USRA North Star Nationals Championship Night
By Dan Bailey
FOUNTAIN CITY, WI (June 22, 2012) – Under beautiful blue skies, with perfect temperatures and a comfortable breeze, race fans converged on MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY to enjoy top-notch dirt-track action and an evening of family fun as part of Sugar Loaf Ford of Winona night at the Fountain City, WI speedway.
"Big Mike" Walski and Sugar Loaf Ford decided that Friday June 22nd was a great date upon which to throw some extra money at the racers as a reward if they could successfully find their way to Victory Lane at the end of the evening's feature races. To that end, a $100 bonus was on the line for the winners of the night's features in the top four weekly divisions which compete at MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY; therefore, the drivers in the Rivercity Manufacturing USRA Modifieds, the Coordinated Business Systems WISSOTA Super Stocks, the TheEngineStore.com USRA B-Mods, and the Jailhouse Saloon WISSOTA Street Stocks each had 100 extra reasons to race just a little bit harder to get to the checkered flag first!
Speaking of "first"; Friday evening brought forth a couple more "First-Time winners" for the race fans to salute and applaud. While names like Doug Wojcik, Lucas Schott & Jacob Bleess were being mentioned in the MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY Victory Lane for the second time in this 2012 season, there were two new driver names being introduced to the race fans in the stands - Bruce Schmidt and Shawn Huse each enjoyed their first feature wins at MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY.
SCHOTT SCORES SECOND WIN
Lucas Schott LOVES a good dry slick track, "I really think the throttle control that I learned racing go-karts has helped me the most with racing my A-Mod", said the 15 year old Chatfield, MN racer several weeks ago after picking up his first feature win of the 2012 season at MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY, "and when you get a track that's dry slick, you really have to be smooth with the throttle."
Schott has shown that a dry slick track is his perfect environment; both feature wins that he's collected at MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY (one in 2012 and one in 2011) have come on dry slick racing surfaces. To give you an idea of where this article is headed, Friday's racing surface slick by the time the Rivercity Manufacturing USRA Modifieds hit the track for their feature event.
Sure, it helped Schott out tremendously that after winning the evening's second heat race he was lined up on the pole when the green flag waved; but remember, the rest of the 19-car field was lined up right there behind him. And it's not as if nobody was fast enough to challenge the young hot-shoe; first heat race winner Bob Timm pestered him through about the first half of the 25 lap feature until Schott was able to slowly but surely distance his #69 Schott Hardwood Floors entry from Timm's #49.
The second half of the race was all about a challenge for the lead that appeared to be coming, but never arrived. Starting from the inside of the fourth row, West Concord, MN's Steve Wetzstein worked this way through the traffic and once he cleared Timm, he set his sights on the race leader.
Lap after lap it was obvious that Wetzstein was coming with a head of steam and little by little cutting away at the lead that Schott had built up. As the race entered the final five laps, Wetzstein's #90 was close enough to begin searching for the right opportunities to perhaps close in on Schott and maybe challenge for the top spot . . . a challenge that would never materialize.
As the two leaders raced through turns three and four, preparing to approach the waiving white flag signifying the final lap, Wetzstein's modified slid sideways in-between turn three and turn four - the only driver who perhaps had any shot at Schott . . . had just spun out.
Schott survived the restart, and green-white-checkered race finish to grab his second USRA Modified feature win of 2012 - and the $100 Sugarloaf Ford bonus! 2010 track champion Josh Angst raced his #99 Culver's of Winona Modified past Timm to finish second, relegating Timm for a third place finish for the evening.
SHAWN HUSE ENJOYS AN X-TREME WIN
"This is only my second time to MTS this year and only my fourth time in this car", shouted a smiling Shawn Huse after pulling his black and orange "X" Super Stock into the MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY Victory Lane at the conclusion of the Coordinated Business Systems WISSOTA Super Stock feature event. "This car is so good to drive", continued the Chippewa Falls, WI native before branching off into a list of thank-yous to crew members, chassis builders and family members who helped him to the track, "a lot of work has gone into this X-Treme Chassis - and that's what got us to victory lane."
When Huse found out that the trip to Victory Lane also came with a $300 bonus ($100 from Sugar Loaf Ford and the weekly $200 winner's bonus from Coordinated Business Systems, Kyocera & J-Mev Motorsports) his smile got even wider, "A big thank you to those supporters of the Super Stocks as well!"
