8/5/2023
Colin Shipley
Shipley takes top-10 finish at Merritt Speedway, top-5 at Oakshade
Colin Shipley had a busy three days of racing across two states over the weekend, beginning with a two-day trip to Michigan.
On Thursday, Shipley’s Jim White Honda No. 44S ride was one of 38 UMP Late Models in the pits at Merritt Speedway (Merritt, Michigan) for the first day of the 35th annual Ed Vanduinen Wood Tic. Shipley finished fourth in his heat race on the 3/8-mile track.
He then transferred to the $2,000-to-win feature via a B-Main victory despite right-front shock issues. He started 16th in the 35-lap main event and moved forward six spots to score a top-10 result, even after being caught up in several accidents.
With the field increased to 48 Late Models the following evening, Shipley impressed again by transferring to the 40-lap feature race by finishing third in his heat. He started 15th and came home 22nd in the $5,000-to-win A-Main after finding more mechanical gremlins.
On Saturday, the team decided to forego the final day of the Wood Tic and return home to Oakshade Raceway (Wauseon, Ohio) where Shipley is battling for a track championship. The team ran into issues in the left rear of the race car, but Shipley still finished third in his heat and started the feature from the seventh spot on the 3/8-mile oval.
With the car’s issues sorted, he finished fifth among 23 Late Model competitors, trailing Casey Noonan, Matthew Chapman, Devin Shiels and Dusty Moore under the checkered flag.
Shipley is currently third in the track standings, just one point out of second place.
Full results can be found at www.merrittspeedwaymi.com and www.oakshaderaceway.com.
Article Credit: Photos by Kuyoth image