Dave Koesel and Tony Bruley kept close watch on each other in their separate bids to be the first winner of the first Detroit 6 Day. And, it’s Koesel’s name that will go on the perpetual loving cup that celebrates a return to track racing in Michigan and promotes the newest Olympic sport -- Madison Team Racing.
Over six days, Koesel never let up in his performance, continuing to pick up points in spite of Bruley’s unrelenting attacks and two successful efforts to lap the field on Days 3 and 4. An equal challenge came from Ronnie Sink, who also beat the stuff out of the field with incredibly aggressive riding on Days 5 and 6, to pick up a Day win on the last day.
Still it was Koesel, with two day wins of his own, who earned 210 points to get the title for the Division A racers. “I’ve been having the time of my life racing in this event,“ said a jubilant Koesel. Bruley landed second with 199 points with Sink hot after him with 196. In fourth was Andre Champoux with 139. Fifth was a points tie between Rob Good and Pio Apostoli, 110 each.
Meanwhile, in the AA Division Nick Laughton surprised everyone including himself -- “I can’t believe how good I am riding” -- with a stellar performance that put him in first on Day 1, a lead he held onto for the rest of the week ending with 195 points. Second behind him was Cullen Watkins with 185. The competition got dicier for third with Wayne Cook edging out Mark Freed by a single point, 166 to 165. Dave Teal was fifth with 145 and in sixth, the youngest participant in the Six and the newest racer to the track, 18-year-old Christopher Hughes with 115.
The Detroit 6 Day was presented by the NAS-TRACK, Madison Racing League on the 200 meter Velodrome at Bloomer Park in Rochester Hills, Michigan. NAS-TRACK Chairman Dale Hughes developed a “round robin” format to divide 16 racers into two categories. Teams changed every day per formula of pairing the previous day’s first place in one division with the last place of the other division, and so on.
“It’s an Americanized version of the six day format,” said Hughes, “and it allows a greater diversity of ability to compete and stay competitive over the six days.”
The crowd loved it. More than 1,000 spectators watched the action from atop the hillside seating, a seven-tier berm where fans spread out blankets, lawn chairs and picnics for a full night of entertainment that also included live music by the NAS-TRACK PIT CREW. Blow-by-blow announcing of the competition assisted the enthusiastic crowd, most of whom were new to the race format.
Nas-Track Racing continues this Friday, Aug. 28th with the Nas-Track Madison Racing League Championships. Racing begins at 7 p.m. at the Velodrome at Bloomer Park, located at the north end of John R in Rochester Hills, Michigan.
For more information, contact Dale Hughes at 248-961-3704 or visit www.nas-track.com.
OVERALL RESULTS
Detroit 6 Day
FINAL
Division A
1st Dave Koesel, Livonia 210
2nd Tony Bruley, Rochester Hills 199
3rd Ronnie Sink, Rochester 196
4th Andre Champoux, Ypsilanti 139
5th Rob Good, Toronto Canada 110
5th Pio Apostoli, Toledo, Ohio 110
7th Terry Palmer, Macomb Twp. 73 (DNF)
8th Jon Hughes, Rochester Hills 60 (DNF)
Division AA
1st Nick Laugton, Rochester Hills 195
2nd Cullen Watkins, Royal Oak 185
3rd Wayne Cook, Mt. Clemens 166
4th Mark Freed, Mt. Pleasant 165
5th Dave Teal, Toledo, Ohio 145
6th Christopher Hughes, Roch. Hills 115
7th Michael Bauhof, Troy 81(DNF)
8th Hans Peterson, Northville 75 (DNF)
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