2024 Awards Banquet
By Dan Bailey
FOUNTAIN CITY, WI (May 4, 2012) – The building anticipation, the visual display, the growling thunder . . . and that was just the weather! The racing faithful, on hand Friday night at MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY, didn't let cloudy skies and a water-logged forecast keep them away from the Fountain City dirt track; they showed up none-the-less, like Vegas-vacationers who ignore past results and decide to hit the Black Jack tables anyway in search of fun.
Similar to the previous weeks 2012 season opener, also ran under the threat of approaching rain, the crew at MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY once again put together tight program in an effort to get a full program in before the approaching rains soaked the area. They were so close. Before the early evening skies opened and dumped torrential down-pour of water on the area that had many whispering the name "Noah", all of the heat races and three of the six scheduled features had been scored in the books.
But even with the knowledge and understanding that the evening's program needed to be run quickly and efficiently to stay ahead of the weather, the night started with a pause, and staff, fans and racers alike bowed their heads in an opening ceremony designed around remembering a member of the local racing community who had passed away during the off-season.
MaryAnna Passe, mother-in-law of WISSOTA racer Kevin Hager, died of cancer November 8, 2011. According to her wishes, a portion of her ashes were retained as she requested and scattered on the racing surface during the opening ceremonies at the racing facility; through a racing career that has stretched across decades, this was considered home.
KANZ THUNDERS TO CONVINCING B-MOD WIN
"I could see the lightning when I was in the staging area," said Kanz, after turning in an impressive night of driving behind the wheel of his Oak Ridge Fabrication / Sunshine Sanitation #23K USRA B-Mod, "I was hoping it would hold off a little longer." The thunder and lighting and rain held off just long enough for Kanz to take the track in the evening's The Engine Store USRA B-Mod feature, build up a huge lead on the pack and grab the feature win in commanding fashion with the flying of the Yellow and Checkered flags when the skies opened and began drenching the area.
"It's not how I wanted to win it," Kanz said, "We have kind of hit on something (with the set-up), so I wanted to keep running. I knew the 95 (Shaun Walski) and 1 (Dan Wheeler) were coming, but I kind of felt it was a pretty good car."
Kanz had built up a huge lead through the first half of the feature until a caution on lap 10 slowed the action and tightened up the field for the re-start. With the flying of the green flag sending the pack back to racing speeds, Kanz was able to open up an advantage again before the rains came just a few laps later to end the evening.
Wheeler finished second while young Alex Williamson put forth a very impressive run, piloting his Williamson Amusements #15 to a third place finish beating first-heat race winner Walski to the line as the rains dropped.
MANN SWEEPS STREET STOCK ACTION
After holding off defending track champion, and former National WISSOTA champion Danny Hanson to win the evening's second Jailhouse Saloon WISSOTA Street Stock heat race, Buffalo City, WI's Shaun Mann flexed his racing muscles and made it a 'clean sweep' of the evening by grabbing his first feature win of the 2012 season.
Ladysmith, WI racer Doug Woycik backed up his first heat race win earlier in the evening by jumping to an early lead over the first few laps of the Street Stock feature, but Mann was able to steal the lead and race his way to the win at the end of a wild feature.
The action at the front of the field was close, as the top-7 battled door to door and nose to tail through the opening laps before a multi-car tangle coming out of turn two put "Fast-Freddie" Prudoehl's "Yellow Deuce" into the back straight wall. Attrition was heavy in the feature, as six racers night ended before the checkered flag waived, but Mann's #01 was strong the entire feature, and the dwindling car count at the end of the event takes nothing away from his near perfect run to the win.
"Yeah, that was some hard, but clean racing for the lead," commented a smiling Mann from the MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY victory lane, "Doug Woycik and I are good friends and he was running very well, its fun racing for the win like that." Woycik was relegated to a second place finish.
Black River Falls, WI racer Cory Hanson looked strong as well, but came up two positions short of duplicating the previous week's season-opening feature win and settled for third.
SWEAZY GRABS PURE STOCK WIN
Winonan Paul Sweazy is happy to find himself behind the wheel of a stock once again. After being out of the driver's seat for a short while, he found the new M.T.S. Pure Stock division was calling his name for the 2012 season. Friday night he bested the new, but growing, crowd of Pure Stock drivers to gather the feature win.
Winona's Chris Abts finished second for the second week in a row, with Corey Ziemer rounding out the top three.
DOUBLE FEATURES NEXT WEEK
With the rains coming during the features - Friday night's program is scored as an officially completed race program (grand stand tickets will NOT be valid for next week's program); however, the features which did not make it to the track Friday night (Winona Auto Sales WISSOT Super Stocks, River City Manufacturing USRA Modifieds & Oak Ridge Fabrication 600 Modifieds) will be make up at the beginning of the program next Friday night.
