Drivers and Race Teams - Always keep an eye out for any new information posted under Racers Info.

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MINI CUP EXPERIENCE PAYS OFF AT THE ARENA

Opening night for the 2008/2009 indoor racing season at the Deltaplex in Grand Rapids was held on Saturday, October 18th. The Grand Rapids region of Arena Racing USA is finally underway and our own Tim Phillips showed everyone the way as he bested a field of 21 drivers to win the final event of the evening, the "Top Dog" race.

Tim started out the day by turning in the fastest laps in practice on the tight 1/10 mile high-banked track, but when it came time to qualify, he tried a bit too hard and slid up the banking. He ended up qualifying 14th and would run the B-Main. The B-Main wasn't easy though as everyone was trying to finish in the top 6 spots in order to advance into the Top Dog race. As the 50 lap B-Main was winding down, Tim took the lead away from the #84, driven by Jay Niewiek. Niewiek was able to hang with Tim and kept trying to get the lead back but ended up spinning out. With only a handful of laps left, and the 84 having to restart from the rear, all Tim had to do was drive smooth the rest of the way, and he did as he crossed the finish line to win the B-Main.

In the Top Dog race, billed as the "Pennzoil 10 Minute Oil Change 200", Tim had to start near the rear of the field but drove a steady pace as he picked off each car one by one and catching the fast qualifier, Andrew Brock, in the #1 car with less than 5 laps to go in the final 50 lapper.

Congratulations to Tim Phillips for representing the Great Lakes Supercup Series and winning the first official Arena Racing event at the Deltaplex.

There is a total of 15 races scheduled between now and the end of March at the Deltaplex. The Arena Racing cars are almost identical to the Great Lakes Supercup Series Mini Cup cars and are legal to race in the GLS Series next summer. However, the Mini Cups are not legal for the Arena Racing Series due to many of the components of the car having to have special Arena Racing identication markings. The GLS Series hopes to increase its car count in the 2009 season as several of the Arena teams are showing interest in running the outdoor traveling series.

For more info on Arena Racing and additional race results and articles on Tim's victory, check out Arena Racing Grand Rapids and Arena Racing Grand USA. Here is an article from the Grand Rapids Press.

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GLS MEMBERS GETTING TOGETHER ON OCTOBER 24TH

There will be a get-together around a bon fire for family and friends of the Great Lakes Supercup Series members on Friday evening, October 23rd. For more information, check out the Racers Info section.

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IT WAS A GREAT NIGHT AT OWOSSO

The final points night for the GLS Series was held at Owosso Speedway on September 20th. As it turns out, Championship Night for the regular Owosso Speedway classes was rained out the previous week, so there was a total of 5 Owosso classes plus the GLS Series running their final Championship events for the 2008 season.

The point leader, Maurice Randall, merely had to start the feature to wrap up the 2008 GLS Championship, and he did just that. He was looking to be the strongest of the night as he once again set fast time, but it was 15 year old Morgan Baird who really showed his stuff that night by picking up his first feature win. Morgan quickly charged to the front of the feature and once in the lead, he was unstoppable as he drove a perfect line on every lap. All it would take was one slip and Jim DeBaeke would have inherited the lead on any given lap as Jim drafted off the back of Morgan for the better part of the race and wound up second. Maurice Randall raced hard with Tim Phillips and Scott Phillips, finally breaking away to chase down the lead duo of Baird and DeBaeke, but it was too late as the laps were winding down. Maurice finished third, Scott came in fourth, and Tim rounded out the top 5.

The younger drivers were hard to beat that night. In addition to his feature win, Morgan Baird also won his heat race. In the other heat race, 13 year old Jessie Thatcher drove from the back of the field all the way to the front in 8 laps for a final stretch shootout coming off turn four to the checkered for his first ever heat race victory.

Making their first appearance ever at Owosso, the Mini Cup drivers quickly adapted to the 3/8's mile banked oval. Racing was great throughout the field of 15 Mini Cups as they put on an excellent show for the huge crowd that was on hand.

Congratulations once again to Morgan Baird for his big win and to Maurice Randall for winning the Championship in his first season with the Great Lakes Supercup Series.

You can also read a recent online article about Morgan Baird at mlive.com.

Be sure to check out the complete rundown of the final 2008 points standings.

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CHAMPIONSHIP NIGHT AT OWOSSO

On Saturday, September 20th, Owosso Speedway will be hosting the Great Lakes Supercup Series Championship event. This will also be Championship night for Owosso's regular weekly classes consisting of Late Models, Modifieds, Street Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Mini Stocks.

