July 23, 2004; Unity, WI. - Nascar
Legend, Dave Marcis was on hand this past Friday night to sign autographs and talk to fans
about his storied career behind the wheel. Many Local dirt racing legends were also
present including Bill Lindner, John Bell, Norm Wolfe, Dick Lutz, Butch Oertel and many
others. After the autograph session, fans filled the grandstands to capacity to witness
the legends of the future battle it out on the track. Once the on track wars had
been waged, several
drivers made their first visit to victory lane at Monster Hall this season. Zack Kauth got
his first ever Feature win behind the wheel of his WISSOTA Street Stock.
Kori Richter led every lap of the WISSOTA Super Stock feature and scored the win.
Paul Knauf won his second feature of the week after topping the Modified field last week
at Eagle Valley Speedway. Shane Halopka had the WISSOTA Midwest Modified field covered and
led the entire distance. Kevin Eckes scored the win in the four cylinder Mini-Stock
Feature. The Mini Stocks normally run on asphalt tracks but they looked quite impressive
in their first venture to a dirt track.
Shane Halopka used the outside front row starting spot to his advantage and ran the
outer groove to secure the lead in the Midwest Modified Feature. Dave Salzman gave chase
in third but had Gerald Grasse on his back bumper looking to make the pass. Mickey Nosser
gained four positions in the first few laps and found himself in fourth about five car
lengths behind the leaders. Back to back cautions on laps six and seven eliminated the
sizeable lead that Halopka had built up and put some heavy hitters behind him. Halopka
wasn't able to pull away as quickly after the restart and was challenged by both Grasse
and Nosser for several laps. Halopka got back in his rhythm after a few laps and again put
several car lengths between himself and his pursuers which left Grasse and Nosser to
battle over the runner-up spot. Halopka picked up
the win which moved him just five points out of the lead for the season Championship.
Grasse edged out Nosser at the finish line to get the runner-up spot. Salzman held on to
fourth but had to fight off several advances from Jim Poyda, who battled his way up from
deep in the field to finish fifth.
The WISSOTA Street Stocks were next to pull trackside with Butch Kummer and Zack Kauth
filling out the front row. Kummer used the inside groove to take the early lead while
Chris Crapser, Kauth, Steve Bangart and Ryan Lindner fought over second. Kummer held on to
the lead after several early cautions slowed the racing action. Kauth completed the pass
on Chris Crapser and began to reel in Kummer with five laps in the books.
The battle for third was heating up as well between Lindner and Roger Walker, who had
already picked five positions in the early going. Out front, Kauth worked his way around
Kummer to secure the lead just after the halfway point. Lindner and Walker both got by
Kummer and continued to battle each other while trying to keep pace with Kauth. Kauth ran
the inside groove and drove away to his first Feature win of the season. Kauth also won
his heat race earlier in the night to complete the clean sweep for the evening. Lindner
wasn't able to get close enough to Kauth to make a move for the lead and came across the
line second. Walker made his way from deep in the field to finish third ahead of Bangart
and Kummer.
Kori Richter shot out front from the pole position to take the lead in the Super Stock
Feature. Adam Hensel gave chase three car lengths back while Mark Stender, Lance Leu and
Jere Stanton battled over third. The only caution of the race flew on lap five and bunched
up the field behind Richter. After the restart, Richter again pulled out to a comfortable
lead over Hensel, Stender and Leu. Paul Erickson held on to the fifth spot just ahead of a
four car battle between Randy Spacek, Stanton, Terry Gorst and Jim Willner. Richter was
able to stretch his lead to a five car length lead over Hensel just past the halfway
point. Richter held for the win after leading all 20 laps in his second visit to the track
this season. Hensel came across the line in the runner-up spot after challenging for the
lead early in the race. Stender had a solid run finishing third ahead of Leu and Erickson.
Rob Genett took control of the Modified Feature early on. But Paul Knauf quickly moved
from the second row past Paul Niznik to challenge Genett for the top spot. Knauf had his
car hooked up down on the inside groove and it took him a few laps but he was able make
the pass on Genett with five laps in the books. Genett then had to fight to hold off Luke
Schilling who was moving up through the field. Behind Schilling, there was a five car pack
running nose to tail, including Niznik, Mark Baxter, Chris Oertel, Jeff Spacek and Kent
Baxter. After a lap nine caution, Knauf again pulled away down low while Schilling ran
second with Oertel quickly closing in on his back bumper. But the closest battle at this
point was for fourth with Jeff Spacek working the low groove below Mark Baxter who chose
the middle to high groove. They ran side by side for several laps with Spacek eventually
getting the spot late in the race.
