Wi Dirt Racin

Menomonie, Wisconsin (May 20, 2016) Friday, May 20, 2016, the Red Cedar Speedway invited traveling modifieds and allowed them to run an unsanctioned event for increased pay sponsored by Mars Racing and Keyes Chevytown USA. Four classes of cars were in attendance as the WISSOTA Poly Dome Dirt Track Series sanctioned Midwest Modifieds, Super Stocks, and Late Models, along with the unsanctioned “Open” modifieds took to the track. Feature winners included Lucas Schott, Jesse Glenz, Curt Meyers, and Nick Koehler.

To this writer’s embarrassment, I cannot locate my entire results, therefore I can only go by my racing action notes. I will try to update complete finishing orders when they are available to me. Please accept my most humble and embarrassed apology.

The stars of the night were the open modifieds as several sanctioning bodies were intermingled together on the track. Cars were allowed to run with the rules of their own sanctioning body with an 8000 RPM rev limiter on their motors. Three heats were run and the cars were lined up by passing points for the feature. Mike Anderson won the pole position by virtue of his last place to first run in his heat. The outside front row starter was Jake Hartung as he gained more heat points by starting fifth and finishing second as Lucas Schott and Craig Thatcher both won their respective heats from the front row.

Mike Anderson (WISSOTA) drove to the early lead as Schott (open) followed through to second. A lap three caution reset the field as Anderson again led. Schott used the high line to move to the point on lap four and Jake Hartung (open) moved past Anderson into second. As the front group approached traffic, Hartung and Anderson tightened the gap on Schott. Hartung powered into the lead and Anderson challenged for second. On lap 20 of 30 in heavy lapped traffic, Hartung got into Paul Nitzik (WISSOTA) causing Nitzik to spin. Hartung was relegated from the lead to the rear of the field at the restart.

Schott again lead the field but a caution involving Matt Leer (WISSOTA) and Cory Bruggeman (WISSOTA) slowed the pace. Schott, who gained his advantage on amazing restarts maintained the lead at the green. Anderson and Thatcher (open) battled for second and closed the gap on the leader. A spinning Chris Ortel (open) slowed the action for the final time as Hartung was called for the foul. But again, Schott’s terrific ability to gain distance on the field on restarts was paramount. During the last run for the checkered, Schott gained a four to five car length advantage on the front stretch on the green. Although Anderson was able to cut that distance in half over the last five laps, he followed the 19 year old sensation to the checkers.

Thatcher, who throughout history is considered the man who owned the Red Cedar Speedway in the modified division, having won five National Championships claiming the track as his home, could do nothing with Anderson and finished a strong third. Chad Mahder was scored in fourth.

The T.L. Sinz Plumbing Late Models were paced by Buddy Hanestad and Chad Mahder as it was the soon to be graduating high school senior, Hanestad who blasted into the lead and led for a hand full of laps as his father, Rick Hanestad fought with Mahder for second. Mahder held the position and overtook the lead on the high side as the elder Hanestad moved under his son into the runner up position. Eighth starting Jesse Glenz moved to third as Rick Hanestad took the lead below Mahder. Mahder wasn’t giving up, however, as he forged back out front. Hanestad moved back into the lead with two laps remaining but Mahder again moved out front coming to the white flag. A spinning Mike Prochnow slowed the action, setting up a green, white, checkered restart. Hanestad was placed back in the lead as they reverted to the last completed lap’s leader. Mahder, who had been running high on the track chose to start inside of row two, placing Jesse Glenz on his outside. On the restart, Glenz took advantage of that decision, and blasted to the cushion, took the lead, and drove to the checkers ahead of Hanestad and Mahder.

The Johnson Motors Super Stocks saw pole sitter Ben Hillman flanked by Bart Steffen at the start. It was Hillman early, but sixth starting Curt Myers caught him and moved to the lead on lap two. A spinning Luke Shultz reset the action as Tony Falkner was relegated to the rear on the restart. Myers was not shaken whatsoever as he dominated the remainder of the race. It was Hillman in second followed by a distant battle for third won by Jesse Redetzke over Lucas Plank. Eric Olson finished in fifth.

The Southworth Chevrolet Midwest Modifieds were lined up after a B Feature was won by Josh Wahlstrom. Karl Kolek held the pole as Gunnar Watkins sat outside him. The yellow flew before a lap was scored as Collin Hazelton was sent to the rear. On the second attempt, Clark Swartz found himself on the wrecker with heavy damage in turn four. The third attempt saw Kolek claim the lead as Shane Halopka moved to second and eigth starting Nick Koehler found third.

As Kolek led, Halopka battled down low and Koehler up high as they tried to steal the point. Koehler motored to the front as Michael Truscott joined the battle in fourth. Halopka was able to move to second and Truscott followed him through to third when a spinning Brent Voeltz slowed the action. It was Koehler, unstoppable on the outside, running so high at times it appeared he had one foot in the parking lot. David Swearingen claimed third briefly, but Truscott fought back. A late yellow reset the field but Koehler was just too tough as Halopka finished second over Truscott and a late charge by Gunnar Watkins saw him fourth at the line.

The Red Cedar Speedway returns to racing action on Friday, May 27, 2016, with the UMSS Winged and Traditional Sprint Cars PLUS Weekly Racing Series Event (No Late Models or Modifieds) presented by Cubby’s Bar and Pistol Pete’s Custom Cycles. The WISSOTA Poly Dome Dirt Track Series sanctioned Street Stocks, Midwest Modifieds, Super Stocks, along with the Pure Stocks and Hornets will be on the card.

Comments

comments