AMA Motocross First Open Practice / Open House on Sunday, May 20th

Lake Odessa, Michigan (Monday, May 14th, 2012): History will be made THIS Saturday, May 19th as the Inaugural race for the Allstar Performance Michigan Dirt Cup Late Models Tour Presented by Lane Automotive will bring 40+ Miller Lite UMP Super Late Models to I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, Michigan! The weekly competitors of the United Midwestern Promoters (UMP) DIRTcar Racing Series will take on the traveling stars from the Flint, Michigan based series in their first Official race of the tour.

The series held three season preview races a year ago and now it’ll all count for points for the very first time on May 19th as Defending Track Champion and 7th annual Ice Breaker Feature Winner, Tom Sprague Jr., as well as former Two-Time Track Champion, Eric Spangler, plus Zack Olger, Dona Marcoullier, Brandon Thirlby, Sammy Epling, Rich Neiser, Billy Bray, Kris Patterson Jr., and many more will all have a say in the outcome of the first official MDC Late Models Tour event.

Joining the Allstar Performance Michigan Dirt Cup Late Models Tour Presented by Lane Automotive / Miller Lite UMP Super Late Models will be the Rudd’s Septic Service UMP Street Stocks, Smyrna Bar & Restaurant UMP Sport Compacts, Spectator Drags and a special Stunt Show to be held at Intermission. The Accurate Engines UMP Modifieds will have the night off.

Ticket Prices for the Inaugural Michigan Dirt Cup Late Models Tour event on Saturday, May 19th are: Adults (13-61): $15.00 – Seniors (62 and Over): $12.00 – Children (6-12) $8.00 – Kids (5 and Under): FREE – Family Pass $35.00 (*A family pass will get 2 adults and 2 children into the races. Once inside, the Kid’s Club is Free for the Kids!) – Pit Passes: $25.00 (for any age that can walk, infants are free). Get your tickets exclusively with ShowClix! Click on the link for more information: http://www.showclix.com/event/223081

Every Saturday nights; Pit Gates will Open at 3:00p.m., the Grandstand Gates will open at 5:00p.m., Practice will start at 6:00p.m. and will go until 6:25p.m., as each division gets one Practice Session apiece. Then after the Drivers Meeting at 6:30p.m., followed by Pre-Race Ceremonies / Invocation / National Anthem(s), Racing will begin at 7:00p.m.

Lake Odessa, Michigan (Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012): After a week delay due to Mother Nature, the 7th annual Ice Breaker / Opening Night 2012 was held at the fast and newly revamped 3/8s (0.375) mile high-banked dirt oval of I-96 Speedway. 119 cars jammed the pits to kick off the respective chases for the 2012 United Midwestern Promoters (UMP) DIRTcar Racing Series Weekly Track Championships in Lake Odessa, Michigan. It was also the first race of the 2012 campaign for the Allstar Performance Michigan Dirt Cup Modifieds Tour Presented by Lane Automotive.

28 Sammy Epling - Perry, Michigan. 2012 Final Design.... (S.J.E. Motorsports Photo)Perry, Michigan (Thursday, May 3rd, 2012): Mother Nature is not normally a friend of any racecar driver. Weather related postponements make for unhappy drivers and teams. But in the case of Perry, Michigan veteran, Sammy Epling, a postponement was what he was desperately needing last Saturday, April 28th and due to the unusually cold temperatures last weekend, Epling got his wish.

The 2012 racing season will begin for the S.J.E. Motorsports crew at on Saturday, May 5th at Epling’s adopted home track, the fast and newly revamped I-96 Speedway, located just 45 west of his Perry, Michigan race shop in Lake Odessa, Michigan for the 7th annual Ice Breaker / Opening Night 2012. With the postponement of this race from April 28th, Epling’s chances to go after the UMP Super Late Models Track Championship were enhanced as he would’ve missed the show had it been ran last Saturday.

“The car just wasn’t ready. We had some motor issues, but they’re fixed now and we’ve got a fast bullet under the hood and we’re ready to go this weekend,” The 42-year-old stated as he and his S.J.E. Motorsports Team makes final preparations for the first race weekend for the team of the 2012 racing season.

“We’re going to shake down the car this Friday either at Mt. Pleasant Speedway, Winston Speedway, Hartford Motor Speedway, or even possibly Limaland Motorsports Park for the Sunoco American Late Model Series race there to make sure we’re good to go. The weather will play a role in which track we head out too, and then we’re going to get after it on Saturday.” He added.

In addition to chasing after the 2012 Track Championship at I-96, Epling also plans on an all-out assault on the Inaugural Michigan Dirt Cup Late Models Tour Championship, which begins at I-96 on Saturday, May 19th. “We’re focused on that Championship for sure. Andy Stebbins and Bill Long have put together a great program with that series and watching how successful the Modifieds deal was last year, I can’t wait for this season to get going. We want that Championship too without a doubt!” Epling continued.

m14 Brandon Thirlby - Traverse City, Michigan. (M.P.H. Promotions Photo)Traverse City, Michigan (Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012): The end of April was supposed to feature a nice two races in two nights weekend close to home for Brandon Thirlby starting on April 27th at Mt. Pleasant Speedway in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan for their 2012 Season Opener. Then on April 28th at I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, Michigan for the tracks’ 7th annual Ice Breaker / Opening Night 2012.

The Thirlby Automotive Racing Team went one for two over the weekend after racing at Mt. Pleasant and finishing a solid third. The next day at I-96, Track Officials were forced to postpone opening night until this Saturday, May 5th.

