Birch Run Hosts Destruction, Mini Bikes, Modifieds Friday Night

Fans at the Birch Run Speedway were treated to a rare triple card event as the Monster X Metals and Gold Eve of Destruction series was joined by the Damned Wheel Club and Outfront Powersports Wheelie Club mini bike racers, and the O’Guinn Family Funeral Homes Modifieds.

The only preliminary event action for the evening was qualifying for the O’Guinn Family Funeral Homes Modifieds, and David McManus paced the field with a 16.051 lap time.

The Damned Wheel Club and Outfront Powerssports Wheelie Club kicked off the action with motos that utilized parts of the third and four-tenths mile surfaces.  The action included a last-lap pass in turn four of the big track that brought the crowd to their feet!  We want to thank both groups for being part of the show and look forward to seeing them again on October 10th!Competing for only the third time this season due to rainouts, the O’Guinn Family Funeral Homes Modifieds placed Kyle Smith and Chaz Taylor on the front row for the start of their 35-lap feature.  Smith, in his debut at Birch Run, paced the field early while the rest of the field battled behind.  Nick Clemens got by Damian Lytle for second with four laps in and started to hunt down Smith.  Meanwhile, Chaz Taylor and David McManus got around Lytle for second and third.  By lap 8, Clemens caught Smith and made the pass on the high side entering turn three to take the lead.  McManus cleared Smith three laps later and set his sights on the leader. McManus caught Clemens with nine laps remaining and pressured for the lead.  Looking high and low over the closing laps, McManus made several attempts to get to the inside of the #34, but would come just short as Clemens would fend off the advances to pick up his second win of 2026.  Kyle Smith finished third ahead of Chaz Taylor and Robbie Johnson.

The destruction portion of the night kicked off with the Pull race.  Andrew Burton was chased by Anthony Richardson as the two navigated towing their partners and other competitors the entirety of the race.  Richardson got to within striking distance, but was unable to get by Burton for the win.  Burton and partner JD DoorenBos celebrated an emotional win, honoring the memory of Danny Honeysette.  Ron Lowell,  Jacob Michael, and Ethan Martin completed the top five.

Anthony Richardson and partner Zane Cruz made their way to the front in the Push race and left everyone in their dust, opening up a half-track lead over the field on their way to victory.  Finishing second through fifth were Andrew Burton, Tyler Myers, Jacob Michael, and Maverick Morrow.

A bit of drama surrounded the finish and outcome of the Front Wheel Drive flagpole race.  Traffic jams at the flagpoles and bent bumpers and doors were best navigated by Caitlin Scully after battling Brad Weissgerber.  Finishing second, Weissgerber inherited the win when Scully's #420 didn’t heed race officials' commands to pull into victory lane for pictures.  JD DoorenBos, Richard Kennedy, Chris Persails, and Richard Gibson finished second through fifth.

Suvanah Lowell took the early lead in the Rear Wheel Drive flagpole race, but Anthony Richardson got around her to take the lead.  Richardson went on to grab his second win of the night.  Nick Cooper got by Lowell to score second as Andrew Burton and Adam Sutter trailed behind.

Multiple leaders, multiple stops and starts, and donuts thrilled the fans during the Red Light/Green Light race.  28 drivers battled, and in the end, Doug Hennessy stood tall in victory lane.  Nick Cooper would get close to the eventual winner but had to settle for second ahead of Tyler Myers, Jason Grissom, and Anthony Richardson.

A 50-lap enduro wrapped up the night, but it had a twist.  The drivers were pacing before the start when race officials decided to make the drivers run counterclockwise around the track.  Jason Grissom led the opening lap until Richard Kennedy got by.  Kennedy led three laps before Andrew Burton took over.  Burton and teammate Nick Cooper ducked and dodged their way around the track and fellow competitors for the next 22 laps, when Cooper snuck by Burton to grab the lead.  Cooper’s lead opened as Burton started to fade into the clutches of Anthony Richardson.  Cooper held the lead until very late in the race when he got spun and lost the lead to Richardson.  Richardson led the final three trips around to pick up another checkered flag ahead of Doug Hennessy, Cooper, Burton, and Shane Fogarty.

This Friday will be the second Autograph night of the season along with kids’ night!  The O’Guinn Family Funeral Homes Modifieds, Finish Line Seamless Gutters Pure Stocks, and Sport Compacts will all be in action on the Four-tenths mile.  For the Sport Compacts, this will act as a tune-up race in preparation for the following week's World Series of Compacts event.  The Backroad Beaute’ Salon Sport Trucks are on the card, as is the Outlaw Figure 8s. 

Advance tickets can be purchased at www.birchrunevents.com