While Huse was able to capitalize on an outside front row starting spot, the action behind him was anything was tame. Just one week after losing a potential feature win on the final lap, Mondovi, WI's Tommy Richards battled hard through the pack from his eighth place starting spot to beat the very man who stole the feature win away from him the week before; Richard's #7R crossed the line second with Kelly Anderson having to settle for third after last Friday's adrenaline powered feature win.
Second heat race winner, and current track point leader Shane Kisling, found himself on the outside looking in after settling for a somewhat disappointing sixth place feature finish.
BLEESS BACK FOR ANOTHER CHECKERED FLAG
"That kid can wrestle anything", shouted Dan Deicher from the from MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY P.A. system - commenting on the youngster's ability to wrestle the B-Mod on the track and other's his age on the wrestling mat. Similar to Schott, Bleess picked up his first 2012 feature win just a couple weeks ago, and was able to make a repeat trip to Victory Lane Friday night.
Inside of the third row is from where Bleess saw the green flag fly to start the TheEngineStore.com USRA B-Mod feature. Starting ahead of Bleess were current point leader, and first heat-race winner, Erik Kanz in his familiar #23K (outside second row), June 8th feature winner Alex Williamson in his Williamson Amusements #15W (inside second row) and former Late Model and 600 Mod champion Jeff Matejka's Baehman Law #11B (Pole position) . . . but, none of that competition ahead of him seem to trouble the 15 year old for very long.
Bleess used fast and smooth laps to work his way to the front of the field and sailed on to his second feature win of the year. "Fast" is actually a bit of an understatement as the Chatfield, MN racer turned in the fastest lap of the entire evening's feature races - a 16.957 second lap, with an average lap speed of just a tick under 80 mph - helped rocket his #21 EZ Fabricating entry to the front in order to grab the checkered flag.
Kanz crossed the line second just ahead of Williamson and second heat race winner Shaun Walski.
WOJCIK WOW'S 'EM WITH HIS SECOND FEATURE WIN
Before the evening's races had even begun, Doug Wojcik was smiling about the previous week's feature win, "Actually, we've been struggling quite a bit the last three weeks with this car." Explained the third year engineering student on the "Live Trackside" radio program, "So last Friday's feature win was a nice thing and a sign that we may have some things figured out."
By the end of Sugar Loaf Ford night, other Jailhouse Saloon WISSOTA Street Stock racers should have been taking notes. Even though the winning margin was just a breath shy of two seconds, if it hadn't have been for a late race charge by former feature winner Mike Conrad, Wojcik could have almost coasted out of turn four and still held on for the feature win.
Even though a wild ride into the infield early in the feature had taken first heat race winner, and current point leader Cory Hanson out of the picture . . . that still left about five other drivers on the track who were legitimate threats for a feature win. But Wojcik sure didn't appear to be worried as his #3D raced away from the field and held off any and all who even had thoughts of challenging for the win.
Conrad passed second heat race winner Danny Richards to finish second while Richards held off Shaun Mann for third.
SCHMITT SMILING AFTER 600 MOD FEATURE WIN
Bruce Schmitt has enjoyed racing for a while, but after spending some time straddling four wheels - as a Quad Motocross racer - the Fountain City, WI native decided that it was time to strap some safety around him (the old cliché in the motocross world is "With age comes a cage") . . . so that's exactly what he did two years ago; step off the Quad and into a 600 Mod.
His excitement is still powered by a motorcycle engine (the 600 Mods are powered by a 600 cc cycle engine) but now he's hitting top speeds in the 80 to 90 mph range, and always turning left. Schmitt added a new left turn to his repertoire Friday night as he took the double left-hand turn from the front stretch onto the MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY Victory Lane to celebrate his very first feature win!
Surviving two late-race cautions that allowed his competitors several opportunities to throw a challenge at him, Schmitt just barely beat second heat race winner Greg Wohletz to the line for the feature win. 0.165 seconds was the margin of victory for Schmitt as he held on for the win ahead of Wohletz, Don Werner and Bob Cisewski - all three of whom were also shooting for their very first feature win! "Quad motocross racing is a lot of fun," smiled Schmitt in Victory Lane after the win, "But now that I'm standing here and celebrating this feature win, I'd have to say that the 600 Mod is a bit more fun!"
KONKEL CAPTURES PURE FEATURE
Winona, MNs Ryan Konkel held off a charging Andrew Bleess to pick up his first Elmer's Auto Salvage MTS Pure Stock feature!
BUCKLAND AND BECKER WINNERS ON THE LIGHTNING SPEEDWAY
Dylan Buckland made it three straight feature wins in the Sunshine Sanitation A Mini Mod division, pulling away from the field and gathering in the feature win by a commanding margin. Nate Becker, meanwhile, grabbed his second straight B-Mini Mod feature win.
MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY's 2012 regular season action continues next Friday night June 29th with another Exciting Night of Dirt Track Action on the high-banked 1/3-Mile Oval! 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 comprised of a complete program from the River city Manufacturing USRA Modifieds, Coordinated Business Systems WISSOTA Super Stocks, The Engine Store USRA B-Mods, Jailhouse Saloon WISSOTA Street Stocks, REDBOX+ 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 for the 2012 season, the "MTS Family Pass" which consists 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. Also the new "Family Friendly Pit Pricing" is also available for EVERY event! For more details, visit the official MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY web site: www.MississippiThunder.com.
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MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY is presenting 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
JUNE 8TH - RESULTS
River City Manufacturing USRA Modifieds
FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 69 Lucas Schott Chatfield , Mn 100.00
2 6 99 Josh Angst , Mn 95.00
3 2 49 Bob Timm Winona , Mn 91.00
4 10 49JR Jake Timm Winona , Mn 87.00
5 5 99L Steve Lavasseur River Falls, Wi 84.00
6 12 66 Dan Bohr - 81.00
7 3 59 Hank Rollinger, Jr. - 78.00
8 4 11 Lance Hofer - 76.00
9 9 41 Mark Teske Spring Valley, Mn 74.00
10 18 44 Leroy Scharkey - 72.00
11 16 95 Keith Foss Winona , Mn 70.00
12 15 6P Tony Peterson Big Bend, Wi 68.00
13 17 43 Luke Schilling Granton , Wi 66.00
14 19 86 Phil Wernert - 64.00
15 11 96? Doug Herrick West Concord, Mn 62.00
16 7 90 Steve Wetzstein West Concord, Mn 60.00
17 13 77 Thomas Brink - 58.00
18 8 94JR John Doelle - 56.00
19 14 51 Chris Oertel Marshfield , Wi 55.00
Modifieds - HEAT 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 2 69 Lucas Schott Chatfield , Mn 0.00
2 4 94JR John Doelle - 0.00
3 1 99L Steve Lavasseur River Falls, Wi 0.00
4 3 41 Mark Teske Spring Valley, Mn 0.00
5 9 99 Josh Angst , Mn 0.00
6 6 66 Dan Bohr - 0.00
7 5 51 Chris Oertel Marshfield , Wi 0.00
8 7 95 Keith Foss Winona , Mn 0.00
9 8 44 Leroy Scharkey - 0.00
Modifieds - HEAT 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 49 Bob Timm Winona , Mn 0.00
2 3 59 Hank Rollinger, Jr. - 0.00
3 6 49JR Jake Timm Winona , Mn 0.00
4 8 90 Steve Wetzstein West Concord, Mn 0.00
5 5 11 Lance Hofer - 0.00
6 7 96? Doug Herrick West Concord, Mn 0.00
7 2 77 Thomas Brink - 0.00
8 10 6P Tony Peterson Big Bend, Wi 0.00
9 4 43 Luke Schilling Granton , Wi 0.00
10 9 86 Phil Wernert - 0.00
Coordinated Business Systems WISSOTA Super Stocks
FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 2 X Shawn Huse Chippewa Falls, Wi 35.00
2 8 7R Tommy Richards Mondovi , Wi 33.00
3 7 8 Kelly Anderson Hager City, Wi 32.00
4 3 88 Troy Langowski - 31.00
5 9 34 Jeff Brauer Rochester , Mn 30.00
6 6 6 Shane Kisling Sarona , Wi 29.00
7 15 7C Dan Bork Mondovi , Wi 28.00
8 5 52 Gary Wiersgalla Fountain City, Wi 27.00
9 13 94 Kevin Hager Kellogg , Mn 26.00
10 1 34F Nick Frion Ellsworth , Wi 25.00
11 10 17H Darrel Hazelton Chippewa Falls, Wi 24.00
12 12 47 Jon Duffy Winona , Mn 23.00
13 11 37 Jay Oricchio Ellsworth , Wi 22.00
14 14 67W Matt Wolfe Mondovi , Wi 21.00
15 4 018 Michael Hofer Cochrane , Wi 20.00
