By Dan Bailey
FOUNTAIN CITY, WI (June 14, 2013) – Every fan of racing loves to watch a great battle for position; when that battle for position is for the lead, even better. When the battle for lead is in the closing laps of feature . . . look out, 'cause the fans will be on their feet, the enthusiasm will be high and the drivers will be pushing just as hard as possible.
Friday night's action at MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY was a race fans dream, as every single feature event of the evening came right down to the final lap to determine who was going to be pulling into Victory Lane.
The true 'scene setter' of the evening's excitement, and surely a feature finish which will be talked about for time to come, was the conclusion of the Jailhouse Saloon WISSOTA Street Stock feature. A five-car battle for the lead, and eventual win, lasted the entirety of the 18-lap main event, and finally spilled over coming out of turn four to the checkered flag.
Pole Sitter Shaun Mann led the opening lap with his #01, while Mondovi, WI's Danny Richards snuck passed outside-pole sitter Fred Prudoehl's #2 to move up from his third place starting spot to second. By lap 2, Richards had moved into the lead and stayed out front for the next 11 laps while defending track champion Doug Wojcik and multi-time track champion, and former WISSOTA National Champion Danny Hanson worked through the competition towards the inevitable battle for the win.
For the entire feature, that solid five-car war raged on for racing room and command of the track. On lap 10, Wojcik worked past Hanson for second and on lap 14 Wojcik dispensed with Richards to take over the lead. While the digital scoring shows Wojcik leading the next three laps followed by Richards leading a lap and then Wojcik back out front for the 18th and final trip across the finish line, the trio of Wojcik, Hanson and Richards swapped the top spot at the very least three to four times per lap!
On the final lap both Hanson and Richards were back in front of Wojcik and the battle for the win finally boiled over in turns three and four. Wojcik recounted the events which transpired just in front of him in the final turns of the final lap, "I was running so strong in the high line, and that's how I got to the front. But when I saw Richards drive so hard into three and then begin sliding up in turn four, I knew that if I wanted to survive, I needed to head for the bottom of the track."
Richards 3R slid up the banking in turn four and slammed into the #5 of Hanson, sending both cars into the outside concrete in collision so fierce that it dug the front end of Hanson's car into the racing surface, and simultaneously threw both a shower of sparks and Richards 3R into the air.
The contact was near deafening, and the rapidity in which Hanson's car smashed to a halt was frightening! Richards ricocheted off Hanson's car and limped towards the waving checkered flag. But by this time, Wojcik was already long gone and headed towards victory lane. Hanson, understandably, was livid. Climbing from the battered remains of his totaled car he was determined to 'have a word or two' with Richards . . . so determined, in fact, that speedway personnel had their hands full to keep the Alma, WI native away from Richards' 3R.
In the heat of the moment, Wojcik rolled into Victory Lane and enjoyed the spot light, Richards was directed to his hauler with a waiving black flag, and Hanson was left to take the long walk alone all the way back to his hauler . . . but, as the race director, scoring personnel, speedway owners, and even WISSOTA Officials focused on the situation and events which led up to the climactic finish the official results changed.
Speedway owner Bob Timm explained, "We consulted with our own on-track officials, our race director, the scorers and even WISSOTA officials, and final ruling that we've come to is that this was a yellow-flag scenario, and we're reverting back to the previous lap scored. At that time the running order was Richards, Hanson and the Wojcik. Richards, though, received the black flag, and this moved Hanson to the front . . . thereby claiming the feature win.
"We're sorry that Danny didn't get his time in Victory Lane", continued Timm, "but I hope most will understand, that with the commotion on the track, the clean-up crew attending to the wrecked machinery, our safety crew confirming that Danny was indeed ok, and rain showers beginning to appear in the area, a lot was taking place. The first unofficial reaction was to interview Doug Wojcik in Victory Lane, as he crossed the line first."
Hanson while understandably upset, was able to offer these thoughts, "You can't drive through somebody to win," he said. "You just can't do that. He just came right, square off the bottom and ran me right into the frickin' concrete."
Shawn Mann completed the top three in the results.
CISEWSKI CAPTURES 600 MOD WIN WITH LAST LAP LAST TURN PASS
Winona, MNs Bob Cisewski finally blasted his way into Victory Lane with an early August 2012 feature win. Friday night, nothing was going to keep him from a return to Victory Lane . . . not even his good friend, defending Track Champion Greg Wohletz.
It only took Cisewski two laps to move his Ace Auto #40 from the starting position of sixth to second in the running order. For the next 15 laps his sole focus was reeling in the red and yellow #32 of Wohletz, who'd stepped away from the field and opened up a commanding lead. Lap after lap Cisewski slowly but surely closed the gap on Wohletz, and as the duo crossed beneath the waiving white flag for the final lap, Cisewski was there to battle for the lead.