Brad Waits and Troy Hovey collected heat race wins in the River City Manufacturing USRA Modified action while Shane Kisling and Bob Fort bested the Winona Auto Sales WISSOTA Super Stock heat races. Curt Luhmann backed up last Friday nights Oak Ridge Fabrication 600 Mod feature win by grabbing the first heat checkered flag, with John Griffin making a triumphant return to claim the second heat race win.
MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY's 2012 regular season action continues next Friday night May 11th with another "Regular Season" program on the high-banked 1/3-Mile Oval. On-Track action will get underway at 7 PM and be comprised of the three aforementioned make-up features and then a complete program from the River city Manufacturing USRA Modifieds, Winona Auto Sales WISSOTA Super Stocks, The Engine Store USRA B-Mods, Jailhouse Saloon WISSOTA Street Stocks, Oak Ridge Fabrication 600 Mods, and M.T.S. Pure Stocks.
Adult General Admission is $12 with Senior Citizen tickets only $10. Student admission (age 13-18) is just $5 while all children 12 and under will be admitted ABSOLUTELY FREE! And don't forget about the new "Family Friendly Pricing" promotion unveiled last week, The "MTS Family Pass" consisting of Two (2) Adult Tickets AND Up To Three (3) Kid's Tickets (17 & Under) is available for only $25 - a $14 savings over the individual purchase of those same five tickets. New "Family Friendly Pit Pricing" is also available! For more details, visit the official MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY web site: www.MississippiThunder.com.
MAY 4TH - RESULTS
River City Manufacturing USRA Modifieds
Modifieds - HEAT 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 2 76X Troy Hovey Decorah , Ia 0.00
2 3 94JR John Doelle - 0.00
3 5 99 Josh Angst - 0.00
4 7 96 Jay Ihrke Dover , Mn 0.00
5 6 4G Chris Gilbertson Trempealeau , Wi 0.00
6 4 44 Leroy Scharkey Rochester , Mn 0.00
7 8 49 Bob Timm Winona , Mn 0.00
8 1 30 Shane Wehrs West Salem, Wi 0.00
9 9 11 Lance Hofer - 0.00
Modifieds - HEAT 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 3 24 Brad Waits Rochester , Mn 0.00
2 7 69 Lucas Schott - 0.00
3 1 56H Brandon Hare Elma , Ia 0.00
4 2 49JR Jake Timm Winona , Mn 0.00
5 5 59 Hank Rollinger, Jr. - 0.00
6 8 35 Ron Konkel Caledonia , Mn 0.00
7 9 18 Mick Glenn - 0.00
8 4 77 Thomas Brink , Mn 0.00
9 6 86 Phil Wernert - 0.00
Winona Auto Sales WISSOTA Super Stocks
Super Stock - HEAT 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 2 97 Bob Fort Fountain City, Wi 10.00
2 1 8 Kelly Anderson Hager City, Wi 9.00
3 6 7R Tommy Richards Mondovi , Wi 8.00
4 3 34 Jeff Brauer Rochester , Mn 7.00
5 4 94 Kevin Hager Kellogg , Mn 6.00
6 8 88 Troy Langowski - 5.00
7 7 52 Gary Wiersgalla Fountain City, Wi 4.00
8 5 2 Bart Steffen Eau Claire, Wi 3.00
Super Stock - HEAT 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 6 Shane Kisling Sarona , Wi 10.00
2 3 17 Josh Rodewald Lake City, Mn 9.00
3 7 018 Michael Hofer Cochrane , Wi 8.00
4 5 47 Jon Duffy Winona , Mn 7.00
5 2 8X Mike Krueger Tomah , Wi 6.00
6 4 37 Jay Oricchio Ellsworth , Wi 5.00
7 6 67W Matt Wolfe Mondovi , Wi 4.00 DNF
8 8 7C Dan Bork Alma , Wi 3.00 DNF
TheEngineStore.com USRA B-Mods
USRA B-Mods - FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 2 23K Erik Kanz - 100.00
2 5 RED1 Dan Wheeler Columbia Heights, Mn 95.00
3 7 15W Alex Williamson - 91.00
4 10 95X Shaun Walski - 87.00
5 8 39 Ben Anderson Winona , Mn 84.00
6 6 44 Brandon Reutzel Winona , Mn 81.00
7 3 90 Tyler Creeley Winona , Mn 78.00
8 11 4G Scott Guthrie Whitehall , Wi 76.00
9 1 80J Lee Jonsgaard Minnesota City, Mn 74.00
