Collins, Griffaw, Pierce, Ems & Suhre find Victory Lane at Tri-City Speedway!


Bryan Collins


Rusty Griffaw


Bobby Pierce


Danny Ems


Jordan Suhre

CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS FROM THE MARTY KOPP MEMORIAL AT TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY!

Pontoon Beach, IL (August 13th, 2010) With miserably hot temperatures near 100 degrees and the heat index over 110 degrees, Tri-City Speedway presented the Marty Kopp Memorial in honor of the fallen racer who passed away in 2009 after losing his battle with cancer.

Bryan Collins of Elsberry, Missouri piloted the familiar #00 normally driven by Randy Korte to victory lane in the Super Late Model division. Collins took the lead on the opening lap using his outside front row starting spot by beating pole sitter Dewayne Keifer into turn one. With the fast line being right around the very top, Collins worked the high line near perfection. Keifer gave chase and stayed right on Collins’ rear bumper until he slowed in turns three and four on lap thirteen, bringing out the caution flag. With Keifer being out, that would move Craig Smith into the second spot and Mark Voigt third on the restart. Smith would stay glued to Collins rear bumper for the first few laps as they raced around the high side, but Collins proved too strong at the end and opened up a lead of several car lengths before taking the checkered flag. Smith would finish second with Voigt third. Voigt would also earn the STLRacing.com Hard Charger Award after starting in the twelfth starting spot and moving up to third. Rick Salter would take fourth with Billy Laycock completing the top five.

The Modifieds put on a show for the fans to remember as Rusty Griffaw and Tommie Seets, Jr. battled all twenty laps for the lead with Dean Hoffman occasionally making it a three-way battle for the lead. Once again, the leaders found the fast way to be up on the high side, using a narrow cushion that was just a couple of feet off the outside wall. Seets would make attempt after attempt to slide past Griffaw through the corners, but each time Griffaw would hold off his attempt as the two narrowly avoided contact each and every time. On several occasions, Seets would successfully complete the slide job and take the lead, only to have Griffaw power back past as they exited the corner and raced down the straight-away. As Griffaw and Seets battled hard on the top side, Dean Hoffman was working the lower groove and would often pull along side the leaders for the top spot. In the end, Griffaw took the win with Seets finishing a close second and Hoffman third. Tim Lewis, Jr. would take the fourth spot and point leader Rick Conoyer rounded out the top five. Donovan Lodge who was a late arrival that missed the heat race action, started shotgun on the field and won the STLRacing.com Hard Charger Award after coming home with a seventh place finish.

The UMP DIRTcar Pro Crate Late Model division provided another outstanding main event that saw the young Bobby Pierce take an exciting win. Scott Weber, who is the current UMP DIRTcar Pro Crate Late Model National and track point leader in the division, took the lead at the drop of the green flag and was looking for his ninth win of 2010 at Tri-City Speedway and his sixteenth win overall of 2010. Weber would power his way to a comfortable lead until the caution flew on lap ten. That would setup Bobby Pierce, who is in a tight battle with Weber for the National Points Championship, right on Weber’s rear bumper for the restart. Weber was using the high line and rim riding around the outside wall while Pierce was driving through the slick portion on the bottom and middle part of the track. A couple of laps after the restart, Pierce would pull along side Weber for the lead and Weber would power back past on the high side. However, the groove Pierce was using was only getting faster and on the next lap he would move past Weber for the lead. Pierce would hold the lead until a late caution flew with only four laps remaining. On the restart, Weber challenged Pierce hard for the top spot but Pierce would hold on and edge out Weber for the win. Dustin Griffin would take third with Mark Oller finishing fourth. Gordy Gundaker would round out the top five.

2009 Tri-City Speedway Street Stock Champion Danny Ems made a return to Tri-City Speedway and showed he is still a force to be reckoned with as he claimed the Street Stock Main Event. Ems led all fifteen laps but had to hold off current 2010 point leader Tommy Gegg to get the win. Gegg pulled along side Ems in the closing laps and the two rubbed fenders as they battled for the lead, only to have the caution come out to end that battle. On the restart, Ems was too strong and held off Gegg for the win. Jimmy Bell was third with Richie Gabriel fourth and Tommy Gaither fifth.

