By Dan Bailey
FOUNTAIN CITY, WI (May 11, 2012) – It seems that every race track has a cast of competitors who are "Fan Favorites". It doesn't matter if the racer who is considered a "Fan Favorite" is competitive or even if the fans know the driver personally - somehow, that racer has been raised to the level of "Fan Favorite" at the track. MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY, in Fountain City, WI is no different . . . as a matter of fact there are several "Fan Favorites". One of those "Fan Favorites" is "Fast Freddie" Prudoehl.
Some of it has to do with his age . . . at a spry 70 years old, who couldn't help but cheer for him. Some of it has to do with the fact that even at the age of 70, Freddie is a legitimate contender for a finish up front while he's strapped in behind the wheel of his "Yellow Deuce" WISSOTA Street Stock. And some of it has to do with that nearly never-ending smile that seems to ride his face like a perfectly sized suit.
Of course, just like any racer, he may experience some situations that erase the smile momentarily; but it's quick to return.
Friday night, May 11th, that smile was out in full force, and reflected by smiles on almost every face in the grandstands at MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY. As the evening's Jailhouse Saloon WISSOTA Street Stock feature started, Prudoehl jumped from his outside second row starting position, alongside second heat-race winner Ryan Henderson, and quickly began working his way towards the lead.
The battle up front was fierce early, as no fewer than seven drivers battled for position and vied for an opportunity to work towards the front. Doug Wojcik (3D) and Nick Schwebach (38S) worked their way towards the front from their 3rd and 4th row starting spots, as did 2012 opening night feature winner, and the evening's first heat-race winner Cory Hanson - who's Vision Airlines #79 looked in top-notch form and appeared to be flirting with his second feature win of the year. "We've done some work to this car," responded Hanson, to questions about his strong start this season, "Some at the end of last season, and then some over the winter. The car is running well, and handling almost perfectly."
Similar to Hanson last Friday night's feature winner Shaun Mann was itching for a second shot at the MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY Victory Lane, and that scenario, too, looked possible, as he battled the pack up front with his #01. But, while all this maneuvering for position was taking place, there was a ripple and a stir working its way through the MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY grand stands.
It was tough to figure out where to direct one's attention, the two and three-wide battle for position NEAR the front, or that bright yellow #2 that was AT the front.
Prudoehl's Streeter appeared to be handling flawlessly; Gliding around the fast 1/3 mile in an almost effortless display of racing. After opening up a solid lead, the crowd was cheering for Prudoehl, when the first signs of smoke started to appear. These weren't "This engine is going to 'grenade' any moment now" clouds of smoke, but little puffs that were just noticeable enough to be spotted from the grandstands. And just like that, the rest of the pack started reeling in the leader.
A slight bobble in turns three and four as the field approached the final lap closed the top four together for a last lap shoot out! Wojcik dispensed with Hanson and Mann and set his sights on Prudoehl. As they raced into turn three on the final lap, Wojcik laid his plan and headed for the bottom. Racing through turn four, as Prudoehl was gliding right down the middle of the banking, Wojcik put the power down and squirted out of turn four just below Prudoehl's #2.
As the duo raced to the checkered flag the two cars were absolutely side by side, it was the classic set up for a "Photo Finish"! At the line, the decision was made by less than a couple feet! "Fast Freddie" Prudoehl was taking his "Yellow Deuce" to Victory Lane!
The crowd held absolutely nothing back and they cheered for the win, and Prudoehl's celebration as he climbed from the interior of his Street Stock should be training footage for any new racer. Fists raised in the classic Rocky Balboa victory stance, mixed in with what appeared to be a cross between a shuffling dance step and a downright Irish jig produced a celebration that made Darrel Waltrip's "Icky Shuffle" after winning the Daytona 500 pale in comparison!
"I am so happy right now," beamed a smiling Prudoehl in victory lane, "I made a little mistake right there near the end, and I knew that those guys were fast right behind me. So, I was saying a few prayers over the final laps that I could keep this thing out front to the checkered flag."
Keep it out front he did, whether by less than a couple feet, or by half a lap, it really doesn't matter, "Fast Freddie" was in victory lane with a WISSOTA Street Stock Feature Win in his possession!
KANZ FINALLY ABLE TO CELEBRATE
After winning the previous week's USRA B-Mod feature, Winona's Erik Kanz was unable to celebrate, as Mother Nature opened the skies and delivered a down-pour of rain that had fans scrambling to their cars in the parking lot, and racers heading straight for their haulers.
