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Ed Reichert
MENOMONIE, Wisc. (May 14) - Pat Doar slammed the door on the competition early in the Late Model feature Friday night at the Red Cedar Speedway as he ran off with his first win of the season to highlight the racing action Friday. In other action, Robby Bunkelman continued his domination of the Modified division with his second straight win at Red Cedar while the other three divisions all had bizarre finishes in that none of the three cars that crossed the line first were declared race winners.
Jake Hartung got the jump on the Late Model field but before one lap could be completed, Doar had powered by him on the high side to take the lead. Pat was running the middle lane on the track, and was one of the few to make that line work. Hartung remained close in second with Cory Mahder moving into third. Chad Mahder was on the move while all eyes were on Jimmy Mars as he charged up from the thirteenth starting position on the grid.
Doar continued to maintain his advantage but Hartung refused to allow Pat to get away. The Mahder cousins tried to get into a contest for third but Cory was just a bit too strong for Chad to challenge. The race continued nonstop to the checkered and Doar continued his smooth line to the finish for the win. Second year driver Hartung had an outstanding run as he brought home the runner up honors with the Mahders finishing behind him and Ashley Anderson holding off Mars for fifth.
Bunkelman was outstanding as he came from the third row to overtake Kevin Adams with just two laps to go for the open wheel win. Steve Hallquist took the early lead over Don Brightbill with Adams quickly moving into the second spot. Luke Schilling and Ron Schreiner fought behind him with Bunkelman looking for an opening to move up. Adams moved by Hallquist to take over the lead while Bunkelman started to charge as he was able to move up to third before the lone yellow flew for a spin with six laps complete.
Adams maintained his lead on the green but Bunkelman was able to drive around Hallquist for second and then set his sites on Adams. Behind them there was a gaggle of cars battling as Schilling, Schreiner, Scott Duval and Craig Thatcher argued for positions.
Bunkelman caught Adams and then the battle intensified. Robby tried several times to ease past Kevin but each time Adams was able to fight him off. Bunkelman then moved into the middle line again and was able to drive a little deeper into the corners than Adams. With just two laps left to go, Robby was able to clear Adams and take over the lead. Adams stayed tucked on Bunkelman's rear bumper to the finish, but he couldn't execute a pass of his own and had to settle for second. Thatcher was able to scoot by a three car battle on the last lap to take third ahead of Hallquist and Schilling.
The Super Stock feature had the best battle of the night but ended up with a scrambled finish because of a disqualification. Rookie Luke Plank started on the pole and took the early lead, with Ben Hillman and Mike Anderson challenging. Anderson was able to move into the second spot and close on Plank, while Shane Kisling, Steve Thomas and Tom Karis all moved in to challenge. Plank continued to work the low line while Anderson was up the track where he is most comfortable. Anderson pulled up beside Plank and they raced side by side for a number of laps, with no contact and great racing taking place while Kisling and Thomas were wheel to wheel for third.
Anderson edged ahead momentarily but the rookie fought back up beside him and they continued to battle. With only two laps to go, Kisling and Thomas got together in turn three and Karis piled into them, triggering the yellow flag. Thomas was eliminated but Kisling and Karis, despite damage , were both able to resume the race.
On the green, Plank bobbled and Anderson was able to drive around him to take over the lead. On the final lap, Kisling was also able to slide under Plank , and as they crossed the line under a blanket, it was Anderson the winner by a car length. However, at post race inspection, Anderson was disqualified for a safety violation and Kisling was awarded the win, his first of the year here. Plank received second ahead of Karis, Hillman and Lance Schilling.
Anderson's brother Travis very nearly earned his first Midwest Modified feature win until he was overtaken in the late going. He had led from the opening lap with Kevin Smeltzer also having a great run as he maintained second for most of the race. Justin Supri, Mark Gerth and Shane Halopka were all making determined marches to the front of the field though. Supri was working the high side and after gaining the second spot, he closed on Anderson for the lead. Just as he was ready to make the pass for the top spot, a ball of flames and smoke came from his car and he was done for the night.
Two laps later Smeltzer's great run came to an end with a spin and the front of the pack was shuffled. Anderson continued to lead but Gerth and Halopka both blew by him in the last four laps. Halopka pushed hard but Gerth was able to hold on by a car length for the win. However, as Gerth pulled into victory lane it was revealed that he had been docked two positions for jumping on a restart and Halopka was awarded his first win of the year with Bob Wood, Gerth, Anderson and Mark Thomas the top five.
The same scenario played out in the Pure Stock feature. After a grinding crash slowed the field two laps into the main event, Jeremy Dahl came up from the third row to take the lead. Chaz Ducommun was moving toward the front but the driver making the biggest moves was Karl Knopps. After missing his heat, Knopps started thirteenth on the grid but quickly moved into contention. His aggressive style in the corners was exciting to watch as he three wheeled his car on the inside line. With lots of scrambling going on through the pack, Karl moved into contention in the late going.
Leader Dahl had his car push out badly in turn one and Knopps dived past and took over the lead with Ducommun right behind him. Karl was able to hold on to what looked to be the win. However, in victory lane he also received the bad news that he had been docked for a jump start, and Ducommun was awarded the win, his second of the season. Behind him it was officially Willy Hughes, Knopps, Dahl and Mike Liphardt.
Next Friday, May 21st will be WQOW TV-18 Kid's Night at the Red Cedar Speedway. All five classes will be racing at 6:45 p.m. and it will be Strum, Cadott and Jim Falls night to receive discounted adult admission tickets.