Turns one and two, Cisewski ran the ultra-high line to get up alongside of Wohletz, but Wohletz rocketed out of turn two with a slight advantage compliments of the ultra-low groove which he'd been using almost the entire feature. Turn three saw Cisewski pushing the cushion up high again, and as the two came zipping out of turn four, Cisewski's momentum carried him just the slimmest distance ahead of Wohletz to claim the win.
"Greg and I are great friends", commented Cisewski in Victory Lane, "it's always great racing with him; but, to get this win, I'm speechless." Cisewski's post-race comments were almost identical, "You know, it's always best to win, but if I'm going to finish second, it's great to see Bob beating me to the line." Current point leader Don Werner rounded out the top three as the checkered flag waived.
ANGST TURNING THINGS AROUND WITH A-MOD FEATURE WIN
2010 Track Champion Josh Angst has had his work cut out for him through the initial stages of the 2013 season. Friday night, things were back where he liked them, as he was able to pilot his Culver's of Winona #99 to a clean sweep winning both the second heat race and the evenings River City Manufacturing USRA Modified Winona County Employees 25 lap feature.
But, like the two previous results already highlighted, Angst's step to the win came with some late-race action. Decorah, IA's Dan Bohr wrestled the lead away from local driver Lance Hofer on lap two and looked ready to make his maiden voyage into Victory Lane for the 2013 season. From lap two through lap 17 Bohr's #66 was out front and seemingly sailing towards victory. But, a cliché is a cliché because makes sense time and time again . . . this feature was not going to be over until it was over!
In turn four on lap 17 a lapped car slid up the banking directly into the line of Bohr's high-line missile. Just enough sheet metal was wrinkled to slow Bohr's momentum, Angst, who'd slowly caught Bohr since stepping into second on lap eight, saw the opportunity and pounced like a stalking tiger.
Angst, then, sailed to his feature win and celebrated a change in his season, "we have struggled a bit early this season", commented Angst in Victory Lane, "but last night we really got things corrected and tonight shows that we're back to running the way we can."
Bohr settled was an obviously heart-breaking second place finish, Hofer and current point leader Jake Timm finishing third and fourth ahead of Brad Waits in fifth.
TOMMY RICHARDS STEALS SUPER WIN FROM WIERSGALLA IN LAST TURN
Defending Track Champion Tommy Richards continued the theme of late race passes for the win. Former Track Champion Gary Wiersgalla, who struggled through a somewhat disappointing 2012, has recently turned the tables and is once again enjoying runs at the front of the pack in the Coordinated Business Systems WISSOTA Super Stock division. After a third place feature finish the previous week, his familiar blue and white #52 was enjoying an extended stay at the front of the field as the closing laps of the Super Stock feature approached.
Despite a six-car battle at the front of the field, Wiersgalla remained out front leading the way towards what was an expected win. Wiersgalla led the second lap of the feature before being passed by Kelly Anderson's J-Mev Motorsports #8 and settling into second until retaking the lead on lap 12 of the 20 lap feature.
But with two laps remaining, Richards put the low groove to work and snuck past Wiersgalla who was running about as high as seemingly possible. The two traded the top spot back and forth with Richards just barely pulling out the win as the two crossed the line almost directly side by side.
Richards enjoyed the win, Wiersgalla settled for second, with Dan Bork, Anderson and Jay Oricchio completing the top five.
WILLIAMSON WINS FIRST FEATURE OF 2013
Young Alex Williamson bested the 22-car Black Horse Bar & Grill USRA B-Mod main event, holding off Shaun Walski in second, Cory Crapser in third, Chris Gilbertson & third heat race winner Jacob Bleess in fourth and fifth respectively.
BOBBY FORT, JR BESTS THE PURE STOCK DIVISION
Bobby Fort, Jr. took advantage of Eric Duellman's hard luck and motored his way to his first MTS Pure Stock feature win of the 2013 season. Heat race winner Duellman, who appeared to have the field covered with his #22 saw his hopes for another feature win of the season go up in smoke, had to pull off early and handed the lead/win over to Fort.
Paul Sweazey survived a near head-on collision with the spinning #94 of Lee Hager, and raced to a surprising second place finish with a car that crossed the finish line looking more like a modified than a pure stock. Josh Malchaski rounded out the top three.
