by Andrew Schaller
COLUMBUS, WI (Friday, August 28, 2009) Luke Hoffman of Madison claimed his third win of the 2009 season by winning the 35 lap Late Model main event on Friday night at Columbus 151 Speedway. Hoffman started from the pole with Russ Hanson to his outside. The pair of competitors raced side by side until Hoffman took control on lap three as Hanson fell back into a battle for second with Al Weishoff. Weishoff claimed the position a lap later and set his sights on Hoffman for the lead. Jerry Auby moved up to challenge Weishoff on lap eight, getting to his inside down the backstretch. Auby claimed the spot on lap 12 with Dean Schultz trying to follow past Weishoff. Schultz moved to third on lap 16 as the top three began to break away from the pack slightly. Hoffman remained in control while Auby and Schultz fought for second. Andy Wendt joined the battle for second while Hoffman's lead increased. Hoffman motored to the checkers to take the win with Auby, Wendt, Schultz and Don Gaserude rounding out the top five.

Madison's Alex Lee took the win in the 30 lap Sportsman feature event. Lee and Andy Raley led the field to green as Lee led after lap one. Tiffany Desjarles followed past Raley into second but fell out of contention a lap later with problems. Mike Winters grabbed second and started to size up the early leader, Lee. Winters pulled up on the rear bumper of Lee on lap seven as he launched his bid for the lead. Mike Winters continued to fill up Lee's rearview mirror lap after lap as Gary Winters joined the fight on lap 14. Gary got past brother, Mike on lap 24, but with two laps to go, Gary got loose in turn four and spun to the infield to bring out the caution. Mike Winters and Jake Wasserbuger were collected and forced to restart in the rear. The yellow set up a two lap shootout to the finish with Lee out front and Raley in second. Lee maintained control to see the checkers first with Raley, Kyle Watters, Brandon Riedner and Kevin Anderson rounding out the top five.

Waterloo's Steven Sauer got the win in the 25 lap Hobby Stock main event. Brandon Johnson took the early lead on lap one from fellow front row starter Ben Monday as Sauer pulled into second. Johnson remained in control until lap 14 when Sauer charged to the outside and pulled even through turns three and four. A lap later, Sauer claimed the point down the backstretch as Johnson fell to the runner up spot. After a brief caution which slowed the pack on lap 17, Sauer cruised to the checkers for the win followed by Dustin Ward, Johnson and Monday.

In 25 lap Thunder Stock feature, it was Brad Warthan of Sparta taking the win. Scottie Hatton and Billy Robinson paced the field to green with Hatton taking the lead as Robinson got loose in turn four. Kale Peterman shot up to second and went to work on Hatton for the lead. ON lap three, Peterman drove to the outside of Hatton looking to lead. A lap later, Peterman was out front with Burroughs moving up to second. Burroughs quickly went to the high side of Peterman looking to make his own pass for the lead. But Peterman regained sole possession of the point as Burroughs pulled in behind for second. On lap ten, Peterman slipped into the high groove allowing Burroughs to slide underneath and take the lead. With only one lap remaining, Warthan fired to the inside of Burroughs entering turn one. Warthan got a good run down the backstretch and through the final corner to get the win. Completing the top five were Burroughs, Tony Chase and Peterman.

Dave Schmidt of Cudahy captured the win in the 18 lap Bandit feature. Richie Henson and Andrew Kreklow made up row one at the stark with Henson taking the initial lead on the first lap. Kyle Watters pulled up behind the early leader and immediately began to challenge for the top spot with Schmidt watching from third. On lap four, Schmidt drove to the high side of Watters for second. Schmidt continued to chip away as he claimed second and moved alongside Henson for the lead. Schmidt stuck his nose out front to lead lap eight down the backstretch. Henson fell to second while Schmidt began to stretch his advantage. Kyle Stark made a late race charge to second and tried to run down the leader. Stark caught Schmidt on lap 16, but Schmidt held on to see the checkers first followed by Stark, Steve Privett, Henson and Dan Birkett.

The MiniMods also joined the program with Tim Roach taking honors in the 10 lap feature event. Roach and Vern Brown led the field to green with Roach grabbing the early lead entering turn one. Brown remained in his tracks looking for a way around the leader. On lap two, Brown drove to the outside of Roach as the pair raced side by side. On lap four, Brown experienced mechanical difficulties and was forced to retire. Roach grabbed control and drove away to the checkers for the win.

In wild and crazy Back Up action, it was Matt Wachuta of Brooklyn grabbing the 8 lap feature win. Wayne Hook and Dustin Von Allmen made up the front row at the drop of the green with Von Allmen firing out to the initial lead. Andy Ward followed into second with Ryan Oetzel in tow for third. Von Allmen swerved to miss a slowed competitor on lap two, allowing Ward to shoot past into the lead. Matt Wachuta made a late race charge as the laps wound down. Ward experienced problems on lap six, handing the lead to Wachuta as he charged to the stripe for the win with Oetzel second.

Next Friday, Sept. 4, is a full program in all divisions during Voigt's Concrete Bubble Gauntlet Night. Residents of Morrisonville and Arlington receive $2 off general admission. Time trials begin at 6:30 with racing at 8pm. Please visit www.columbus151.com for more information.