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Patrick Leads Green
to Checkered at Columbus 151
by Jim Remsik |
August 3, 2007; Columbus, WI. -
Scott Patrick of Sullivan held off sixteen competitors for 35 laps
to claim top honors at Columbus 151 Speedway.
Patrick was joined on the front row by Mike Taylor but
established his lead by the end of lap one. Taylor was
freight-trained in the lower groove and running mid-pack by lap
five. After inheriting second Steve Schlosser found Bobbi
Bishofberger knocking at his back door. Bishofberger would take the
second position on the inside with Schlosser slipping to fourth
behind Jeff Falbe. Schlosser's rear view mirror did not stay empty
for long and contact with Rocky Breezer a few laps later sent him
spinning to the infield. On the restart Steve Dobbratz and Don
Gaserude both took advantage of the competition cone to break in to
the top five by moving to the outside groove. Dobbratz Bishofberger.
At the end of 35 laps Patrick was followed across the line by
Bishofberger, Dobbratz, Falbe, and fast qualifier Don Gaserude who
turned a 13.532 second lap.
Shaun Scheel of Lake Mills and Delbert Desjarlais of Columbus each
won one of the the respective heat races.
Cambria's Dale Weatherwax was delivered a gift when the leaders
of the 30 lap Street Stock feature tangled and brought out the
caution. Derek Childs and Mike Amador brought the field to speed on
lap one only to be slowed on lap two by a spinning Kyle Grotenhuis.
On the restart Amador began working the outside of Childs this move
paid dividends on lap nine when Amador cleared Childs and started to
break away from the field. The path cleared Weatherwax and Dan Gosda
both used the outside groove to get past Childs. Caution fell on lap
22 as contact between Gosda and Bret Schmidt sent Gosda around. As
the field came back up to speed Bud Riedner made a bid for the lead
on the outside. After several laps Riedner gained the advantage but
the two then made contact in turn two. With three laps to go new
leader Dale Weatherwax was not challenged for the lead. Following
him across the line were Zeke Bishofberger, Tony Showers, Points
leader Tim Syvrud and Don Trush.
Amador had earned a victory in his earlier heat race, as had Tim
Syvrud. Bret Schmidt was fastest in qualifying with a lap of 14.028
seconds.
The International class made a visit to make seven divisions of
competition on the night. Watertown's Scotty Hoeft held off all
challengers in the 20 lap main event to take home a victory as well
as heat race honors. Hoeft and Mike Winters sat on the front row for
this event. Winters fell in line in second place and found himself
broadside on lap three after cutting down on Joe Cross. Both cars
recovered and no caution was thrown. Cross made his way to the
outside and challenged Hoeft for the lead. Kyle Riedner found third
place on lap 9. By lap 13 he made his way to the outer groove to
challenge Winters for the second position before getting loose and
sliding all the way back to fourth behind fast qualifier Casey
Strese (15.471). He would regain his form and find himself battling
Hoeft for the lead as the checkers fell. At the line Hoeft beat
Riedner, Winters, Ashley Smith and Rodney Mundt. After the second
International class visit to Columbus 151 Speedway this year Mike
Winters holds the points lead over Hoeft, Cross, and Riedner.
Orfordville's Jim Robinson dominated the 20 lap hobby stock feature
en route to his first win of the season. Robinson and Dustin Ward
made up row one on the start. At the drop of the green, Robinson and
Dustin Ward were on different tracks. Gary Pashley followed into
second with Andy Raley in third while Ward dropped back into the
pack. Robinson increased his lead over the field during the caution
free event as he was never challenged for the win. Following
Robinson across the line were Pashley, Raley and Jim Tate. Robinson
also claimed the heat race win while Jim Tate set fast time with a
lap of 15.072.
First time visitor in the Bandit division, Shaun Gunsolus, shared
the front row heat race winner Kimberly Falk for the 18 lap feature
event. As the green fell Gunsolus and Ben Reuter tangle triggering a
complete restart. The second time would stick as Falk jumped out to
a huge lead and Kevin Kulka following her. By lap five Gary Stark
was already on the move and into the fourth position. Lapped traffic
would prove to be Falk's downfall as she was trapped on the outside
and fell to mid-pack. Tim Bisbee was the benefactor with Stark in
tow and Wasserburger coming on hard. The caution flag came out with
three laps to go as Stephen Scheel and Kyle Watters tangled and made
contact with the front straight wall. Wasserburger would jump to the
outside of Stark on the restart a move that would pay dividends as
the white flag fell. Stark made contact with Bisbee getting both
cars out of shape and sending Wasserburger to victory. As the race
ended Wasserburger lead Bisbee, Stark, Carolyn Voigt and Kulka
across the line. Stark joined Falk in winning earlier heat races and
fast time was set by Wasserburger at 15.699.
In wild and crazy back up action, Deerfield's Bruce Havel claimed
victory in the 8 lap feature event. Dave Moore took the initial lead
while Oetzel charged into second. Oetzel would fall out mid-race
with a flat tire. The leaders encountered lapped traffic on lap six
which allowed Havel to claim the lead with George Wachuta following
into second. At the line, it was Havel in first followed by Wachuta
and Moore.
For complete results from the RACESTAT computer click here
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Dale Weatherwax wins the Street Stock Feature.
