Jace Murray, Kyle Johnson collect first career feature wins

600 sprint driver Jace Murray celebrates in victory lane on July 11, 2026 at Escanaba Motor Speedway. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)
ESCANABA — A pair of drivers claimed their first career feature wins at Escanaba Motor Speedway here Saturday night during the 7th Annual Christian Groleau Memorial Race.
The first was in the 600 sprints as Jace Murray rebounded from a tough heat race to pick up the win in feature action.
“I didn’t have a good start in the heat race,” Murray said. “I got a good starting spot for the feature and as the track dried out I was able to make moves, found the Apex line and got the win.”
Austin Berg came in second and Jayger Quinn was third. Braxton Lundquist and Robert Buttry rounded out the top five. Braxton Lundquist won the heat race.
The other came in the sport mods as Kyle Johnson picked up the heat and feature sweep. Matt Valiquette came in second and Matt Maki IV finished third. Rick Gustavson and Ryan Lindbert rounded out the top five. Pat Richer Cody Johnson won the other heat races.

Sport mod driver Kyle Johnson celebrates after winning feature on July 11, 2026 at Escanaba Motor Speedway. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)
In the super mod class, Paul Hosking picked up the feature win. Rick Ness came in second and won the heat race. Scott Degnan finished third and Drake Degnan and Abi Yelle rounded out the top five.
In the junior sprints, Tanner rae picked up his first feature win of the season as well as a win in heat race action. Wyatt Ammel came in second and Keagan Jensen finished third. Colton Yelle and Julia Maki rounded out the top five.
In the sportsman sprints, Natan Viau picked up the feature win. Braxton Lundquist finished second and Tanner Hansen came in third and won his heat race. Kristy Karl and Dalton Gustavson rounded out the top five.
In the vintage mod class, Derek LeBresh picked up the feature win. Dave Broeders came in second and Jeff Salomon finished third and won the heat race. Wayne Pepin and Chris Broeders rounded out the top five.
In the street stocks, Billy Bowden picked up the feature win. Paul Wagner came in second and won his heat race. Cody Turner finished third and Drake Degnan and Tony Begovac rounded out the top five. Drake Degnan won the other heat race.
In the sports compacts, Mark Isley won the feature in a race he dedicated to his longtime friend Tombo Waselesky.
“This one is for Tombo,” Isley said. “I wasn’t going to back down for a second. He gave everything in racing and to get this one for him means everything.
- 600 sprint driver Jace Murray celebrates in victory lane on July 11, 2026 at Escanaba Motor Speedway. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)
- Sport mod driver Kyle Johnson celebrates after winning feature on July 11, 2026 at Escanaba Motor Speedway. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)





