By Tracy Hager
FOUNTAIN CITY, WI (August 27, 2010) – In a sea of yellow, track champions were crowned and first-time feature winners were abundant. Presented by Sugarloaf Ford of Winona, the final night for track points proved to be colorful with cautions and red flags. Bill Baures flipped during the 600 Mini Mod feature while a host of others in multiple classes performed solo spins with their respective full fields hurtling toward them.

Josh Angst picked up the USRA Modified track title while Jeff Brauer edged out last year’s track champion Gary Wiersgalla by only five points in the WISSOTA Super Stock division to win his first title at MTS.

Danny Hanson pulled a hat trick as he won his third WISSOTA Street Stock track championship in a row at the track. Of course, the last two years being oval, the year previous when it was still a tri-oval. Ben Anderson sealed up his track championship in the USRA B-Mods with a heat win and third place finish in the main event.

Charlie McNally proved consistency was a key factor as he won his first feature of the season to cap his first track championship in the 600 Mini Mod class. Alex Williamson tore through the season to his first track championship in the Senior Mini Mod class while Matthew Stevens also topped off his season with his first track championship.

The increased purse for the Winona Auto Sales WISSOTA Super Stocks attracted several new drivers for the last track point night. WISSOTA Super Stock driver Jay Oricchio teamed up with his sponsor Coordinated Business Systems Ltd of Minnesota to provide a $750 overall purse increase for the class.

For the second week in a row, Ryan Henderson found himself at the point for the Jailhouse Saloon WISSOTA Street Stock feature. Henderson took the lead as Dave Smith and Fred Prudoehl pushed into line behind him, but the first of many cautions flew to set up a complete restart. Once again Henderson set the pace, and Mike Blowers shot to second place, but a self-spin by Prudoehl reset the pack again. With one lap down, the third caution flew for Henderson when he performed a pirouette in turn two with the full field barreling toward him. With nowhere to go and at full speed, Lee Hager clocked him which eliminated them both from the race. Blowers inherited the lead and had to weather five more cautions before the end of the race. Fjorden Nord and Dan Bork followed in second and third place as the three broke away from the pack, but it was brief as the next yellow reset the field. This time the pack was given a single-file restart to see if that could work; only four laps down at this point. Blowers continued in the front followed by Fjorden Nord, Bork, and Danny Hanson. Smith nestled into fifth place as Hanson closed in on Bork. A caution for a spin happened just as the lead cars went into turn one. Bork shot hard into Hanson’s left side which resulted in a flat tire for Hanson. Hanson went pitside for repairs and the lineup was set with Blowers on the point followed by Fjorden Nord, Bork, Shaun Mann, and Smith. Blowers toughed it out through the chaos to win his first feature at the speedway. Fjorden Nord, Bork, Mann, and Smith rounded out the top five.

Youngsters Brandon Reutzel and Parker Hale set the pace in the EngineStore.com USRA B-Mod feature. Ben Anderson quickly set up shop in second place while Shaun Walski zipped under Hale for third. Tyler Creeley worked to the outside of Hale for fourth place. Anderson took no time at all to dip under Reutzel for the lead as Troy Langowski swiftly moved around several cars into third by lap three. Erik Kanz also made big gains and took third from Langowski. Walski shot under Anderson for the lead and shortly after, the first caution slowed the field. Anderson then attempted to take Walski on the high side for the lead, but Walski held his ground. The two raced side by side for several laps for the lead as Langowski shot low under Kanz for third place, but Kanz got the spot back. Anderson and Walski continued to battle for the lead throughout two more cautions. Kanz really stepped things up as he took advantage of Anderson’s slipup to take over second place. Walski topped the field of USRA B-Mods followed by a great run by Kanz. Anderson, Brandon Hare, and Langowski rounded out the top five.

Out-of-car introductions were in order for the Winona Auto Sales WISSOTA Super Stocks for their big payday show. Shane Kisling led the 24-car field for the main event and moved out front early on. Michael Hofer and Dan Nissalke fell into second and third as Bob Fort dove low in turn one. Fort shot into Nissalke which forced a spin by Nissalke in turn two. Lucas Plank shot out high to avoid the situation and clipped the backstretch wall ending his night with severe damage to his car. During the same situation, Brian Fetting ended up on the turn one wall, bounced off that and again into the wall just past the track opening. Fetting’s car was also severely damaged and was escorted off the track via tow truck. Nissalke was apparently charged for the caution and chose to retire from the race at that point. Kisling assumed his lead followed by Hofer, Fort, Brad Johnson, and Jason Forehand. Kisling picked up the pace and put some distance on Hofer. Johnson, Jeff Brauer, Forehand, and Fort raced close for third place, but it was Johnson to break away which left Forehand, Brauer, and Fort to vie for fourth. Brauer made a dash to third, passed Johnson, and headed toward Hofer’s second place spot. Kisling continued his big lead as Brauer nipped Hofer for second. Kisling made his way to victory lane and the $700 check. Brauer capped his season championship night with a second place finish in the feature alongside his heat win. Forehand, Hofer, and Ben Hillman finished out the top five.

The USRA Modified feature was not exempt from a first-lap caution either. A second try at the start shot Jay Ihrke to the lead ahead of rookie Lucas Schott, Andy Bohnstengel, and Bob Fort as the three raced three-wide for second place. Fort took second place, but Bohnstengel maintained the middle groove while Schott settled in the low groove. Josh Angst moved to fifth place when Fort dropped off the pace creating another caution. Ihrke led the restart with Bohnstengel, Schott, and Angst following. With five laps down, Schott dropped under Ihrke for the lead. Angst moved to third followed by Bohnstengel and Chris Gilbertson. Schott pulled away from the field, but a caution made him relinquish his lead. With eight laps down, Schott pulled the pack on the restart followed by Ihrke, Angst, Bohnstengel, and Gilbertson. Angst maneuvered past Ihrke for second and by lap 10 took the lead from Schott. Schott kept his foot in it and stayed tethered to Angst in second. At lap 18, Schott pulled within a car length of Angst and continued to inch closer and closer to attempt a lead change. Angst proved to be the master of the Mods and grabbed the win to coincide with his track championship. Schott made the field well aware of his capabilities as he topped his best show yet with a second place finish to follow up his heat win. Ihrke, Gilbertson, and Bohnstengel rounded out the top five.

Up next will be the first annual USRA Modified Nationals in a $10,000 to win show for the USRA Modifieds on September 10-11. Also competing during the event will be the USRA B-Mods. The Fall Festival will finish the season October 8 – 9 with all regular classes competing in the event.