By: Chris Meyers
On lap nineteen, Ice got by Stephens to work his way into a top three spot. On lap twenty-one, the caution would fly for Stephens who came to an abrupt halt in turn four while running fourth. Stephens would take his ACME Racing machine to the pit area for the night with an ailing motor. After the halfway point, it was Burch, Jedrzejek, Ice, Gioia, and Gibson. Dawson would crack the top five by maneuvering around Gibson on lap twenty-four but his stay in the top five was short lived. Ice would get by Jedrzejek for the runner-up spot on lap thirty. Schultz charged his way up from the back to get into the top five on lap thirty-three by getting around Dawson. At the end though, the night belonged to Randy Burch as he dominated the forty lap feature event holding off Tim Ice and Timmy J. Top Qualifier: Charlie Schultz 12.306 - New Track Record By - Chris Porter
Middleburg Heights, Ohio driver Randy Burch has always been a fan favorite. He has earned the respect of the entire supermodified community for his professionalism on and off the track as well as his dedication to the supermodified division. After piloting his own supermodified for the past few years, Burch decided to drive for Steve Stout and ACME Racing in 2009. After struggling with some bad luck the past few years, Burch wasn’t going to be denied Saturday night at Lorain County as he picked up an overdue PPG Vibrance Collection Midwest Supermodified Association win. (Click READ MORE below)
Oswego, New York hot shoe Jason Spaulding and Sandusky, Ohio’s Gene Lee Gibson brought the field of seventeen Vibrance Collection Midwest Supermodifieds to the green flag. The caution would fly on lap three for a Charlie Schultz spin in turn three that saw Bobby Dawson and Denny Fisher spin to avoid.
Schultz was sent tail for bringing out the caution as the other two drivers were given their spot back. Jimmy Paller took his overheating supermodified to the pits for the night. Spaulding led Gibson, Burch, Trent Stephens, and Rich Reid to the restart as a lengthy green flag run would ensue. Current MSA points leader Timmy Jedrzejek went right to work on the restart getting around Reid and Stephens to get into fourth spot. Burch would motor by Gibson for the second spot and then Jedrzejek would follow suit a lap later. On lap six, Burch then powered by Spaulding for the lead as the ACME Racing pilot started to flex his muscle. The next lap, Timmy J would get by Spaulding for second and the drag race was on. Tim Ice moved the May Motorsports machine into the fourth spot getting around Spaulding on lap eleven. Jedrzejek tried everything he could to get the Reed’s Salvage machine in the front spot but Burch was pulling away as Timmy J had his hands full with handling issues..
Burch’s emotional win was not only special and meaningful to his wife Rhonda and himself but to all the supermodified fans who packed the Lorain County stands. As Burch got out of his supermodified in victory lane, he received a thunderous roar and ovation from the fans who know the win was a longtime coming for the popular driver. Randy stated, “I’m speechless. What a great team. Look at this crowd! You guys are great! The car was such a great car tonight. We didn’t know what kind of car we were going to have going into the feature. We worked on it all day. The crew did a great job. The last few laps I knew the guys were back there. First, I saw the 8 car and then I saw the 77 car. I didn’t want a caution that’s for sure. I have to thank ACME Racing, The Chevy Network, Kasper Auto Group, Vibrance Collection, Speed meets art, Pinnacle Tool, Del Sangro's Restaurant, and Prostar Specialties. I put another sticker on the car and it’s the last sponsor I’m going to put on the car. I put a sticker of my son in the car right by the steering wheel. That’s what did it. I’m dedicating this win to him. We lost him three months ago. He was definitely riding with me tonight!”
Second place finisher Timmy Ice got his best finish ever in a supermodified. The man who manhandles the late model division has made his presence felt in the supermodifieds. The “Iceman” talked about his great run. “We made some changes after the heat race just trying to get the car to what I needed. We were good but I didn’t need the last caution. After I passed Timmy, I could have passed the 49 if we kept going at that point. I’m really excited to do this well. We passed a lot of good cars to get to second. I’d like to thank Dave and Lori May for giving me this opportunity and my father in law for doing the engines for our car at Fast Racing Engines. It’s been great.”
Third place finisher Timmy Jedrzejek entered the race with the points lead over Charlie Schultz. “We had our share of problems back there but we’ll take a third place and be proud of it. Those guys ran real strong tonight and there wasn’t anything I could do. On cold tires, I thought I might of had a shot.. Once I got some laps in the car, it was too free in the middle of the corner and I was just holding on hoping I wasn't going to drop any more positions.”
