10/29/2023
Birch Run Speedway
Monster Smash a Monster Success!
A brisk fall day greeted fans at Birch Run Speedway as the 2023 season concluded with the Monster X Metals and Gold Dixie Destruction Monster Smash event. The Halloween-themed event featured a slew of costumed fans and vehicles around the facility grounds.
The events got kicked off with the Pull race. Darby Christensen grabbed the early lead with partner Todd Nelson until Doug Hennessey and Joshua Lee got by. They would hold off Christiansen and Nelson for the win, with Jason Dvorscak finishing third.
The Push Race saw Silas Mccaslin push his partner Cody Luark to the win. They had to hold off Justin Pepitone and Gerry Persails Jr, who had made their way up from their 11th-place starting spot. Christensen and Nelson finished third.
The wild Double O feature had 38 drivers start the 30-lap feature (15 on the third mile and 15 on the four-tenths mile). Gerry Persails Jr got the lead and held it until the first red flag for a momentary fireball underneath the 83J. When the race resumed, Cody Luark moved in to challenge Persails along with Darby Christensen and Paul Rigda III. The race was again red-flagged and Persails again would take the lead until Darby Christensen moved by to take the lead. Christensen led until near the halfway point when Paul Rigda was able to slide by and take the lead. With 10 laps to go, Luark charged back to challenge Rigda for the lead, at times getting side-by-side on the third and four-tenths mile surfaces, as Christensen, Persails, Anthony Richardson, and Zack Lopez all would close on their bumpers. Rigda was able to hang on for the win as Richardson got by Luark for second. Finishing behind Richardson were Lopez, Luark, and Justin Pepitone to complete the top five.
After an intermission and trunk-or-treat for the kids, the Top Speed Motorsports Spectator Drags lined up. Darby Christensen and Jimmy Miller made the finals, and after each taking a win in the best two-out-of-three match, Miller took his Camaro to the win.
Cody Luark started on the pole of the first Flagpole race and never faltered in picking up the win over Zack Lopez and Joshua Lee. In Flagpole Race number two, Jacob Mader took the lead and held it until Justin Pepitone got by. Pepitone maintained the lead until near the halfway point of the 10-lap feature when his left front broke, handing the lead back to Mader. After a red flag slowed the action, Mader still held the lead, but a left front tire that was losing air was giving him issues, allowing Anthony Duvernois to close the distance. The duo made contact on the backstretch with both vehicles getting crossed up and able to continue with Mader ahead. With two laps to go, Duvernois took the lead around the first flagpole, lost the lead around the second as Mader and he again made contact at the third and final flagpole that spun Duvernois around it better and Jason Grissom to get by Mader. Duvernois took the white flag and went on to win over Grissom and Mader.
Gerry Persails Jr took the lead at the start of the Back To School Race with Cody Luark, Silas Mccaslin, and Paul Rigda following. Persails and Luark got by the first bus just before the red lights came on, forcing everyone behind to lose ground. The leaders would duck and dodge around the buses and other competitors before Persails was able to get away. He led until just past halfway when Anthony Richardson moved in and snuck by for the lead and eventual win. Zack Lopez got by Persails for second, while Luark and Rigda rounded out the top five.
The School Bus Figure 8 didn’t let the kids down as they banged sides, bent bumpers, and sent parts flying off each other, The race was red-flagged once when Duane Damon put his bus on its side in turn one. A three-bus battle between Paul Rigda, Brenda Haynal, and Todd Nelson came down to the latter two battling for the win. Haynal got by Rigda and was looking for her second win of the season, but Nelson nosed his way by to take the win.
Hot tubs, a pop-up camper, and unique trailers were featured in the Trailer Figure 8. Paul Rigda III held the early lead until he tried to miss Jacob Michael and his trailer in the intersection and slid off the track, giving the lead to Darby Christensen. He would hold the lead for two laps until Anthony Richardson got by. Richardson would dodge the carnage on the track to pick up his second win of the night. Christensen held on for second over Jacob Mader, Rigda, and Brian Crittenden.
The Birch Run Speedway and Event Center will crown all of their 2023 Champions on November 18th. The awards banquet will take place at the Circus Park Event Center located at 4240 N. Wilson Road in Clio. Cocktail hour with a cash bar will start at 5, with dinner at 6 and the award ceremony starting immediately after. A DJ and dancing will follow the awards portion of the night.
Submitted By: Charles Darling
Article Media
