
Photo: Flyin Brian Ross celebrates his Outlaw Late Model win at
Plymouth Speedway Friday.
For Immediate Release
Gunkel, Long, Ross, Kaechle winners at Plymouth Speedway
PLYMOUTH, Ind. – Friday, June 8, 2012 — Kevin Gunkel dominated the
Late Model race and a late surge by Plymouth’s Shawn Amor to win
Friday night at Plymouth Speedway.
There were plenty of fans in the house to watch the win, as the track
hosted $25 carload night, a nickel pitch for kids and a cast for cash
event for adults.
Gunkel, of North Webster, said he was happy to beat Amor, one of the
track’s toughest competitors. “Amor’s a good driver, and it’s nice to
be able to beat a good driver like Amor.”
Wade Berger dominated early, with Plymouth’s Robert Reed and
Tippecanoe’s Dave Long close behind until a caution by Pee Wee Warren
– also of Plymouth – closed the gap in the Street Stocks. Going green
again, just a few laps went by before local driver D.J. Frost hit hard
and caused some damage to his car. Berger took the lead from the
caution but Long took just two laps to catch and pass him. Plymouth’s
Jeff Stetler moved into third, before one more caution by Warren
slowed the field again. Long passed Berger and pulled away while
Berger and Stetler battled to second and third, respectively.
“Our car was good tonight,” Long said. “I don’t know if anyone in the
stands could hear or not, but we were running on 7 cylinders.”
Three cars pulled to the front of the Outlaw Late Models – South
Bend’s Mike Shewchuk, Shawn Amor and Flyin Brian Ross, of Plymouth.
Shewchuk pulled away while Amor and Ross battled for the second spot.
Steve Stacy, also of Plymouth, was close behind in fourth. After a
restart, Ross got passed Amor and drove hard to the outside of
Shewchuk, who got a little loose in turn 2, allowing Ross to pass.
Ross pulled ahead while Shewchuk and Amor finished second and third,
with Stacy keeping the fourth spot.
An extra $300 prize awaited the Hornets, provided by Community Wide
Federal Credit Union. It looked to be Sal Bustamante’s race as he came
from mid-pack to lead by lap 3. A tough break came for Daren Miller,
who had mechanical issues in a new car after replacing one he wrecked
two weeks ago. Friday night was still a memorable one for him off the
track, as it was Miller’s high school graduation night.
Bustamante was passed by Kelton Kaechle with 7 laps to go, but battled
back on the high side until he dipped underneath and almost grabbed
the lead back. It was all Keachle to the checkers though, with
Bustamante taking second, and Sean Stuart of North Liberty taking
third.
Top Speed Fabrication 75-lap feature will highlight Friday night’s
racing next week; while NASCAR champ Tony Stewart will be running in
the Sprints On Dirt Saturday night at the Bullring at Plymouth
Speedway. Check out the website www.plymouthspeedway.net for ticket
prices. Racing starts at 8 each night.
For more photos, visit the Speedway’s Facebook page.
Media Contact: M. Nixon, MNixonspeedwaypr@gmail.com; 574-952-9920.