ACME Racing hot shoes Randy Burch and Trent Stephens picked up heat race wins. Charlie Schultz set the new track recording beating Dave Shullick Jr.’s track record from 2000. The PPG Vibrance Collection Midwest Supermodifieds return to Sandusky Speedway on Saturday June 27th, 2009 for their second show at the half-mile.
Editors Note: Stephen Gioia III was disqualified after post race inspection giving Charlie Schultz fourth place.
The ACME Racing crew celebrate in victory lane with Randy Burch after his huge win at Lorain County Speedway. (Photo by Jim Davidson)
Heat One: Randy Burch, Gene Lee Gibson, Stephen Gioia III , Tim Ice, Jason Spaulding, Lou LeVea Sr., Kyle Reed, Jack Smith, Denny Fisher, Bobby Dawson
Heat Two: Trent Stephens, Timmy Jedrzejek, Charlie Schultz, Matt Palmer, Rich Reid, Lou LeVea Jr., Mike Haury, Jon Henes, Jimmy Paller,
Feature (40 laps-12 car inversion): Burch, Ice, Jedrzejek, Schultz, Dawson, Smith, Spaulding, Gibson, Palmer, R. Reid, Haury, Stephens, LeVea Jr., Paller, D. Fisher, K. Reed, Gioia
Lap Leaders: Spaulding (1-5), Burch (6-40)
Trent Stephens wins MSA opener! Team mate Randy Burch came across the line in 2nd. Acme Racing made a statement early!
With opening weekend being at Oswego Speedway, some things were unsure going into the weekend. After practice, qualifying and the heat race I felt very comfortable in the car. Had actually turned the fastest lap in all 3 heat races.
In the feature, everything just fell my way. The car came in at the right time. As well as being very fast! Couldn't ask for a better start to a rookie season!
Thanks to everyone who congratulated me as well as the fans and Sponsors. The Chevy Network, Vibrance Collection by PPG, ProStar Specialties, Delta Computers, Domino's Pizza, Kasper Auto Group, Top Line Welding, 4th Turn Crazies, and Pinnacle Machine & Tools. Thanks so much!
Good run at Dunn Tire Raceway
Coming off a win Saturday night, and starting on the outside pole. I jumped out to an early lead. The car got really loose as the race went on and the right rear had no more rubber on it. With an ill handling car at a very tough track, bringing it home 3rd was an accomplishment.
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Jack Smith and Stephens led the 13-car field to the green to start the 40-lap main event. Stephens picked up where he’d left off at Oswego the night before, moving up to the point to lead lap No. 1. Smith, Jedrzejek, Bob Dawson and Charlie Schultz filled out the top five.
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Supermod rookie ready to win in top ride
Speaking of sprint cars, a notable story this year on the MSA tour will be 20-year-old Trent Stephens, who moves from the Buckeye Sprint Cars to take over the full-time driving duties of the Steve Stout-owned No. 19.. Continue Reading Full Article..
New Drivers start New Era for ACME Racing
By: Chris Meyers
As the supermodified off-season begins to hit full-swing and driver changes are expected to happen in ISMA, Oswego, and MSA competition, four-time MSA Champion car owner Steven Stout wanted to get a jump start on his search for his new supermodified pilots. After three-time MSA champion Dave Shullick Jr. parted ways with the #49 to run full-time for Clyde Booth in 2009 and ACME Racing and Moe Lilje separated, Stout was left to fill not one but two huge holes in his team. The ACME Racing crew is one of the best in the business but there’s no point in having a crew if you don’t have a driver!
Stout, one of the top mechanics in supermodified racing, immediately began looking for another driver that had the patience, understanding, and dedication that was necessary to be successful in the supermodified division. Steven and his father Rich couldn’t think of a better way to fulfill the cockpit of the #49 then to find the driver that has all three of those necessary ingredients and then some. Steven didn’t have to look far for his replacement in the #49. Stout has named the 2008 Dion Parish Perseverance award winner and fan favorite Randy Burch as one of his two new drivers for the 2009 season.
