One hundred twenty six cars signed in for racing action tonight as the pits were jammed with full fields of cars in all six divisions. After a series of smoothly run qualifying heats, the feature races were yellow flag prone with only the Late Models going nonstop for their main event. The multiple slow downs kept the fields bunched and made for some exciting racing action with a high attrition rate tonight also.

The Midwest Modifieds were first out for their main event and among the incidents during this race was the most violent crash of the early season that saw Jared Loos take a series of wild flips in front on most of the pack.

Teammates Salzman Jr. and Jim Poyda started on the front row with Salzman Jr. taking the early lead. Rod Ryba and Mark Hanson were challenging while Loos, Kevin Adams and Shane Hakopka were among the contenders charging through the heavy traffic. A series of spins saw the yellow wave four times in the first six laps of the race. Each time Salzman Jr. would retake the lead and fight off all challenges. Mickey Nosser was making a huge charge from the tail of the pack to join the group trying to unseat Salzman Jr. from the top spot.

Following yellow flag number five, the pack restarted the race in tight, double file formation. As they stormed into turn one Loos got turned sideways and the car dug into the track and started a series of violent, high barrel rolls. The car ended up on its roof and fuel was pouring out in a torrent. It was a hushed crowd as rescue workers raced to the scene. After several nervous moments, Loos was assisted from the car to thunderous applause. While appearing to be unhurt, he was transported to a local hospital for a precautionary checkup. Adams suffered front end damage in the melee and the field was rapidly being diminished.

Salzman Jr. again took the lead with Halopka now being his primary challenger. Shane pushed as hard as possible but Salzman Jr. was strong and maintained his advantage as he drove to the win. Nosser came from twentieth to finish third with Dan Svee and Hanson rounding out the top five with only nine of twenty two starters still on the track.

The Super Stock feature had its share of yellow flags also but it also saw five different leaders during the course of the twenty lap main. Mark Stender and Cory Mahder started on the front row with Stender taking the early lead. Mark was riding the high side and when he got too high in turn four, John Feirn roared up from the second row to edge past Stender and Mahder for the lead. Mahder then turned up the wick and drove into the lead.

Three yellows in the first six laps kept the field bunched and allowed Steve Thomas and Curt Myers to gradually work their way to the front after starting in the fifth row.

Thomas was able to drive into the third spot and after Eric Olson dropped out with mechanical troubles , he took a shot at the leader. Driving around Mahder , he took over the lead only to immediately have Myers work under him and challenge for the top spot. Myers had the bottom working and he edged away from Thomas. Mahder tried to catch both cars but he wasn’t able to find a way back around Thomas. The top three ended in that order with Scott Duval driving from deep in the pack to finish fourth ahead of Rich Biship.

Craig Thatcher controlled the Modified field again tonight as he drove up from the fifth row to win going away. Kevin Adams took the early lead as he moved away from Shaun Kreyer. It didn’t take Thatcher long to cur through the field as he quickly moved to third by the first yellow flag. On the double file restart, he pulled up beside Adams and they raced side by side for a couple laps before Thatcher was finally able to edge away from Adams. Once he gained the point and could resume his line, he stretched out his advantage while Darrell Nelson worked his way into third and tried to close up on Adams.

A late yellow bunched the field but Thatcher pulled away again as Adams tried the low line but he didn’t help him catch Thatcher. He did hold off Nelson for second with Luke Schilling and Todd Siddons next in line.

The Late Model feature went nonstop and no one had anything for Adam Hensel tonight. The second year Late Model pilot continued his current hot streak as he won his second feature of the weekend and fourth of the year. He started on the outside pole and quickly put distance on Chris Oertel as Rick Hanestad and Darrell Nelson tried to get into the fight. Hensel moved out on the field while Hanestad tried to challenge Oertel for second. He nearly made the move stick but Oertel was able to fight him off and then Chad Mahder was there to pressure Hanestad for third.

Hensel expertly picked his way through the lapped traffic and was nearly a straightaway in front at the finish. Oertel finished a strong second with Hanestad holding off Mahder and a fast closing A.J. Diemel.

Troy Fransway is on a hot streak himself as the Eau Claire pilot won his second Street Stock feature of the weekend. The Street feature saw a huge bunch of cars running in a pack with much jockeying of position. Darrel Hazelton started up front and was doing a great job of holding his position with pressure being applied to him constantly. Mike Conrad, Cory Rosen, Jimmy Randall, Wayne Dean, Jay Kesan and Roger Walker were all part of a group challenging him.

