July 6, 2007; Columbus, WI. - Beaver Dam's Jeff Falbe survived a caution filled event to win the 50 lap late model feature at Columbus 151 Speedway. Falbe shared the front row with John Acker as the green flag waved over the field of 19 competitors. The two battled side by side until lap two when Falbe grabbed the lead exiting turn four. Falbe immediately opened up a sizable advantage while Acker and Mike Taylor raced for second. Falbe had his large lead evaporate with the arrival of the first caution on lap nine.

Photo Highlights

After a 5 year absence from the winner's circle after a feature race, Jeff Falbe has made it to Victory Lane to win the Cherry Bomb 50 Late Model Feature. #34 Dean Schultz makes a last ditch effort to capture the lead from #95 Jeff falbe during the Cherry Bomb 50 Late Model Feature. The Late Models get crossed up during their feature race. Chad Smith came to visit Wisconsin and took home a Street Stock Feature win. #12 Scott Lawver does his best to take the lead from #82 Chad Smith during the Street Stock Feature. Jim Tate grabs his first Hobby Stock Feature win this season. #27 Jim Tate makes a dash for the lead behind #21 Ben Monday at the start of the Hobby Stock Feature. Stephen Scheel wins the Bandit Feature. #66 Matt Reuter tries to take back the lead he lost but  #4 Stephen Scheel is just too fast for him as he slips by. Rick Verdon picked up his first Back-Up Feature win this season.

After enduring two more cautions in the next three laps, Falbe maintained his lead with Taylor in second and Scott Patrick in third. On lap 20, Dean Schultz began to look to advance his fourth place position as he peeked to the high side of Patrick for third.Schultz charged by Patrick and alongside Taylor, making a pass for second on lap 22. Meanwhile, Falbe was opening up another large lead and was half a track ahead of Schultz in second. Schultz spent the next 19 laps running down the leader until the fourth caution flew for a wreck in front of Falbe. Falbe sustained slight damage to his front end, but was able to continue as the leader. Upon the restart, Schultz looked to inside of the Falbe as the two made contact several times. Falbe retained the lead as Schultz decided to try the outside lane. The final caution flew with one lap left in the contest. The result was a green/white/checkered finish. Falbe was able to maintain his lead across the line for the win followed by Schultz, Patrick, John Wasserburger and Al Weishoff. Don Gaserude set the pace in qualifying with a lap of 13.606 seconds. Winners in heat race action included Weishoff and Falbe.

The 35 lap street stock feature saw newcomer Chad Smith of Mechesney Park, IL claim the victory. Smith and Tony Showers paced the pack to the start as Smith took the lead on the first lap. Showers pulled back even with Smith on the outside as they fought for the lead. Smith finally took control on lap five as Showers lost grip on the high side and began to fall back allowing Dan Gosda and Ed Jackson to slide by for second and third respectively. The leaders ran nose to tail until lap 13 when Jackson went to the outside of Gosda for second. Jackson made the pass on Gosda and began to look to the outside of Smith. The only caution of the race flew on lap 25. On the restart, Scott Lawver used the competition cone to pull to the outside of the leader, Smith. Lawver spent the final ten laps trying to drive by Smith on the high side. But Smith proved to be too strong as the saw the checkers first followed by Lawver, Jackson, Zeke Bishofberger and Gosda. Bret Schmidt held fast time with a 14.130 second tour of the quarter mile while heat winners included Showers and Jackson.

Jim Tate of Watertown took control early of the 25 lap hobby stock feature and drove away to the win in the caution free event. Tony Chase and Alan Dorn made up the front row as they battled side by side for the opening three laps. On lap four, Tate looked to the inside of Chase down the backstretch as they went three wide into turn three. Tate was the victor of the battle as he sped out front of the pack as the leader. Chase began to slide backwards as Dorn grabbed second
with Dustin Ward behind for third. A lap later, Dorn got caught on the outside lane as Ward charged by for second followed by Gary Pashley and Kyle Stark. Tate used the side by side racing to his advantage as he opened up a healthy lead. Tate was never challenged for the lead as he crossed under the checkers in first followed by Ward, Stark, Pashley and Alex Papini. Stark also set quick time on the evening with a lap of 15.138 seconds while the heat win went to Papini.

Stephen Scheel of Lake Mills survived a wild start to the 20 lap bandit feature to take home the trophy. Tiffany Desjarles and Matt Reuter sat on the front row as they started the clockwise running feature. Reuter immediately took the lead while a huge jumble gathered behind him in the first turn. Scheel escaped the pack and began to shadow the top five. The next four laps saw Scheel charge from sixth to second and begin to run down the leader, Reuter. With eight laps to go, Scheel caught Reuter and made the pass in turn four. Kyle Watters and Gary Stark maneuvered through the field together, moving into second and third on lap 19. At the finish, it was Scheel way out front followed by Watters, Stark, Reuter and Jess Watters. Jake Wasserburger took honors in qualifying with a lap of 15.812. Heat winners were Stark and Wasserburger.

In wild and crazy back up action, Fitchburg's Rick Verdon claimed his first win of the season in the 8 lap feature event. Verdon took control of the lead on the first lap and started to pull away. Behind him, George Wachuta and Bruce Havel battled for second and third. On lap 5, Wachuta and Havel made contact and both drivers spun to the infield. This opened up Verdon's lead even further and he drove away for the win. Following him across the line were Jim Remsik and Dave
Moore.

Next Friday, July 13, is a full program of racing in all divisions. Included in the evening's festivities will be stock car rides for the kids. Also, the first 100 kids through the gates will receive their own checkered flag. Time trials begin at 6:30 with racing at 8 pm. Check out www.racingonline.com/columbus151 for more details.

For complete results from the RACESTAT computer click here