“We didn't do as much racing as we would have liked, but we recorded another top five finish and my brother Collin (Thirlby) did an awesome job in the modified with a second place finish on Friday night.” Stated the Traverse City, Michigan driver. “The car was good, but we needed a little something more and I think we’ll be ok this weekend when we go back to Mt. Pleasant and especially at I-96.” He added.

This Friday, May 4th will see the 24-year-old make a return trip to Mt. Pleasant for UMP DIRTcar Racing Series weekly action and then on Friday, May 5th will offer the only opportunity for Thirlby to get some much needed track time on the fast and newly revamped 3/8s (0.375) mile high-banked dirt oval of I-96 Speedway in preparation for the Inaugural Michigan Dirt Cup Late Models Tour race there on Saturday, May 19th.

“We will have the same plan of attack this weekend as we did last weekend with Mt. Pleasant on Friday and tuning up at I-96 for the first Michigan Dirt Cup race.” He continued. “We're definitely getting anxious for the MDC to start up and also the I-96 points chase. There isn’t a lot of show there this season for us, so every one of them is pretty important and hopefully we can start off strong there.” He ended.

For the 2012 racing season, Thirlby’s familiar black and purple #m14 UMP Super Late Models which is a Mastersbilt Racecar will carry sponsorship decals all season long from Thirlby Automotive as well as Homestead Motorsports, FK Rod Ends, Integra Racing Shocks, Allstar Performance, Micro-Armor Racing, and M.P.H. Promotions.

82 Jacob Poel - Spring Lake, Michigan. (Randy Ellen Photo)Spring Lake, Michigan (Tuesday, May 1st, 2012): When the formation of the Michigan Dirt Cup Modifieds Tour became a reality on April 30th, 2011 with the inaugural race at I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, Michigan. 63 Teams answered the call for the brand new series. This was also the season opener at the fast 3/8s (0.375) mile high-banked dirt oval and little did Jacob Poel know, that the start of the 2011 campaign would be a race season only dreams are made of.

Now the Spring Lake, Michigan driver hopes a repeat is in the works as all of the same logistics are in place this Saturday, May 5th as I-96 Speedway hosts the 7th annual Ice Breaker / Opening Night 2012. In addition it’s also the 2012 Door Opener for the Michigan Dirt Cup Modifieds Tour. At the end of 2011, the 25-year-old would be crowned both the 2011 Michigan Dirt Cup Modifieds Tour Champion as well as the 2011 I-96 Speedway UMP Modifieds Track Champion.

"The 82 crew has built confidence in their program and is ready to take on the numbers the Dirt Cup will offer," Stated the Reigning UMP DIRTcar Racing Series Michigan State Champion. "We’re excited! The last couple weeks we have been really fine tuning the car and feel it’s going to be the best its’ been so far this season.” He added. In seven races he’s raced in early on in the 2012 season, Poel has recorded Two Feature Wins, Four Top Five’s, and Six Top 10 finishes.

“Having the first Michigan Dirt Cup race at one of our home tracks should play into our favor." Poel continued as he and the entire Jacob Poel Racing Team continue to prepare for the all-important first race of the season for the Flint, Michigan based series. "We want to start the MDC Tour out right and that means with a win and to be on top of the point’s right from the first race!" He ended.

Prior to the Michigan Dirt Cup Modifieds Tour Season Opener at I-96, Poel hopes to continue his quest for the 2012 UMP Modifieds Track Championship at Winston Speedway in Rothbury, Michigan on Friday nights and the team will head out to the 3/8s (0.375) mile semi-banked paved oval this Friday, May 4th. Poel is currently second in the season long points chase by just a single point behind current points leader, Andy Sprague.

94 Billy Bray - Spring Lake, Michigan. (Billy Bray Racing Photo)Spring Lake, Michigan (Thursday, April 26th, 2012): Two races into the 2012 racing season, veteran UMP Super Late Models competitor, Billy Bray knows that he can’t place the entire outlook on his entire year based off of a couple of shows. The Spring Lake, Michigan veteran is however hoping that his “so-so” start will translate into bigger and better things ahead.

This Friday & Saturday, April 27-28th is the first doubleheader weekend for the 43-year-old and it starts at his home track of Winston Speedway, located north of Muskegon in Rothbury, Michigan on Friday for a weekly show at the 3/8s (0.375) mile semi-banked dirt oval before heading east to I-96 Speedway, located east of Grand Rapids in Lake Odessa, Michigan on Saturday for the tracks 7th annual Ice Breaker / Opening Night 2012 / Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club Night on the newly revamped 3/8s (0.375) mile high-banked dirt oval.

“Hopefully we've got bad luck bug beaten. These last two weeks have tough, but we feel pretty good about the speed in the car.” Relayed Bray as he and his Billy Bray Racing Team continues preparations for the Winston / I-96 twin bill. “We just have to start getting the finishes we deserve to reflect it all of the hard work we’ve put into this program.” He added.

In two starts at Winston so far this season, Bray did record a 10th place finish on Opening Night back on April 13th, however on April 21st in the tracks signature event, the Integra Racing Shocks / Keyser Manufacturing / Player Hater 50, the veteran driver did not make the show. Despite a slow start to the year at Winston in the two races held so far, Bray currently sits 13th in the points, only nine markers out of the coveted top 10.

The race at I-96 This Saturday is vastly important to Bray who will make a run at the Michigan Dirt Cup Late Models Tour as he will make a run at that title and the first race of the inaugural season for the MDC tour is at I-96 on Saturday, May 19th.