The pit gates open at noon, qualifying is at 5:30 PM and racing begins at 7 PM.

Tim Phillips and Maurice Randall will be heading down to Anderson the night before to compete with the Central Indiana Mini Cups. They hope to come home in one piece, otherwise, it will be an all-nighter for them to get their cars ready for Owosso.

Go here for directions to Owosso Speedway.

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MICHIGAN CUP RAINED OUT

Due to poor weather conditions in the Mid-Michigan area, the Michigan Cup, originally scheduled to be held at Springport Motor Speedway on September 12-14 has been cancelled. According to the Springport website, the event will not be rescheduled.

The final points race for the GLS teams will be Championship Night at Owosso Speedway on Saturday, September 20th. Click here for the current points rundown.

In addition, some of the GLS Mini Cup teams will be doing some traveling to Indiana to compete with the Central Indiana Mini Cup teams. These races will be at Anderson Speedway on Friday, September 19th, Mt. Lawn Speedway on Saturday, September 27th, and again at Anderson Speedway for the Stock Car Festival on October 4th and 5th.

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BUTLERBUILT COMES ON BOARD FOR 2009

After having built their first Mini Cup seat which is in Tim Phillips's new car this year, ButlerBuilt, the manufacturer of most of the seats that the NASCAR Cup teams use will be joining the Great Lakes Supercup Series as a sponsor in 2009. They have also supplied a seat for Jessie Thatcher's new car. ButlerBuilt is very excited to be able to manufacture for the Mini Cups what is perhaps the most important safety item in the whole car, the seat.

For more information about ButlerBuilt, please visit their website at www.butlerbuilt.net.

Watch for more information about ButlerBuilt's participation as well as other sponsors for 2009.

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MICHIGAN CUP SEPTEMBER 12-14

The annual Michigan Cup event held at Springport Motor Speedway will be featuring the Great Lakes Supercup Series along with the MCR Dwarf Series, Pony Stocks, Modifieds, and the ABC Stock Car Series which consists of Sportsmans, Street Stocks, and Pure Stocks from all over the State of Michigan. Friday, September 12th is scheduled for open practice from 4 PM until dark. The Mini Cups will be running two feature events, one on Saturday and one on Sunday. The Saturday event will be a non-points race and will have a full field of Mini Cups as several competitors are expected to attend from other Mini Cup series from neighboring states. The Sunday event will be a regular points race for the GLS drivers. Qualifying and heat races will be held on Saturday.

Click here for a complete schedule available from the Springport site.

Even though Maurice Randall has won all 3 events held at Springport this year, the last race at Springport proved that several teams had a shot at winning until the big wreck occured about halfway through the race. The Michigan Cup is sure to be a very competitive event.

Click here for easy directions to Springport Motor Speedway.

Notice to all race teams: Check the Racer's Info page for information about the cookout we will be having in the pits on Saturday.

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SCOTT PHILLIPS WINS AT ANGOLA

Scott Phillips showed his stuff at Angola Motor Speedway on August 30th as he set fast time in the #7 Hooter's Pontiac and proceeded to race his way to the front and win his first feature race of the year. Scott had a tough battle with Geoff Gerline, who normally races with the Central Indiana Mini Cups. Geoff hopped into Tim Phillips #8 Budweiser Chevy and finished second to Scott. Tim drove his last year's car. Breaking through traffic and in hot pursuit was Maurice Randall in the #93 StreamNetRadio.com Dodge. A late race caution with just 3 laps to go didn't help Maurice any as it took him 3-4 laps to get his tires working. He settled for a 3rd place finish. Morgan Baird had a nice strong finish as he came home in 4th in the #99 Office Depot Ford, followed by Trent Jenson in 5th, driving the #44 Davis Brothers Auto Body Chevy.

Tim Phillips won the first heat race and Maurice Randall claimed his first heat race win of the season.

The GLS stars head next to the Michigan Cup, held at Springport Motor Speedway on September 12-14.

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DRAFTING AT SPRINGPORT

For the first 12 laps of the scheduled 25 laps at Springport Motor Speedway on August 16th, the race was shaping up to be one of the best races ever for the Great Lakes Supercup Series.

13 year old Jessie Thatcher, driving a brand new car, shot to the lead after starting from the inside of row 2. Maurice Randall quickly moved up behind Jessie and glued himself to Jessie's rear bumper. Tim Phillips, Scott Phillips, and Jim DeBaeke all lined up in a single file draft behind the pair and tried to pull away from the rest of the field. Jessie led the draft for about 8 laps and everyone stayed in line until Tim Phillips finally decided to make a move on the inside of Maurice Randall. The move worked and everyone else lined up behind Tim. Without a drafting partner, Maurice, the fast qualifier, was hung out on the outside of the pack. For about 3 laps, he tried to make a run to the front on the outside, but finally gave up and settled in behind the #72 Dodge of Jim DeBaeke.

