Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame inductee Rick Stout battles for 3rd win of the season
Posted under Northern Challenge Series, Press by admin on June 17th, 2009
By Richard Bila
Lake Odessa, MI. June 13, 2009 – “It has been a great week!” Those were the first words out of the usually soft spoken Rick Stout of Stanton, MI in victory lane Saturday night at I-96 Speedway after winning his third NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Northern Challenge Series main event. Stout was notified on Wednesday that he had been elected to the Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame.
Driving for 2004 fellow MMSHOF racer Roger Wing, in the Bert’s Glass, Babcock Clutches, Benson Remax Rocket, series point leader Stout took the lead on lap 14, and held on to take the win.
“I want to thank everyone who has ever been involved on my racing career,” Stout said. “I have had people that I do not even know who have helped me and continue to help.”
Stout joins an illustrious group of Hall of Fame drivers that have competed with the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series since its inception in 2005 that include Jeff Purvis, C.J. Rayburn, Ronnie Johnson, Jack Pennington, Ray Godsey, Jerry Inmon, Kris Patterson, Red Farmer and Wing.
In a 29-year driving career, Stout has collected over 250 feature race wins in various types of race cars including Late Models, Open-Wheel Modified, Pro Stocks and Street Stocks. Stout also has 21 Track Championships, and he was the 1995 IMCA National Open-Wheel Modified Champion.
Stout’s success continues in 2009, as he leads the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Northern Challenge Series point standings with 586 points based on three wins and five top five finishes in five starts.
Trevor Sloan and newlywed John McClure lead the late models to the green flag. McClure was married on Friday night and racing on Saturday night. Sloan led the first lap, and then Stout made his move in turn three to take the lead.
Fifth starting Jeff Kohn, in is brand new GRT Chassis followed Stout’s move and the two veterans took off and left the rest of the field to fight for second. Kohn took the lead on lap seven, then on lap 14 disaster struck for Kohn while lapping a slower car. Kohn was unable to continue.
On the restart, the yellow again waved for Wing who came to a stop in turn two. Back under green flag racing, Stout checked out and left the field to fight for second. And what a fight it turned out to be, as six cars where racing under a blanket for that runner up spot.
T. Sloan held off the determined group of racers for is best finish for the former mini stock champ, in an Ultimate Late Model. Dan Hubble, former sportsman champ also picked up his best finish placing a solid third. McClure held off former late model champ Mike Nugent to round out the top five.
Phil Hendershot, driving Kris Patterson’s car was sixth, Bill Bray, Bill Trueblood Jr., Zach Hanson and Scot Ehlert rounded out the top ten. Wing and Stout took home the heat race wins.
This Saturday night June 20 will see all five divisions in action. In addition, four time NASCAR winner Ken Schrader will be racing in the UMP modifieds, and is trying to line up a ride with the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Northern Challenge Series as well. Schrader will sign autographs and will be available for interviews during the night.
(NeSmith Chevrolet DLMS Communications Director Roby Helm also contributed to this story)