By Matt Prieur and Chris Fobbe - Dixie Motor Speedway

Birch Run, Michigan (Friday, June 26, 2009): It was Autograph and Picture Night II at the historic Dixie Motor Speedway on Friday, June 26th as in addition to the regularly scheduled program, two make-up features from the June 19th rain out were also on the card for a total of Eight Big Features scheduled for the evening.

The Top Notch Motorsports Pro Late Models were the first make-up feature of the night as on June 19th they were able to get in seven laps before the rains hit. Joe Hodgeson Jr., and three-time track champion, Chad Bennett started on the front row back on June 19th.

Hodgeson Jr., led the first two laps before Bennett slipped by on Lap Four to take over the top spot. On lap seven, the rains arrived forcing postponement of the race.

Fast Forward to this past Friday, June 26th with Bennett in command as the green flag flew to resume the race. Bennett pulled away from the rest of the pack and seemingly was running away with the show. That was until Fast Qualifier, Mark Welch got up to second from his ninth starting spot and reeled in Bennett for the lead.

Welch tried all he could to get by the three-time champion, but Bennett was up to the challenge as the Caro, Michigan veteran in his B-C Auto Repair Chevrolet held off Welch to score his second feature win of the season! Welch settled for second while Hodgeson Jr., Robbie Johnson, Ed Doutre Jr., Tony Hoose, Marty England, 17-year-old Lonnie Saumier, 16-year-old Blake Childers, and Curt Genow finished off the Top 10.

Back on June 19th, Welch won his first fast qualifier award with a

16.277 while Timmy Near and Johnson won heat races.

In the regularly scheduled Top Notch Motorsports Pro Late Models feature, 16-year-old Blake Childers, the 2008 Rookie of the Year, and Curt Genow brought a stellar 20-car field to chief starter, Carl Wanks' green flag and it would be Childers diving into the first corner as the leader while the rest of the pack jockeyed for position behind him.

Two-Time defending track champion and current points leader, Ed Doutre Jr., slipped by Genow for second and followed Childers' tire tracks all around the 4/10s (0.400) mile progressively banked paved oval, looking for an opening to get around the teenager.

Doutre Jr., made his move on lap 20 coming out of turn four but accidently got into the back end of Childers, sending him around.

Doutre Jr., "tapped out" and went to the rear of the field and giving Childers his spot back as the leader. Only this time Fast Qualifier, Mark Welch was on his back bumper in second place.

Welch immediately challenged Childers for the top spot when on lap 21, they collided coming out of turn four sending both around while the field behind them took evasive action to avoid the two cars. When all was said and done, both suffered cosmetic damage and both went to the rear of the field, giving the lead to Robbie Johnson.

The prodigal son and pride of Birch Run, Michigan made no mistake over the last three laps as the driver of the Bus Stop Inn Chevrolet scored the very popular feature win to the roar of the partisan crowd on hand. It was Johnson's first feature win of the season at his home track!

Genow finished a strong second as Norm Wilcox, Chad Bennett, Tony Hoose, Joe Hodgeson Jr., Marty England, Brad Bilacic, and Doutre Jr., completed the Top 10. Welch was the fast qualifier for the second time in two weeks with a 16.394 over the 22-car field while Jim Hardy and Bilacic picked up heat race wins.

The Speedway Graphix Street Stocks make-up feature saw rookie points leader, Aaron Spearling and Josh Hahn lead the field to the green.

Hahn led the first two laps until Curtis Hayden drove by on lap three.

Hayden had Hahn glued to his back bumper the entire race that featured only one caution flag.

On the lone restart, Hayden quickly pulled away from Hahn and the Clio, Michigan driver in his McFall's Collision Chevrolet went on to score his first feature win of the season. Hahn finished second while Dewey Romans Jr., Maverick Morrow, and Ed Newman Jr., were the top five.

2007 Track Champion, Mike Walther finished sixth ahead of Jason Hitsman, Al Boitel Jr., Rob Sullivan, and Spearling wrapped up the top 10. Back on June 19th, Newman Jr., set fast time around the adjoining

1/3 (0.333) mile semi-banked paved oval with a 16.552 while Hahn won the heat.

In the regularly scheduled feature, Josh Hahn, Rob Sullivan, and Jason Hitsman exchanged the lead four times over the first five laps before

2007 Track Champion, Mike Walther picked off all three drivers and took the lead for himself on lap six. Walther brought Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame driver, Jay Woolworth and the battle was on.

The 72-year-old Woolworth tried every trick he possessed in his 50 plus years of racing experience, but Walther was up to the task and the Montrose, Michigan veteran in his Savoy Bar and Grill Chevrolet drove to victory lane after winning his first feature of the year.

Woolworth finished a season high second while Hitsman, Ed Newman Jr., Maverick Morrow, Hahn, Dewey Romans Jr., Al Boitel Jr., Jake Caverly, and Sullivan were the top 10. Morrow was the fast qualifier for the first time this season with a 16.546 while Caverly and Woolworth won heat races.

The first regular feature of Autograph and Picture Night II was for the RacingPartSales.com Bombers division as pole-sitter, C.J. Davis led the field for the first three laps until Chad Congdon drove by on lap four and the Flint, Michigan driver made no mistake all race long as the driver of the American R.V. Chevrolet cruised to his first feature win of the 2009 racing season.

Current points leader, Jeff Roethlisberger Jr., inherited second while Davis, Cam Hiltz, Andrew Burton, Mike Wines, Ray Derminer, Jim Wirsing, Kyle Callahan, and Mike Wirsing wrapped up the top 10.

Congdon out qualified the 20-car field in qualifying with an 18.118 as Joyce Derminer and Holtz picked up heat race victories.

