Troy DeCaire looks on during a recent asphalt sprint car start. (David Sink photo)

HOLLY, Mich. – Troy DeCaire will make his homecoming to the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series presented by Engine Pro on Friday night when the tour visits Michigan's Birch Run Speedway and Event Center.

DeCaire, who won the first two points championships in series history, will drive for veteran owner Wayne Stickney in the iconic, white-and-orange No. 99s at the four-tenths-mile oval as he chases his seventh-career series victory and first since Berlin Raceway in August of 2014.

The Tampa, Fla., driver and current Southern Sprint Car Shootout Series point leader will fill in behind the wheel of Stickney's mount for Tyler Roahrig, who piloted the car during the season opener at Anderson (Ind.) Speedway in May but has late model obligations keeping him from racing at Birch Run.

It's a reunion of a pairing that has produced two victories in DeCaire's prior two starts for Stickney.

"I drove for Wayne in 2014 at Sandusky (Ohio) Speedway – the last race of the season, actually, when I was living up in the Midwest still – and we sat on the pole, won the race and he won the championship," DeCaire recalled. "We all said after that one that if we ever got the chance again, we'd get back together and go racing. He tried to have me come race for him a couple of times after that, but I was always busy doing stuff ... and it just seemed like we could never get things to quite line up how they needed to.

"Last year, he finally got me back up to run at Kalamazoo (Speedway) and Toledo (Speedway), and we won at Kalamazoo, but broke the motor and couldn't even start at Toledo," DeCaire added. "We figured now, we're undefeated in races that we've run together, so when he called me this year and offered me the races in his car that Tyler (Roahrig) couldn't run, I figured it was a no-brainer to go ahead and do it."

DeCaire is riding a six-race win streak in asphalt sprint car competition, encompassing three different regions of the United States, in his first season back regularly behind the wheel in several years. His day job consists of selling RVs in his home state of Florida.

"My current car owner in Florida kind of forced me back into racing, because I was pretty much content with taking time off, building shocks and not being so eaten up with racing," DeCaire noted. "We struggled at the start, but once we put a new motor in, things really took off and we started winning a bunch. I went out to Seattle and won a race out there, too. It's been a lot of fun lately.

"I don't ever go to the race track to run second. If I'm showing up, it's because I feel confident that I have a chance to win," said DeCaire. "We know we're capable; we've done it before. I just have to shake the rust off as far as running on the American Racer tires and see if I can't keep this run going."

To extend his run of success to seven-straight victories, DeCaire will have to top a field that includes Canadian star Ryan Litt, National Sprint Car Hall of Famer Jeff Bloom and four-time defending series champion Jimmy McCune, who won the season opener on May 4 and has 30 Must See Racing victories.

With their decorated asphalt resumes, a battle between DeCaire and McCune at the front of the field at Birch Run appears imminent, and it's one that DeCaire is eagerly looking forward to.

"Jimmy knows how I race and I know how Jimmy races. He's obviously on a pretty good run himself, right now, but I think there's a lot of mutual respect between the two of us," explained DeCaire. "I'm looking forward to racing him, just like I am everyone else at the front of the field. It's going to be fun.

"I believe we can win," DeCaire noted. "It's all about seeing how it shakes out Friday, now."

In addition to the Must See Racing sprint cars, the Midwest Compact Touring Series, VROA modifieds and Birch Run Pure Stocks will also be on the racing card. The night will also include a fireworks show in celebration of the Fourth of July holiday.

Pit gates at Birch Run are scheduled to open at 2 p.m. on July 5, with hot laps starting at 4 p.m., qualifying beginning at 6 p.m. and racing kicking off promptly at 7:30 p.m.

A rain date of Saturday, July 6 has been established, if necessary.

For more information on Must See Racing, visit the series online at www.mustseeracing.com.

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Jacob Seelman
Freelance Writer
Series Announcer for Must See Racing

HOLLY, Mich. – The Must See Racing Sprint Car Series presented by Engine Pro will look to get its season back on track during the Firecracker Night of Speed at Birch Run Speedway and Event Center on Friday, July 5.

