<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3UjNW6_0vCnJhpB00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3UjNW6_0vCnJhpB00" width="650" height="464" ><figcaption>Jason McClelland, of Houghton Lake, secured his first-ever win recently at the Northern Michigan&nbsp;Dragway in Kaleva. The Blue Oval Battle&nbsp;XII payout for the winner was set at $10,000. (Courtesy photo/April Rae Photos) </figcaption></figure> KALEVA&nbsp;—&nbsp;Blue Oval Battle XII was a memorable event for the racers over the weekend, with 777 total entries. Ford Motor Company racers kept it close nearly all weekend before losing the final tally by a score of 212-198, according to a news release from the Northern Michigan Dragway in Kaleva. “Jason McClelland had a brief introduction to Northern Michigan Dragway in 2022 after crashing into the guardrail at a no prep event downstate at Onondaga Dragway the same weekend as NMD’s Blue Oval Battle X,” reads a news release in part. “Devoting his racing efforts to NMD in 2023, he didn’t exactly make a quick rise in the standings of Bracket II.” McClelland’s best finish was a third-round exit in Blue Oval Battle VI. Third round doesn’t pay anything, so his total winnings in Bracket II last season were non-existent and he finished 96th in the standings. “Earlier this year, his Chevy Camaro decided to do some violent wheelstands. He just about put it back into the guardrail while crossing the centerline at the Bonfire Salute event in May,” a news release continues. “Even though he had broken parts, he earned his first-ever Bracket II winnings with a fourth-round exit that weekend.” Three months later, McClelland participated in an eighth-round final against a newcomer to Northern Michigan Dragway, Joe Wright from Lawton with his Chevy Monza. The winner would receive $10,000. “Wright crossed the finish-line first, but was too quick on his dial prediction, handing McClelland his first-ever victory with a $10,000 payday. After splits, Wright still earned $4,500 while semi-final finishers Brad Harris and Dylan Walker each got $2,000 after securing multiple round-win points for the Blue Oval fans,” reads a news release in part. Jason Preston, of Six Lakes, got the Saturday Bracket I $3,000-win with his dragster, defeating Muskegon’s Thomas Whitaker in the finale.&nbsp;Whitaker was victorious in his Chevy Camaro on Friday with a $2,000 win in the class over Bud Roof, of East Jordan. Whitaker moved into sole possession of first place in the Authentic 231 points standings with his weekend performance. Chad Brintnell, of McBain, drove a Ford Maverick to the big win for $2,000 on Friday night in Bracket II. Cody Near, of&nbsp;Roscommon, captured the Top Doorslammer $2,100 victory with his Chevy Camaro. Pro Trophy had a pair of racers cash in for over $1,000. Phil Anderson, of Maple City, won Friday with his Pontiac Phoenix, while Ted Green, of Manistee, won Saturday with a Chevy S-10. Northern Michigan Dragway is idle for Labor Day weekend, while it prepares for a September finale. Full weekend results are listed below. <h2 class="cci_subhead" title="CCI Subhead"> Aug. 22 </h2> Street trophy $300 Win:&nbsp;Rustin Scott, Marne, Chevy Monte Carlo Runner-up: Bob&nbsp;Bushen, Whitehall, Chevy Malibu Semi: Howard&nbsp;Herron, Benzonia, Chevy S-10 Semi:&nbsp;Gabe Young, Reed City, GMC Denali Advanced junior $150 Win: Hunter&nbsp;Cesaro, East Jordan Runner-up: Emmett&nbsp;Omar, Bear Lake Semi: Ann&nbsp;Cerka, Free Soil and Isaac Mikus, Bear Lake Mini junior $100 Win:&nbsp;Lilee Samalik, Beaverton Runner-up: Lily&nbsp;Eckert, Cadillac Semi:&nbsp;Rayce Girven, Brethren Run for the Money $216 Win: Ken Payne, Cadillac, Ford Pinto $108 Runner-up: Heather Lyons, Cedar Springs,&nbsp;Chevy Camaro <h2 class="cci_subhead" title="CCI Subhead"> Aug. 23 </h2> Street trophy $500 Win:&nbsp;Kory Thompson, Mesick, Dodge Charger Runner-up:&nbsp;Gordy Bosack, Marion, Plymouth Coupe Semi: Kim Crawford,&nbsp;Kingsley, Chevy Camaro Advanced junior $150 Win: Hunter Sanford,&nbsp;Ludington Runner-up:&nbsp;Cy Kosmowski, Manistee Semi: Hannah Moore, Cadillac Semi: Hunter&nbsp;Cesaro, East Jordan Mini junior Win: Tanner&nbsp;Savich, Fountain Runner-up: Olivia Norman,&nbsp;Manton Semi: Lily&nbsp;Eckert, Cadillac Pro trophy $1,000 Win: Phil Anderson, Maple City, Pontiac Phoenix Runner-up: Carl Simpson, Free Soil,&nbsp;Chevy Monte Carlo Semi: Bud Thompson, Niles,&nbsp;Chevy Camaro Bracket II $2,000 Win: Chad&nbsp;Brintnell, McBain, Ford Maverick Runner-up: Dennis O’Connor, Portland,&nbsp;Chevy II Semi: Nolan Blanchard,&nbsp;Benzonia, Chevy Monte Carlo Semi: Paul&nbsp;Adomaitis, Idlewild, Ford Mustang Bracket I $2,000 Win: Tom&nbsp;Whitaker, Muskegon, Chevy Camaro Runner-up: Bud Roof, East Jordan, Dragster Semi: Dustin&nbsp;Cesaro, Kalkaska, Chevy S-10 <h2 class="cci_subhead" title="CCI Subhead"> Aug. 24 </h2> Top&nbsp;Doorslammer $2,100 Win: Cody Near,&nbsp;Roscommon, Chevy Camaro Runner-up:&nbsp;Dru Williams, Manton, Chevy Nova Semi: Ray Ort,&nbsp;Clarkston, Chevy S-10 Top&nbsp;Doorslammer consolation $400 Win: Charles Wheeler, Traverse City,&nbsp;Chevy II Pro trophy $1,100 Win: Ted Green,&nbsp;Manistee, Chevy S-10 Runner-up: David Evans,&nbsp;Benzonia, Chevy Monte Carlo Semi: Phil Anderson, Maple City, Pontiac Phoenix Bracket II $10,000 Win: Jason&nbsp;McClelland, Houghton Lake, Chevy Camaro Runner-up: Joe Wright, Lawton,&nbsp;Chevy Monza Semi: Brad Harris,&nbsp;Mesick, Ford Mustang Semi: Dylan Walker, Lansing, Ford Mustang </div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

Houghton Lake man gets first win at Northern Michigan Dragway

The Northern Michigan Dragway is idle for Labor Day weekend, while it prepares for a September finale.