A fan favorite for his professionalism, dedication, and respect to and towards the supermodified division, Burch, a Middleburg Heights, Ohio resident, has been racing supermodifieds since 2002 and has over thirty years of racing experience to his racing resume that features two emod championships, four emod national wins, and over 100 career feature wins in supermodifieds, street stocks, late models, emods, and super late models. Burch’s consistency throughout the 2008 season helped propel him to a fifth place finish in MSA points driving for car owner Rhonda Burch. The one thing Burch is missing on his lengthy racing resume is that elusive MSA championship and he immediately goes in as a favorite to win the trophy in 2009 with his new ride.
The decision to drive the 49 wasn’t an easy decision to make as some would think but Burch is already looking forward to his new driving gig. He explained,”
It was an extremely difficult and thorough decision to leave the 52 car but in this point in my career, I felt this was the best decision for me. To go to a championship caliber team with an awesome crew and a proven track record is the next step towards my goal of an MSA championship.”
The teammate to Burch doesn’t have the experience that Burch has but he’s quickly proven that he’s a fast learner, clean racer, and has the talent to be a successful supermodified driver. The new driver of the #19 supermodified will be twenty-year old Trent Stephens. Stephens is no stranger to open wheel racing as he has picked up eleven career feature wins in 305 sprint car action. He has been racing since he was seven years old beginning with quarter midgets and has collected over ninety quarter midget wins to including the 2003 JSCA National Quarter-Midget Championship. In 2005, Stephens made his sprint car debut, claimed Sandusky Speedway Rookie of the Year, and picked up his first sprint car feature win at sixteen years of age. A year later, Stephens won the track championship at Sandusky and won the hard charger award as well. In 2008, Trent won the first ever Buckeye 305 sprint car show at the home of the supermodifieds, Oswego Speedway. In three supermodified races, two with ACME Racing and one with Gary Cambarare, Trent has already picked up a heat win and a sixth place finish.
Stephens is looking forward to driving for Steven and Rich Stout as well a car that is fast and reliable. He also realizes the crew that puts in all the effort into making the car fast and reliable. The young gun stated, “Driving for Steve and Rich Stout is going to be awesome! The two races so far with the team went well with the chemistry. Yeah they pick on me, but it is a fun atmosphere. It's always great to be surrounded by people that want to win but have fun at the same time. The crew is great because everyone knows what they need to do to make the cars safe and fast. In my two races thus far with ACME Racing, the team gave me two cars that were capable of running up front. The cars are top notch championship caliber machines with a great track record. I couldn't have asked for better cars or a team for my first full season in supermodifieds.”
Trent has already felt the knowledge and help that new teammate Randy Burch brings to the team. “I really think Randy will be an awesome team mate. Being a rookie, I'm going to be learning every race. To have a veteran Super Modified driver of Randy’s caliber is going to be awesome when I have a question or need help with anything. He's a great competitor and an even better guy off the track. He's earned a lot of respect from all the Super drivers, whether it’s MSA, ISMA or at Oswego. He has already been a great deal of help to me. When I ran for Steve in the #19 in the last MSA race at Lorain County, I was having problems with the car handling in my first practice session. I wasn't sure if it was me or the car. So, the next practice session he got in front of me and let me follow him to get the line down, and that took my lap times down significantly. Any question I had about driving the car, or the track, he answered and it made me faster and helped me out tremendously. I know Randy as a team mate will be nothing but positives for me. I hope being teammates with Randy will help him out as well. The veteran and the Rookie.
A very excited and enthusiastic Stephens is looking forward towards the 2009 racing campaign. As any racer does, Stephens has set some goals for himself. He has already shown the energy and the heart of a lion needed to accomplish them. ”Next year, I'm going to do the best I can while learning. I want to earn the respect of the other drivers and be successful. My ultimate goal is to win the points championship, but with the tough competition, learning curve, and inexperience that would be tough. I wouldn’t mind winning Rookie of the Year, a feature, and being consistent week in and week out. Hopefully my Super career will start off like my Sprint career, with me winning a feature in only my 5th race.”
Trent knows he wouldn’t be where he is today without the unyielding support of family and friends. I've got to thank my Dad and Mom, and my entire family. They supported racing as a family sport and are the reason I'm racing today. Thanks to the car owners, Steve and Rich, for giving me the opportunity to drive a top notch car with a great crew behind me.
You can tell Trent’s going to fit in well with the fans because like all of the supermodified drivers, Trent acknowledges them.”I know I don't have very many fans as of right now but hopefully I'll get some more. I've made friends with some of the fans and enjoy talking to them at the race track. It's great to know that someone enjoys watching me race and cheer me on every race.’
