Mike Spatola climbs on his car to celebrate in victory lane.
What won the race: Surviving a late-race restart, fourth-starting Mike Spatola of Manhattan, lll., held off fifth-starting Eric Spangler of Lake City, Mich, to earn a $4,000 victory in Friday night's co-sanctioned American Ethanol Late Model Series and Sunoco American Late Model Series feature at I-96 Speedway.
Quotable: “I actually messed up when that guy was pulling off the track and about hit him,” said Spatola. “I was looking at my signal guy and … I don’t know … I lost my mark there and messed up getting into (turn) one and found something there and got a lot better. I didn’t want them cautions. I felt my right rear (tire) going away there and I didn’t know if I was gonna re-fire, especially them last two laps. I could see all them crumbs coming across the race track.”
Key notes: The victory was Spatola's first-ever on the American Ethanol tour and the sixth of his career in ALMS action. ... The race marked the second of three events the American Ethanol and ALMS tours will co-sanction at the Michigan oval this season.
On the move: Brandon Thirlby of Traverse City, Mich., started 20th and finished third.
Winner's sponsors: Spatola's Rocket Chassis by Brucebuilt Performance is powered by a Custom Race Engine and sponsored by Big Daddy Scrap, Health Nutz Natural Foods, B&D Chemical, Steve's Performance, Fastlane Wraps, T&S Heating, Cooling and Refrigeration, Allstar Performance and Koch's Equipment Company.
Points chase: Spangler (351) entered the evening leading the Ethanol Tour ahead of Brandon Thirlby (344), Steve Casebolt (336), Nick Kurtz (319) and Travis Stemler (315).
Car count: 22
Fast qualifier: Nick Kurtz
Polesitter: David Mielke
Heat race winners: Nick Kurtz, David Mielke, Scott Fisk, , , , ,
Next series race: July 5, Merritt Speedway (Lake City, MI) $5,000