HALE AND WILLIAMSON WIN MINI-MOD FEATURES ON LIGHTNING SPEEDWAY
Jackson Hale raced his way to the front of the field and a Sunshine Sanitation A Mini Mod feature on the Lightning Speedway while young Devin Williamson bested the competition to collect
MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY will be silent next Friday June 21st as the track keeps it's lights dark for their 2013 'bye week' . . . speedway owners and management encourage all race fans to visit Winona, MN to enjoy the Steamboat Days festivities. High-speed action returns to MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY Friday June 28th with the make-up of the fan-favorite Winona Radio KAGE / BUD night, one of the longest running active race track event promotions celebrating dirt track racing since the late '80s! Action will continue July 5th with the 5th Annual River City Rumble; extra money for the racers, on-sight DJ music and prizes for the fans including bikes for the kids and five (5) flat-screen TVs! Watch the MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY web site for details!
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
JUNE 14TH - RESULTS
River City Manufacturing USRA Modifieds
WINONA COUNTY EMPLOYEES 25 FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 7 99 Josh Angst , Mn 100.00
2 2 66 Dan Bohr Decorah , Ia 95.00
3 1 11 Lance Hofer Cochrane , Wi 91.00
4 5 10 Jake Timm Winona , Mn 87.00
5 10 24 Brad Waits Rochester , Mn 84.00
6 4 77 Tom Brink Winona , Mn 81.00
7 9 49 Bob Timm Winona , Mn 78.00
8 6 59 Hank Rollinger, Jr. Buffalo City, Wi 76.00
9 8 94JR John Doelle Arcadia , Wi 74.00
10 3 44 Leroy Scharkey Rochester , Mn 72.00
11 12 99L Steve Lavasseur River Falls, Wi 70.00
12 11 13-2 Bryan Hessler Chetek , Wi 68.00
13 13 6T7 Brian Albrecht Winona , Mn 66.00
Modifieds - HEAT 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 2 99 Josh Angst , Mn 0.00
2 4 10 Jake Timm Winona , Mn 0.00
3 1 11 Lance Hofer Cochrane , Wi 0.00
4 5 59 Hank Rollinger, Jr. Buffalo City, Wi 0.00
5 6 94JR John Doelle Arcadia , Wi 0.00
6 3 99L Steve Lavasseur River Falls, Wi 0.00
Modifieds - HEAT 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 2 24 Brad Waits Rochester , Mn 0.00
2 4 66 Dan Bohr Decorah , Ia 0.00
3 5 49 Bob Timm Winona , Mn 0.00
4 1 77 Tom Brink Winona , Mn 0.00
5 6 44 Leroy Scharkey Rochester , Mn 0.00
6 7 13-2 Bryan Hessler Chetek , Wi 0.00
7 3 6T7 Brian Albrecht Winona , Mn 0.00
Coordinated Business Systems WISSOTA Super Stocks
FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 4 7R Tommy Richards Mondovi , Wi 35.00
2 2 52 Gary Wiersgalla Fountain City, Wi 33.00
3 6 7C Dan Bork Mondovi , Wi 32.00
4 5 8 Kelly Anderson Hager City, Wi 31.00
5 1 37 Jay Oricchio Ellsworth , Wi 30.00
6 7 34 Jeff Brauer Rochester , Mn 29.00
7 8 41 Schatney Sanders Lake City, Mn 28.00
8 10 94 Kevin Hager Kellogg , Mn 27.00
9 3 BOH Ben Hanke Hudson , Wi 26.00
10 13 0 Brandon Duellman Winona , Mn 25.00
11 9 47 Jon Duffy Winona , Mn 24.00
12 11 06 Jesse Lutz Winona , Mn 23.00
13 12 2 Andrew Bleess Chatfield , Mn 22.00
Super Stock - HEAT 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 5 34 Jeff Brauer Rochester , Mn 10.00
2 1 41 Schatney Sanders Lake City, Mn 9.00
3 4 52 Gary Wiersgalla Fountain City, Wi 8.00
4 3 37 Jay Oricchio Ellsworth , Wi 7.00
5 2 94 Kevin Hager Kellogg , Mn 6.00
6 6 0 Brandon Duellman Winona , Mn 5.00
