June 20
Crystal Motor Speedway,
Crystal, MI
Sanction: Unsanctioned Supers (Dan Salay Memorial) - $11,000
Information provided by: Track reports (last updated June 20, 5:30 am)
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Key notes: Travis Stemler earned $2,000 in winning Friday's preliminary feature at Crystal for the ninth annual Dan Salay Memorial, a 50-lap, $11,000-to-win special for unsanctioned Super Late Models. ... Stemler, of Ionia, Mich., led the final six laps for his second Crystal win of the season, adding to a May 16 victory in local Super Late Models. ... Stemler chases his second straight Salay Memorial triumph after winning last year's $11,000 finale. ... The three-day program kicked off when Josh Knoll of Lake, Mich., led all 30 laps of Thursday's Thirlby Throwdown, a $2,000-to-win invitational event for Late Model non-feature winners. ... The event honors Dan Salay, a former racer and longtime crew chief for Brandon Thirlby who died in 2017 after a short bout with cancer. ... Thirlby, of Traverse City, Mich., has two wins in local competition thus far. ... Dona Marcoullier of Houghton Lake, Mich., won $4,000 there last fall in unsanctioned action. ... Derrick Hilliker of Midland, Mich., earned a local victory there last weekend to go along with a $4,000 triumph in the fall of 2023. ... A kids carnival and bike giveaway will take place Saturday from 2-5 p.m.; a driver autograph session will be held from 5-6 p.m. on the main concourse; a fireworks show is also on the night’s off-track festivities. ... Modifieds, street stocks, pro stocks, bombers, sport compacts and mini wedges are on the undercard. … Pits open at 2 p.m. and grandstands open at 4 with racing at 7. … Watch live on IMCA TV.
Who to watch: Travis Stemler of Ionia, Mich., chases his second straight Salay Memorial victory at Crystal.
Points chase: Crystal points before Friday: 1. Derrick Hilliker (224); 2. Brandon Thirlby (191); 3. Travis Stemler (180); 4. Mike VanderMark Jr. (177); 5. Zach Calkins (171).
Expected entrants: Travis Stemler, Brandon Thirlby, Eric Spangler, Dona Marcoullier, Devin Shiels, Derrick Hilliker, Rylee Knoll, Logan Nickerson, Mike VandeMark Jr., David Hilliker, Brayden Shiels, Ryan Lanphierd, Jeffery Erickson, Rich Neiser, Dillon Kohn, Brenten DeYoung, Zack Swarts and more.
Car count: 33
Fast qualifier: Devin Shiels
Time: 14.316 seconds
Heat race winners: Eric Spangler, Dona Marcoullier, Devin Shiels, Mike VanderMark Jr.
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.