Super Stock - HEAT 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 5 6 Shane Kisling Sarona , Wi 10.00
2 2 8 Kelly Anderson Hager City, Wi 9.00
3 6 7R Tommy Richards Mondovi , Wi 8.00
4 4 52 Gary Wiersgalla Fountain City, Wi 7.00
5 3 17H Darrel Hazelton Chippewa Falls, Wi 6.00
6 7 47 Jon Duffy Winona , Mn 5.00
7 1 7C Dan Bork Mondovi , Wi 4.00
Super Stock - HEAT 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 3 X Shawn Huse Chippewa Falls, Wi 10.00
2 5 88 Troy Langowski - 9.00
3 7 018 Michael Hofer Cochrane , Wi 8.00
4 1 34F Nick Frion Ellsworth , Wi 7.00
5 6 34 Jeff Brauer Rochester , Mn 6.00
6 4 37 Jay Oricchio Ellsworth , Wi 5.00
7 2 94 Kevin Hager Kellogg , Mn 4.00
8 8 67W Matt Wolfe Mondovi , Wi 3.00
TheEngineStore.com USRA B-Mods
FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 5 21 Jacob Bleess Chatfield , Mn 100.00
2 4 23K Erik Kanz - 95.00
3 3 15W Alex Williamson Rushford , Mn 91.00
4 9 95X Shaun Walski Winona , Mn 87.00
5 1 11B Jeff Matejka - 84.00
6 7 80J Lee Jonsgaard Minnesota City, Mn 81.00
7 6 90 Tyler Creeley - 78.00
8 8 9 Brady Keefe Stewartville , Mn 76.00
9 2 44 Brandon Reutzel Winona , Mn 74.00
10 12 3 Matt Appel - 72.00
11 11 00 Josh Appel Taylor , Wi 45.00
12 10 79 Robert Carpenter Black River, Wi 45.00
USRA B-Mods - HEAT 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 4 95X Shaun Walski Winona , Mn 0.00
2 5 21 Jacob Bleess Chatfield , Mn 0.00
3 3 9 Brady Keefe Stewartville , Mn 0.00
4 1 11B Jeff Matejka - 0.00
5 6 79 Robert Carpenter Black River, Wi 0.00
6 2 3 Matt Appel - 0.00
USRA B-Mods - HEAT 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 6 23K Erik Kanz - 0.00
2 4 15W Alex Williamson Rushford , Mn 0.00
3 2 90 Tyler Creeley - 0.00
4 1 44 Brandon Reutzel Winona , Mn 0.00
5 5 80J Lee Jonsgaard Minnesota City, Mn 0.00
6 3 00 Josh Appel Taylor , Wi 0.00
Jailhouse Saloon WISSOTA Street Stocks
FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 7 3D Doug Wojcik Ladysmith , Wi 35.00
2 6 M76 Mike Conrad Independence , Wi 33.00
3 3 3R Danny Richards Mondovi , Wi 32.00
4 5 01 Shaun Mann Buffalo City, Wi 31.00
5 4 38S Nick Schwebach Caledonia , Mn 30.00
6 14 80 Ryan Henderson Holmen , Wi 29.00
7 2 31 Darryll Foegen Cochrane , Wi 28.00
8 1 06 Jesse Lutz Winona , Mn 27.00
9 9 95 Lonnie Klonecki Arcadia , Wi 26.00
10 11 6 Andrew Ausman Pepin , Wi 25.00
11 10 86 Jane Keating Shell Rock, Ia 24.00
12 12 7 Rich Theisen Independence , Wi 23.00
13 8 79 Cory Hanson Black River, Wi 22.00
14 13 2 Fred Prudoehl Winona , Mn 0.00
Street Stock - HEAT 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 2 3R Danny Richards Mondovi , Wi 10.00
2 4 M76 Mike Conrad Independence , Wi 9.00
3 5 31 Darryll Foegen Cochrane , Wi 8.00
4 6 06 Jesse Lutz Winona , Mn 7.00
5 7 86 Jane Keating Shell Rock, Ia 6.00
6 3 2 Fred Prudoehl Winona , Mn 5.00
7 1 80 Ryan Henderson Holmen , Wi 4.00
Street Stock - HEAT 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 2 79 Cory Hanson Black River, Wi 10.00
2 6 3D Doug Wojcik Ladysmith , Wi 9.00
3 1 01 Shaun Mann Buffalo City, Wi 8.00
4 5 38S Nick Schwebach Caledonia , Mn 7.00
5 7 95 Lonnie Klonecki Arcadia , Wi 6.00
6 3 6 Andrew Ausman Pepin , Wi 5.00
7 4 7 Rich Theisen Independence , Wi 4.00
REDBOX+ 600 Mods
FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 80 Bruce Schmitt Fountain City, Wi 120.00