Out front, Knauf kept the lead by two car lengths over Schilling, who had Oertel right
alongside him challenging for the runner-up spot. Knauf proved that he had the car to beat
on this night by taking the lead early and then maintaining at least a two car length
advantage for the remainder of the event. Oertel used a last lap pass on Schilling for
second after trading the spot several times in the closing laps. Spacek crossed the line
in fourth after coming from a fifth row starting position. Mark Baxter had another strong
run up front and topped it off with a top five finish.
The Four-Cylinder Mini Stocks were next to pull trackside to contest their feature.
Randy Luedtke took the early lead while Kevin Eckes gave chase one car length behind.
Behind them, Kevin Teske and Doug Adams battled over the third position. Adams slid up
high coming out of turn four and hit the wall ending a solid run at the halfway point.
Luedtke continued to hold the lead over Eckes as the laps wound down. Luedtke got caught
up behind a lapped car with three
laps to go and Eckes was able to duck down low and take over the lead. Eckes put two car
lengths between himself and Luedtke before he crossed the finish line for the win. Teske
held on for third after having a great battle for the position with Bob Douskie late in
the race.
The final race of the evening was in the Two-Man Cruiser Division. Bargender/Martin
used the pole position to take the early lead. Porter/Smazal traded the second position
several times with Wolf/Maurer up until a caution on lap five. Dave/Steve Knauf got turned
sideways in turn three and their car barrel rolled into turn four. When the car landed
back on
it's wheels a fire erupted under the hood and quickly went out. The emergency crews were
quick to get to the scene and tend to the drivers. Due to the severity of the crash, the
race was announced as complete giving the win to Bargender/Martin. Wolf/Maurer were scored
in second ahead of Porter/Smazal.
Racing continues at Monster Hall Raceway next Friday with a complete race program with
hot laps starting at 6:30. You can also expect to see some new improvements to the
facility next week. A brand new ticket booth has been constructed at the entrance to the
grandstands. In addition, The track surface has also improved over the past couple weeks
since the track crew eliminated the birm on the inside of the track.
Large heavy duty tires have also been brought in to replace the smaller tires marking
the inside of the corners. Come out and enjoy a night of family fun at Monster Hall
Raceway and Campground every Friday night.
SUMMARY
WISSOTA Modifieds:
Feature - Paul Knauf, Chris Oertel, Luke Schilling, Jeff Spacek, Mark Baxter, Kent Baxter,
Paul Niznik, Mike Bauer, Dave Baxter, Kevin Rogers
Heat 1 - K. Baxter, Frydrych, Genett, Niznik
Heat 2 - Oertel, Schilling, Spacek, M. Baxter
Heat 3 - Knauf, Bauer, Vesley, D. Baxter
WISSOTA Super Stocks:
Feature - Kori Richter, Adam Hensel, Mark Stender, Lance Leu, Paul Erickson, Randy Spacek,
Terry Gorst,
Jim Willner, Terry Kroening, Jere Stanton
Heat 1 - Gorst, Hensel, Johnson, Spacek
Heat 2 - Strebig, Hince, Erickson, Leu
Heat 3 - Richter, Bunkelman, Stanton, Stender
WISSOTA Street Stocks:
Feature - Zack Kauth, Ryan Lindner, Roger Walker, Steve Bangart, Butch Kummer, Chris
Crapser, Dave Teatz, Jared Loos, Cory Crapser, Ralph Stark
Heat 1 - Kauth, Chris Crapser, Andres, Krause
Heat 2 - Walker, Bangart, Heier, Miller
Heat 3 - Teatz, Loos, Lindner, Kummer
WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds:
Feature - Shane Halopka, Gerald Grasse, Mickey Nosser,Dave Salzman, Jim Poyda, Randy
Bargender, Scott Williams, John Kowalski, Shannon Williams, Ben Mann
Heat 1 - Nosser, Halopka, Poyda, Salzman
Heat 2 - Grasse, Bargender, Ryba, Scott Williams
Two-Man Cruisers:
Feature - Bargender/Martin, Wolf/Maurer, Porter/Smazal
Heat 1 - Dave/Steve Knauf, Lindner/Wilke,Porter/Smazal
Heat 2 - Davis/Fitzgerald, Schubert/Delis, Ron/JohnKunninger
Four-Cylinder Mini Stocks:
Feature - Kevin Eckes, Randy Luedtke, Kevin Teske, BobDouskie, Don Dunnoe
Heat 1 - Dunnoe
Heat 2 - Adams |
