KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Chris Neuenschwander and Koehler Motorsports have had a thing for winning on important birthdays during the 2016 season.
After leading every lap to win on car owner Ron Koehler’s birthday in May at Anderson (Ind.) Speedway, Neuenschwander duplicated that effort Sunday night at Kalamazoo Speedway, wiring the field from the pole to win the Jerry Landon Memorial Klassic at the famed three-eighths-mile oval.
The win was his second of the season and second of his Must See Racing career.
“When we start on the pole, we’re tough to beat,” said Neuenschwander. “This was a really unexpected win tonight though. I knew I had to drive a perfect race tonight and it was tough after the rain, but we made it happen. It’s a little extra special, with it being my birthday tonight too. Pretty cool present.”
Neuenschwander had to hold off several challenges from eventual runner up Jason Blonde during the race’s second half. Only one caution flag slowed his march to victory, for a spinning Christian Koehler on lap three.
“I didn’t even know he (Blonde) was back there or how close he was. I was just focused forward. Traffic was a little tough tonight, but I guess once we got through them he hit them in tough spots too and it really balanced out. I have to thank my team, my dad, Ron Koehler … this is awesome.”
Blonde’s best shot to pass Neuenschwander for the win came with eight laps to go, when he had a look on the leader on the high side and could have taken it three-wide with a lapped car on the bottom.
The handle on Blonde’s car went away, though, and he couldn’t hang on to get the job done.
“It seemed like every time through the corners, we were either too tight or too loose,” he explained. “One lap it would be so tight I knew we were heading right for the wall and the next lap it would be so loose I could barely hang on to it. I just could never get the right line to be able to get to him and he could just wail right through the corners and pull me. He did a good job tonight and congrats to him.”
Bobby Santos III completed the podium in third after winning the Michigan Traditional Sprints’ 20-lap non-winged feature earlier in the night, followed by Ryan Gillenwater and Jimmy McCune.
Gillenwater kicked off the night by winning his second-career Engine Pro Quick Time Award with a lap of 10.720 seconds around the three-eighths-mile oval.
Tyler Roahrig, Kyle Edwards and McCune won their respective heat races.
The Must See Racing Sprint Car Series returns to action on Sept. 10 with their second and final appearance of the year at Spitzer Motor Speedway of Mansfield.
For more information on Must See Racing, including driver and team profiles, schedule updates, race results and more, visit www.mustseeracing.com.
RESULTS: Must See Racing Sprint Car Series; Jerry Landon Klassic; Kalamazoo Speedway; Aug. 21, 2016
A-Main (30 laps): 1. #10 – Chris Neuenschwander [1]; 2. #42 – Jason Blonde [3]; 3. #22A – Bobby Santos III [2]; 4. #45 – Ryan Gillenwater [6]; 5. #88 – Jimmy McCune [4]; 6. #07L – Ryan Litt [5]; 7. #64 – Tyler Roahrig [7]; 8. #11 – Kyle Edwards [8]; 9. #12T – John Turnbull Jr. [10]; 10. #75C – Jerry Caryer [9]; 11. #11G – Tom Geren [11]; 12. #44 – Teddy Alberts [12]; 13. #72S – Joe Speakman [15]; 14. #9L – Kris Leming [14]; 15. #25 – Doug Stepke [13]; 16. #10K – Christian Koehler [16]; 17. #13 – H.D. Carter [17].
Engine Pro Time Trials (two laps): 1. #45 – Ryan Gillenwater, 10.720; 2. #07 – Ryan Litt, 10.742; 3. #88 – Jimmy McCune, 10.771; 4. #42 – Jason Blonde, 10.816; 5. #22A – Bobby Santos III, 10.940; 6. #10 – Chris Neuenschwander, 10.962; 7. #64 – Tyler Roahrig, 11.022; 8. #11E – Kyle Edwards, 11.047; 9. #75C – Jerry Caryer, 11.108; 10. #12T – John Turnbull Jr., 11.334; 11. #11G – Tom Geren, 11.404; 12. #44 – Teddy Alberts, 11.473; 13. #25 – Doug Stepke, 11.521; 14. #9 – Kris Leming, 11.611; 15. #72S – Joe Speakman, 11.898; 16. #10K – Christian Koehler, 12.322; 17. #13 – H.D. Carter, 14.368.
Mahle Heat One (8 laps): 1. Tyler Roahrig, 2. John Turnbull Jr., 3. Jason Blonde, 4. Ryan Gillenwater, 5. Doug Stepke, 6. Christian Koehler.
NitroBlack Heat Two (8 laps): 1. Kyle Edwards, 2. Ryan Litt, 3. Bobby Santos, 4. Kris Leming, 5. Tom Geren, 6. H.D. Carter.
SpeedPro Heat Three (8 laps): 1. Jimmy McCune, 2. Chris Neuenschwander, 3. Jerry Caryer, 4. Teddy Alberts, 5. Joe Speakman.
CREDIT: Must See Racing
