with a dominant victory Friday night at Lorain Raceway Park.
Henes blistered the field for his first win of the year, driving from seventh to the lead in three laps and checking out for the remainder of the 30-lap feature, held as part of the Super Crown Nationals event at the three-eighths-mile, slightly-banked paved oval.
The 18-year-old native of LaGrange, Ohio – also a recent high school graduate – led by as many as 4.5 seconds during the main event and bested runner-up Cody Gallogly by 1.952 seconds in the end.
It marked Henes’ second career Must See Racing Midwest Lights victory.
“We wanted to come back and win some races this year, and it feels good to be able to get the job done tonight,” Henes said afterward.
After the initial start was called back by race officials, polesitter Tim Henthorne paced the opening two laps before contact between he and Henes while racing for the lead in turn two led to a caution with two laps complete, ending the night for Henthorne.
Sawyer Stout, driving for reigning Midwest Lights Car Owner of the Year John Higgins, dropped out at that point with a steering gear failure after battling mechanical woes for most of the afternoon.
At that point, Henes took command of the feature and never looked back.
However, a final yellow flag with 11 to go – when Dale McQuillen broke an axle and stalled on the racing surface – erased a four-second advantage for the teenager and set up a final restart with Gallogly alongside Henes and looking to extend his series point lead with a second win of the season.
Henes left no doubt when the green flag returned, though, streaking off into the night and forcing Gallogly to settle for second. Joshua Sexton completed the podium ahead of recent Kalamazoo Speedway feature winner Andrew Bogusz.
Henes kicked off the program by setting a new crate sprint track record during single-car qualifying, turning a lap of 13.310 seconds (101.427 mph). It was his fourth career fast time with the series.
Henthorne and Sexton won their respective eight-lap heat races prior to the feature.
The Must See Racing Midwest Lights Series continues its season July 9 during the Comet Classic at Lorain Raceway Park. It will be the crate sprint car touring series’ third visit of the year to the Ohio short track.
For more information on the Must See Racing Midwest Lights Series, visit www.mustseeracing.com.
Must See Racing Midwest Lights Series; Lorain Raceway Park; South Amherst, Ohio; June 17, 2022 Qualifying (best of two laps): 1. JJ Henes, 36JR, 13.310-Henes (NTR); 2. Cody Gallogly, 27, 13.685-Gallogly; 3. Andrew Bogusz, 17, 13.721-Bogusz; 4. Joshua Sexton, 51s, 13.780-Sexton; 5. Sawyer Stout, 92, 13.792-Higgins; 6. Junior Gould, 65, 13.988; 7. Tim Henthorne, 15t, 14.030-Henthorne; 8. Charlie Baur, 23, 14.308-Baur; 9. Dale McQuillen, 21, 14.786-McQuillen; 10. Kyle Capodice, 18, 14.895-Capodice.
June 15, 2022 – The Maxima Racing Oils Must See Racing Midwest Lights Series will be back in action this Friday night June 17 as part of the inaugural Super Crown Nationals at Lorain Raceway Park in South Amherst, Ohio. It will be race #3 towards the 2022 championship chase.
The MSR Lights will be making its first appearance since Memorial Day Weekend when the series competed in the American Speed U.S. Nationals at Kalamazoo Speedway. Rookie 16-year-old Andrew Bogusz pulled off a surprising win when he captured his first career MSR Lights victory in only his second series start during the American Speed U.S. Nationals.
The series is experiencing a youth movement in 2022. Several young teenage drivers are dominating the headlines as the series has become much younger. Bogusz, along with other teenage drivers Lauren DePasqua, Sawyer Stout, J.J. Henes, and Charlie Bauer, could provide MSR with a pipeline of future talent into the MSR National Series
The series will help kick off the opening night of the Super Crown Nationals when they invade LRP Friday night. The MSR Lights will be a part of an open wheel triple-header that will also feature the Midwest Supermodified Series and the TQ midgets. The MSR Lights will only compete on Friday, but the MSS Supermodifieds will return the following night and compete in twin feature events to close the weekend out.
By virtue of his season opening MSR Lights victory, Cody Gallogly is the current points leader and has stretched his points lead out to 23 points over second place J.J. Henes. Joshua Sexton sits in third place only 6 points behind Henes.
For more information on the Maxima Racing Oils Must See Racing Midwest Lights Series, please visit www.mustseeracing.com.
BIRCH RUN, Mich. (June 10, 2022) – Jimmy McCune readily admitted Friday night that his car wasn’t the best at Birch Run Speedway, but in the end, it was still good enough to reach the checkered flag first.
