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Greg Parent
NEW RICHMOND, Wisc. (January 31) - Racers and fans gathered at the Grand Casino in Hinckley, MN on Saturday evening January 9 to celebrate the 52nd season of racing at the Cedar Lake Speedway during the track's annual awards banquet. Track champions and top drivers in the four NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions shared in over $25,000 of track point fund money. Rick Egersdorf in the NASCAR Impact Printing Late Models, Darrell Nelson in the NASCAR Amsoil Modifieds, Greg Nippoldt in the NASCAR Goodyear Pro Stocks, and Jason Vandekamp in the NASCAR Grand Casino Midwest Modifieds were crowned as the 2009 track champions. Following dinner, the top ten drivers in each division were recognized and received trophies. Hypnotist Jason Mystic rounded out the gala evening.
Rick Egersdorf recorded his thirteenth track point title at Cedar Lake Speedway in 2009 by topping the NASCAR Late Model division. Dating back to his first track championship in 1976, Egersdorf has won multiple track point titles in the hobby stocks, winged modifieds and late model divisions. Egersdorf and long-time car owner Craig Geller enjoyed one of their most productive seasons in recent years, as Rick raced to three feature wins and numerous top five finishes in 2009 enroute to his eighth late model point title at the track during what has been a fantastic racing career spanning over 35 years at CLS. Completing the top five in points in the late models were Rick Hanestad, Jake Redetzke, John Kaanta, and Brent Larson.
Darrell Nelson made the long trek south to compete in the NASCAR Modified division at the Cedar Lake Speedway in 2009, and his effort produced his first track point championship. Nelson earned six feature wins during the season in his modified and one with his late model, as he usually brought along both cars to compete against some tough weekly competition. Rounding out the top five point finishers in the modifieds were Jason Miller, Craig Brightbill, Jason Gross, and Mike Kelley Jr.
The battle for the NASCAR Pro Stock track point title came down to season championship night, as Greg Nippoldt and Tim Borgeson were locked in a tight battle for the title. Although Borgeson won the feature race that night, Greg Nippoldt's consistency over the course of the season earned him his first CLS track point championship. Nippoldt had one feature win on the season. Finishing behind Nippoldt in the track point battle for the pro stocks was Tim Borgeson, Mike Loomis, Justin Dodge and rookie Shawn Kammerud.
Jason Vandekamp had a stellar season in 2009, as he won five times in the NASCAR Midwest Modified division to earn his first track point championship at CLS. Vandekamp had come close before, twice finishing second while in the street stock class and riding home to third place in 2008 in his first year in the midwest modified division. Jason put it all together in 2009, as he topped Jeremy Houle, Josh Bazey, Shawn Phillips and Kyle Steffen to garner the track point championship.
Cedar Lake Speedway and NASCAR proudly presented Warren Gebauer, pit crew chief on Brent Larson's late model team, with the Craftsman Mechanic of the Year Award. Also recognized for his effort and contributions to the USA Late Model Nationals event through the formation of the FANS Fund, Rich Olson was given an appreciation award. The FANS Fund assists in helping bring talented late model drivers to the USA Nationals based on fan voting and contributions.
Cedar Lake Speedway thanked all of their sponsors including Bernick's Pepsi, Amsoil, Grand Casino, Goodyear, 3M, Impact Printing Maxim Graphics, gotomn.com and RockAuto.com for their continued support. Without the support of the drivers, crews, fans and sponsors, quality weekly NASCAR racing and large-scale events would not be possible at the track. The 2010 schedule was released at the banquet, and is high-lighted by such special events as the 23rd Annual USA Late Model Nationals sanctioned by the World of Outlaws, the 12th Annual Masters featuring the kick-off to the UMP Summernationals along with IRA 410 Outlaw sprint cars, the 5th Annual Legendary 100, the traditional July World of Outlaws sprint car show, the 9th Annual Billy Anderson Memorial with the UMSS 360 sprint cars, the 10th Annual Jerry Richert Memorial for IRA and UMSS sprints, and the 3rd Annual Badger State Nationals. Be sure to take in all of the exciting racing action in 2010 at western Wisconsin's fastest piece of real estate, the Cedar Lake Speedway.
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