Retallick Captures Pepsi Triple 60 Series Opening Round!
By Dennis Thompson

May 24, 2002; Columbus, WI. - Rob Retallick of Marshall led from start to finish to capture the 60-lap Pepsi Triple 60’s Challenge Series Round One late model feature at the Columbus 151 Speedway on Friday night.

Photo Highlights

Rob Retallick (#1) scored the feature victory in Late Model action topping the opening round of the Pepsi Triple 60. Jim Jarlsberg (#97) gave Rob Retallick (#1) all he could handle during round one of the Pepsi Triple Challenge Series. Rob would go on to win the event while Jim had a problem and fell off the pace. Action got a little too close at times during the Late Model feature contest. John Schafer (#4) earned his first Street Stock feature checkered of the year. At the finish John Schafer (#4) had this margin on his nearest competitor Jason Thoma (#95) during the Street Stock feature. Gerald Chapman (#7) gets ready to overtake race leader Gilbert Valdez (#33) during the Hobby Stock feature. Gerald went on to win the event. Bob Jacobs won his very first Back-Ups feature. Pictured with Bob are is children.

It was the first win of the season for Retallick. Steve Dobbratz of Rio pressured Retallick much of the way and finished second. Current regular season point leader Dean Schultz of Juneau, had another impressive run moving up from his sixth row starting position to cross the line in third. Scottie Hatton of Waterloo drove to fourth ahead of Don Gaserude of Fort Atkinson. Al Weishoff of Columbus recovered from an early race incident to finish in sixth. Rounding out the top ten were Tim Noble of Janesville, Aaron Wilke of Waterloo, Andy Tomlinson of Poynette and John Acker of Spring Green.

John Schafer of Monona held off the late race charge of Jason Thoma of Jefferson to drive to his first win of the season in the 25-lap street stock feature. Thoma, who started in the sixth row, moved from fourth to second in the closing laps and then made a last lap attempt to get by Schafer. However, it was Schafer who crossed the line in first for the win. Dan Schmidt of Watertown followed in third. Kevin Anderson of Cottage Grove took fourth. Justin Schultz of Otsego, a rookie in the division this year, came from the outside row six starting position to finish in fifth.

Jerry Chapman of Juneau worked his way through the traffic from the sixth row to take over the lead on lap fifteen and go on to win his second feature of the season in the 20-lap hobby stock main event. Seventh row starter Grant Lindner of Poynette drove to second. Ken Scott of Rio charged from the ninth row to take third. Jim Wingett of Fall River drove well on his way to a fourth place finish. Terry Wangsness of Whitewater followed in fifth.

Bob Jacobs of DeForest jumped into the lead at the start on went on to record his first win of the season in the back up race. Dave Moore of McFarland finished in second ahead of Mark Remsik of Deerfield.

Dean Schultz paced the late models in qualifying at 13.692. Justin Schultz led the street stocks at 14.743. Ken Scott was fast in the hobby stocks at 15.443.

Late model heat race wins were registered by Jasper Gronert of Jefferson, John Acker, Tom Noble and Ed Wolff III of Clyman. John Schafer and Kevin Anderson were victorious in the street stock heats. Hobby stock heat race wins were taken by Jesse Cowell of Poynette and Jason Thom of Johnson Creek.

Jasper Gronert edged Duane Deppe of Waterloo to claim the late model semi-feature. John Acker took third.

Racing action continues this Friday night with Wisconsin Fans For Auto Racing Fan Appreciation Night. In addition to the late model, street stock, hobby stock and back up divisions, the four cylinder Bandits will also be in action. Also on the schedule are blindfold races and stock car rides for the kids.

For complete results from the RACESTAT computer click here