Brent Beauchamp tops sprint car field at Lincoln Park Speedway

Michigan's Thirlby wins modifieds, Steve Peeden takes super stocks and Tim Wright wins bombers

Brent Beauchamp (No. 34) and Chris Gurley fight for the lead during the early laps of the sprint car A-main at Lincoln Park Speedway on Saturday. (Banner Graphic/CAREY FOX)

One night removed from an emotional night when modified pilot Derek Groomer took the checkered flag at Bloomington Speedway sporting a tribute scheme for close friend Josh Burton, Steve Peeden repeated the feat in his super stock at Lincoln Park Speedway.

As Peeden stood in victory lane, and asked how many Burton fans there were in attendance, a large crowd cheered their approval as members of Burton and Peeden's family shared their joy and tears. Burton, who tragically died following a sprint car crash recently, was honored prior to the feature at Bloomington on Friday and on Saturday evening as the A-main rolled in front of the crowd at LPS.

When the field went green, Peeden broke free after a three-wide battle with CJ Bryan and Doug McCullough during the early circuits of the feature. Once he found clean air, Peeden checked out on the field for nearly a straightaway victory. As Peeden built his commanding advantage, Kenny Carmichael pushed forward and was able to get past Bryan down the stretch with McCullough and Scott Carrington edging into a battle for a top spot.

McCullough held on to a runner-up spot until late in the race when a tire appeared to go down as he settled for 12th overall. However, Carmichael took advantage as he slipped past Bryan for the second spot and Carrington later advanced into the third position after a door-to-door battle for the spot with Bryan.

Kenny Carmichael Jr. moved up from a 13th starting spot to take fifth ahead of Dan McCullough.

Brent Beauchamp won the war last season in the sprint car division at LPS with a points' championship, but admittedly, it was somewhat hollow as he did it without the benefit of a feature win. On Saturday, he put those feelings aside as he overcame an early battle with Chris Gurley near the midpoint of the A-main and then rocketed away for the victory.

Beauchamp and Gurley had their hands full with Billy Puterbaugh Jr. over the early laps with Ryan Pace in a fight with Jon Stanbrough.

Nine laps into the A-main, Beauchamp broke free from traffic and began to pull away from the field in the No. 34. A caution flag brought the field back to the Fairland, Ind. native.

On the restart, Beauchamp remained out front of a three-wide tussle between Puterbaugh, Stanbrough and Brady Short, who had moved forward after a ninth-place start. A blanket could have been thrown over the chase for second through sixth late in the race, but it was Short who picked up the second spot ahead of Stanbrough, Pace and Gurley with Puterbaugh edging out Brian Hayden.

The UMP Modified feature wasn't without its share of controversy, but when the checkered flag came out it was Traverse City, Mich. native Collin Thirlby claiming his fifth win during a whirlwind traveling schedule. He survived several restarts with two laps remaining to get the victory in the No. 47.

Ryan Thomas of Gosport appeared to be in line for the win after starting second and holding off multiple advances from Hayden over the course of the A-main. However, contact between the two with just a couple of circuits remaining sent both frontrunners to the tail. The caution opened the door for Thirlby, who started 16th after winning the B-main. He blasted through the field and worked his way past Jesse Cramer, Randy Shuman, Groomer and Eric Varner.

On a restart with seven laps left, Cramer slipped over the cushion and had to fight his way back to finish third as Jimmy Hayden made his way up into the fourth spot. Shuman ended up fifth ahead of Dan Lewellen and David Bumgardner.

It's not often that a B-main winner is able to come forward and pick up the A-main win, but on Saturday it would happen twice.

After Thirlby's victory in the modifieds, Tim Wright of Camby captured the 'B' after suffering from some mechanical woes during his heat race. He started 17th in the feature and methodically made his way through the field to challenge the leaders.

Kevin Kemp started up front, but a group that included Daniel Foxworthy, Carlos Bumgardner Sr. and Wright quickly settled into a three-wide chase for the point. Behind them, Jacob Wright, Tom Courtney and Doug McCullough were also door-to-door.

Tim Wright took over the lead with Bumgardner challenging repeatedly ahead of Foxworthy. Eventually, that is the way they finished with Wright claiming his first LPS win of the year. Tony Tidwell Jr. came up from 10th to place fourth with Joel Shores Jr. in fifth ahead of Kemp and Eric Miller.

Thursday night will see the return of the USAC National Midget Series for the second stop of "Indiana Midget Week." Also on tap will be sprint cars and the UMP Modifieds.

Lincoln Park Speedway
Sprint car feature