95 Dominique Van Wieringen - Amherstburg, Ontario / Canada. (Chad Finley Racing Photo)DeWitt, Michigan (Tuesday, May 8th, 2012): The fast 3/8s (0.375) mile high-banked paved oval of Springport Motor Speedway was the site of 16-year-old Dominique Van Wieringen’s first race of the 2012 racing season as it was opening night at the speed plant located northwest of Jackson in Springport, Michigan.
After Qualifying eighth fastest out of the 19 Outlaw Super Late Models on hand, Van Wieringen rolled out for her Heat Race and took her first checkered flag in her first live racing action of the year! “I had a little trouble trying to get the different style of qualifying down from Spartan's group qualifying to Springport’s single car format,” the Amherstburg, Ontario / Canada teenager explained.
“The heat race was really surprising because it was my first real race ever there, I just wanted to get as much experience as possible and to learn the track with cars on the track with me. Winning was not what I had in mind, but we’ll definitely take it.” She smiled.
In the 30-lap Feature, she would start on the outside of the fourth row and just a couple of laps into the race, contact with another car forced her to drive through the infield bringing out the caution flag. After restarting at the rear of the field, she maneuvered her way back towards the front and came out of the event with a solid seventh place finish.
“I made a couple of mistakes in the race and put us a little behind, but we managed to get a lot of valuable race experience having to work my way from the back to finish seventh. It was a lot of fun and I can't wait to race there again.” She continued. The next race at Springport for Van Wieringen will be on Saturday, May 19th. Going into the May 19th show, Van Wieringen is sitting in fifth place in the season long points chase.
Now the Canadian teenager’s focus shifts over to the ¼ (0.250) mile semi-banked paved oval of Spartan Speedway, located south of Lansing in Mason, Michigan as the track is already two weeks into their season, but this Friday, May 11th it’ll be the first appearance of the season for the weekly Outlaw Super Late Models. “This year with adding an additional track to our program, we’re now we’re at the point to where we want to win races and contend for championships.” She ended.