One week later, the results were the same, but the weather conditions were much more conducive to Kanz's plans for a victory lane celebration.
But early on in the main event, if didn't appear as if Kanz was headed for victory. Young Brandon Reutzel of Winona was the early race leader, jumping from his pole position start to build up a sizable lead over the strong field. Reutzel's #44 really did appear ready for that elusive first trip to victory lane in impressive style. But, luck was not on the side of the Winona racer, at the halfway point of the feature, Reutzel's B-Mod slowed on the back straight and coasted to a stop at the top of the banking in turn four.
Kanz gladly inherited the lead and never looked back, picking up his second feature win in as many weeks, and finally being able to thank his pit crew, family, friends and sponsors from Victory Lane.
Shaun Walski settled for second with Alex Williamson enjoying a strong run for the second week in a row, racing his way to a third place finish.
ANGST BACK TO WINNING FORM
After settling for a second place finish earlier in the evening at the conclusion of a 'make up' feature from the previous week's rain shortened program, Josh Angst left nothing to chance, laying down an impressively strong performance on way to a commanding win in the evening's River City Manufacturing USRA Modified feature.
Consistently building a comfortable lead over defending track champion Bob Timm and 2009 track champion John Doelle, Angst paced the field through the 25-lap feature, holding off challenges through several restarts, collect the win. "I didn't know exactly how close Bob (Timm) was to me under green," smiled Angst from victory lane, "but on the restarts, I knew he was going to challenge me. Yeah, I knew that I needed those restarts or he'd be right there."
As the top three worked lapped traffic late in the feature, it appeared that Timm's #49 might be on the verge of mounting a challenge for the top spot, but couldn't quite get up to Angst's #99 to offer a legitimate contest for the win. "The car was strong," said Timm after, "and I think I was about equal to Josh. Right there over the last few laps though the top groove started to give way a little, and that was about it."
Doelle was quite pleased with the third place feature finish that he added to the heat-race win he picked up earlier in the evening, "You know, for my first time back in the car this season, I was really happy. I mean, after the last year or so," explained Doelle referencing his recent season's results that were off the mark after the 2009 track championship, "So, yeah, this is the way I like to be racing again."
LANGOWSKI BACK TO THE TOP OF THE SUPER STOCKS
After enjoying success in the USRA B-Mods, Winonan Troy Langowski is back behind the wheel of a WISSOTA Super Stock, and appears to have not missed a beat. After winning the evening's second heat race, he held off a hard charging Shane Kisling, who almost always seems to come away with a checkered flag on his handful of visits to MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY through a season, and a confident Mike Hofer to gather in a Winona Auto Sales WISSOTA Super Stock feature win, and the $200 Coordinated Business Systems bonus that is tacked onto the regularly posted Super stock feature winners paycheck from MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY.
Langowski's start from the outside of the second row, allowed him to establish an early lead that held all the way to the finish; while Kisling had to tip-toe gingerly through the pack from his outside fourth row starting spot to gather in the second place finish.
Hofer rounded out the top three putting a cap on a solid performance for the night.
LUHMANN WINS SECOND 600 MODIFIED FEATURE
Rushford, MN's Curt Luhmann grabbed his second feature win of the young 2012 season behind the wheel of his black and orange #8 after stealing the top spot from race leader Joe Provinzino on a restart. "I don't know what it is yet," commented Provinzino, after losing the lead, "Clutch? Something. All I know is that on the restart I simply couldn't shift into the gear I needed, and they all just freight-trained right on past me."
Provinzino was able to race his way back to a third place finish behind Don Werner.
ZIEMER WINS INHERITS PURE STOCK WIN
Mondovi, WI's George Richards was laying down impressive laps on his very first trip to MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY with his #5R Elmer's Auto Salvage M.T.S. Pure Stock . . . maybe just a bit too impressive. After lapping the entire field en route to winning the evening's feature race, Richards failed the post-race tech inspection - which handed the feature win over to Minnesota City's Corey Ziemer.
BUCKLAND AND HOFF - MINI MOD WINNERS
Dylan Buckland and AJ Hoff bested the fields in 2012 season premiere of the Sunshine Sanitation A and B Mini Mods on the "Lightning Speedway". Buckland took the A Mini Mod win over Alex and Mike Stevens while Hoff out lasted Jeremy Werner and Zach Laumeyer to win the B Mini Mod feature.
MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY's 2012 regular season action continues next Friday night May 18th with another "Regular Season" program on the high-banked 1/3-Mile Oval presented by Coke Bottling of Winona. On-Track action begins at 6 PM with the Sunshine Sanitation A and B Mini Mods on the "Lightning Speedway", with competition on the fast 1/3-mile getting underway at 7 PM and will be comprised of 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 Elmer's Auto Salvage 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 earlier this seasoan, 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.
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MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY is embarking upon 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

MAY 11TH - RESULTS
River City Manufacturing USRA Modifieds
Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 99 Josh Angst - 100.00
2 2 49 Bob Timm Winona , Mn 95.00
3 4 94JR John Doelle - 91.00
4 9 24 Brad Waits Rochester , Mn 87.00
5 3 59 Hank Rollinger, Jr. - 84.00
6 18 69 Lucas Schott - 81.00
7 6 99L Steve Lavasseur River Falls, Wi 78.00
8 22 49JR Jake Timm Winona , Mn 76.00
9 10 96 Jay Ihrke - 74.00
10 7 77 Thomas Brink - 72.00
11 11 35 Ron Konkel Caledonia , Mn 70.00
12 13 89 Eric Pember Pittsville , Wi 68.00
13 16 18 Mick Glenn - 66.00
14 15 6 Nick Herrick West Concord, Mn 64.00
15 5 51 Chris Oertel Marshfield , Wi 62.00
16 12 30 Shane Wehrs West Salem, Wi 60.00
17 8 76X Troy Hovey Decorah , Ia 58.00
18 19 86 Phil Wernert - 56.00
19 17 11 Lance Hofer - 55.00
20 20 44 Leroy Scharkey - 54.00
21 14 96? Doug Herrick West Concord, Mn 53.00
22 21 15 Steve Bangart Auburn Dale, Wi 52.00
23 23 4G Chris Gilbertson Trempealeau , Wi 45.00
24 24 56H Brandon Hare Elma , Ia 45.00
Modifieds - HEAT 3
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 35 Ron Konkel Caledonia , Mn 0.00
2 3 96 Jay Ihrke - 0.00
3 5 99 Josh Angst - 0.00
4 4 77 Thomas Brink - 0.00
5 8 6 Nick Herrick West Concord, Mn 0.00
6 2 69 Lucas Schott - 0.00
7 7 15 Steve Bangart Auburn Dale, Wi 0.00
8 6 56H Brandon Hare Elma , Ia 45.00
Modifieds - HEAT 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 49 Bob Timm Winona , Mn 0.00
2 4 59 Hank Rollinger, Jr. - 0.00
3 2 51 Chris Oertel Marshfield , Wi 0.00
4 5 99L Steve Lavasseur River Falls, Wi 0.00
5 8 96? Doug Herrick West Concord, Mn 0.00
6 7 11 Lance Hofer - 0.00
7 6 44 Leroy Scharkey - 0.00
8 3 4G Chris Gilbertson Trempealeau , Wi 45.00
Modifieds - HEAT 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 94JR John Doelle - 0.00
2 4 24 Brad Waits Rochester , Mn 0.00
3 2 30 Shane Wehrs West Salem, Wi 0.00
4 8 76X Troy Hovey Decorah , Ia 0.00
5 6 89 Eric Pember Pittsville , Wi 0.00
6 7 18 Mick Glenn - 0.00
7 3 86 Phil Wernert - 0.00
8 5 49JR Jake Timm Winona , Mn 0.00

Winona Auto Sales WISSOTA Super Stocks
Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 2 88 Troy Langowski - 35.00
2 8 6 Shane Kisling Sarona , Wi 33.00
3 4 018 Michael Hofer Cochrane , Wi 32.00
4 6 8 Kelly Anderson Hager City, Wi 31.00
5 5 7R Tommy Richards Mondovi , Wi 30.00
6 3 94 Kevin Hager Kellogg , Mn 29.00
7 12 34 Jeff Brauer Rochester , Mn 28.00
8 1 7C Dan Bork Mondovi , Wi 27.00
9 14 67W Matt Wolfe Mondovi , Wi 26.00
10 13 2 Bart Steffen Eau Claire, Wi 25.00
