Rice Lake Speedway Racers Celebrate
Rice Lake WI, February 21 – A full house was on hand Saturday night, February 21st at the Rice Lake Moose Lodge as racers, crews, friends and families helped the top drivers celebrate their accomplishments during the racing season at the Rice Lake Speedway. The speedway honored its top drivers as they wrapped up the 2014 racing season and looked forward to 2015.
The top ten drivers in all five classes that race at the speedway weekly were honored as well as the Rookies of the Year in each class along with some special awards given to track employees.
Upon completion of the meal, the evening’s Master of Ceremonies Scott Tiefs gave a brief overview of the 2014 season at the speedway.
Ed Reichert then gave a review of some of the more interesting statistics generated during the racing season and followed up with an update on the all time track records and record holders in each class of competition.
Track co-owner Dave Adams then came on stage to thank everyone involved with the operation of the speedway as well as give a preview of the 2015 track schedule.
Twenty four races at on the track schedule for the 2015 racing season. The annual car show at Rice Lake’s Cedar Mall will once again open up the season with the show scheduled from April 1 through April 4th.
The first on track activity is scheduled for Thursday night, April 16th with an open practice session slated and the 2015 season opener is scheduled for Saturday night, April 18th with hot laps at 6:30 p.m. with racing to follow.
Among the special events slated at two appearances by the Upper Midwest Sprint Series on May 23rd and July 25th. Both the winged and non winged cars will appear on the card both nights.
The United States Modified Touring Series(USMTS) is scheduled to bring their high powered open wheel cars to the track on Thursday, May 14th. The last two years their special event has been cancelled by bad weather and track officials are hopeful that the third time will indeed be the charm.
The speedway is partnering with both the Auqafest and Barron County Fair committees in 2015. On both occasions, the speedway will run a special Tuesday night program sponsored by each group and the speedway will then remain dark on the Saturday night of both events.
The Firecracker special along with fireworks will take place on Thursday, July 2nd with a rain date of July 4th.
The biggest race at the speedway all year will take place on Tuesday night, August 4th with a rain date of August 5th when the annual Street Stock “Little Dream” race will be held. With a first place prize of over twelve thousand dollars last year, speedway officials hope to keep the ante increasing in 2015.
Season Championships are slated for August 29th and the season will conclude with a Labor Day weekend doubleheader scheduled for September 5th and 6th. More special events could still yet be added to the tentative schedule.
The top ten drivers in points in each class were then introduced by Tiefs to the crowd.
Leading the way in the Pure Stocks was Jason Havel from Rice Lake. He was followed by John Erickson from Rice Lake, C.J. Wagner from Rice Lake, Hunter Van Gilder from Rice Lake, Jay Folz from Rice Lake, Bob Thompson from Cameron, Joel Hinrichs from Chetek, Rob Grabon from Bruce, Brent Miller from Cameron and Jimmy Holden from Rice Lake.
The point champion in the Street Stocks was Ron Hanestad from Glenwood City. He was trailed by Cody Kummer from Medford, Adam Soltis from Ladysmith, Kolby Kiehl from Cameron, Sam Fankhauser from Rice Lake, Troy Chaplin from Barron, Scott Clark from Cameron, Josh Amans from Rice Lake, Heidi Karshbaum from Chetek and Simon Wahlstrom from Rice Lake.
The Midwest Modified point champion was Greenwood’s Shane Halopka. He was trailed by Tito Viltz from Rice Lake, Travis Anderson from Colfax, Ryan Viltz from Chetek, Nick Koehler from Bloomer, Josh Wahlstrom from Rice Lake, Dan Tautges from Colby, Joe Chaplin Jr. from Cameron, Austin Ellis from Rice Lake and Mike Schnider from Rice Lake.
Tops in the Super Stocks and winning his first title ever was Willie Johnsen Jr. from Superior. Behind him were Jason Forehand from Eau Claire, Eric Olson from Ladysmith, Jim Cimfl from Turtle Lake, Kyle Helling from Rice Lake, Curt Myers from Cameron, Bart Steffen from Eau Claire, Jim Harris from Menomonie, Patrick Heikkinen from Eveleth MN and Scott Zitelman from Taylors Falls MN.
Grabbing his first point title in thirty one years of racing and topping the Modifieds was Mark Hessler from Menomonie. Chasing him were Mike Anderson from Colfax, Kevin Adams from Cameron, Matt Leer from Bruce, Pat Hoffman from Rice Lake, Tim McMann from Duluth MN, Scott Miller from Rice Lake, Cory Mahder from Eau Claire, Paul Brust from Rice Lake and Steve Hallquist from Eau Claire.
Named as Rookies of the Year were Dusten Holub from Chetek-Pure Stocks; Cory Dykhoff from Perham MN-Street Stocks; J. Wahlstrom-Midwest Modifieds; Derek Baskin from Menomonie-Super Stocks and Cody Cimfl from Rice Lake-Modifieds.
Cash prizes went to a random driver in each division and the winners were Hessler, Harris, Ellis, Karshbaum and Grabon.
Adams also presented “Thanks a Lot” awards to track employees Dale Johnson and Joe and Lanette Grilley.
Numerous door prizes were then handed out with the top prize, a new rifle donated by Henry Wisconsin going to VanGilder.
The complete schedule should be ready to be posted on the track website soon and race fans should continued to monitor ricelakespeedway.net along with facebook to find the most current information as the racing season approaches.
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