Once again, it was Jordan Suhre and Trevor Isaak having a spectacular battle for the lead in the Factory Stock division. The two would once again race side-by-side lap after lap, often trading paint as they battled for the lead. In the end it was Suhre once again taking the victory with Isaak taking second. Another spectacular battle brewed for the third spot with four cars crossing the line all together in the battle for third. Willie Myers would get third by a nose with Jacob Rexing finish fourth. Rexing was also just inches ahead of Justin Hall who was just inches ahead of Eldon Hemken who was sixth.

Tri City Speedway — Pontoon Beach, IL
Race Results for 8/13/2010

Factory Stocks – A-Main — 13 Cars
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 26 Jordan Suhre (F) Alhambra, IL
2 9X Trevor Isaak (F) Highland, IL
3 21M Willie Myers (F) Collinsville, IL
4 17R Jacob Rexing (FR) Brighton, IL Stlracing.com Hardcharger Started: 5 Passed: 1
5 28J Justin Hall South Roxana, IL
6 WH02 Eldon Hemken Gillespie, IL
7 4 Justin Suhre (F) Alhambra, IL
8 39 Jonathan Schulte (F) Caseyville, IL
9 17W Joey Haun Jerseyville , IL
10 16Z Marc Ziebold Red Bud, IL
11 9T Travis Horner (F) Alhambra, IL
12 77 Chad Burgess (F) Nashville, IL
13 81 Levi Cannon East Alton, IL

Factory Stocks – Heat 1
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 26 Jordan Suhre (F) Alhambra, IL
2 21M Willie Myers (F) Collinsville, IL
3 17R Jacob Rexing (FR) Brighton, IL
4 4 Justin Suhre (F) Alhambra, IL
5 16Z Marc Ziebold Red Bud, IL
6 9T Travis Horner (F) Alhambra, IL
7 77 Chad Burgess (F) Nashville, IL

Factory Stocks – Heat 2
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 9X Trevor Isaak (F) Highland, IL
2 WH02 Eldon Hemken Gillespie, IL
3 28J Justin Hall South Roxana, IL
4 39 Jonathan Schulte (F) Caseyville, IL
5 17W Joey Haun Jerseyville , IL
6 81 Levi Cannon East Alton, IL

Late Models – A-Main — 15 Cars
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 00 Bryan Collins Elsberry, MO
2 81 Craig Smith (L) Godfrey, IL
3 30 Mark Voigt (L) Marine, IL Stlracing.com Hardcharger Started: 12 Passed: 9
4 1s Rick Salter (L) Albers, IL
5 82 Billy Laycock (L) Marine, IL
6 441 Brian Wolfmeier House Springs, MO
7 78 Chad Zobrist (L) Highland, IL
8 35 Claude Walker (L) Moro, IL
9 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
10 81b Paul Bailey Pocahontas, IL
11 33F Rickey Frankel, (L) Quincy, IL
12 13 Dewayne Kiefer (L) St. Genevieve, MO
13 00R Rick Rhoades Alton, IL
14 79 Justin Reed Quincy, IL DNS
15 15 Chris Fetter (L) Troy, MO DNS

Late Models – Dash
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 13 Dewayne Kiefer (L) St. Genevieve, MO
2 00 Bryan Collins Elsberry, MO
3 1s Rick Salter (L) Albers, IL
4 33F Rickey Frankel, (L) Quincy, IL
5 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
6 81 Craig Smith (L) Godfrey, IL

Late Models – Heat 1
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 13 Dewayne Kiefer (L) St. Genevieve, MO
2 1s Rick Salter (L) Albers, IL
3 33F Rickey Frankel, (L) Quincy, IL
4 441 Brian Wolfmeier House Springs, MO
5 35 Claude Walker (L) Moro, IL
6 81b Paul Bailey Pocahontas, IL
7 78 Chad Zobrist (L) Highland, IL
8 00R Rick Rhoades Alton, IL DNS

Late Models – Heat 2
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 00 Bryan Collins Elsberry, MO
2 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
3 81 Craig Smith (L) Godfrey, IL
4 79 Justin Reed Quincy, IL
5 82 Billy Laycock (L) Marine, IL
6 30 Mark Voigt (L) Marine, IL
7 15 Chris Fetter (L) Troy, MO