A slew of inclement weather has forced the postponement or cancellation of the last two Must See Racing events – at Berlin Raceway and Lake Erie (Pa.) Speedway, respectively – leaving the winged asphalt sprint car tour with only one event on the board heading into the month of July.

That event was all the way back on May 4 at Anderson (Ind.) Speedway, a 50-lap affair won by four-time defending series champion Jimmy McCune.

Christian Koehler (10) battles Jimmy McCune during Must See Racing action at Birch Run Speedway in 2017. (Chris Seelman photo)

By virtue of that win, the 30th of his Must See Racing career, McCune leads the series point standings heading into Birch Run – where he won during the series debut at the four-tenths-mile oval in 2017.

However, for McCune to repeat his past success at Birch Run, he'll have to best a deep roster of talent including National Sprint Car Hall of Famer Jeff Bloom; Michigan Motorsports Hall of Famer Jason Blonde; series veterans Tom Jewell, Jerry Caryer and Ike Beasley; and supermodified ace Charlie Schultz.

Anthony McCune – the eldest nephew of Jimmy McCune – is still seeking his first series victory, while Canadian Ryan Litt is looking to get his season righted after an engine issue at Anderson, as he chases his maiden Must See Racing championship.

Rookie talent expected to be in the field includes Florida's Joe Liguori, North Carolina's Ivan Shaver and Ohio teenager Jacob Dolinar, one of the younger nephews of Jimmy McCune.

With a stacked field planning to attend the Independence Day Weekend spectacular, Must See Racing President Jim Hanks is eager to see the series come out on top over Mother Nature this time out.

"We've certainly battled our share of weather issues through the first few months of the season, just like many series across the country, but we're very excited to return to Birch Run Speedway next week and get The World's Fastest Short Track Cars back on track where they belong," said Hanks. "The track is one that has put on tremendous racing for us in the past and we look forward to returning there."

In addition to the Must See Racing sprint cars, the Midwest Compact Touring Series, VROA modifieds and Birch Run Pure Stocks will also be on the racing card. The night will also include a fireworks show in celebration of the Fourth of July holiday.

Pit gates at Birch Run are scheduled to open at 2 p.m. on July 5, with hot laps starting at 4 p.m., qualifying beginning at 6 p.m. and racing kicking off promptly at 7:30 p.m.

A rain date of Saturday, July 6 has been established, if necessary.

For more information on Must See Racing, visit the series online at www.mustseeracing.com.

--
Jacob Seelman
Freelance Writer
Series Announcer for Must See Racing

ERIE, Pa. – The scheduled debut of the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series at Lake Erie Speedway will have to wait.

A forecast of persistent rain and thunderstorms throughout the day on Saturday has forced the postponement of a double-bill program at the three-eighths-mile oval, featuring the Must See Racing sprint cars and the Race of Champions Asphalt Modified Tour.

Track and series officials are looking into the possibility of rescheduling the program for later in the year.

"This early decision, while difficult and disappointing, is our genuine best effort to do the right thing for everyone involved," said Must See Racing President Jim Hanks. "Whenever possible, we try to avoid unnecessary and avoidable lost time and travel expenses for both our race teams and valued fans. Based on a consistent updated forecast that predicts rain for the day on Saturday, the track, ROC and MSR have determined that it is the best decision to postpone the event, rather than ignore the risk and forecast of probable bad weather."

The Erie postponement marks the second-straight weather related postponement for Must See Racing this season, following a washout of the scheduled Engine Pro Fast Car Dash at Berlin (Mich.) Raceway on June 1.

That Berlin event has been rebooked for Saturday night, Sept. 7.

Four-time defending series champion Jimmy McCune is the current Must See Racing point leader following his victory in the season-opener at Anderson (Ind.) Speedway on May 4.

McCune leads his nephew Anthony by six tallies in the current standings, with Charlie Schultz, Tom Jewell and rookie Joe Liguori completing the top five in points.

The next scheduled Must See Racing Sprint Car Series event will be held at Birch Run Speedway and Event Center in Birch Run, Mich., on Friday night, July 5.

--
Jacob Seelman
Freelance Writer
Series Announcer for Must See Racing