Mount Pleasant Speedway
Thirlby tops Ruhlman for ALMS victory
Brandon Thirlby heads for victory. (Steve Datema)
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (Aug. 3) — Brandon Thirlby of Traverse City, Mich., raced to his second-career Sunoco American Late Model Series victory Friday night at Mount Pleasant Speedway, earning $2,000 at the 3/8-mile oval. | Slideshow
The 10th-starting Thirlby chased down race-long leader Brian Ruhlman to grab the point midway through the race and led the remaining distance in his first start in a new Rocket Chassis.
Ruhlman of Clarklake, Mich., settled for the runner-up finish with Chris Keller of Adrian, Mich., third. Rusty Schlenk of Weston, Ohio, recovered from a mid-race spin to finish fourth with Eric Spangler of Lake City, Mich., rounding out the race’s top five finishers.
The race was slowed by just one caution appearing for Schlenk’s early spin.
ALMS competitors move to Oakshade Raceway in Wauseon, Ohio, on Saturday for the $4,900-to-win Barney Oldfield Race.
Sunoco ALMS @ Mount Pleasant: (1) Brandon Thirlby, (2) Brian Ruhlman, (3) Chris Keller, (4) Rusty Schlenk, (5) Eric Spangler, (6) Devin Shiels, (7) Ryan VanderVeen, (8) Herb Reich, (9) Adam Thrush, (10) Scott Phillips, (11) Phil Ausra, (12) Alan Galgoci, (13) Blaine Hendrick, (14) Brad Hardin, (15) Bob Hardin.
