UPIR Holds Races To Kick Off Esky 4th Celebration

ESCANABA---The Upper Peninsula International Raceway held its second week of races Friday night in Escanaba. The racers and fans in attendance thanked our veterans as part of Veterans Night at the races as the Independence Day weekend kicked off in Escanaba.
 

One of the more dramatic races of the night was in the Sportsman Micron Sprint race. The 20-lap race saw Escanaba teenager Luke Labre move up from third spot to take the lead on the first lap, and he led for most of the race. He was passed on the 14th lap by his Escanaba High Youanother Escanaba teenager, Jeffery Latsch, and the race was red flagged.
 

Emergency personnel came onto the track and there was concern amongst the crowd in the grandstands, but both kids turned out to be OK. Denome, in fact, was able to drive his wounded car off of the race track.
 

On the restart, Labre, who was third and charging hard at the time of the crash, was in front when the flag dropped. He regained control of the race and led the final four laps to take the checkered flag, holding off a challenge from another Escanaba youngester, Drake Degnan, who finished second. Labre's little brother, Brett, finished third, and Gunnar Hansen was fourth.
 

FRIDAY'S OTHER RACE WINNERS

Vintage Modifieds: Scott Degnan

Sport Compacts: Alex Constantino

Youth Micro Sprints: Liam Steinhauer

600 Winged Micro Sprint: Gregg Brayak

Sport Modified: Matt Valiquette

Street Stocks: Ron Jenshak

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