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Greg Parent
NEW RICHMOND, Wisc. (August 2) - Another fantastic evening for racing saw the largest crowd of the season and likely the largest in USA Nationals history on hand for the 21st Annual Young Oil USA Nationals at the Cedar Lake Speedway on Saturday August 2. Racing action tonight was spectacular in both the NASCAR and USA open late model programs. Brent Larson narrowly edged past Lance Mathees on the final lap to earn his sixth win of the season in NASCAR late model action while Scott Bloomquist held off Shannon Babb by about a half a car length for an exciting victory in the 100 lap $50,000 to win USA Nationals feature race.
With $3,000 to win the NASCAR late model feature race tonight, a very strong field of 37 cars signed into the pits. A. J. Diemel led the first six laps in the opening heat before seeing his bid for a win go up in smoke on lap 7. With Diemel's blown engine, veteran competitor Rick Egersdorf assumed the lead and raced to the win just ahead of another veteran driver Lance Mathees. Racing for only the second time this season at CLS and only his fourth time overall, Kerry Hanson drove to a convincing win in the second heat. A nonstop run in the third heat saw three different leaders. Mike Nutzmann led the opening lap before Barry Underdahl got by. Steve Laursen got the win with a lap 8 pass of Underdahl. The fourth and final heat race saw Joey Jensen lead all the way. The top five finishers from each heat transferred to the feature race while the other finishers would find themselves in the B Main.
The final four transfer spots were up for grabs in the 15 lap NACAR late model B Main. With two cars scratched, 15 drivers took the green in a race that was only slowed once under caution at the halfway mark. Keith Foss led all the way for the win. Adam Hensel came from sixth to finish second in front of pole sitter Mike Goodremote. Making the drive over from Shawano, Tom Naeyaert made the trip worthwhile when he earned the final transfer position into the A Main.
With the NASCAR late models putting on a tremendous feature race the night before; fans were once again looking forward to their 30 lap A Main. Just like the previous night, the local area NASCAR drivers put on another fantastic show. Barry Underdahl and Kerry Hanson brought the 24 car field to the green. Hanson quickly blasted into the lead running the high side. Several drivers who started a bit further back in the field were on the move early. Current CLS track points leader Brent Larson moved to second on lap 3, but Hanson had already built up a sizeable margin. Two laps later Lance Mathees moved past Underdahl for third. The first of just two cautions slowed the pace 12 laps into the race when Tom Nesbitt slowed on the track. Hanson's lead was now erased with Larson, Mathees, Pat Doar and Steve Laursen running in the top five. On the restart, Larson began working on the leader while Doar and Larson battled for the fourth spot. Larson got by Hanson on lap 17 for the lead, but Hanson battled right back to the front to lead laps 18-19. Lap 20 mixed things up with Larson regaining the lead and Mathees moving into the runnerup spot. A lap later the final caution waved when Chuck DeSmith stalled in turn 4. It was now Larson, Mathees, Hanson, Doar and Laursen in the top five. When the green replaced the yellow, Mathees immediately used his familiar bottom line to apply the pressure on Larson in what would be an outstanding battle for the lead over the final nine laps. Lap after lap the two leaders raced side-by-side with Mathees actually gaining the top spot on lap 25 only to have Larson come back to lead laps 26-28. Once again Mathees was the leader at the white flag. With the entire crowd on their feet cheering wildly, the two raced hard through the final corner. At the finish it was Brent Larson topping Lance Mathees by about a half a car length to earn his sixth CLS feature win of the season. Pat Doar, Steve Laursen and Friday night winner Rick Hanestad completed the top five. Rounding out the top ten were Joey Jensen, Rick Egersdorf, early leader Kerry Hanson, 18th starter Jake Redetzke, and Mike Nutzmann.
The huge crowd was still buzzing from an incredible NASCAR late model main event, but they were soon in store for yet another entertaining and spectacular grand finale. The 100 lap $50,000 to win USA Nationals was about to get underway.
Race Results:
NASCAR Impact Printing Late Models-
Heat 1- Rick Egersdorf, Lance Mathees, Rick Hanestad, Cory Mahder, Jon, Chrest, Bryan Wennen, Mike Hesselink, Mike Bear, Brent Laursen, AJ Diemel
Heat 2- Kerry Hanson, Pete Parker, Pat Doar, Jeff Keeney, Jake Redetzke, Keith Foss, Adam Hensel, Jeff Provinzino, Kelly Anderson
Heat 3- Steve Laursen, Barry Underdahl, Mike Nutzmann, Caley Emerson, Bill Frye, Mike Goodremote, Dave Cain, Jim Carlson, Mike Raboin
Heat 4- Joey Jensen, Tom Nesbitt, Brent Larson, Chuckie DeSmith, Ashley Anderson, Tom Naeyaert, Marshall Fegers, Toby Patchen, Eric Breeschoten
B Main- Foss, Hensel, Goodremote, Naeyaert, Fegers, Hesselink, Anderson, Cain, Bear, Wennen, Carlson, Provinzeno, Laursen, Raboin, Patchen
A Main- Larson, Mathees, Doar, Laursen, Hanestad, Egersdorf, Hanson, Redetzke, Nutzmann, Anderson, Hensel, Underdahl, Foss, Frye, Goodremote, Naeyaert, Keeney, Emerson, Chrest, Mahder, Parker, DeSmith, Nesbitt
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