McCune sped to his first Must See Racing Sprint Car Series presented by Engine Pro victory of the season at the four-tenths-mile paved oval during the first of two Friday Night Thunder programs at Birch Run this year.
Jimmy McCune at speed Friday during Must See Racing action at Birch Run Speedway. (Must See Racing photo)
He led the final 14 laps and held off a concerted late-race charge from Charlie Schultz for top honors. However, it was McCune’s 20-year-old nephew – Jacob Dolinar – who nearly stole the spotlight.
Dolinar took control of the 30-lap feature on the third circuit and appeared to be well on his way to his first career Must See Racing sprint car triumph. He led by more than two seconds at times during the first half and was out front by a straightaway just after halfway when disaster struck in traffic.
The Sylvania, Ohio young gun’s car stepped out on him entering turn one and Dolinar couldn’t save it, spinning in a cloud of smoke in the second corner as fluid began leaking from underneath his machine.
At that moment, Dolinar’s dream of a maiden victory was dashed, while his uncle took the lead and never relinquished it from that point on.
“Honestly, that was a wild one,” said McCune in victory lane after his 38th Must See Racing score. “I couldn’t even see [out of my helmet], so I didn’t know [Schultz] was there to my outside after the restart. We were blowing oil at the end and it was getting all over my visor. By the time I could look up and see … we were at least clear.
“She spit a lot of oil out, but we made it to victory lane, and I guess that’s all that matters,” McCune added. “I was just kind of riding [behind Dolinar] because I was already feeling like it was blowing up from lap three on. It was just about biding my time and paying attention so we didn’t tear things up.”
After the event, a dejected Dolinar explained what he felt went wrong in the moments leading up to the spin.
“It felt fine until the last few moments going into turn one,” Dolinar recalled. “I overdrove it into the corner and spun out. The [engine] temperature was a little high beforehand, and once I spun it shot up and pitched all the water out. … It’s not how we wanted to end the night, but we’ll learn from this one and come back stronger for the next one. It just sucks to have a car that good and not win with it.”
Dolinar’s bad luck set up a lap-16 restart where Canadian Ryan Litt lined up alongside McCune, but the new challenger to McCune’s lead was Schultz, who raced from third up to second on the resumption and immediately went to work challenging McCune’s orange No. 88 on the outside of the banking.
For three straight laps, Schultz nearly pulled even with McCune, and each time the five-time Must See Racing national champion held serve out front. Once McCune cleared Schultz, it was all but over.
In the final two laps, Schultz mustered up one more challenge, but didn’t have enough and came .281 seconds short of earning his third career checkered flag with Must See Racing.
“We were just so close, so evenly matched at the end, that there was only so much I could do,” Schultz noted. “On the restart I could somewhat get to him, but once he realized I was there, I had to back off a bit and cool the tires down. I got back after it at two to go and just ran out of time, I think.
“Twenty years ago, I probably would have crashed us both coming for the checkered [flag] on the outside, but I guess when you get a little older, you get a little wiser too.”
Litt completed the podium finishers, followed by reigning Must See Racing Driver of the Year Joe Liguori and recent Kalamazoo Speedway winner Jason Blonde.
Rick Holley, Adam Biltz, J.J. Henes, Tom Jewell and Joshua Sexton closed the top 10.
Liguori kicked off the program by setting the fastest time during Dowker Engines Time Trials in memory of John Hamilton, turning a lap of 13.089 seconds (110.016 mph) around the four-tenths-mile, semi-banked oval and earning $100 for his efforts.
It marked the fourth top qualifying effort of Liguori’s Must See Racing career. However, he didn’t come close to the all-time Birch Run sprint car track record of 12.183 seconds (118.197 mph), set by Cameron Dodson on July 1, 2005.
Jewell, McCune and Litt won their respective eight-lap heat races prior to the feature, each banking $100 for their efforts as well.
The Must See Racing Sprint Car Series presented by Engine Pro season continues Saturday, July 2 with the Star Spangled Spectacular at Illinois’ Rockford Speedway. Jimmy McCune is the most recent series winner at the Rockford quarter-mile, taking the checkered flag there in 2018.
For more information on the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series, visit www.mustseeracing.com.