Super Stock - HEAT 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 6 7R Tommy Richards Mondovi , Wi 10.00
2 2 BOH Ben Hanke Hudson , Wi 9.00
3 5 7C Dan Bork Mondovi , Wi 8.00
4 3 8 Kelly Anderson Hager City, Wi 7.00
5 1 47 Jon Duffy Winona , Mn 6.00
6 7 06 Jesse Lutz Winona , Mn 5.00
7 4 2 Andrew Bleess Chatfield , Mn 4.00
Black Horse Bar & Grill USRA B-Mods
FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 2 15W Alex Williamson Rushford , Mn 100.00
2 3 95X Shaun Walski Winona , Mn 95.00
3 6 07 Cory Crapser Chippewa Falls, Wi 91.00
4 4 4G Chris Gilbertson Trempealeau , Wi 87.00
5 10 21 Jacob Bleess Chatfield , Mn 84.00
6 1 85 Ben Moudry Cottage Grove, Mn 81.00
7 11 23K Erik Kanz Winona , Mn 78.00
8 8 28 Parker Hale Grand Meadow, Mn 76.00
9 9 10 Jake Timm Winona , Mn 74.00
10 5 12K Casey Knutson Spring Grove, Mn 72.00
11 7 54 John Feirn Chippewa Falls, Wi 70.00
12 17 44 Brandon Reutzel Winona , Mn 68.00
13 14 34F Nick Frion Ellsworth , Wi 66.00
14 16 90 Tyler Creeley Winona , Mn 64.00
15 19 35X Phillip Dunbar Rushford , Mn 62.00
16 18 13 Ryan Konkel Winona , Mn 60.00
17 20 80 Bill Engler Hixton , Wi 58.00
18 12 81 Cody Gardner Elkton , Mn 56.00
19 15 8X Darran Jonsgaard Fountain City, Wi 55.00
20 22 12 Tucker Breitung Prior Lake, Mn 54.00
21 13 11 Jack Baehman Hudson , Wi 53.00
22 21 88 Troy Langowski Winona , Mn 52.00
USRA B-Mods - HEAT 3
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 21 Jacob Bleess Chatfield , Mn 0.00
2 3 07 Cory Crapser Chippewa Falls, Wi 0.00
3 4 12K Casey Knutson Spring Grove, Mn 0.00
4 6 54 John Feirn Chippewa Falls, Wi 0.00
5 8 8X Darran Jonsgaard Fountain City, Wi 0.00
6 2 13 Ryan Konkel Winona , Mn 0.00
7 7 80 Bill Engler Hixton , Wi 0.00
8 5 12 Tucker Breitung Prior Lake, Mn 0.00
USRA B-Mods - HEAT 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 2 10 Jake Timm Winona , Mn 0.00
2 3 15W Alex Williamson Rushford , Mn 0.00
3 4 23K Erik Kanz Winona , Mn 0.00
4 5 95X Shaun Walski Winona , Mn 0.00
5 1 34F Nick Frion Ellsworth , Wi 0.00
6 6 44 Brandon Reutzel Winona , Mn 0.00
7 7 35X Phillip Dunbar Rushford , Mn 0.00
USRA B-Mods - HEAT 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 2 85 Ben Moudry Cottage Grove, Mn 0.00
2 1 28 Parker Hale Grand Meadow, Mn 0.00
3 5 4G Chris Gilbertson Trempealeau , Wi 0.00
4 7 81 Cody Gardner Elkton , Mn 0.00
5 3 11 Jack Baehman Hudson , Wi 0.00
6 6 90 Tyler Creeley Winona , Mn 0.00
7 4 88 Troy Langowski Winona , Mn 0.00
Jailhouse Saloon WISSOTA Street Stocks
FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 4 5 Danny Hanson Alma , Wi 35.00
2 5 3D Doug Wojcik Ladysmith , Wi 33.00
3 1 01 Shaun Mann Buffalo City, Wi 32.00
4 2 2 Fred Prudoehl Winona , Mn 31.00
5 6 31 Darryll Foegen Cochrane , Wi 30.00
6 7 6 Andrew Ausman Pepin , Wi 29.00
7 8 86 Jane Keating Shell Rock, Ia 28.00
8 9 82 Derek Borchardt Bay City, Wi 27.00
9 3 3R Danny Richards Mondovi , Wi 0.00
Street Stock - HEAT
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 5 5 Danny Hanson Alma , Wi 10.00
2 7 3D Doug Wojcik Ladysmith , Wi 9.00
3 4 2 Fred Prudoehl Winona , Mn 8.00
4 1 3R Danny Richards Mondovi , Wi 7.00
5 2 01 Shaun Mann Buffalo City, Wi 6.00
6 8 31 Darryll Foegen Cochrane , Wi 5.00
7 3 6 Andrew Ausman Pepin , Wi 4.00
8 9 86 Jane Keating Shell Rock, Ia 3.00
9 6 82 Derek Borchardt Bay City, Wi 2.00
Redbox+ 600 Mods
FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 6 40 Bob Cisewski Winona , Mn 120.00
