Tinkle Family Racing and Lorz Motorsports with driver Zachary Tinkle made the trip to Birch Run, Michigan for the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance season opening point’s event at Birch Run Speedway. The event drew a stellar field of cars, most were there in preparation for the upcoming $11,000 to win Masters of the Pro’s 200 at Birch Run Speedway on Friday, June 8th. That event is the highest paying Pro Late Model event in the country.
Zachary took part in the series Rookie Open Practice on Friday evening at Birch Run Speedway to get more experience behind the wheel of his JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour crate late model and to learn the track, it was valuable experience for both Zachary and the team.
The team was back on the track on Saturday as teams were practicing for the Dixie 100 Presented by JEGS.com, which would take place on Sunday afternoon. The teams practice efforts were hampered by some mechanical issues, which included starter issues on the motor, which resulted in Zachary having to be push started on several occasion, a new learning experience for him. The stress of the starter issues affected Zachary mentally in qualifying which resulted in a spin on sticker tires on a very cool afternoon, resulting in a qualifying time that did not lock Zachary into the top 20 positions. Since two different batteries kept getting depleted, the team believes there’s an alternator issue, which will be tested in the next few days.
Zachary participated in an on track autograph session with all the fans to start the day off on Sunday. Zachary got to talk with many of the fans and signed several autographs.
Zachary and seven other drivers would have to try and race their way into the main event in a 15 lap Last Chance race, first up on Sunday afternoon. Right after the drop of the green flag for that race, Zachary noticed his engine was losing oil pressure and after 10 laps Zachary pulled his car into the infield pits to prevent any further damage to his engine. Only the top two finishers in the event transferred to the 100 lap main event, which Zachary could not have participated in anyway with his oil pressure issues. Engine builder McGunegill Engine Performance ask the team to pull the engine and bring it back to their shops for repairs. The engine was new, but may have had a rocker issue. All of the issues could be related as the alternator, starter, and engine were all new and installed at the same time.
Zachary kept a positive attitude about the situation responding to a fan on his Facebook page with the following: “We’ll get them next time at Bristol and get redemption at Birch Run in June! Stay tuned!”