Tomlinson tops Late Models by inches.....
Schafer scores in Streets at Columbus 151!! August 3, 2001; Columbus, WI. - Andy Tomlinson of Poynette picked up a feature victory Friday night in the Late model Division by mere inches over runner-up Butch Mierendorf of Waterloo.
Bill Drefahl and Dan Lensing of Rockford lead the field to the line for the
thirty-five lap Late Model main event. Drefahl would gain the early lead while Lensing
raced Butch Mierendorf for the second position but, would fall On lap nineteen Lensing who had been driving a good race got loose in turn two, this mistake allowed Andy Tomlinson to take the third position away from the rookie. Randy Ginter in the #99 car tried to renumber his car mid-race, he attempted this on lap twenty-three after contact sent him sliding through the infield. Ginter hit a drainage ditch at flipped his car on its roof to become the #66 car. All kidding aside, the driver appeared to be in good condition though he was taken by ambulance to be checked out. Just as Ginter was beginning his slide the race leader Drefahl spun in turns one and two, he would continue but at the rear of the field. On the lap twenty-three restart Mierendorf would be the new leader followed by Tomlinson and Lensing. Just a lap later though Lensing got loose and slid wide exiting turn two. As he regained control he came down on Gerry Junget of Rio, both would sustain body damage and Lensing would end his best effort of the season. On the ensuing restart Mierendorf and Tomlinson would pull away from third Steve Dobbratz of Rio. On the last lap Tomlinson moved to the outside on Mierendorf and would gain a quarter car length coming out of the final corner to grab the victory. Tomlinson and Mierendorf would be followed at the line by Dobbratz, Don Gaserude of Fort Atkinson and Brent Knight of Watertown. John Schafer of Monona was victorious in the twenty-five lap Street Stock Division Feature. One caution slowed the race as Ian Marks of Columbus and Scott Riedner of Waunakee were battling for position while navigating lapped traffic The two made contact on lap twenty bringing out the caution. On the restart Schafer maintained the lead he built from his front row starting position. At the line it would be Schafer, Bobby Stough Jr. of Waunakee, Quick Qualifier Ron Schmitt of Jackson, and Ron Coppernoll of Madison. Jerry Chapman of Juneau gained a victory that couldn’t be taken away from him in the twenty-lap Hobby Stock Feature. After a few weeks of turmoil Chapman was undoubtedly ready to visit victory lane, though he nearly missed the race completely. As the rest of the field wheeled out onto the track Chapman was sitting in the pits with a stalled car. As a crew member raced to his aid the car started and he met the field in time to regain his starting position. The early lead went to Dennis Schwark of Sun Prairie who would hold the lead until the halfway point. From there on out Chapman was on his way to victory. The top five read as follows Chapman, Grant Lindner of Poynette, Dennis Gaserude of Arena, Lincoln Keeser of Milton, and Dennis Schwark. Rick Verdon of Fitchburg picked up another victory in the Wild & Crazy Back-Up Division main event. Mark Remsik of Madison gave a strong challenge and lead Verdon into turn three of the final lap. However, in turn four Remsik went high making contact with Verdon and would wind up with a DNF. Verdon went on to win the race followed by Dave Moore of McFarland, Matt Wachuta followed by father George Wachuta both of Brooklyn. Coming Up: The Series Championship of the Pepsi Triple 60 Series – A Complete racing program including a sixty-lap late model feature and Pepsi Stuff giveaway! |