2 3 32 Greg Wohletz Winona , Mn 115.00
3 2 99 Don Werner Rollingstone , Mn 110.00
4 9 117J Kyle Jumbeck Houston , Mn 105.00
5 8 K-9 John Griffin Caledonia , Mn 100.00
6 5 56 Bill Bauers Fountain City, Wi 95.00
7 10 51 David Benke Winona , Mn 90.00
8 4 19X Nicholas Wagner Trempealeau , Wi 85.00
9 1 42 Chris Eide Peterson , Mn 80.00
10 7 211 Tom Benke Lacrosse , Wi 75.00
600 Modifieds - HEAT 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 5 99 Don Werner Rollingstone , Mn 5.00
2 3 K-9 John Griffin Caledonia , Mn 4.00
3 2 32 Greg Wohletz Winona , Mn 3.00
4 4 56 Bill Bauers Fountain City, Wi 2.00
5 1 42 Chris Eide Peterson , Mn 1.00
600 Modifieds - HEAT 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 4 117J Kyle Jumbeck Houston , Mn 5.00
2 3 40 Bob Cisewski Winona , Mn 4.00
3 1 51 David Benke Winona , Mn 3.00
4 5 19X Nicholas Wagner Trempealeau , Wi 2.00
5 2 211 Tom Benke Lacrosse , Wi 1.00
Elmer's Auto Salvage MTS Pure Stocks
FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 4 97 Bobby Jr Fort Fountain City, Wi 35.00
2 5 68 Paul Sweazey Winona , Mn 33.00
3 1 83 Josh Malchaski Fountain City, Wi 32.00
4 2 94 Lee Hager Kellogg , Mn 31.00
5 6 3 Kyle Solberg Hokah , Mn 30.00
6 8 Z1 Corey Ziemer Minnesota City, Mn 29.00
7 3 22 Eric Duellman Fountain City, Wi 28.00
8 9 01X Alex Knutson Winona , Mn 27.00
9 7 7AP Brandon Ranzenberger Brownsville , Mn 26.00
10 10 4J Jordan Becker Caledonia , Mn 25.00
Pure Stock - HEAT
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 2 22 Eric Duellman Fountain City, Wi 10.00
2 4 68 Paul Sweazey Winona , Mn 9.00
3 6 94 Lee Hager Kellogg , Mn 8.00
4 8 97 Bobby Jr Fort Fountain City, Wi 7.00
5 5 83 Josh Malchaski Fountain City, Wi 6.00
6 1 3 Kyle Solberg Hokah , Mn 5.00
7 10 7AP Brandon Ranzenberger Brownsville , Mn 4.00
8 3 Z1 Corey Ziemer Minnesota City, Mn 3.00
9 9 01X Alex Knutson Winona , Mn 2.00
10 7 4J Jordan Becker Caledonia , Mn 2.00
Sunshine Sanitation A-Mini Mods
FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 20 Jackson Hale Grand Meadow, Mn 100.00
2 6 80X Alex Stevens Trempealeau , Wi 95.00
3 4 54 Jett Sorensen Rochester , Mn 91.00
4 5 66 Keagen Einck Decorah , Ia 87.00
5 3 48 Matthew Stevens Trempealeau , Wi 84.00
6 2 24 Rachel Laduke Cochrane , Wi 81.00
A Mini Modifieds - HEAT
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 4 20 Jackson Hale Grand Meadow, Mn 0.00
2 3 24 Rachel Laduke Cochrane , Wi 0.00
3 5 48 Matthew Stevens Trempealeau , Wi 0.00
4 1 54 Jett Sorensen Rochester , Mn 0.00
5 6 66 Keagen Einck Decorah , Ia 0.00
6 2 80X Alex Stevens Trempealeau , Wi 0.00
Sunshine Sanitation B-Mini Mods
FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 15D Devin Williamson Rushford , Mn 100.00
2 5 34JR Braden Brauer Eyota , Mn 95.00
3 2 17 Matthew Laduke Cochrane , Wi 91.00
4 4 34 Triton Krause Fountain City, Wi 87.00
5 3 22L Hannah Lutz Winona , Mn 84.00
6 6 88B Brady Boland - 81.00
7 7 100 Jeremy Werner Rollingstone , Mn 45.00
B Mini Modifieds - HEAT
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 2 15D Devin Williamson Rushford , Mn 0.00
2 5 17 Matthew Laduke Cochrane , Wi 0.00
3 6 22L Hannah Lutz Winona , Mn 0.00
4 3 34 Triton Krause Fountain City, Wi 0.00
5 4 34JR Braden Brauer Eyota , Mn 0.00
6 7 88B Brady Boland - 0.00
7 1 100 Jeremy Werner Rollingstone , Mn 0.00
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