Finally Fransway was able to get under Hazelton and take over the lead. Dean had slumped back briefly but he regained himself and drove past Rosen into second while Randall tried to run the cushion and drive by all of the challengers. It nearly worked but then Randall had to scramble to hold his position.

Meanwhile, Fransway just motored along and held off all the others to take the win. Dean and Rosen followed with Hazelton driving a fine race for fourth ahead of Randall.

The Pure Stocks also couldn’t get through the night without their share of yellows but the race for the lead was nevertheless intense. Mike Harshman did a great job taking the early lead and holding off a series of challenges. Several drivers took runs at him but each time he managed to hold them off.

Jordan Johnson, Ralph Schultz, Austin Schultz and Danny Richards all took shots at Harshman but each time he still crossed the line in front.

Justin Lindner had started eleventh and eventually he worked his way into a challenging spot. Near the end of the contest he was able to squeeze under Harshman in turn three and take over the lead. Once in front, he stretched his advantage to become a back to back winner in the division. Austin Schultz also got past Harshman in the late going for second with Richards and Josh Rud rounding out the top five.

Racing action continues next Sunday night at 6 p.m. when the first green flag waves for the Mothers Day special. Cesspool Cleaners and Classic Rock 92.9 FM will be the sponsors for the six class action.


SUMMARY

Eagle Valley Speedway - Jim Falls WI - May 7, 2006

WISSOTA Late Models

20 lap Feature – Adam Hensel, Chris Oertel, Rick Hanestad, Chad Mahder, A.J. Diemel, Darrell Nelson, Duane Mahder, Jake Redetzke, Tom Nesbitt, Curt Myers.

10 lap Heat 1 – Diemel, D. Mahder, C. Mahder, Redetzke.
Heat 2 – Tim Buhler, Mike Goodremote, Hanestad, Oertel.

WISSOTA Modifieds

20 lap Feature – Craig Thatcher, Kevin Adams, Darrell Nelson, Luke Schilling, Todd Siddons, Shaun Kreyer, Paul Knauf, Kent Baxter, Tyler Keyser, Kevin Rogers.

10 lap Heat 1 – Schilling, Kreyer, Knauf, Dan Wolf.
Heat 2 – Thatcher, Adams, Paul Harelstad, Nelson.

WISSOTA Super Stocks

20 lap Feature – Curt Myers, Steve Thomas, Cory Mahder, Scott Duval, Rich Bishop, Jesse Redetzke, Chad Zastrow, John Feirn, Mike Keller, Rod Dregney.

10 lap Heat 1 – Myers, Mahder, Bob Brenner, Bryan Nayes.
Heat 2 – Keller, Mark Stender, Zastrow, Eric Olson.

WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds

12 lap Feature – Dave Salzman Jr, Shane Halopka, Mickey Nosser, Dan Svee, Mark Hanson, Brad Hudson, Jim Poyda, Chais Eliason, Dave Teatz, Kevin Adams.

10 lap Heat 1 – Adams, Hanson, Poyda, Brandon Bowe.
Heat 2 – Halopka, Bryce Johnson, Matt Steffen, Teatz.
Heat 3 – Jared Loos, Matt Leer, Salzman Jr, Rod Ryba.

WISSOTA Street Stocks

15 lap Feature – Troy Fransway, Wayne Dean, Cory Rosen, Darrel Hazelton, Jimmy Randall, Jay Kesan, Steve Golat, Roger Walker, Gary Kasperek, Mike Conrad.

10 lap Heat 1 – Cory Crapser, Dean, Randall, Golat.
Heat 2 – Kesan, Walker, Zach Kauth, Travis Hazelton.
Heat 3 – Rosen, Conrad, Fransway, D. Hazelton.

Pure Stocks

12 lap Feature – Justin Lindner, Austin Schultz, Mike Harshman, Danny Richards, Josh Rud, Tommy Richards, Mike Knudtson, Jason Lang, Jordan Lindner, Wade Aspen.

6 lap Heat 1 – A. Schultz, Ralph Schultz, Carolyn Nosser, D. Richards.
Heat 2 – Aspen, Jordan Johnson, Harshman, Greg Gunderson.
Heat 3 – Ju. Lindner, Nick Brenner, T. Richards, Rud.