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Summer Rumble Roars
Into Columbus 151 Speedway!
By Jim Remsik |
June 17, 2005; Columbus, WI. - With a large contingent
of visiting cars the Summer Rumble got under way Friday Night at Columbus 151 Speedway.
121 competitors were on hand for the first round of the two-night two-track series.
Dean Schultz of Juneau grabbed the early lead from outside row one of the Late
Model feature and couldn’t be beat. An early caution for a spinning Jason Thoma out
of Jefferson brought the field into single file formation with Ron Bishofberger and
pole-sitter Bill Retallick chasing Schultz. Schultz and Bishofberger would pull away on
the restart leaving the rest of the field to challenge last week’s feature winner
Retallick. By lap ten Aaron Wilke would sneak past and visiting Jason Erickson would
follow. Meanwhile the battle for ninth place left Tim Noble’s vehicle a little
shorter after contact with Andy Wendt on consecutive laps. By lap twenty-seven Schultz
found thick lapped traffic but was able to successfully navigate it to pick up his second
feature of the season. Following him across the line were Bishofberger, Wilke, Erickson,
and Retallick.
Tony Koepke of Fort Atkinson won the Late Model Semi Feature and transferred to the
main event along with Tyler James of Oconomowoc. Poynette’s John Wasserburger, Jerry
Eckhardt of Johnson Creek and Kurt Clapper of Dane each secured heat race victories. Steve
Dobratz of Rio set fast time of the evening at 13.260.
Terry Wangsness of Delevan, just one of many drivers pulling double duty by driving in
multiple divisions, scored a victory in the twenty-five lap Street Stock feature. The
inside groove of Wangsness and Dustin Ward got a jump on Jim Rohrbeck of Portage. Don
Trush charged hard on the outside from his fifth row outside starting position to fifth as
the inside row accordion-ed. A few laps later Trush would get some company as current
point leader Kevin Anderson would make his way to the outside. By lap twenty Trush would
make his way to apply pressure on Wangsness and would clear him a lap later. On lap
twenty-two contact with Anderson sent Trush around on the back straight. Anderson would be
sent to the rear for his participation and Trush was black-flagged for extra-curricular
activities under caution. On the lap twenty-two restart Waunakee’s Chico Riedner
would apply heavy pressure for three straight laps but Wangsness would hold on for the
win. At the line it was Wangsness and Riedner ahead of Ward, Dale Weatherwax of Columbus
and Dan Schmidt of Watertown.
Picking up heat race wins were John Remsik of Watertown and Chico Riedner. Jason Thoma
set fast time in the Street Stock division at 13.903. Thoma was also piloting a Late
Model.
In Hobby Stock feature action Mike Storkson and Brian Hebl of Mount Horeb would bring
the field up to speed. Storkson would get separation from the field as quickly as lap four
only to see it go away with a lap seven caution for fluid on the track. On the restart
Tylor Schultz of Columbus and Lincoln Keeser and Hebl would pursue Storkson. Caution would
fly again on lap thirteen as Waterloo’s Al Dorn spun in turns three and four. With
the front three again gaining separation the race was for fourth between Hebl, Jim
Williams and Brett Carson. Carson went to the outside on lap fifteen and would clear
Williams. As the reached the checkered flag it was Storkson, Schultz, Keeser, Hebl, and
Carson.
Dan Gosda was awarded the semi-feature as Mike Amador was disqualified for jumping the
restart. Al Dorn and Larry Moen won there respective heat races. Jim Tate Jr. of Watertown
who turned a lap of 15.140 set fast time.
A pair of Fords in Rodney Mundt and Marc Balis brought the Bandit feature to the line.
Mundt would gain the early advantage but Balis would relieve him of that burden on lap
two. Shaun Scheel would work inside of Allen Petrie Jr. for the fourth spot. By lap eight
Scheel would move to the outside and begin wearing down Tom Schuette. Schuette would hold
on to fourth until lap eleven when the top four in time appeared in his rearview mirror.
The pack of Chris Hart, Brian Paulson, Bryan Johnson, and Nick Nolden would all race as
far as third place. On lap fifteen Scheel would catch Marc Balis and begin a battle for
first that wouldn’t be decided until the checkered flag fell. As the flashbulb popped
for the photo finish Balis was beat to the line by Scheel, followed by Hart, Paulson and
Johnson.
Charlie Spry of Orfordville scored the semi-feature victory and transferred to the
feature alongside Sean Watters. Cody Strese of Watertown won the consolation race. Kevin
Weaver of De Forest and Chris Hart, Casey Strese recorded heat race wins. Bryan Johnson
paced the field with a time of 16.103.
Dave Moore of McFarland scored a victory in the Wild & Crazy Back-Up Division
feature. A rare caution fell for Moore and Ryan Oetzel. On the restart Moore resumed his
lead. At the line it was Moore followed by Rick Verdon of Fitchburg, rookie Ryan Oetzel,
George Wachuta, and returning veteran Jug Hur of Madison.
On Tap:
Fri June 24 BROTHERS of the THIRD WHEEL; TRAIN RACES (2 CAR); WWF night Give away
Fri July 1 Mountain Dew Code Red Cherry Bomb 50; Q106
NIGHT with Live Broadcast & Blindfold Races; 50 lap Late Model Feature; 30 lap Street
Stock Feature; 25 lap Hobby Stock Feature; Dew stuff give away
For complete results from the RACESTAT computer click here
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