Must See Racing Engine Pro Sprint Car Series; Birch Run (Mich.) Speedway; June 10, 2022
Qualifying (best of two laps): 1. Joe Liguori, 13, 13.089-Liguori; 2. Charlie Schultz, 9s, 13.398-Reiser; 3. Ryan Litt, 07L, 13.449-Litt; 4. Jason Blonde, 42, 13.664-Nosal; 5. Jacob Dolinar, 48, 13.680-McCune; 6. Jimmy McCune, 88, 13.731-McCune; 7. Rick Holley, 85, 13.882-Holley; 8. Adam Biltz, 8A, 13.944-Reiser; 9. Jeff Bloom, 26, 14.166-Bloom; 10. J.J. Henes, 36JR, 14.333-Henes; 11. Joshua Sexton, 3K, 14.411-Koyan; 12. Todd McQuillen, 2K, 14.414-Koyan; 13. Tom Jewell, 7, 14.459-Fogle; 14. Tim Henthorne, 15T, 15.510-Team 151; 15. Junior Gould, 65, 16.035-Gould; 16. Tom Geren, 11G, NT-Geren.
ARP Heat #1 (8 laps, all transfer): 1. Tom Jewell [2], 2. Joshua Sexton [4], 3. Todd McQuillen [3], 4. Tim Henthorne [1], 5. Junior Gould [5].
Nitro Black Heat #2 (8 laps, all transfer): 1. Jimmy McCune [3], 2. Rick Holley [2], 3. Adam Biltz [1], 4. J.J. Henes [4], 5. Jeff Bloom (DNS).
Mahle Heat #3 (8 laps, all transfer): 1. Ryan Litt [2], 2. Joe Liguori [4], 3. Charlie Schultz [3], 4. Jacob Dolinar [5], 5. Jason Blonde [1].
June 9, 2022 – Holly, Michigan – The Must See Racing Sprint Series presented by Engine Pro is set to invade Birch Run Speedway in Birch Run, Michigan this Friday night June 10. It will be race #4 of the 2022 season for the winged 410 series that bills itself as having the ‘Fastest Short Track Cars in the World’.
Excitement is building as the series makes its first appearance in the month of June. A full program of racing is on tap complete with qualifying, three (8) lap heat races, and a 30-lap feature event. An autograph session is also planned prior to the feature event, giving fans an opportunity to meet the MSR drivers up close. Racing will begin at 7:30pm with feature events to begin at approximately 9pm. The sprint cars are scheduled to be the first feature event of the night.
A good field of cars is expected featuring the MSR regulars of Adam Biltz, Jason Blonde, Jeff Bloom, Jacob Dolinar, Tom Geren, Junior Gould, J.J. Henes, Rick Holley, Tom Jewell, Joe Liguori, Ryan Litt, Jimmy McCune, Todd McQuillen, Charlie Schultz, Joshua Sexton, and Joe Speakman among many others.
The event will also be the second STEADFAST VETERANS CHALLENGE of the year. The nights fast qualifier will be given the opportunity to collect an additional $500 if he agrees to start at the rear of the field. If he can win the main event, he will pick up an additional $500. If he chooses to not accept the challenge, the money will roll over to the next event.
Must See Racing will be making it first appearance at Birch Run Speedway since July 5, 2019. Jason Blonde won a thriller over Ryan Litt that saw 23 cars on hand battling nearly 100-degree temperatures. Brain Gerster was the night’s fastest qualifier with a lap of 13.287 seconds around the 4/10-mile speedway.
For more information, please visit www.mustseeracing.com.
June 7, 2022 – Veteran Bangor, Michigan driver Jeff Bloom is set to return to Must See Racing Sprint Series presented by Engine Pro competition this Friday night June 10 when the series visits Birch Run Speedway in Birch Run, Michigan. It will be the first time the series has competed at Birch Run Speedway since 2019.
Bloom, a 2013 inductee to the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame, will be returning to MSR competition after skipping the American Speed U.S. Nationals at Kalamazoo Speedway over Memorial Day Weekend. Bloom was absent from the event to focus on Little 500 activities, where he has picked up three victories in the 500-lap classic over the years.
Bloom now returns home to the series he has competed with full-time since its inception in 2010. Bloom scored a preliminary night feature event at the Indianapolis Speedrome last June to give him the distinction of having won feature events in seven different decades, a truly remarkable feat. The seventy -two-year old veteran driver is a fan favorite wherever he goes and has a huge following.
Bloom got off to a rough start when the series opened their 2022 season at South Boston Speedway in South Boston, Virginia. Bloom experienced engine issues on opening night when it was discovered he had a blown head gasket. Bloom indicated last Friday afternoon that he was in the process of repairing the engine. Bloom hasn’t been able to tend to the ailing engine until now due to a hectic May. He expects to be ready in time for this weekend’s race, but it will go right down to the wire.
Bloom will be one of several drivers who have captured an MSR feature victory expected to compete this Friday night. For more info on Must See Racing please visit www.mstseeracing.com.