Modifieds – A-Main — 23 Cars
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 16 Rusty Griffaw Festus, MO
2 1 Tommie Seets Jr Alton, IL
3 241D Dean Hoffman Troy, IL
4 4J Tim Lewis, Jr Burnt Prairie, IL
5 14 Rick Conoyer (M) Saint Peters, MO
6 5 Joe Dresch (M) Brighton, IL
7 32 Donovan Lodge Moline, IL Stlracing.com Hardcharger Started: 23 Passed: 16
8 10F Kyle Steffens Saint Charles, MO
9 98 JD Rottler Troy, MO
10 11H John Stanton East Alton, IL
11 4W Rick Weekly Buffalo, IL
12 56 Dane Gundaker (M) Bridgeton, MO
13 41 Larry Hull Sr. (M) Saint Charles, MO
14 51s Bob Stanton Godfrey, IL
15 18D Matt Dickerman Fenton, Mo
16 45 Trista Stevenson Pocahontas, IL
17 2 Billy Lewis Burnt Prairie, IL
18 11B Kyle Byerline Dawson, IL
19 87 Derek Dubree (M) Edwardsville, IL
20 7 Parker Willaims Sr Piasa, IL
21 98W Gary Walsh Dittmer, MO
22 21F Khris Fohne Lebanon, IL
23 32J Terry Johnson Winfield, MO DNS

Modifieds – Dash
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 16 Rusty Griffaw Festus, MO
2 1 Tommie Seets Jr Alton, IL
3 241D Dean Hoffman Troy, IL
4 5 Joe Dresch (M) Brighton, IL
5 4J Tim Lewis, Jr Burnt Prairie, IL
6 87 Derek Dubree (M) Edwardsville, IL

Modifieds – Heat 1
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 16 Rusty Griffaw Festus, MO
2 5 Joe Dresch (M) Brighton, IL
3 18D Matt Dickerman Fenton, Mo
4 32J Terry Johnson Winfield, MO
5 21F Khris Fohne Lebanon, IL
6 41 Larry Hull Sr. (M) Saint Charles, MO
7 98W Gary Walsh Dittmer, MO
8 56 Dane Gundaker (M) Bridgeton, MO

Modifieds – Heat 2
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 1 Tommie Seets Jr Alton, IL
2 4J Tim Lewis, Jr Burnt Prairie, IL
3 11H John Stanton East Alton, IL
4 11B Kyle Byerline Dawson, IL
5 10F Kyle Steffens Saint Charles, MO
6 14 Rick Conoyer (M) Saint Peters, MO
7 51s Bob Stanton Godfrey, IL
8 32 Donovan Lodge Moline, IL DNS

Modifieds – Heat 3
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 241D Dean Hoffman Troy, IL
2 87 Derek Dubree (M) Edwardsville, IL
3 98 JD Rottler Troy, MO
4 2 Billy Lewis Burnt Prairie, IL
5 45 Trista Stevenson Pocahontas, IL
6 7 Parker Willaims Sr Piasa, IL
7 4W Rick Weekly Buffalo, IL

Pro (Crate) Late Models – A-Main — 25 Cars
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 32P Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
2 8BALL Scott Weber (C) Festus, MO
3 20G Dustin Griffin (C) Camp Point, IL
4 67 Mark Oller (L) Highland, IL
5 11 Gordy Gundaker (C) St. Charles, MO
6 01 Casey Montague (C) Lebanon, IL
7 48 Bobby Martintoni (C) Livingston, IL
8 7L Jerry Lierly Camp Point, IL
9 87 Jason Zobrist (C) Highland, IL
10 36 Eric Gowin Jerseyville, IL
11 55 Daniel Heck Mount Vernon, IL
12 72 Brad Yotter Bethalto, IL
13 59R Aaron Heck Mount Vernon, IL Stlracing.com Hardcharger Started: 22 Passed: 9
14 74 Tim Hancock (CR) Granite City, IL
15 11S Andy Scoles (CR) St. Charles, MO
16 92s Matt Santel (C) New Memphis, IL
17 4 Jason Suhre (CR) Alhambra, IL
18 18L Brent Lewis Harrisburg, IL
19 24 Dick Taylor Riverton, IL
20 95 Jeremy Nash (C) Marine, IL
21 32 Derek Fetter Troy, MO
22 F5 Chris Fisher Festus, MO
23 2 Brandon Moss Highland, IL
24 5J Josh Jackson (CR) South Roxana, IL
25 92KJ Jordan Bauer St. Jacob, IL

