By Dan Bailey
FOUNTAIN CITY, WI (July 20, 2012) – For the fourth time in the four-year existence of MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY Jack Baehman and his Beahman Law law firm rolled out the red carpet for USRA B-Mod racers with his big-money B-Mod Challenge. With $1000 on the line for the winner of the TheEngineStore.com USRA B-Mod 30-lap feature (and a guaranteed $100 to start) the field filled out nicely presenting the race fans in attendance with 3 heats and full 24-car starting lineup for the main event.
Regular weekly racers were joined by a healthy contingent of first-time visitors to the Fountain City, WI 1/3-mile dark clay speedway - and by the time the evening's $1000 checkered flag was waiving, drivers from both of those groups had shown their best, but it was a member of the "Youth Brigade" collecting the big paycheck. While not a member of that "Youth Brigade, even event sponsor Jack Baehman enjoyed some laps at the front of the field during the evening's third heat race, before finishing second to Cottage Grove, MNs Ben Moudry - but it was Chatfield, MN racer Jacob Bleess who showed, once again, that when a large payout is on the line, he's capable of ignoring any pressures and challenges and focusing strictly on getting his EZ Fabricating #21 to the front of the field, and keeping it there. Just two weeks after collecting a $1700 pay day for winning the USRA B-Mod feature during the fourth annual Rivercity Rumble, Bleess was signing his name on the over-sized $1000 winner's collectable check as the winner of the Baehman Law B-Mod Challenge.
But before the green flag even waived, Baehman used the opportunity of out-of-car driver introductions on the MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY front straight to praise the competitors in the B-Mod division to the spectators in the grandstands, "You know, the USRA B-Mod division is a very competitive division and a very fun division, made up of some really good clean racers. Earlier today I was on the USRA web site and there are almost 600 racers in this division, and of those almost 600, it's great to see that many of our regular weekly competitors right here at MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY are strong in the point standings with several battling in the top-10 of the national standings!"
With the pleasantries of pre-race activities out of the way, drivers belted themselves into their rides, and prepared for the 30-lap feature to unfold in for both them and the fans.
Third heat-race winner Moudry, jumped from his pole position starting spot to lead the opening five laps, while outside pole sitter Baehman enjoyed a strong showing, battling in the top-5 for the first 10 laps, and then just outside the top-5, but still in the top-10 for the remaining 20 laps. But by lap 6, Bleess was able to relieve Moudry of the top position, and never once relinquished the lead.
Despite a rash of no fewer than five late-race cautions, that forced Bleess to show his restart prowess again and again, nobody was able to throw a successful challenge at him for the lead. Moudry, was busy holding off repeated challenges by previous feature winner Shaun Walski and second heat-race winner, and current track point leader Erik Kanz. Just behind the three car battle for second, Alex Williamson was showing his strengths by working through the field on an impressive run which started all the way back on the inside of the TENTH row - and ended as an impressive battle for fifth with first heat-race winner Troy Langowski.
But as these battles for positions within the top-5 played out over the closing laps, Bleess seemed un-phased and made it look almost easy on his run to his second high-dollar feature win in three weeks. "I couldn't really tell how close they were behind me," said Bleess in Victory Lane, "but those restarts just kept forcing me to get good restarts over and over again."
Walski was able to sneak past Moudry on the final lap to finish second, with Moudry, Kanz and Williamson completing the top-5. Outside of Bleess' win and Williamson's 14 position gain, the other run that will have many talking for a while, was the 17 position gain turned in by Plainview, MN's Josh Crary - after starting dead last in the 24-car field, Crary battled all the way up to a solid 7th place finish with his #22J.
SCHOTT CLAIMS ANOTHER
When the Rivercity Manufacturing USRA Modifieds hit the track for their 25-lap feature, the battle for the win ended up being a dual between successful drivers from two different generations. Defending Track Champion Bob Timm, fresh off winning the evening's third heat race, lead the main event for nine of the first eleven laps, after taking over from pole sitter Dan Bohr who lead the opening two laps.
Timm's run out front was ended, though, when second heat race winner, and current point leader, Lucas Schott took over. What followed was an awesome battle for the lead and eventual win that lasted all the way to the waiving checkered flag.
Schott, tending to run in the lower to middle groove, held the top spot, while Timm tried every conceivable combination of those three grooves to throw challenge after challenge at the young leader, "I was trying anything I could to challenge him," commented Timm, after finishing a close second, "He was set up to run lower like that, and I like running high, but I needed to try something, anything."
Timm started entering turns one and three extremely high and then diving down to the bottom of turns two and four in an attempt to creation two longer straights. "There was traction down at the bottom of two and four, so I was trying to stretch them out and give me as much of a run as I could build . . . I at least wanted to make him work for it." laughed Timm.
But his efforts came up short, and Schott motored on to yet another feature win with his Schott's Hardwood Floors #69. First heat race winner, and 2010 Track Champion Josh Angst worked the traffic like a master and finished third after starting inside the sixth row.
RICHARDS RACES TO ANOTHER FEATURE WIN
Tommy Richards added yet another Coordinated Business Systems WISSOTA Super Stock feature win to his records, in typical Richards fashion, working from a starting spot deep in the field and using the extreme low line around MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY to take the lead and the eventual win.
Seasoned Super Stock driver Jon Duffy jumped from his outside pole starting spot to lead the opening two circuits before previous weeks' feature winner Kelly Anderson took the lead for the following eight laps. But, as the field passed the midway point of the 20 lap feature Richards had moved from his outside fourth row starting spot up towards the front, and on lap 11, he took the lead for good. As Richards collected the win, Anderson staved off the challenges of two-time and defending Track Champion Jeff Brauer. Brauer finished a close third, with current point leader, and second heat-race winner Shane Kisling following in fourth.
WOJCIK WOWS EM WITH CLEAN SWEEP
Current point leader in the Jailhouse Saloon WISSOTA Street Stock division Doug Wojcik put together a perfect evening, starting the night out by winning the first heat-race and ending the evening atop the MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY Victory Lane as the feature winner.
"The track was great tonight," smiled Wojcik after the feature win, "I . . . I . . . well, I don't know what else to say, I just really really like racing here!" Wojcik took over the lead on lap four after both Ryan Henderson and Jesse Lutz each enjoyed a two-lap run out front.
Danny Richards held off a hard charging Mike Conrad, who'd started inside the fifth row - right behind Wojcik, for second.
After winning the Jailhouse Saloon WISSOTA Street Stock feature the previous week, the evening ended much too soon for early season point leader, and second heat-race winner Cory Hanson when he pulled off the track early in the evening's feature.
PROVINZINO WINS AGAIN
Joe Provinzino showed, once again, that he is the master of 600 Mod racing, by picking up another feature win. Sneaking past former feature winner Bruce Schmitt for the lead, Provinzino grabbed the checkered flag with Curt Luhmann and Schmitt completing the top-3.
SWEAZY, STEVENS & BECKER VISIT VICTORY LANE
Paul Sweazey won the Elmer's Auto Salvage MTS Pure Stock feature while Nate Becker returned to Victory Lane as the winner of the early evening Sunshine Sanitation B Mini Mod Feature on the "Lightning Speedway". In the A-Mini Mod feature, Alex Stevens made his first trip to Victory Lane for the 2012 season.
MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY's 2012 season continues Friday night August 3rd with the first night of the two-night Mid-Summer Shootout. The fast 1/3 mile speedway will be silent Friday July 27th but will return with a vengeance with two complete shows both Friday the 3rd and Saturday the 4th with on-track action for all regular weekly divisions; the Sunshine Sanitation A and B Mini Mods on the "Lightning Speedway", supporting competition on the fast 1/3-mile comprised of complete programs for the River City Manufacturing USRA Modifieds, Coordinated Business Systems WISSOTA Super Stocks, TheEngineStore.com USRA B-Mods, Jailhouse Saloon WISSOTA Street Stocks, REDBOX+ 600 Mods, & Elmer's Auto Salvage MTS Pure Stocks.
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MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY is presenting its 4th season of top-notch dirt track action in Fountain City, WI. The high-banked 1/3 mile dark-clay oval is quickly becoming known as one of the best speedways in the upper Midwest presenting dirt track racing in a fan and family friendly atmosphere every Friday night throughout the racing season.
For all details, keep visiting the MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY web site: www.MississippiThunder.com
JULY 13TH - RESULTS
River City Manufacturing USRA Modifieds
FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 3 69 Lucas Schott Chatfield , Mn 100.00
2 6 49 Bob Timm Winona , Mn 95.00
3 11 99 Josh Angst , Mn 91.00
4 4 49JR Jake Timm Winona , Mn 87.00
5 2 0 Les Duellman Winona , Mn 84.00
6 7 94JR John Doelle - 81.00
7 1 66 Dan Bohr - 78.00
8 17 59 Hank Rollinger, Jr. - 76.00
9 9 45X Bob Fort Fountain City, Wi 74.00
10 12 89 Eric Pember Pittsville , Wi 72.00
11 15 51 Chris Oertel Marshfield , Wi 70.00
12 16 77 Thomas Brink - 68.00
13 8 4G Chris Gilbertson Trempealeau , Wi 66.00
14 5 11 Lance Hofer - 64.00
15 10 88X Jimmy Broszeit Postville , Ia 62.00
16 20 15 Steve Bangart Auburn Dale, Wi 60.00
17 14 4X Dan Hesch Acadia , Wi 58.00
18 19 86 Phil Wernert - 56.00
19 18 28 Bill Clemens Chatfield , Mn 55.00
20 13 44 Leroy Scharkey - 54.00
21 21 55 Don Schaefer Dover , Mn 53.00
Modifieds - HEAT 3
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 4 49 Bob Timm Winona , Mn 0.00
2 2 45X Bob Fort Fountain City, Wi 0.00
3 5 4G Chris Gilbertson Trempealeau , Wi 0.00
4 6 66 Dan Bohr - 0.00
5 3 51 Chris Oertel Marshfield , Wi 0.00
6 7 28 Bill Clemens Chatfield , Mn 0.00
7 1 55 Don Schaefer Dover , Mn 0.00
Modifieds - HEAT 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 6 69 Lucas Schott Chatfield , Mn 0.00
2 1 88X Jimmy Broszeit Postville , Ia 0.00
3 4 0 Les Duellman Winona , Mn 0.00
4 2 11 Lance Hofer - 0.00
5 7 4X Dan Hesch Acadia , Wi 0.00
6 5 59 Hank Rollinger, Jr. - 0.00
7 3 15 Steve Bangart Auburn Dale, Wi 0.00
Modifieds - HEAT 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 2 99 Josh Angst , Mn 0.00
2 6 89 Eric Pember Pittsville , Wi 0.00
3 5 94JR John Doelle - 0.00
4 4 49JR Jake Timm Winona , Mn 0.00
5 7 44 Leroy Scharkey - 0.00
6 3 77 Thomas Brink - 0.00
7 1 86 Phil Wernert - 0.00
Coordinated Business Systems WISSOTA Super Stocks
FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 8 7R Tommy Richards Mondovi , Wi 35.00
2 6 8 Kelly Anderson Hager City, Wi 33.00
3 5 34 Jeff Brauer Rochester , Mn 32.00
4 7 6 Shane Kisling Sarona , Wi 31.00
5 1 17H Darrel Hazelton Lake City, Mn 30.00
6 4 94 Kevin Hager Kellogg , Mn 29.00
7 2 47 Jon Duffy Winona , Mn 28.00
8 3 37 Jay Oricchio Ellsworth , Wi 27.00
9 10 52 Gary Wiersgalla Fountain City, Wi 26.00
10 12 41 Schatney Sanders Red Wing, Mn 25.00
11 13 0 Brandon Duellman Winona , Mn 24.00
12 9 67W Matt Wolfe Mondovi , Wi 23.00
13 11 7C Dan Bork Mondovi , Wi 22.00
Super Stock - HEAT 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 6 6 Shane Kisling Sarona , Wi 10.00
2 3 7R Tommy Richards Mondovi , Wi 9.00
3 2 17H Darrel Hazelton Lake City, Mn 8.00
4 1 94 Kevin Hager Kellogg , Mn 7.00
5 4 52 Gary Wiersgalla Fountain City, Wi 6.00
6 5 41 Schatney Sanders Red Wing, Mn 5.00
Super Stock - HEAT 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 2 37 Jay Oricchio Ellsworth , Wi 10.00
2 4 8 Kelly Anderson Hager City, Wi 9.00
3 3 34 Jeff Brauer Rochester , Mn 8.00
4 1 47 Jon Duffy Winona , Mn 7.00
5 6 67W Matt Wolfe Mondovi , Wi 6.00
6 5 7C Dan Bork Mondovi , Wi 5.00
7 7 0 Brandon Duellman Winona , Mn 4.00
TheEngineStore.com USRA B-Mods
FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 3 21 Jacob Bleess Chatfield , Mn 100.00
2 4 95X Shaun Walski Winona , Mn 95.00
3 8 23K Erik Kanz Winona , Mn 91.00
4 1 85 Ben Moudry Cottage Grove, Mn 87.00
5 19 15W Alex Williamson Rushford , Mn 84.00
6 6 88 Troy Langowski Winona , Mn 81.00
7 24 22J Josh Crary Plainview , Mn 78.00
8 12 90 Tyler Creeley Winona , Mn 76.00
9 2 11 Jack Baehman Hudson , Wi 74.00
10 17 4G Scott Guthrie Whitehall , Wi 72.00
11 21 U7 Rick Utley Stewartvile , Mn 70.00
12 5 1 Jon Vanminsel Spring Grove, Mn 68.00
13 18 00A Ed Appel Taylor , Wi 66.00
14 15 3 Matt Appel Taylor , Wi 64.00
15 14 81 Jared Boumeester Ellendale , Mn 62.00
16 7 44 Brandon Reutzel Winona , Mn 60.00
17 13 97 Leigh Volkman Rushford , Mn 58.00
18 10 98 Kyle Anderson Decorah , Ia 56.00
19 9 9K Brady Keefe Stewartville , Mn 55.00
20 16 18Y Jerry Young Blooming Prairie, Mn 54.00
21 11 10 Johnny Allen Alba , Fl 53.00
22 20 79 Robert Carpenter Black River, Wi 52.00
23 22 97X Don Schaefer Eyota , Mn 51.00
24 23 28 Parker Hale Grand Meadow, Mn 50.00
USRA B-Mods - HEAT 3
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 3 85 Ben Moudry Cottage Grove, Mn 0.00
2 1 11 Jack Baehman Hudson , Wi 0.00
3 8 1 Jon Vanminsel Spring Grove, Mn 0.00
4 5 10 Johnny Allen Alba , Fl 0.00
5 7 3 Matt Appel Taylor , Wi 0.00
6 2 4G Scott Guthrie Whitehall , Wi 0.00
7 4 15W Alex Williamson Rushford , Mn 0.00
8 6 22J Josh Crary Plainview , Mn 0.00
USRA B-Mods - HEAT 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 2 23K Erik Kanz Winona , Mn 0.00
2 3 95X Shaun Walski Winona , Mn 0.00
3 4 98 Kyle Anderson Decorah , Ia 0.00
4 8 9K Brady Keefe Stewartville , Mn 0.00
5 7 81 Jared Boumeester Ellendale , Mn 0.00
6 5 00A Ed Appel Taylor , Wi 0.00
7 6 U7 Rick Utley Stewartvile , Mn 0.00
8 1 97X Don Schaefer Eyota , Mn 0.00
USRA B-Mods - HEAT 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 88 Troy Langowski Winona , Mn 0.00
2 2 44 Brandon Reutzel Winona , Mn 0.00
3 5 21 Jacob Bleess Chatfield , Mn 0.00
4 4 97 Leigh Volkman Rushford , Mn 0.00
5 8 90 Tyler Creeley Winona , Mn 0.00
6 7 18Y Jerry Young Blooming Prairie, Mn 0.00
7 6 79 Robert Carpenter Black River, Wi 0.00
8 3 28 Parker Hale Grand Meadow, Mn 0.00
Jailhouse Saloon WISSOTA Street Stocks
FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 7 3D Doug Wojcik Ladysmith , Wi 35.00
2 6 3R Danny Richards Mondovi , Wi 33.00
3 9 M76 Mike Conrad Independence , Wi 32.00
4 4 80 Ryan Henderson Holmen , Wi 31.00
5 3 2 Fred Prudoehl Winona , Mn 30.00
6 2 38S Nick Schwebach Caledonia , Mn 29.00
7 1 06 Jesse Lutz Winona , Mn 28.00
8 10 95 Lonnie Klonecki Arcadia , Wi 27.00
9 12 86 Jane Keating Shell Rock, Ia 26.00
10 14 X01 Travis Krause Buffalo City, Wi 25.00
11 5 01 Shaun Mann Buffalo City, Wi 24.00
12 8 79 Cory Hanson Black River, Wi 23.00
13 13 6 Andrew Ausman Pepin , Wi 22.00
14 11 5B Ben Goldsmith Chatfield , Mn 21.00
Street Stock - HEAT 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 2 79 Cory Hanson Black River, Wi 10.00
2 3 80 Ryan Henderson Holmen , Wi 9.00
3 5 38S Nick Schwebach Caledonia , Mn 8.00
4 7 06 Jesse Lutz Winona , Mn 7.00
5 6 95 Lonnie Klonecki Arcadia , Wi 6.00
6 4 6 Andrew Ausman Pepin , Wi 5.00
7 1 X01 Travis Krause Buffalo City, Wi 4.00
Street Stock - HEAT 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 4 3D Doug Wojcik Ladysmith , Wi 10.00
2 2 01 Shaun Mann Buffalo City, Wi 9.00
3 5 3R Danny Richards Mondovi , Wi 8.00
4 3 2 Fred Prudoehl Winona , Mn 7.00
5 6 M76 Mike Conrad Independence , Wi 6.00
6 1 5B Ben Goldsmith Chatfield , Mn 5.00
7 7 86 Jane Keating Shell Rock, Ia 4.00
Redbox+ 600 Mods
FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 2 89 Joe Provinzino Chanhassen , Mn 120.00
2 7 8 Curt Luhmann Rushford , Mn 115.00
3 1 80 Bruce Schmitt Fountain City, Wi 110.00
4 4 32 Greg Wohletz Winona , Mn 105.00
5 6 56 Bill Bauers Fountain City, Wi 100.00
6 9 K-9 John Griffin Caledonia , Mn 95.00
7 5 90 Brent Gora Dover , Mn 90.00
8 12 16 Brett Laduke Cochrane , Wi 85.00
9 8 40 Bob Cisewski Winona , Mn 80.00
10 11 19JR Nicholas Wagner Trempealeau , Wi 75.00
11 10 51 David Benke Winona , Mn 70.00
12 3 99 Don Werner Rollingstone , Mn 65.00
13 14 27 Brian Laumeyer Cannon Falls, Mn 60.00
14 13 42 Chris Eide Rushford , Mn 55.00
600 Modifieds - HEAT 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 89 Joe Provinzino Chanhassen , Mn 5.00
2 5 8 Curt Luhmann Rushford , Mn 4.00
3 2 90 Brent Gora Dover , Mn 3.00
4 3 40 Bob Cisewski Winona , Mn 2.00
5 6 K-9 John Griffin Caledonia , Mn 1.00
6 7 16 Brett Laduke Cochrane , Wi 0.00
7 4 27 Brian Laumeyer Cannon Falls, Mn 0.00
600 Modifieds - HEAT 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 56 Bill Bauers Fountain City, Wi 5.00
2 5 80 Bruce Schmitt Fountain City, Wi 4.00
3 4 99 Don Werner Rollingstone , Mn 3.00
4 6 32 Greg Wohletz Winona , Mn 2.00
5 3 51 David Benke Winona , Mn 1.00
6 2 19JR Nicholas Wagner Trempealeau , Wi 0.00
7 7 42 Chris Eide Rushford , Mn 0.00
Elmer's Auto Salvage MTS Pure Stocks
FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 3 68 Paul Sweazey Winona , Mn 35.00
2 5 13 Ryan Konkel Winona , Mn 33.00
3 1 97 Bobby Jr Fort Fountain City, Wi 32.00
4 4 2 Andrew Bleess Chatfield , Mn 31.00
5 6 Z1 Corey Ziemer Minnesota City, Mn 30.00
6 2 77B Larry Dubois Winona , Mn 29.00
7 7 27 Chris Abts Winona , Mn 28.00
Pure Stock - HEAT
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 13 Ryan Konkel Winona , Mn 10.00
2 4 68 Paul Sweazey Winona , Mn 9.00
3 5 97 Bobby Jr Fort Fountain City, Wi 8.00
4 7 2 Andrew Bleess Chatfield , Mn 7.00
5 2 77B Larry Dubois Winona , Mn 6.00
6 6 Z1 Corey Ziemer Minnesota City, Mn 5.00
7 3 27 Chris Abts Winona , Mn 4.00
Sunshine Sanitation A-Mini Mods
FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 6 80X Alex Stevens Trempealeau , Wi 100.00
2 1 9 Mike Stevens Winona , Mn 95.00
3 7 96 Spencer Ihrke Dover , Mn 91.00
4 5 66 Keagen Einck Decorah , Ia 87.00
5 2 12 Dylan Buckland Ridgeway , Mn 84.00
6 4 48 Matthew Stevens Trempealeau , Wi 81.00
7 3 20 Jackson Hale Grand Meadow, Mn 78.00
A Mini Modifieds - HEAT
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 7 9 Mike Stevens Winona , Mn 0.00
2 6 12 Dylan Buckland Ridgeway , Mn 0.00
3 1 20 Jackson Hale Grand Meadow, Mn 0.00
4 2 48 Matthew Stevens Trempealeau , Wi 0.00
5 5 66 Keagen Einck Decorah , Ia 0.00
6 4 80X Alex Stevens Trempealeau , Wi 0.00
7 3 96 Spencer Ihrke Dover , Mn 0.00
Sunshine Sanitation B-Mini Mods
FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 5 79 Nate Becker Black River, Wi 100.00
2 6 51W Jt Wasmund Pine Island, Mn 95.00
3 8 55H Aj Hoff Mantorville , Mn 91.00
4 2 19B Brian Grimm Riceville , Ia 87.00
5 1 15D Devin Williamson Rushford , Mn 84.00
6 3 17 Matthew Laduke Cochrane , Wi 81.00
7 4 22 Zach Laumeyer Cannon Falls, Mn 78.00
8 7 100 Jeremy Werner Rollingstone , Mn 76.00
B Mini Modifieds - HEAT 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 2 19B Brian Grimm Riceville , Ia 0.00
2 3 22 Zach Laumeyer Cannon Falls, Mn 0.00
3 4 51W Jt Wasmund Pine Island, Mn 0.00
4 1 55H Aj Hoff Mantorville , Mn 0.00
B Mini Modifieds - HEAT 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 15D Devin Williamson Rushford , Mn 0.00
2 2 17 Matthew Laduke Cochrane , Wi 0.00
3 4 79 Nate Becker Black River, Wi 0.00
4 3 100 Jeremy Werner Rollingstone , Mn 0.00