Another Round of Champions Crowned Friday at Birch Run Speedway
Championship Night Round Two at Birch Run Speedway featured a new track record, a veteran getting a win in one of his next-to-last races, and epic point battles coming down to the last night of the racing season!
Top qualifying honors went to:
Sport Compacts - Nick Murdoch 15.864 for a new track record!
Finish Line Seamless Gutters Pure Stocks - Lonnie Saumier Jr. 16.717
Showcase Auto Sales Street Stocks - Nick Lechota 17.058
O’Guinn Family Funeral Homes Modifieds - David McManus 16.025
Every point had extra importance on the night in qualifying and the heats, with Heat Race Wins going to:
Showcase Auto Sales Street Stocks Johnny Hayden going from 3rd to first out of turn 4 in a three-wide pass for the lead at the line!
Sport Compacts Heat One: Mike Koepke
Heat Two: Nick Murdock
Finish Line Seamless Gutters Pure Stocks Heat One: Dennis Bronner Jr. in his first race back in 27 years!
Heat Two: Bryan Thompson
O’Guinn Family Funeral Homes Modifieds Heat One: Curtis Spencer
Heat Two: Tim Ryan
Heat Three: David McManus
Nick Lechota, the point leader by 46 coming into the night, looked to remain perfect in 2026 with wins, but he had to start seventh in the 20-lap Showcase Auto Sales Street Stock feature. Talen Diehl and Johnny Hayden led the field to green, but the first lap wasn’t complete when second in points, Duane Damon. suffered two flat tires from contact and then, in turn three. Hayden would lead lap one before another caution slowed the race three laps in. Lechota moved into second after the restart and soon got to the high side of Hayden in turn three, completing the pass for the lead in turn one. Larry Plamondon got by Chaz Taylor for the third spot with eight laps remaining. Lechota opened up an insurmountable lead as he cruised to his fifth feature win of the season and claimed the title of 2026 Champion. Hayden finished second ahead of Plamondon, Taylor, and Damon.
Elizabeth Kolb and Lily Kelley made up the front row for the start of the Sport Compact feature, with Kelley taking command of the lead. She would lead the first four laps before Nick Murdock powered by on the outside, bringing Pat Dent along and up into second. Logan McCaslin moved into third after battling with Kelley. A caution seven laps in reset the field, with Murdock again leading on the restart. All eyes were on Gary and Mike Koepke, as the father and son duo were only separated by five points entering the feature. The duo battled nose-to-tail with Rodney Nettleton right behind them. When the checkered flag flew, Nick Murdoch returned to O’Reilly Auto Parts victory lane ahead of Dent, McCaslin, Gary Koepke, and Rodney Nettleton. With his fourth-place finish, Gary Koepke was crowned the 2026 Sport Compact Champion!
Rex Perry led the opening lap of the Finish Line Seamless Gutters Pure Stocks feature, but on lap two, the drama hit for the points battle. Jim Miller Jr., just two points ahead of Lonnie Saumier Jr. was involved in an incident in turn two that resulted in his machine suffering a flat tire, forcing him to the pits and to restart at the tail of the field. A caution after the restart set the stage for Saumier to make his move. The veteran motored by Perry on the high side in turn three after the green flag flew, to take the lead and increase his chances at the championship.
Darren Burton sat second until Miller got by to place himself in second. Saumier had extended his lead by over two seconds when the caution flew with just four laps remaining. Saumier mastered the single-file restart, pulling ahead of Miller to not only take the win, but also a three-point advantage in the points, claiming his 17th track championship!
Robbie Johnson and Chaz Taylor comprised the front row for the O’Guinn Family Funeral Homes Modifieds. Johnson took the lead, with Tim Ryan moving into second. Starting seventh and eighth, and only separated by two points, Clemens and McManus tried to carve their way through the field. Ryan took over the top spot from Johnson after a lap-six caution. A caution a lap later put Johnson to the outside of Ryan for the restart, and he took the point off turn two. Another caution put Ryan back to the outside of Johnson, and this time he got by Johnson on the high side in turn three to take the lead with 16 laps in the books. Clemens saw his championship hopes slip away as he fell back in the field while McManus moved into third. Aaron Taylor and Blake Rowe battled for fifth as McManus methodically moved into third and began chasing down Johnson and Ryan. Johnson closed in the waning laps, but Tim Ryan would claim victory as he announced that this was one of his last three remaining races before hanging up the helmet for good! McManus finished third ahead of Tim Lahar and Blake Rowe to become a Champion for the fifth time in six years ( ‘21, ‘22, ‘23, ‘25, and ‘26)!
Justin Peptione worked his way from his third starting spot to take the lead in the Outlaw Figure 8 feature and go on to take the victory for the third time in 2026! Anthony Richardson, Nick Cooper, Andrew Burton, and John Hitsman Jr. completed the top five.
Stay tuned to the Birch Run Speedway website and Facebook page for details regarding the celebration of the Champions banquet as they become available.
The track will be hosting the Mid Michigan Mayhem truck show September 18th and 19th, the Jeep Babes Show & Shine-Charity event for HAVEN on September 26th, and the Backroad Beaute’ Salon 5th Anniversary Trunk-or-Treat on October 4th.
On Saturday, October 10th, the track will play host to the final Monster X Metals and Gold Eve of Destruction event. The Damned Wheels Club mini bike racers will be in action in a hauntingly good night of action, as it will be a Halloween-themed event with more details coming soon about that!
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