The Wieland Contracting Modifieds Short Track Series Round II saw Jeff Reamer and Todd Matheson battle for the top spot until Reamer took the lead for himself on lap three. Matheson, a three-time track champion on the adjoining 1/3 mile regrouped and began applying pressure to Reamer.

Matheson overtook Reamer on lap 10 and from there, the Mt. Morris, Michigan veteran in his O'Guinn Family Funeral Homes Chevrolet held off a late charge from veteran, Buck Harsen to win his first feature at Dixie since the 2001 racing season!

Harsen settled for second while Round I winner, Travis Eddy was third.

Reamer finished fourth over USA Modifieds Series regular and Fast Qualifier, Brian Nester, who was making his first career start at Dixie, completed the top five.

Rick Wiecorek, Nick Clemens, 17-year-old C.J. Harsen, Rod Laney, and Robbie Johnson finished off the Top 10. Nester was the fastest qualifier as the Edon, Ohio invader toured the 1/3 mile oval at a

15.593 while Matheson won the heat race.

The Auto Value / Bumper to Bumper Michigan Legends Series made there second and final appearance of the season as part of the Michigan Summer Regionals Day I. Tyler Rycenga and Columbus, Ohio visitor, Bryan Nuckles brought the field down to the green flag for the start of there feature.

Rycenga paced the field for the first four laps until 16-year-old Chance Rice, the winner at Dixie back on May 29 in the Michigan Spring Regionals, grabbed the lead. Rice is beginning to like Dixie Motor Speedway a lot as the Charlotte, Michigan teenager in his Bishop Performance Ford would go on to sweep the two races held at Dixie this season!

Rycenga finished second while Brandon Mahoney, Nuckles, Ben Rouster, Levi Rouster, Tony Monge, Roy Nicholson, Gary Joppich, and Chris Brunet were the top 10. The Michigan Legends Series did not qualify but instead drew for starting positions as Rice, Mahoney, and Monge won heat races.

Finally to close out the night, the eighth feature of the evening was for the Checkered Flag Promotions Figure 8s division. Gerry Persails Jr., started on the pole but was quickly overtaken by John Hitsman.

Ray Derminer also drove by Persails Jr., and challenged Hitsman for the top spot.

Hitsman, a veteran of many seasons of Figure 8s racing at Dixie was determined to win and the Millington, Michigan driver in his Hitsman Motorsports Chevrolet held Derminer to win his first feature in four seasons!

Derminer was second while current points leader Andrew Burton grabbed third over Persails Jr., Tony Williams, Mike Wines, Troy Shinabarger, Ed Doutre Jr., Ricky Dinius Jr., and Ricky Dinius Sr., were the Top 10. The Figure 8s don't Qualify or run Heat Races as they draw for their starting position in the Feature.

Dixie Motor Speedway will celebrate the Fourth of July Holiday Weekend in style with two nights of races and two nights of FIREWORKS beginning on Friday, July 3rd and ending on Sunday, July 5th.

The cars and stars of the "World's Fastest Short Track Cars," the fire breathing, winged warriors of the Auto Value / Bumper to Bumper Super Sprints Series will kick off the weekend on Friday, July 3rd for there first of three appearances of the 2009 racing season.

Joining the Super Sprints on the 4/10s (0.400) mile progressively banked d-shaped paved oval will be the Teamtech Motorsports Sportsman who will run Double Features in order to make up there rained out Feature from June 19th.

Also on the card, the RacingPartSales.com Bombers will be racing on the adjoining 1/3 (0.333) Mile Semi-Banked Paved Oval and the Checkered Flag Promotions Figure 8s are also part of the action to help celebrate the countries' 233rd birthday.

Grandstand Admission Prices for Friday, July 3rd are: Adults (18-59):

$18.00 - Seniors (60 and Over): $16.00 - Students (13-17): $14.00 - Kids (6-12): $7.00 - Children (5 and Under) are always FREE. Pit Passes are always $25.00.

The Pit Gates for Friday, July 3rd will open at 1:00p.m. Rotating Practice begins at 3:00p.m., while the Grandstand Gates Open at 5:00p.m. Qualifying will start at 5:30p.m. Racing gets underway at 7:30p.m.

Then on Sunday, July 5th, the Original, the One and Only EVE OF DESTRUCTION returns for Round II as the always exciting night of carnage will complete the Fourth of July Holiday Weekend. On Tap will be the School Bus Figure 8s, Figure 8 Trailer Race, Chain-Gang Race, Dixie Crash Cars, the all new and exciting Flagpole Race, and Spectator Drags will highlight the evening of carnage and destruction.

Also in action will be the first of two appearances by the Vintage Racing Organization of America (V.R.O.A.) Modifieds who will tackle the 4/10s (0.400) mile progressively banked d-shaped paved oval while a special Street Stocks Invitational will also be conducted on the adjoining 1/3 (0.333) mile semi-banked paved oval.

Although the Street Stocks Invite is a "Non-Points" race, all participants who are in attendance will receive 15 "Show-Up" points for there efforts.

For Sunday shows only, the Pit Gates will open at 12:00p.m. The Grandstand Gates Open at 2:00p.m., as Rotating Practice for the oval track divisions begins at 3:00p.m. Qualifying for the Street Stocks and V.R.O.A. Modifieds will start at 4:00p.m., and Racing gets underway at 5:00p.m.

Grandstand Admission Prices for Sunday, July 5th are: Adults (18-59) $15.00 - Seniors (60 and Over) $13.00 - Students (13-17) $12.00 - Kids

(6-12) $6.00 - Children (5 and Under) are always FREE. Pit Passes are always $25.00.

For more information, please call: 1 (989) 624-9778 or 1 (989) 709-6113. You can also log onto the website as well at: