DEFENDING TRACK CHAMPIONS AND FIRST TIME VISITORS TO MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY'S VICTORY LANE!

May 10, 2013

By Dan Bailey
Winona, MN (May 10, 2013) – Just one week ago, the buzz rippling through the racing community was how the racing weekend had been snowed out! This week, however, the weather cooperated and track crew at MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY whipped the banked 1/3-Mile dark clay oval into a fast and smooth jewel that had racers flirting with early season track record lap times.
The fact that the previous week's on-track action had been snowed out was, indeed, a big deal as 2013 is the second season for a 'progression bonus' guarantee. In 2012 Super Stock driver and car owner Jay Oricchio worked through Coordinated Business Systems, Kyocera and J-Mev motorsports to put up a guaranteed weekly $200 bonus for the winner of each week's WISSOTA Super Stock feature. In the event that a regular weekly program was cancelled due to weather, the $200 bonus would 'roll forward' and be added to the following week's $200 bonus.
The word spread quickly and drivers enjoyed battling for that extra money - added to the posted weekly purse at MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY. Fellow Super Stock driver and business owner Jeff Brauer liked the idea so much, that he decided to join the promotion in 2013 with support from his own business Brauer Roofing, Inc. - adding a weekly $100 bonus to the second place finisher's pay and a $50 bonus for the third place finisher. Again, these would be guaranteed weekly bonuses which would 'roll forward' in the event of a cancellation.
So WISSOTA Super Stock drivers were racing for an opportunity to cash in on a portion of the combined $700 worth of bonus money ($400 for the winner, $200 for second & $100 for third) at the end of Friday night's Coordinated Business Systems WISSOTA Super Stock feature.
After winning the evening's first Super Stock heat race, 2010 and 2011 track champion Jeff Brauer used a third place starting spot in the night's feature to grab the winner's portion of that bonus money; leading the entire 20 main to grab the feature win, including the $400 bonus money. "This is a great division, and MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY is a great facility", said Brauer in victory lane, "This bonus program is a way for me to support the division and the track . . . and I guess tonight, I'm paying some bonus money, but also taking some back home with me."
Defending track champion Tommy Richards dueled the entire feature with the #8 of Kelly Anderson for what remained of the bonus cash. Richards, using his all too familiar mastery of the ultra-low groove, battled side-by-side with Anderson through the entirety of the feature before finally claiming the second place finish and its associated $200 bonus. Anderson settled for third and the $100 bonus.
SCHOTT BACK IN VICTORY LANE
2012 River City Manufacturing USRA Modified track champion Lucas Schott showed that his winning ways will continue in 2013 by dominating the 25-lap Modified feature. When the checkered flags waived, Schott's #69 enjoyed a better than 8 second lead over second place finishing Jake Timm. "Car was strong and the track was beautiful tonight", commented Schott in Victory Lane, "I never even tried the bottom groove tonight, the high line was fast and the car was perfect, so I just stayed up top and never looked back."
Timm, who's racing in both the B-Mod and A-Mod divisions again this year, enjoyed a strong second place finish followed by Hank Rollinger, Jr. in third. Heat race winners Brad Waits and Lance Hofer took home fourth and eighth place feature finishes, respectively.
HOVEY'S LATE DAY DECISION PRODUCES FEATURE WIN
Early Friday, Troy Hovey wasn't even sure of his racing plans for the weekend. Posting on Facebook the Decorah, IA racer asked, "Haven't decided . . . go to mts tonight?" Fans, friends, family, and followers quickly responded that he should make the trip to MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY. By 3:30 in the afternoon, Hovey had made a decision, responding on the social networking platform, "Loaded up and heading to mts to do a little racing".
By the end of the evening he was very happy that he'd followed the crowd's suggestions . . . as he was standing in the MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY Victory Lane after winning the 26-car Black Horse Bar & Grill USRA B-Mod feature!
Hovey held off a very fast and impressive looking Darren Jonsgaard for the win, just ahead of opening night feature winner Cory Crapser who'd battled with Jake Timm and Ben Moudry throughout the 18-lap feature.
WOJCIK WINS
After collecting the 2012 Street Stock Track Championship, Ladysmith, WI's Doug Wojcik made some changes for 2013 . . . but winning races was not one of them. "Right now, we're not really running for points," explained Wojcik earlier in the evening on the Live Trackside radio program, "This year we're racing for fun."
Well, winning, of course, makes everything more fun, and Wojcik was once again wearing his ear-to-ear smile and standing in Victory Lane following the Jailhouse Saloon WISSOTA Street Stock feature. "This is, without a doubt, the best track we visit", smiled Wojcik after the win, "It's so fun to race here and that's why we drive as far as we do to come back to MISSISSIPPI THUNDER every week!"
Wojcik worked his way through a six-car battle for the top spot to claim the win, just ahead of Danny Richards and pole sitter Fred Prudoehl.
LADUKE INHERITS LEAD AND NEVER LOOKS BACK
"I saw him slowing and then saw him stopped in turn four" was the first thing Cochrane, WI's Brett LaDuke said after winning the evening's Redbox+ 600 Mod Feature. Opening night feature winner Don Werner had built up an almost entire straight away lead with just a few laps remaining in the 15-lap main event when he began slowing in turn 2. LaDuke, running second at the time, inherited the lead with a restart and a hungry pack of competitors just behind him.
But LaDuke's grace under pressure produced a feature win that had him both celebrating and putting on his sales-man's hat; During his Victory Lane interview LaDuke was happy to point out that not only was his car still for sale, "Now that it's a feature winning car should make it all the more attractive for anyone interested."
Curt Luhmann and Bob Cisewski completed the top three.
DUELLMAN PROVES THAT ALL THINGS IMPROVE WITH AGE
Eric Duellman proved that a brand new car is not required to succeed in the Elmer's Auto Salvage MTS Pure Stock division. "Not bad for a car that was built back in 1987!" exclaimed Duellman in Victory Lane after a late race pass, on the outside of then leader Paul Sweazey, put his blue #22 out front.
Duellman collected the feature win with Sweazey and Jordan Becker completing the top three. Duellman, we're sure, celebrated later by singing along with the brand new "Bangin' Doors" single by his car sponsor "Windy City Cowboy" JD Allen (www.jdallenmusic.com)
MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY is located 3.0 miles north of Fountain City on Wisconsin Highway 35. For more information, call 608-687-3282 or visit www.mississippithunder.com on the World Wide Web.
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MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY is presenting its 2013 'FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 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, continue visiting the MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY web site: www.MississippiThunder.com
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FRIDAY MAY 10th RESULTS
RIVER CITY MANUFACTURING USRA A-MODIFIEDS
FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 69 Lucas Schott Chatfield , Mn 100.00
2 3 10 Jake Timm Winona , Mn 95.00
3 4 59 Hank Rollinger, Jr. Buffalo City, Wi 91.00
4 9 24 Brad Waits Rochester , Mn 87.00
5 5 89 Eric Pember Pittsville , Wi 84.00
6 6 51 Chris Oertel Marshfield , Wi 81.00
7 10 99 Josh Angst , Mn 78.00
8 8 11 Lance Hofer Cochrane , Wi 76.00
9 2 94JR John Doelle Arcadia , Wi 74.00
10 11 77 Thomas Brink Winona , Mn 72.00
11 7 99L Steve Lavasseur River Falls, Wi 70.00
12 12 15B Steve Bangart Auburn Dale, Wi 68.00
13 13 15 Chris Loberg Menomonie , Wi 66.00
14 14 18 Mick Glenn Minnesota City, Mn 45.00
Modifieds - HEAT 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 2 24 Brad Waits Rochester , Mn 0.00
2 1 10 Jake Timm Winona , Mn 0.00
3 6 69 Lucas Schott Chatfield , Mn 0.00
4 3 99 Josh Angst , Mn 0.00
5 4 94JR John Doelle Arcadia , Wi 0.00
6 5 15B Steve Bangart Auburn Dale, Wi 0.00
7 7 15 Chris Loberg Menomonie , Wi 0.00
Modifieds - HEAT 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 2 11 Lance Hofer Cochrane , Wi 0.00
2 1 51 Chris Oertel Marshfield , Wi 0.00
3 4 59 Hank Rollinger, Jr. Buffalo City, Wi 0.00
4 3 89 Eric Pember Pittsville , Wi 0.00
5 6 99L Steve Lavasseur River Falls, Wi 0.00
6 5 77 Thomas Brink Winona , Mn 0.00
7 7 18 Mick Glenn Minnesota City, Mn 0.00

COORDINATED BUSINESS SYSTEMS WISSOTA SUPER STOCKS
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 3 34 Jeff Brauer Rochester , Mn 35.00
2 4 7R Tommy Richards Mondovi , Wi 33.00
3 8 8 Kelly Anderson Hager City, Wi 32.00
4 7 BOH Ben Hanke Hudson , Wi 31.00
5 6 00X Dan Gullikson Stacy , Mn 30.00
6 2 7C Dan Bork Mondovi , Wi 29.00
7 9 37 Jay Oricchio Ellsworth , Wi 28.00
8 10 94 Kevin Hager Kellogg , Mn 27.00
9 1 2 Andrew Bleess Chatfield , Mn 26.00
10 11 47 Jon Duffy Winona , Mn 25.00
11 5 52 Gary Wiersgalla Fountain City, Wi 24.00
12 13 67W Matt Wolfe Mondovi , Wi 23.00
13 12 17H Darrel Hazelton , Wi 0.00
Super Stock - HEAT 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 00X Dan Gullikson Stacy , Mn 10.00
2 2 BOH Ben Hanke Hudson , Wi 9.00
3 4 7R Tommy Richards Mondovi , Wi 8.00
4 5 8 Kelly Anderson Hager City, Wi 7.00
5 3 37 Jay Oricchio Ellsworth , Wi 6.00
6 7 94 Kevin Hager Kellogg , Mn 5.00
7 6 67W Matt Wolfe Mondovi , Wi 4.00
Super Stock - HEAT 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 34 Jeff Brauer Rochester , Mn 10.00
2 6 52 Gary Wiersgalla Fountain City, Wi 9.00
3 4 7C Dan Bork Mondovi , Wi 8.00
4 3 2 Andrew Bleess Chatfield , Mn 7.00
5 5 47 Jon Duffy Winona , Mn 6.00
6 2 17H Darrel Hazelton , Wi 5.00
BLACK HORSE BAR & GRILL USRA B-MODIFIEDS
FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 2 476X Troy Hovey Decorah , Ia 100.00
2 1 8X Darran Jonsgaard Fountain City, Wi 95.00
3 7 07 Cory Crapser Chippewa Falls, Wi 91.00
4 8 10 Jake Timm Winona , Mn 87.00
5 5 85 Ben Moudry Cottage Grove, Mn 84.00
6 6 4G Chris Gilbertson Trempealeau , Wi 81.00
7 9 15W Alex Williamson Rushford , Mn 78.00
8 4 10T Trevor Fecht Allison , Ia 76.00
9 10 95X Shaun Walski Winona , Mn 74.00
10 14 23K Erik Kanz Winona , Mn 72.00
11 12 21 Jacob Bleess Chatfield , Mn 70.00
12 3 44 Brandon Reutzel Winona , Mn 68.00
13 16 1 Jon Van Minsel Spring Grove, Mn 66.00
14 19 81 Cody Gardner Elkton , Mn 64.00
15 17 90 Tyler Creeley Winona , Mn 62.00
16 18 12K Casey Knutson Spring Grove, Mn 60.00
17 13 11 Jack Baehman Hudson , Wi 58.00
18 21 44B Chris Bruns Lawler , Ia 56.00
19 25 13 Ryan Konkel Winona , Mn 55.00
20 22 20K Kyle Brown Minnesota City, Mn 54.00
21 23 80 Bill Engler Hixton , Wi 53.00
22 11 8XX Josh Roney Postville , Ia 52.00
23 26 5W Mike Krueger Tomah , Wi 51.00
24 15 54 John Feirn Chippewa Falls, Wi 50.00
25 24 35X Phillip Dunbar Rushford , Mn 50.00
26 20 34F Nick Frion Ellsworth , Wi 50.00
USRA B-Mods - HEAT 4
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 95X Shaun Walski Winona , Mn 0.00
2 2 21 Jacob Bleess Chatfield , Mn 0.00
3 3 15W Alex Williamson Rushford , Mn 0.00
4 5 1 Jon Van Minsel Spring Grove, Mn 0.00
5 4 81 Cody Gardner Elkton , Mn 0.00
6 6 20K Kyle Brown Minnesota City, Mn 0.00
USRA B-Mods - HEAT 3
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 10 Jake Timm Winona , Mn 0.00
2 5 85 Ben Moudry Cottage Grove, Mn 0.00
3 6 07 Cory Crapser Chippewa Falls, Wi 0.00
4 2 54 John Feirn Chippewa Falls, Wi 0.00
5 4 13 Ryan Konkel Winona , Mn 0.00
6 3 5W Mike Krueger Tomah , Wi 0.00
USRA B-Mods - HEAT 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 4 8X Darran Jonsgaard Fountain City, Wi 0.00
2 2 10T Trevor Fecht Allison , Ia 0.00
3 6 4G Chris Gilbertson Trempealeau , Wi 0.00
4 3 23K Erik Kanz Winona , Mn 0.00
5 5 12K Casey Knutson Spring Grove, Mn 0.00
6 1 44B Chris Bruns Lawler , Ia 0.00
7 7 35X Phillip Dunbar Rushford , Mn 0.00
USRA B-Mods - HEAT 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 3 476X Troy Hovey Decorah , Ia 0.00
2 2 8XX Josh Roney Postville , Ia 0.00
3 1 44 Brandon Reutzel Winona , Mn 0.00
4 4 11 Jack Baehman Hudson , Wi 0.00
5 6 90 Tyler Creeley Winona , Mn 0.00
6 5 34F Nick Frion Ellsworth , Wi 0.00
7 7 80 Bill Engler Hixton , Wi 0.00
JAILHOUSE SALOON WISSOTA STREET STOCKS
FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 5 3D Doug Wojcik Ladysmith , Wi 35.00
2 3 3R Danny Richards Mondovi , Wi 33.00
3 1 2 Fred Prudoehl Winona , Mn 32.00
4 6 38S Nick Schwebach Caledonia , Mn 31.00
5 2 01 Shaun Mann Buffalo City, Wi 30.00
6 4 5 Danny Hanson Alma , Wi 29.00
7 7 6 Andrew Ausman Pepin , Wi 28.00
Street Stock - HEAT
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 3 3D Doug Wojcik Ladysmith , Wi 10.00
2 2 01 Shaun Mann Buffalo City, Wi 9.00
3 4 3R Danny Richards Mondovi , Wi 8.00
4 6 5 Danny Hanson Alma , Wi 7.00
5 5 2 Fred Prudoehl Winona , Mn 6.00
6 7 38S Nick Schwebach Caledonia , Mn 5.00
7 1 6 Andrew Ausman Pepin , Wi 4.00
REDBOX+ 600 MODS
FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 3 16 Brett Laduke Cochrane , Wi 120.00
2 10 8 Curt Luhmann Rushford , Mn 115.00
3 5 40 Bob Cisewski Winona , Mn 110.00
4 6 02 Cole Denner New Hampton, Ia 105.00
5 8 80 Bruce Schmitt Fountain City, Wi 100.00
6 13 56 Bill Bauers Fountain City, Wi 95.00
7 7 27 Brian Laumeyer Cannon Falls, Mn 90.00
8 9 51 David Benke Winona , Mn 85.00
9 12 02X Chris Denner New Hampton, Ia 80.00
10 2 42 Chris Eide Peterson , Mn 75.00
11 11 1 Tom Benke Lacrosse , Wi 70.00
12 1 99 Don Werner Rollingstone , Mn 65.00
13 4 32 Greg Wohletz Winona , Mn 60.00
600 Modifieds - HEAT 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 51 David Benke Winona , Mn 5.00
2 3 99 Don Werner Rollingstone , Mn 4.00
3 5 32 Greg Wohletz Winona , Mn 3.00
4 2 02 Cole Denner New Hampton, Ia 2.00
5 4 80 Bruce Schmitt Fountain City, Wi 1.00
6 6 02X Chris Denner New Hampton, Ia 0.00
600 Modifieds - HEAT 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 2 8 Curt Luhmann Rushford , Mn 5.00
2 1 40 Bob Cisewski Winona , Mn 4.00
3 4 16 Brett Laduke Cochrane , Wi 3.00
4 6 27 Brian Laumeyer Cannon Falls, Mn 2.00
5 5 42 Chris Eide Peterson , Mn 1.00
6 7 1 Tom Benke Lacrosse , Wi 0.00
7 3 56 Bill Bauers Fountain City, Wi 0.00
ELMER'S AUTO SALVAGE MTS PURE STOCKS
FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 7 22 Eric Duellman Fountain City, Wi 35.00
2 2 68 Paul Sweazey Winona , Mn 33.00
3 3 4J Jordan Becker Caledonia , Mn 32.00
4 6 97 Bobby Jr Fort Fountain City, Wi 31.00
5 4 3 Kyle Solberg Hokah , Mn 30.00
6 5 7AP Brandon Ranzenberger Brownsville , Mn 29.00
7 1 83 Josh Malchaski Fountain City, Wi 28.00
8 9 65 Jeff Alseth Winona , Mn 27.00
9 8 94 Lee Hager Kellogg , Mn 26.00
10 10 27 Chris Abts Winona , Mn 0.00
Pure Stock - HEAT 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 4 68 Paul Sweazey Winona , Mn 10.00
2 2 22 Eric Duellman Fountain City, Wi 9.00
3 1 4J Jordan Becker Caledonia , Mn 8.00
4 3 3 Kyle Solberg Hokah , Mn 7.00
5 5 94 Lee Hager Kellogg , Mn 6.00
Pure Stock - HEAT 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 83 Josh Malchaski Fountain City, Wi 10.00
2 2 97 Bobby Jr Fort Fountain City, Wi 9.00
3 5 7AP Brandon Ranzenberger Brownsville , Mn 8.00
4 3 65 Jeff Alseth Winona , Mn 0.00
5 4 27 Chris Abts Winona , Mn 0.00