Pro (Crate) Late Models – Heat 1
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 11 Gordy Gundaker (C) St. Charles, MO
2 48 Bobby Martintoni (C) Livingston, IL
3 18L Brent Lewis Harrisburg, IL
4 92s Matt Santel (C) New Memphis, IL
5 01 Casey Montague (C) Lebanon, IL
6 92KJ Jordan Bauer St. Jacob, IL
7 74 Tim Hancock (CR) Granite City, IL
8 59R Aaron Heck Mount Vernon, IL
9 2 Brandon Moss Highland, IL DNS

Pro (Crate) Late Models – Heat 2
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 8BALL Scott Weber (C) Festus, MO
2 32P Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
3 7L Jerry Lierly Camp Point, IL
4 87 Jason Zobrist (C) Highland, IL
5 4 Jason Suhre (CR) Alhambra, IL
6 5J Josh Jackson (CR) South Roxana, IL
7 95 Jeremy Nash (C) Marine, IL
8 32 Derek Fetter Troy, MO

Pro (Crate) Late Models – Heat 3
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 36 Eric Gowin Jerseyville, IL
2 67 Mark Oller (L) Highland, IL
3 20G Dustin Griffin (C) Camp Point, IL
4 72 Brad Yotter Bethalto, IL
5 55 Daniel Heck Mount Vernon, IL
6 24 Dick Taylor Riverton, IL
7 11S Andy Scoles (CR) St. Charles, MO
8 F5 Chris Fisher Festus, MO

Street Stocks – A-Main — 24 Cars
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 36 Danny Ems Arnold, MO
2 22g Tommy Gegg (S) Alton, IL
3 17B Jimmy Bell (S) Godfrey, IL
4 63g Richie Gabriel (S) Jerseyville, IL
5 14 Tommy Gaither (S) Alton, IL Stlracing.com Hardcharger Started: 13 Passed: 8
6 17L Buddy Love (S) Wood River, IL
7 68 Terry McCann (S) Cottage Hills, IL
8 W1LD Ricky Huebner Bethalto, IL
9 21 Elza (Andy) Beavers (S) Alton, IL
10 27C Josh Case (SR) Bethalto, IL
11 93 Todd Erickson (S) Madison, IL
12 B11 Brent Weaver (SR) Jerseyville, IL
13 48x Michael Jeffries (S) Godfrey, IL
14 94 Ed Lenhardt Brighton, IL
15 00jr Dave Meyers Bethalto, IL
16 01 Fred Dublo Jr (S) Alton, IL
17 27 Earl Pryor Troy, MO
18 19 Erik Sedlack (SR) Alton, IL
19 81 Creg Cannon (S) Cottage Hills, IL
20 83G Kevin Goodbrake Brighton, IL
21 99 Jeffrey (Jeff) Martin (SR) Salem, IL
22 29H Matt Hancock Bunker Hill, IL DNS
23 W1 Marty Kopp Godfrey, IL DNS
24 11b Fred Sparks (S) Roxana, IL DNS

Street Stocks – Heat 1
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 17B Jimmy Bell (S) Godfrey, IL
2 63g Richie Gabriel (S) Jerseyville, IL
3 W1LD Ricky Huebner Bethalto, IL
4 68 Terry McCann (S) Cottage Hills, IL
5 14 Tommy Gaither (S) Alton, IL
6 93 Todd Erickson (S) Madison, IL
7 27 Earl Pryor Troy, MO
8 99 Jeffrey (Jeff) Martin (SR) Salem, IL

Street Stocks – Heat 2
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 36 Danny Ems Arnold, MO
2 94 Ed Lenhardt Brighton, IL
3 01 Fred Dublo Jr (S) Alton, IL
4 81 Creg Cannon (S) Cottage Hills, IL
5 21 Elza (Andy) Beavers (S) Alton, IL
6 48x Michael Jeffries (S) Godfrey, IL
7 83G Kevin Goodbrake Brighton, IL
8 W1 Marty Kopp Godfrey, IL DNS

Street Stocks – Heat 3
Finish Car No Driver Hometown
1 22g Tommy Gegg (S) Alton, IL
2 17L Buddy Love (S) Wood River, IL
3 27C Josh Case (SR) Bethalto, IL
4 B11 Brent Weaver (SR) Jerseyville, IL
5 00jr Dave Meyers Bethalto, IL
6 29H Matt Hancock Bunker Hill, IL
7 11b Fred Sparks (S) Roxana, IL DNS
8 19 Erik Sedlack (SR) Alton, IL DNS