Senneker Takes Kzoo

For the first time in the Kalamazoo Speedway’s long history the Great Lakes Outlaw Late Model Series made an appearance. A star studded lineup started with qualifications on a very hot July afternoon and three different drivers broke the current Kalamazoo outlaw late model track record. Mike Luberda Jr was third quick with an 11.962 lap. Then the TA Gentry team cars improved on that with Steve Needles setting an 11.928 time then teammate Terry Senneker Jr set the all time mark at 11.908!

The 75 lap race featured Mark Shook and Tyler Roahrig leading the field to the green flag. Senneker quickly moved from his fifth starting position to take the lead but was quickly challenged by Needles. The race was slowed by only two caution flags. The later stages of the race became very interesting when twelfth starting Tim Devos made an incredible charge with NASCAR driver Andy Ponstein hot on Devos’s bumper. The final handful of laps saw Devos make it to second and Ponstein who started ninth finally take third on the last lap relegating Needles to fourth. Rick Sexton took the fifth spot with pole sitter Shook finishing sixth, Roahrig seventh, Rick Senneker eighth, 18 year old Derrick Griffin finished ninth and Justin Claucherty tenth.

Senneker, a very popular driver at Kalamazoo thanked his sponsors in victory lane, his hard working crew and car owner Terry Gentry. The Allstar Performance move of the race award went to Devos for his incredible charge and the Engine Pro Hard Luck driver of the race was Shawn Grace.  The staff of the Great Lakes Outlaw Late Model Series would like to thank Gary Howe and his fine crew for all of their support with this event.

The next scheduled event for the GLOLMS is Saturday August 7 at the always exciting Plymouth Speedway.