April 29, 2007; Columbus, WI. - The 2007 racing season got underway at Columbus 151 Speedway under
sunny skies last Sunday afternoon. Steve Dobratz of Rio cruised to victory in the 35 lap late model main event. Bobbi Bishofberger and Shaun Scheel led the 21 car field to the drop of the green flag. Bishofberger grabbed the early lead out of turn two and the inside line followed her past Scheel.

Photo Highlights

Steve Dobbratz captured the season opening feature event of the season in the Late Model division at Columbus 151 Speedway. Bobbi Bishofberger (#01) set the pace in the Late Model main event during the early goin.  She would hold the lead until passed by eventual winner Steve Dobbratz (#52). Scott Lawver made the trek from Illinois, and would capture the Street Stock feature contest. Scott Lawver (#12) reaches the checkered flag first by a matter of inches over Kevin Anderson in the Street Stock feature. Andy Raley (#14) won the season opening Hobby Stock main event. Andy Raley (#14) would give the competition this view of his bumper for  the entire distance in the Hobby Stock feature. Sean Watters (#77) would capture the Bandit feature in a race that had a wild finish. Defending Backup Car champion Ryan Oetzel (#87) won the first main event of the 2007 season at Columbus 151 Speedway. Ryan Oetzel (#87) stays out front of George Wachuta (#39) in the backup car main event.

Rob Retallick lined up behind Bishofberger, followed by her father, Ron Bishofberger, in third. The first of two cautions in the event flew on lap three. Dobratz used the competition cone on the restart to move past Retallick into second just as the second caution slowed the field on lap five. Dobratz was able to fight off the challenges of defending champion Dean Schultz on the second restart and immediately went to work on the leader. On lap eight, Dobratz got to the inside of Bishofberger and took over the top spot. Upon taking the point, Dobratz began pulling away from the
pack. Lapped traffic would allow Retallick to close the gap between himself and Dobratz, but Dobratz proved too strong as he crossed the line first followed by Retallick, Ron Bishofberger, Don Gaserude and Dean Schultz rounding out the top five. Quick time was held by Dobratz with a fast lap of 13.412. Heat winners included Steve Schlosser and John Acker.

In street stock action, Scott Lawver of Roscoe, IL took top honors in the 25 lap feature event. Lawver made up one half of the front row on the start along with Johnny Robinson, Jr. The two raced side by side until the second lap when Lawver gained the advantage. Dale Weatherwax moved into second behind the leader, followed by Robinson in third. Weatherwax began a race long effort to find a way around Lawver. The next 15 laps saw Weatherwax try the outside groove more than once as well as look for an opening under the leader, all to no avail. Lap 17 saw the only caution fly over the field. Defending champion Kevin Anderson used the restart to charge alongside the leader, Lawver. The two battled over the final laps with Lawver holding the slight advantage at the checkers. Anderson owned second followed by Weatherwax, Robinson and Mike Amador. Fast qualifier was Don Trush with a 14.156 second tour of the quarter mile. Tony Showers and Robinson were heat winners.

Fall River's Andy Raley dominated every lap of the 20 lap hobby stock feature en route to victory. Raley started on the pole and took the lead on the lap one from Mike Storkson as the inside line followed him through. The pack was slowed only once for a caution on lap six. Larry Moen mounted a charge to the front on the restart, but got caught on the high side and slid back a couple spots. Kyle Stark used the opening to begin his trek to the front. Stark battled stiff competition from Gary Pashley and Dustin Ward, all while Raley held the point. Raley took the win while never being seriously challenged. Stark earned the second spot followed by Pashley, Jim Tate and Ward rounding out the top five. Heat winners were Raley and Mike Myers while the fast time in qualifying was held by Ward with a lap of 15.415.

A crazy finish in the bandit main event saw Sean Watters of Sun Prairie take the win. Steve Privett and Rory Padfield paced the pack of 18 machines to the start. The two battled for the lead with Padfield gaining the position on lap three. Watters followed into second with Stephen Scheel in third. Meanwhile, fast qualifier, Jake Wasserburger was charging his way to the front. Passing competitors on the outside, sometimes going three wide, Wasserburger moved into third by lap 11. Lapped traffic began to come into play and slow the leaders which allowed Wasserburger to move alongside the leader, Padfield. The two drivers waged a fierce battle for the top spot, making heavy contact several times. As the two battled down the backstretch on the final lap, they made contact again and Wasserburger spun into turn three. Due to the involvement of both drivers toward the caution, the win was awarded to Sean Watters. The rest of the top five consisted of Scheel, Gary Stark, Tyler Kelley and Kyle Watters.

Wasserburger fast lap in qualifying was 15.809 seconds. Heat winners included Phil Denikas, Kyle Watters and Carlyn Voigt. Tiffany Desjarles claimed the win in the last chance race.

Rounding out the afternoon's activities was the 10 lap backup feature. Defending champion, Ryan Oetzel used his front row starting spot to lead all 10 laps en route to winning the event. Oetzel was not without a challenge though as George Wachuta pressured him on each lap. But Oetzel proved to be too strong as he crossed the line in first followed by Wachuta in second and Bruce Havel in third.

Next week, Columbus 151 Speedway will once again host Sunday afternoon racing action before moving to the regular Friday night schedule the following week. There will be a full program of racing in all divisions. Time trials start at 12:30 with racing beginning at 2 pm.

For complete results from the RACESTAT computer click here