Contributed By Gary Schmelzer

What should I do?
I was going to start with what happened two weeks ago then the race this weekend at MIS looked like I was going to have to start there but soon the unhappiness that unfolded from that race made the best place to start is far away from that.

With rain lurking for the weekend and no tracks really open Friday night I drove three hours North to Luxemburg Speedway a track I had not gone to in 20 years. With time on my hands I took Hwy. 54 through Green Bay (A mistake to slow, wrong road, just site seeing who cares.) finally got to I-43 did some more site seeing (You know you are going to run into Lake Michigan sooner or later going East.)

I got to the town after 4:00 and looked around. In your mine a name of a speedway like Luxemburg makes you think of a fairly good size town not a one horse town with two gas station a McD's-Sub Way and a grocery store. The High School Luxemburg-Casco was the most biggest thrill to see.

I eat at Sub-Way then went over to the track were I found a mess with race car halers allover every street trying to get into the speedway. Finding my way into the spectator gates on the other side of the speedway I went back to look at the cars. Looked like the pits were full and with 50 minutes to go before race time I did not think they were going to get all these cars in. 7:00 O'clock came the stands were packed and they called there drivers meeting and were racing buy 7:15 on a heavy wet track as a rain store came through early in the day making turns 3 an 4 not the best. After running 151 cars through 15 heat races they rework the track for 25 minutes before there Semi's and Features.. After seven Semi's the track change now there was a hole in turn 4 but the races were running smooth until the third Feature when there was a roll-over and more yellows as time slip away looking like the curfew would win out and they would not finish all the races but they did finishing buy 11:15 and I was on my way home.

Saturday came and it was the TV for the rest of the weekend and into Monday with the NASCAR Trucks because of rain, as I watch track buy track consoled.

Wednesday night took a trip out to Columbus 151 Speedway for there weekly practice. A good field of over 30 cars and a midget showed up for a vary safe and clean practice.

Friday still no racing within my area with rain in Morris,Ill a soft ground in Darlington,Wis. it was either back to Luxemburg or to Golden Sands Speedway. so I took the Sands. I stop in Plover got mom a Mother Day gift for this week before getting to the Speedway. Hot Laps were running when I got there and a stiff wind making it a vary cool night. With 90 some cars there for opening night in the Late Models, Super Stocks, Pure Stock and two classes of 4 Cyl. and more cars to come and some 2 to 3 other classes not running tonight things are looking good for the speedway.

All the races were close and a couple of hart brakes. In the Late Model Feature Frank Nitzke led most of the Feature with 3 laps to go he came up on a slower car on the out side and Brandon Selle snuck in side for the lead and win. Madison area races Gary Haarklau took the lead in the Pure Stock race when the leader was black flagged. Having a little under power car Haarklau led the field with fast timer Ryan Mork cutting through the field. With one lap to go Mork was on his tale and Gary tried everything to keep him back but a spinning car on the back stretch finish the race at that point giving him the win.

Saturday came and it was off to Madison Int'l Speedway for open practice. Another long line of cars greeted the track with the lower part of the pits water logged cars were park out side the pits with well over 130 cars showed for the weekend. After getting all the info I needed I sat at the pit cross over gate until practice was over and then off the Jefferson Speedway. Arriving in the middle of timing I met up with my friend on the hill in are turn one an two bleachers. Another 115 cars showed with the 50 Lap feature keeping us on the edge. With many time winner Andy Wendt starting on the pole you just could not think he was not going to win but challenges from Kyle Jalsberg, Bob Kahler and Jason Erickson made it look like they were all winners. After the races it was home for some shut eye before another long day.

Bright sunny skies and warmer temps greeted everyone for the ASA Joe Shear Classic and Big 8 series racers. With so many cars the racing started a half hour late, with 4 semi's and 2 dashes runned before the big features.

Now leading back to are top line were to start? The 38 Lap Big 8 Feature was up first Michael Bilderback took the lead for the first 13 laps before first time starter in the Big 8 Zack Riddle took the lead. On lap 23 the if not shore looking winner of the race had the rug pulled from under him. Casey Johnson's engine let go in turn 1 an 2 Zack ran down into the corner after the yellow was out slid up the track and almost hit the wall. A lap later he stop in the corner trying to tell that his head set was not working. (This may of happen before he hit the oil or from the heavy motion he made well trying to save the car.) So what to do? Pit and loose the lead or stay out and lead, he stayed out.

Well the track was being clean they ran the cars on a lane between turn 1 an 2 and the small track were there was a barrow full of trash that he centered punch sticking it up under the car and dragging it half was around the track throwing trash and cans allover the place. He tried backing up but it would not come off so help came to take it off and a big hole was in the front of the car so he went to the pits.

This gave the lead to Ross Kenseth who only had Scott Broughton to hold off for the win. As his dad Matt Kenseth was in the pits to see him win his 3rd Big 8 Feature.

The big 136 lap Joe Shear Classic race was next Nathan Haseleu lead at the start then the orange 66 of Steve Carlson took over he battled Tim Schendel before Schendel took over. Haseleu had drop back for sometime but regain the lead before the 100 lap brake and lead the final 36 laps to win.

This weekend looks like Madison Int'l on Friday night. Then to Cars on State Street in Madison with the Farmers Market on Saturday morning with a visit to the Madison Water Utility open house in the afternoon and Jefferson or Dells Raceway Park Saturday night.

Sunday is Mothers day so I'll be with mom and one of my sisters Birthday.

Thinking the week after is the ASA race at the Milwaukee Mile.

For now, See ya on the Road.

Gary