11 11 12 Brian Fetting Fountain City, Wi 24.00
12 9 37 Jay Oricchio Ellsworth , Wi 23.00
13 7 97 Bob Fort Fountain City, Wi 22.00
14 16 47 Jon Duffy Winona , Mn 21.00
15 10 8X Mike Krueger Tomah , Wi 0.00
16 15 52 Gary Wiersgalla Fountain City, Wi 0.00
17 17 17 Josh Rodewald Lake City, Mn 0.00
Super Stock - HEAT 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 88 Troy Langowski - 10.00
2 7 018 Michael Hofer Cochrane , Wi 9.00
3 6 8 Kelly Anderson Hager City, Wi 8.00
4 8 7C Dan Bork Mondovi , Wi 7.00
5 4 8X Mike Krueger Tomah , Wi 6.00
6 3 52 Gary Wiersgalla Fountain City, Wi 5.00
7 2 47 Jon Duffy Winona , Mn 4.00
8 5 17 Josh Rodewald Lake City, Mn 3.00
Super Stock - HEAT 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 97 Bob Fort Fountain City, Wi 10.00
2 5 6 Shane Kisling Sarona , Wi 9.00
3 2 94 Kevin Hager Kellogg , Mn 8.00
4 4 7R Tommy Richards Mondovi , Wi 7.00
5 7 37 Jay Oricchio Ellsworth , Wi 6.00
6 3 12 Brian Fetting Fountain City, Wi 5.00
7 8 34 Jeff Brauer Rochester , Mn 4.00
8 6 2 Bart Steffen Eau Claire, Wi 3.00
9 9 67W Matt Wolfe Mondovi , Wi 2.00

TheEngineStore.com USRA B-Mods
Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 3 23K Erik Kanz - 100.00
2 2 95X Shaun Walski - 95.00
3 9 15W Alex Williamson - 91.00
4 5 39 Ben Anderson Winona , Mn 87.00
5 7 RED1 Dan Wheeler Columbia Heights, Mn 84.00
6 8 28 Parker Hale Grand Meadow, Mn 81.00
7 10 9 Brady Keefe Stewartville , Mn 78.00
8 4 80J Lee Jonsgaard Minnesota City, Mn 76.00
9 6 90 Tyler Creeley Winona , Mn 74.00
10 11 3 Matt Appel - 72.00
11 13 17 Rick Duerr Stratford , Wi 70.00
12 1 44 Brandon Reutzel Winona , Mn 68.00
13 12 4G Scott Guthrie Whitehall , Wi 45.00
USRA B-Mods - HEAT 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 6 RED1 Dan Wheeler Columbia Heights, Mn 0.00
2 3 95X Shaun Walski - 0.00
3 2 28 Parker Hale Grand Meadow, Mn 0.00
4 5 44 Brandon Reutzel Winona , Mn 0.00
5 4 80J Lee Jonsgaard Minnesota City, Mn 0.00
6 1 4G Scott Guthrie Whitehall , Wi 0.00
USRA B-Mods - HEAT 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 90 Tyler Creeley Winona , Mn 0.00
2 2 9 Brady Keefe Stewartville , Mn 0.00
3 5 15W Alex Williamson - 0.00
4 4 23K Erik Kanz - 0.00
5 7 39 Ben Anderson Winona , Mn 0.00
6 6 3 Matt Appel - 0.00
7 3 17 Rick Duerr Stratford , Wi 0.00

The Jailhouse Saloon WISSOTA Street Stocks
Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 4 2 Fred Prudoehl Winona , Mn 35.00
2 7 3D Doug Wojcik Ladysmith , Wi 33.00
3 8 79 Cory Hanson Black River, Wi 32.00
4 9 01 Shaun Mann Buffalo City, Wi 31.00
5 5 3R Danny Richards Mondovi , Wi 30.00
6 6 38S Nick Schwebach Caledonia , Mn 29.00
7 3 80 Ryan Henderson Holmen , Wi 28.00
8 11 06 Jesse Lutz Winona , Mn 27.00
9 2 86 Jane Keating Shell Rock, Ia 26.00
10 10 6 Andrew Ausman Pepin , Wi 25.00
11 1 83 Tyler Wahlstrom Eau Claire, Wi 24.00
Street Stock - HEAT 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 2 80 Ryan Henderson Holmen , Wi 10.00
2 1 3D Doug Wojcik Ladysmith , Wi 9.00
3 4 83 Tyler Wahlstrom Eau Claire, Wi 8.00
4 5 86 Jane Keating Shell Rock, Ia 7.00
5 3 6 Andrew Ausman Pepin , Wi 6.00
Street Stock - HEAT 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 2 79 Cory Hanson Black River, Wi 10.00
2 1 3R Danny Richards Mondovi , Wi 9.00
3 3 2 Fred Prudoehl Winona , Mn 8.00
4 5 38S Nick Schwebach Caledonia , Mn 7.00
