July 30, 2004; Columbus, WI. -  The father/son team of Andy and Nick Wendt has dominated the Late Model division at the Columbus 151 Speedway this year. Andy has led point standings for most of the season, while Nick has made a strong comeback after fighting numerous problems in the springtime. The high line was the path of choice for those who wanted to finish in the front, as the bottom feeders kept the low line packed for much of the 50-lap race. The win was perhaps an easier one for Andy this week as he qualified sixth, starting ninth in the invert, rather than his usual back-of-the-pack starting spot. Nick was the hard charger of the race, starting 13th and finishing second.

Photo Highlights

Andy Wendt (#18) works past Chuck Egli (#22) on his way to winning the Late Model main event at Columbus 151 Speedway. Rookie Grant Lindner (#30) uses the low line to work his way to the lead in the Street Stock feature race. Action gets a little too closed during the Street Stock main event. Gary Pashley (#20) would be awarded the victory in the Hobby Stock feature race. Bryan Johnson (#44) works past Dan Gosda (#21) on his way to winning the Bandit feature race. Mark Remsik (#84) was victorious this evening in the Backup Car contest.

It was evident in the afternoon practice sessions that other teams had been taking notes of Wendt's powerful line on the outside groove and several cars
practiced high on the track. Don Gaserude and Aaron Wilke used the strategy to get them to the front, Gaserude gaining seven positions, and Wilke running well before trouble struck.

The two lead cars made contact on lap ten handing the lead over to patiently waiting rookie driver Chuck Egli. Andy Wendt was already there, however, and took the lead for good on the 11th lap. Duane Deppe, the previous week's winner struggled in tenth. He and Wendt once again crossed the finish line side-by-side, Wendt for the win and Deppe to remain on the lead lap.

Rookie Grant Lindner took top honors in the Street Stock main event, but he worked hard to get there. Right at the beginning of the race there was a three-wide situation that resulted in a pileup in turn four, causing the remainder of the field to react quickly and avoid it. Not too long after that hot shoe Bret Schmidt lost his rear axle and the whole right rear wheel, which sailed across the track into the infield. Schmidt took a hit to the turn two wall, ending any hopes he had of victory. Lindner held the point on lap 14 and the crowd went wild at the waving of the checkered flag.

Much like the start of the Street Stock feature, Ryan Zielski waved goodbye to the lead he held for half of the Hobby Stock feature race when Lincoln Keeser and Larry Moen joined him for three-wide. Keeser tagged Zielski, Moen no longer needing to fight for the lead. Gary Pashley was hot on Moen's bumper, but Moen used the lapped car of Joe Fredrick as a pick to secure the win. Pashley's hard driving was worth the work though, as he was awarded the top spot when Moen failed post-race technical inspection for a weight infraction in a borrowed car.

The 4-cylinder Bandit feature was no less crazy than those of the other divisions. Bumping and banging in the front of the pack on the opening lap caused near disaster throughout the field, losing Ben Lewis and Spike Storkson in the process. At the restart, "Big Tiny" Dan Gosda ran away from the field while more three- and four-wide action continued behind him. All  was safe for Gosda until Bryan Johnson came from the 16th starting spot to challenge for the lead. Gosda had lapped traffic to use to his advantage, but once Johnson got around it all he took the lead and won the race.

Mark Remsik piloted his Chevrolet to the win in the Backup race over Rick Verdon and George Wachuta.

Friday August 6 will be a full racing program at the Columbus 151 Speedway plus a Series stop of the Formula Indy Racing Association which races scale size Indy look-alike cars. August 13 will mark the final round of the Pepsi Triple 60s Limited Late Model miniseries. August 15 will host the Wisconsin Challenge Series in a 100-lap special, and all support classes competing to gain valuable points towards the championship. Gates for Friday night shows open at 5:00, qualifying at 6:30, and racing at 8:00. Logon to www.racingonline.com/columbus151 for more information.

For complete results from the RACESTAT computer click here

RESULTS

Late Model
Qualifying: Tony Schuchardt, Oregon 13.728 secs.
Heats: Mike Taylor, Stoughton; Alan Schade, Sun Prairie
Feature: (1-5) Andy Wendt, Watertown; Nick Wendt, Watertown; Don Gaserude, Fort Atkinson; Dean Schultz, Juneau; Brent Knight, Watertown (6-10) Rob Retallick, Deerfield; Schuchardt; John Wasserburger, Poynette; Chuck Egli, Waterloo; Duane Deppe, Waterloo (11-18) Taylor; Ty James, Oconomowoc; Kevin Anderson, Cottage Grove; Ken  Scott, Rio; Aaron Wilke, Waterloo; Don Mattrisch, Fort Atkinson; Schade;  Chris Schliewe, Columbus

Street Stock
Qualifying: Bret Schmidt, Watertown 14.206 secs.
Heats: Rikki Bishofberger, Fort Atkinson; Craig Henning, Helenville
Feature: Grant Lindner, Poynette; Henning; Kevin Anderson, Cottage Grove; Luke Padfield, Jefferson; Don Trush, Sun Prairie

Hobby Stock
Qualifying: Tylor Schultz, Rio 15.542 secs.
Heats: Mike Kearney, Rio; David Schwark, Sun Prairie
Feature: Gary Pashley, York Center; Schultz; Kearney; Dennis Schmidt, Johnson Creek; Schwark

4-Cylinder Bandit
Qualifying: Dan Birkett, Lodi 16.161 secs.
Heats: Allen Petrie, Jr., Sun Prairie; Birkett
Feature: Bryan Johnson, Stoughton; Dan Gosda, Sun Prairie; Petrie, Jr.; Birkett; Travis Schneeberg, Sun Prairie

Backup
Feature: Mark Remsik, Deerfield; Rick Verdon, Fitchburg; George Wachuta, Brooklyn; Dave Moore, McFarland; Wayne Hook, Oregon