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Ed Reichert
MENOMONIE, Wisc. (September 26) - A. J. Diemel, continuing his domination of area Late Model racing that started last week at the WISSOTA 100, powered past early leader Nick Anvelink and ran away with the thirteenth edition of the Punky Manor Challenge of Champions Saturday night at the Red Cedar Speedway. Other winners included Dave Cain, Shawn Huse and Shane Halopka.
After rain washed out the preliminaries on Friday night, the entire program was run on Saturday, with the qualifying events contested on Saturday afternoon and the feature races run in the evening.
Anvelink won the dash which gave him the pole position for the fourty lap Late Modle headliner with Ashley Anderson to his outside. Anvelink took the early lead but Diemel was quickly on the move after starting in the second row. He drove past Brent Larson and then Anderson and closed on leader Anvelink. While the majority of the field were riding the low line, Diemel was able to move up to the middle groove and he powered past Anvelink through turn two to take over the lead.
The lone caution flag flew shortly after on lap seven, as Terry Anvelink dropped debris on the track after a collision caused most of the front nosepiece on his car to be dragging on the track.
Back on the green, Diemel moved away from the pack with Anderson closing in to put the pressure on Nick Anvelink for second. Diemel was on a rail and he opened up his lead to nearly a straightaway while the battle for second raged. Anderson and Anvelink made some contact leaving turn four and Anderson was able to squirk past for second. Marshall Fegers and Larson became engaged in a fight for the fourth spot at this point also.
Diemel was in heavy lapped traffic but he mastered the challenge well, weaving through the field and maintaining his lead. Just past the halfway point the track started to take rubber, and Diemel suddenly found himself unable to maintain the pace he had earlier set as cars he had lapped started to repass him. He ducked back in line on the low groove and then bided his time. The battle for second got spirited again with contact being made in turn three with Anvelink the beneficiary this time as he retook second.
With the track taking rubber, Diemel bided his time behind Gordie Seegert Jr while Anvelink was caught behind Todd Flannery. However, Diemel still maintained a considerable advantage and he remained cool, holding his position and driving on for the win, worth $4000 to the Navarino ace. Anvelink maintained his slight edge over Anderson to the finish, making a one, two sweep for the eastern Wisconsin invaders. Fegers finished off fourth with Larson trailing.
SUMMARY
Red Cedar Speedway
Menomonie WI
September 26, 2009
WISSOTA Late Models (33 entries)
40 lap Feature A.J. Diemel, Navarino; Nick Anvelink, Navarino; Ashley Anderson, Elk Mound; Marshall Fegers, Mound MN; Brent Larson, Lake Elmo MN; Jake Redetzke, Eau Claire; Cory Mahder, Elk Mound; Darrell Nelson, Hermantown MN; Chad Mahder, Eau Claire; Scott Gilberts, Menomonie; Jimmy Mars, Menomonie; Tom Naeyaert, Shawano; Rick Hanestad, Boyceville; John Kaanta, Elk Mound; Ron Berna, Green Bay; Mike Prochnow, Menomonie; Gordie Seegert Jr, Oostburg; Duane Mahder, Eau Claire; Rick Egersdorf, Lake Elmo MN; Todd Flannery, Antigo; Chris Oertel, Marshfield; Jesse Redetzke, Altoona; Terry Anvelink, Navarino; M.J. McBride, Shawano.
15 lap B Feature D. Mahder; Egersdorf; Seegert Jr; McBride; Steve Isenberg; Ronnie Rihn; Keith Foss; Lance Matthees; Chuckie DeSmith; Mike Goodremote; John Meeds; Davin Larson; Shawn Kirwin.
12 lap Dash- N. Anvelink; Anderson; B. Larson; Diemel; Fegers; Co. Mahder; Ch. Mahder; Naeyaert.
12 lap Heat 1 Diemel; Ch. Mahder; J. Redetzke; Kaanta; T. Anvelink; D. Mahder; Seegert Jr; Matthees; D. Larson.
Heat 2 N. Anvelink; Anderson; Nelson; Flannery; Je. Redetzke; Goodremote; McBride; DeSmith.
Heat 3 Fegers; Co. Mahder; Hanestad; Mars; Prochnow; Rihn; Isenberg; Meeds.
Heat 4 B. Larson; Naeyaert; Berna; Gilberts; Oertel; Egersdorf; Foss; Kirwin.
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