2 3 32 Greg Wohletz Winona , Mn 115.00
3 7 99 Don Werner Rollingstone , Mn 110.00
4 5 40 Bob Cisewski Winona , Mn 105.00
5 8 8 Curt Luhmann Rushford , Mn 100.00
6 2 K-9 John Griffin Caledonia , Mn 95.00
7 12 12 Todd Kiehne Harmony , Mn 90.00
8 6 51 David Benke Winona , Mn 85.00
9 9 19JR Nicholas Wagner Trempealeau , Wi 80.00
10 14 27 Brian Laumeyer Cannon Falls, Mn 75.00
11 11 42 Chris Eide Rushford , Mn 70.00
12 10 89 Joe Provinzino Chanhassen , Mn 65.00
13 13 90 Brent Gora Dover , Mn 60.00
14 4 56 Bill Bauers Fountain City, Wi 55.00
600 Modifieds - HEAT 2
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 1 32 Greg Wohletz Winona , Mn 5.00
2 5 99 Don Werner Rollingstone , Mn 4.00
3 2 56 Bill Bauers Fountain City, Wi 3.00
4 3 40 Bob Cisewski Winona , Mn 2.00
5 4 51 David Benke Winona , Mn 1.00
6 7 12 Todd Kiehne Harmony , Mn 0.00
7 6 27 Brian Laumeyer Cannon Falls, Mn 0.00
600 Modifieds - HEAT 1
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 5 89 Joe Provinzino Chanhassen , Mn 5.00
2 1 80 Bruce Schmitt Fountain City, Wi 4.00
3 2 K-9 John Griffin Caledonia , Mn 3.00
4 4 8 Curt Luhmann Rushford , Mn 2.00
5 3 19JR Nicholas Wagner Trempealeau , Wi 1.00
6 7 42 Chris Eide Rushford , Mn 0.00
7 6 90 Brent Gora Dover , Mn 0.00
Elmer's Auto Salvage M.T.S. Pure Stocks
FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 2 13 Ryan Konkel Winona , Mn 35.00
2 1 2 Andrew Bleess Chatfield , Mn 33.00
3 4 77B Larry Dubois Winona , Mn 32.00
4 5 68 Paul Sweazey Winona , Mn 31.00
5 3 Z1 Corey Ziemer Minnesota City, Mn 30.00
6 6 97 Bobby Jr Fort Fountain City, Wi 29.00
7 7 27 Chris Abts Winona , Mn 0.00
Pure Stock - HEAT
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 5 2 Andrew Bleess Chatfield , Mn 10.00
2 1 68 Paul Sweazey Winona , Mn 9.00
3 2 13 Ryan Konkel Winona , Mn 8.00
4 4 Z1 Corey Ziemer Minnesota City, Mn 7.00
5 3 77B Larry Dubois Winona , Mn 6.00
6 6 97 Bobby Jr Fort Fountain City, Wi 5.00
7 7 27 Chris Abts Winona , Mn 4.00
Sunshine Sanitation A-Mini Modifieds
FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 2 12 Dylan Buckland Ridgeway , Mn 100.00
2 4 90 Ryan Wetzstein West Concord, Mn 95.00
3 1 9 Mike Stevens Winona , Mn 91.00
4 3 66 Keagen Einck Decorah , Ia 87.00
A Mini Modifieds - HEAT
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 4 9 Mike Stevens Winona , Mn 0.00
2 1 12 Dylan Buckland Ridgeway , Mn 0.00
3 3 66 Keagen Einck Decorah , Ia 0.00
4 2 90 Ryan Wetzstein West Concord, Mn 0.00
Sunshine Sanitation B-Mini Modifieds
FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 6 79 Nate Becker Black River, Wi 100.00
2 4 51W Jt Wasmund Pine Island, Mn 95.00
3 5 55H Aj Hoff Mantorville , Mn 91.00
4 1 15D Devin Williamson Rushford , Mn 87.00
5 7 100 Jeremy Werner Rollingstone , Mn 84.00
6 3 22 Zach Laumeyer Cannon Falls, Mn 81.00
7 2 17 Matthew Laduke Cochrane , Wi 45.00
B Mini Modifieds - HEAT
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Race Points
1 6 15D Devin Williamson Rushford , Mn 0.00
2 4 17 Matthew Laduke Cochrane , Wi 0.00
3 1 22 Zach Laumeyer Cannon Falls, Mn 0.00
4 2 51W Jt Wasmund Pine Island, Mn 0.00
5 3 55H Aj Hoff Mantorville , Mn 0.00
6 5 79 Nate Becker Black River, Wi 0.00
7 7 100 Jeremy Werner Rollingstone , Mn 0.00
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Saturday, September 7, 2024
USRA North Star Nationals Championship Night