SUMMARY
Red Cedar Speedway
Menomonie WI
May 14, 2010
WISSOTA Late Models
20 lap Feature - Pat Doar, New Richmond; Jake Hartung, Elmwood; Cory Mahder, Elk Mound; Chad Mahder, Eau Claire; Ashley Anderson, Elk Mound; Jimmy Mars, Menomonie; Scott Gilberts, Menomonie; Tom Naeyaert, Shawano; Mike Prochnow, Menomonie; Brent Larson, Lake Elmo MN; Justin Ritchie, New London; Ronnie Rihn, Bloomer; Joe Cryderman, Thunder Bay Ont; Eric Breeschotten, Buffalo MN; Joey Ogston, Duluth MN; Jesse Redetzke, Altoona; Scott Meeds, Spooner; Rick Hanestad, Boyceville.
8 lap Heat 1 - Doar; Anderson; Ritchie; Gilberts; Larson; Prochnow; Mars; Hanestad; Breeschotten.
Heat 2 - Naeyaert; Hartung; Co. Mahder; C. Mahder; Rihn; Meeds; Ogston; Cryderman; Redetzke.
WISSOTA Modifieds
15 lap Feature - Robby Bunkelman, Abbotsford; Kevin Adams, Cameron; Craig Thatcher, Knapp; Steve Hallquist, Eau Claire; Luke Schilling, Granton; Scott Duval, Bloomer; Ron Schreiner, Hudson; Brent Prochnow, Colfax; Rich Lofthus, Bloomer; Mark Hessler, Menomonie; Jay Richardson, Spring Valley; Mike Anderson, Colfax; Cory Williams, Spring Valley; Don Brightbill, Hudson; Kent Baxter, Elk Mound; Brandon Jensen, Hammond; Jeremy Houle, Ham Lake MN; Cory Crapser, Chippewa Falls; Shawn Anderson, Chetek; Steve Lavasseur, River Falls.
8 lap Heat 1 - Bunkelman; Duval; M. Anderson; Lofthus; Williams; Prochnow.
Heat 2 - Thatcher; Adams; Brightbill; Richardson; Hessler; Jensen; S. Anderson
Heat 3 - Hallquist; Schreiner; Schilling; Lavasseur; Baxter; Houle.
WISSOTA Super Stocks
15 lap Feature - Shane Kisling, Sarona; Luke Plank, Eau Claire; Tom Karis, Menomonie; Ben Hillman, Menomonie; Lance Schilling, Chili; Brad Johnson, Wilson; Paul Erikson, Abbotsford; Charley Obermueller, Menomonie; Mike Keller, Menomonie; Chad Johnson, Colfax; Dan Arneson, Eleva; Bernie Christianson, Menomonie; Bart Steffen, Eau Claire; Chad Tarvis, Chetek; Mike Dyrdahl, Cambridge MN; Cory Davis, Turtle Lake; Steve Thomas, Menomonie; Wayne Bignell, Menomone.
8 lap Heat 1 - Kisling; Karis; Thomas; B. Johnson; C. Johnson; Obermueller; Arneson.
Heat 2 - Keller; Mike Anderson; Plank; Erikson; Steffen; Christianson; Tarvis
Heat 3 - Hillman; Davis; Schilling; Dyrdahl; Bignell; Rick Hallquist.
WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds
15 lap Feature - Shane Halopka, Greenwood; Bob Wood, Cadott; Mark Gerth, Menomonie; Travis Anderson, Colfax; Mark Thomas, Menomonie; Steve Houle, Forrest Lake MN; Matt Leer, Bruce; Mike Hernke, Cannon Falls MN; Clark Swartz, Bloomer; Randy Smeltzer, Colfax; Jake Smith, Eau Claire; Josh Smith, Chippewa Falls; Mark Clements, Bloomer; Bryce Johnson, Barron; Jordan Hessler, Elk Mound; Kevin Smeltzer, Menomonie; Cooper Dohms, Menomonie; Gary Sorenson, Eau Claire; Cory Jackson, Chippewa Falls; Justin Supri, Eau Claire; Jesse Glenz, Cadott.
8 lap Heat 1 - Gerth; Anderson; R. Smeltzer; Jo. Smith; Sorenson; Clements; Jackson; Robbie Johnson.
Heat 2 - Supri; Wood; Hernke; Hessler; Leer; Ja. Smith; B. Johnson.
Heat 3 - Houle; Halopka; Swartz; Thomas; R. Smeltzer; Glenz; Dohms.
Pure Stocks
10 lap Feature - Chaz Ducommun, Chetek; Willy Hughes, Elmwood; Karl Knopps, Chippewa Falls; Jeremy Dahl, Knapp; Mike Liphardt, Menomonie; Nate Spence, Spring Valley; Kory Hathaway, Elmwood; Chris Wert, Roberts; Jake Smeltzer, Menomonie; Brad Spence, Spring Valley; Jason Hoyt, Menomonie; Ron Zurek, Chippewa Falls; Randy Burton, Menomonie; Gunnar Watkins, Elk Mound.
6 lap Heat 1 - Liphardt; N. Spence; Smeltzer; Zurek; Hoyt; Scotty Schoettle; Wert.
Heat 2 - Dahl; Hathaway; Ducommun; Hughes; Watkins; Burton; B. Spence.
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