At that time, the group broke up into double file as Scott Phillips made a move to the front to take the lead. Contact was made between Jim DeBaeke and Jessie Thatcher as they both tried to move under Freeman Hochstettler, who was up high and in the process of exiting to the pits. Both cars spun with Jim going into the outside wall and Jessie spinning into the infield. Also involved was Tim Phillips.

On the restart, it was Scott Phillips followed by Maurice Randall and Ed Welch. In the next several laps, Maurice kept working the inside of Scott and finally made it stick and went on for his third victory at Springport. Scott came home second. Tim Phillips was able to drive to third after coming from the rear, following the restart. Dave Harrison and Ed Welch rounded out the top five. Tim Phillips and Scott Phillips each scored heat wins.

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MINI CUPS TO APPEAR AT OWOSSO SPEEDWAY

A new race has just been added to the schedule for September 20th at Owosso Speedway. The new owners of the speedway, Jeff Parish and Rick Miracle, have invited the series to come and participate during a special night designed for the kids. The Mini Cups are always a hit with the kids (and also with the big kids, their parents).

Owosso Speedway is getting a great deal of excitement with the new ownership and the Great Lakes Supercup Series is proud to be a part of it.

The schedule has been revamped and the September 20th event at Owosso will be Championship Night for the Great Lakes Supercup Series.

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MINI CUPS WERE A HIT AT GALESBURG

The stars of the Great Lakes Supercup series invaded the 1/4 mile Galesburg Speedway in Galesburg, Michigan on Sunday, August 10th. The 30 lap feature event was run in front of a packed house as Tim Phillips drove his #8 Budweiser Chevy to victory followed by Scott Phillips in the Hooters #7.

Fast qualifier and current point leader, Maurice Randall, had his first mishap of the season and the only mishap of the entire race as he brought out the red flag early on. In an attempt to move around traffic on his way towards the front, Maurice drove too high in 3 and 4 and got into the dirty part of the track and went sailing off the asphalt, barely missing the end of the front stretch wall. However, his car got airborne briefly as it plowed into a soft dirt pile. The entire field came to a complete stop on the backstretch as the safety crew and ambulance rushed to the scene. Maurice was OK, but his car suffered some body damage as well as some damage to the right front suspension. He was able to continue on and finished the race in an attempt to maintain his point lead.

Trent Jenson, second place in the points, was able to gain some ground on Maurice as he came home with a respectable 7th place finish.

The staff at Galesburg Speedway and the entire crowd enjoyed the event and indicated they would like the series to return in 2009.

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TIM PHILLIPS IS TWO FOR TWO AT SPARTAN
June 20, 2008

The stars of the GLS returned to the tough 1/4 mile track once again at Spartan Speedway in Mason, Michigan and found turn 4 just as challenging this time around as the last. At the May event, John Dewey failed to start the feature after slamming hard into the wall coming out of turn 4. Then early in the feature, Scott Phillips tried to knock it down, but found out that 700 pounds of Mini Cup isn't enough to phase the wall. The wall won.

On June 20th, Scott tried to get back at the wall as he nearly backed into it after getting very sideways coming off 4 during the 20 lap feature. Ed Welch wasn't able to destroy the wall during his heat race, and instead did severe damage to his #21 Mini Cup. Ed was unable to start the feature. Dave Harrison in the #34 Advanced Automotive Monte Carlo tried to hit the wall, but decided to just slightly test it out. But it was the fast qualifier, Jim DeBaeke, who nailed it good in the feature. And again, the wall won, the #72 Dodge didn't win.

Everyone else was either too careful, or just lucky as the race became quite competitive, otherwise. In between cautions, Tim Phillips kept creeping towards the front and once there, stayed there as he won for the second time at Spartan Speedway this season. Scott Phillips managed to keep his car in once piece and came home second, while Morgan Baird and Maurice Randall put on a big late race battle and crossed the line side by side with Morgan just barely claiming the third spot.

Trent Jenson and Scott Phillips won the heat races.

Trent Jenson's consistent finishes lately have now put him in second in the season long points battle behind the leader Maurice Randall.

Next on the points schedule is the newly added race at Springport Motor Speedway on July 19th. Some of the GLS teams will also be making their way down to Anderson Speedway on July 12th and Mount Lawn Speedway on July 13th to do battle with the Central Indiana Mini Cups.