5 4 01 Shaun Mann Buffalo City, Wi 6.00
6 6 06 Jesse Lutz Winona , Mn 5.00

Oakridge Fabrication 600 Mods
Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 8 Curt Luhmann Rushford , Mn 120.00
2 6 99 Don Werner Rollingstone , Mn 115.00
3 4 89 Joe Provinzino Chanhassen , Mn 110.00
4 3 32 Greg Wohletz Winona , Mn 105.00
5 9 56 Bill Bauers Fountain City, Wi 100.00
6 2 K-9 John Griffin Caledonia , Mn 95.00
7 13 80 Bruce Schmitt Fountain City, Wi 90.00
8 8 40 Bob Cisewski Winona , Mn 85.00
9 7 90 Brent Gora Dover , Mn 80.00
10 5 27 Brian Laumeyer Cannon Falls, Mn 75.00
11 10 51 David Benke Winona , Mn 70.00
12 14 19JR Nicholas Wagner Trempealeau , Wi 65.00
13 11 42 Chris Eide Rushford , Mn 60.00
14 12 02 Cole Denner New Hampton, Ia 55.00
600 Modifieds - HEAT 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 4 56 Bill Bauers Fountain City, Wi 5.00
2 2 90 Brent Gora Dover , Mn 4.00
3 6 99 Don Werner Rollingstone , Mn 3.00
4 3 32 Greg Wohletz Winona , Mn 2.00
5 5 89 Joe Provinzino Chanhassen , Mn 1.00
6 7 02 Cole Denner New Hampton, Ia 0.00
7 1 19JR Nicholas Wagner Trempealeau , Wi 0.00
600 Modifieds - HEAT 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 2 40 Bob Cisewski Winona , Mn 5.00
2 4 8 Curt Luhmann Rushford , Mn 4.00
3 1 51 David Benke Winona , Mn 3.00
4 5 K-9 John Griffin Caledonia , Mn 2.00
5 6 27 Brian Laumeyer Cannon Falls, Mn 1.00
6 3 42 Chris Eide Rushford , Mn 0.00
7 7 80 Bruce Schmitt Fountain City, Wi 0.00

Elmer's Auto Salvage M.T.S. Pure Stocks
Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 Z1 Corey Ziemer Minnesota City, Mn 35.00
2 2 97 Bobby Jr Fort Altoona , Wi 33.00
3 3 68 Paul Sweazey Winona , Mn 32.00
4 5 46 Eric Scharkey Winona , Mn 31.00
5 4 5R George Richards Mondovi , Wi 0.00
Pure Stock - HEAT
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 5 5R George Richards Mondovi , Wi 10.00
2 3 68 Paul Sweazey Winona , Mn 9.00
3 2 Z1 Corey Ziemer Minnesota City, Mn 8.00
4 4 97 Bobby Jr Fort Altoona , Wi 7.00
5 1 46 Eric Scharkey Winona , Mn 6.00

Sunshine Sanitation A-Mini Modifieds
Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 2 12 Dylan Buckland Ridgeway , Mn 100.00
2 6 80X Alex Stevens Trempealeau , Wi 95.00
3 1 9 Mike Stevens Winona , Mn 91.00
4 5 66 Keagen Einck Decorah , Ia 87.00
5 3 20 Jackson Hale Grand Meadow, Mn 84.00
6 7 96 Spencer Ihrke Dover , Mn 81.00
7 4 48 Matthew Stevens Trempealeau , Wi 78.00
A Mini Modifieds - HEAT
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 6 9 Mike Stevens Winona , Mn 0.00
2 7 12 Dylan Buckland Ridgeway , Mn 0.00
3 1 20 Jackson Hale Grand Meadow, Mn 0.00
4 5 48 Matthew Stevens Trempealeau , Wi 0.00
5 4 66 Keagen Einck Decorah , Ia 0.00
6 3 80X Alex Stevens Trempealeau , Wi 0.00
7 2 96 Spencer Ihrke Dover , Mn 0.00

Sunshine Sanitation B-Mini Modifieds
Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 3 55H Aj Hoff Mantorville , Mn 100.00
2 5 100 Jeremy Werner - 95.00
3 2 22 Zach Laumeyer Cannon Falls, Mn 91.00
4 1 15D Devin Williamson Rushford , Mn 87.00
5 4 79 Nate Becker Black River, Wi 45.00
B Mini Modifieds - HEAT
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 15D Devin Williamson Rushford , Mn 0.00
2 5 22 Zach Laumeyer Cannon Falls, Mn 0.00
3 2 55H Aj Hoff Mantorville , Mn 0.00
4 3 79 Nate Becker Black River, Wi 0.00
5 4 100 Jeremy Werner - 0.00