10 14 11 Jack Baehman Hudson , Wi 72.00 DNF
11 4 1 Jon Vanminsel Spring Grove, Mn 70.00 DNF
12 12 3 Matt Appel - 68.00 DNF
13 9 97 Leigh Volkman Rushford , Mn 66.00 DNF
14 13 9 Brady Keefe Stewartville , Mn 45.00 DNS
USRA B-Mods - HEAT 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 23K Erik Kanz - 0.00
2 6 15W Alex Williamson - 0.00
3 3 39 Ben Anderson Winona , Mn 0.00
4 4 44 Brandon Reutzel Winona , Mn 0.00
5 5 1 Jon Vanminsel Spring Grove, Mn 0.00
6 7 3 Matt Appel - 0.00
7 2 11 Jack Baehman Hudson , Wi 0.00 DNF
USRA B-Mods - HEAT 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 3 95X Shaun Walski - 0.00
2 4 RED1 Dan Wheeler Columbia Heights, Mn 0.00
3 1 90 Tyler Creeley Winona , Mn 0.00
4 5 80J Lee Jonsgaard Minnesota City, Mn 0.00
5 6 97 Leigh Volkman Rushford , Mn 0.00
6 7 4G Scott Guthrie Whitehall , Wi 0.00
7 2 9 Brady Keefe Stewartville , Mn 0.00 DNF
The Jailhouse Saloon WISSOTA Street Stocks
Street Stock - FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 5 01 Shaun Mann Buffalo City, Wi 35.00
2 2 3D Doug Wojcik Ladysmith , Wi 33.00
3 6 79 Cory Hanson Black River, Wi 32.00
4 4 38S Nick Schwebach Caledonia , Mn 31.00
5 10 06 Jesse Lutz Winona , Mn 30.00
6 9 80 Ryan Henderson Holmen , Wi 29.00
7 12 86 Jane Keating Shell Rock, Ia 28.00
8 7 M76 Mike Conrad Independence , Wi 27.00 DNF
9 1 2 Fred Prudoehl Winona , Mn 26.00 DNF
10 8 5 Danny Hanson Alma , Wi 25.00 DNF
11 3 3R Danny Richards Mondovi , Wi 24.00 DNF
12 11 6 Andrew Ausman Pepin , Wi 23.00 DNF
13 13 13R Tommy Richards Mondovi , Wi 22.00 DNF
Street Stock - HEAT 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 01 Shaun Mann Buffalo City, Wi 10.00
2 6 5 Danny Hanson Alma , Wi 9.00
3 2 3R Danny Richards Mondovi , Wi 8.00
4 3 79 Cory Hanson Black River, Wi 7.00
5 4 06 Jesse Lutz Winona , Mn 6.00
6 5 13R Tommy Richards Mondovi , Wi 5.00 DNF
Street Stock - HEAT 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 2 3D Doug Wojcik Ladysmith , Wi 10.00
2 3 2 Fred Prudoehl Winona , Mn 9.00
3 4 38S Nick Schwebach Caledonia , Mn 8.00
4 6 M76 Mike Conrad Independence , Wi 7.00
5 7 80 Ryan Henderson Holmen , Wi 6.00
6 1 6 Andrew Ausman Pepin , Wi 5.00
7 5 86 Jane Keating Shell Rock, Ia 4.00
Oakridge Fabrication 600 Mods
600 Modifieds - HEAT 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 4 K-9 John Griffin Caledonia , Mn 5.00
2 3 51 David Benke Winona , Mn 4.00
3 2 90 Brent Gora Dover , Mn 3.00
4 5 32 Greg Wohletz Winona , Mn 2.00
5 1 99 Don Werner Rollingstone , Mn 1.00 DNF
6 6 80 Bruce Schmitt Fountain City, Wi 0.00 DNF
600 Modifieds - HEAT 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 4 8 Curt Luhmann Rushford , Mn 5.00
2 2 40 Bob Cisewski Winona , Mn 4.00
3 6 89 Joe Provinzino Chanhassen , Mn 3.00
4 1 27 Brian Laumeyer Cannon Falls, Mn 2.00
5 5 19JR Nicholas Wagner Trempealeau , Wi 1.00
6 3 42 Chris Eide Rushford , Mn 0.00
7 7 56 Bill Bauers Fountain City, Wi 0.00 DNF
M.T.S. Pure Stocks
Pure Stock - FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 1 68 Paul Sweazey Winona , Mn 35.00
2 2 27 Chris Abts Winona , Mn 33.00
3 4 Z1 Corey Ziemer Minnesota City, Mn 32.00
4 6 46 Eric Scharkey Winona , Mn 31.00
5 3 97 Bobby Jr Fort Altoona , Wi 30.00
6 5 0Z Quinn Arnoldy Arcadia , Wi 29.00 DNF
Pure Stock - HEAT
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 2 68 Paul Sweazey Winona , Mn 10.00
2 4 27 Chris Abts Winona , Mn 9.00
3 5 97 Bobby Jr Fort Altoona , Wi 8.00
4 3 Z1 Corey Ziemer Minnesota City, Mn 7.00
5 1 0Z Quinn Arnoldy Arcadia , Wi 6.00 DNF
6 6 46 Eric Scharkey Winona , Mn 5.00 DNF
Saturday, February 22, 2025
2024 Awards Banquet