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Springport Motor Speedway - June 7, 2008

MAURICE ASSUMES THE POINT LEAD

The points battle has been very tight up until the June 7th event at Springport. Scott Phillips has fallen behind following his crash early on at the Spartan Speedway race along with not being able to appear at the Springport race. Jim DeBaeke fell back after failing to show up for the Springport race. And the 2007 champion, Tim Phillips experienced problems before the feature began as his engine failed to start. Maurice stated, "All of a sudden, I'm in the point lead. This is not how I wanted to assume the point lead with this StreamNetRadio.com Dodge, but I guess I'll just keep doing what I'm doing and enjoy it. Who knows, my bad luck might be due soon as well. Our next points event will be at Spartan Speedway, and I seem to have a little trouble there."

Maurice certainly has Springport figured out as he once again set fast time. The heat and humidity along with slippery track conditions erased any chance of breaking his own track record there, but nevertheless, it was a quick run at 18.915 seconds.

Instead of breaking the field up into two heat races, this time the fastest four cars were lined up for a 4-lap fast car dash. Maurice started on the outside of row 2 with Tim Phillips on the inside. Dave Harrison started on the outside of the front row and the 4th fastest qualifier, Dave Taylor, started on the pole. Harrison was leading as the white flag flew with Maurice Randall right on his bumper. Maurice made a pass to the inside down the back straightaway and appeared to be headed for the win until his #93 Dodge got loose out of turn 4. Stating afterwards, "That was a fast, fun race, but I just couldn't hold the car straight coming out of 4. Harrison got a good run on me on the outside and we had a photo finish at the line. I didn't know who won yet." The winner was Dave Harrison by inches.

The feature race was very competitive as Maurice's car appeared to be a bit slower as the night wore on. He said, "I missed the setup a little and the car was still loose coming out of turn 4. I knew my best chance at winning would be another pass out of 2 if I was able to get up to the leader." Both Dave Harrison and Ed Welch were having the best runs of their careers and unlike Maurice, they got faster during the night. Dave and Ed had a big battle going for much of the race until Dave made the pass to take the lead. Maurice was right there and followed Dave through. The trio continued this formation until about 4 laps to go when Maurice made the same move on Dave Harrison as he did on Scott Phillips at the last Springport race. It was a big run through 1 and 2 and then to the inside of Harrison down the back straightaway. Following his win, Maurice said, "I'm going to have to figure out a different move when we come back to Springport in July. These guys will probably figure out how to block me coming out of two."
 June 13th and 14th brings the next two events for Maurice as he and a few other Mini Cup drivers from the Great Lakes Supercup Series head down to Anderson Speedway and Mt. Lawn Speedway in Indiana to do battle with the Mini Cups from the Indianapolis area. These two events will be non-points races for the GLS teams.

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 5/25/08

PHILLIPS WINS AT SPARTAN 

IT  was the Phillips duo again at Spartan motor speedway. Both Scott and
Tim won heats with Tim winning his first feature of the season.  On the early laps Scott got out of the groove in turn  4 and went head on into turn 4  wall receiving  a ride to the
Hospital.. Scott was released about 2:30am and ended up with a major headache , sore Left arm and about 15 points less than he expected and Tim ended up a bent  car and more points than he expected.   The heat races saw Dave Taylor putting about quarter  track  on the field until his right tire blew giving the lead to Freeman Hochstettler. With 4 laps left Freeman  had the point with Phillips  sliding under him  coming off turn 2 and won the first heat.   In heat 2 Scott started last and patiently worked his way to the front having a little trouble with Morgan Baird and with 3 laps to go moved in to the lead.
 The feature saw Teresa  DeBaeke taking the early lead  with brother Dave Taylor in toe.  As the race went on it saw a few yellow flags and with a single file restart Tim lined up behind Dave Wilson and drove on the outside when the green flag flew. I remember this was my chance to move forward and get away from record setting Maurice Randall in the 93  dodge .  Phillips recalled passing about 4 cars that  lap and taking the lead on lap 12 with Jim DeBaeke on the move not giving any room for error.  Tim stretched the gap between him and Jim just to have a yellow take the cushion away.   With Jim on my bumper and 3 laps to go I had to have the best restart of the night not letting Jim take my win away, but the restart was good and I opened up 2 car lengths and won the feature. 

P.S.   BIG THANKS  to all that  helped  me load Scotts damaged car and called thought the night  for updates on Scotts condition.            

                                                                                   Tim Phillips

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