April 17, 1999; Marshfield, WI: -  Six divisions of race cars were on hand for a full grandstand on this chilly season opening event.  If the temperature kept you inside you missed some great racing.  The air may have been cold but the racing action was hot.  Mark Eswein of Wisconsin Rapids set fast time in the CWRA Late Model division.  The CWSSA Super Stocks started out the year fresh by breaking the track record twice.  Judd Brandl of Rudolph beat his old track record but Cale Laessig of Marshfield challenged the new track record and set his own mark of 20.468 seconds.

Gary Back was the first driver to cross the finish line after 40 laps of racing in the CWRA Late Model feature.  Back outran Mark Eswein to take the season opening feature event at Marshfield Speedway.

The Mini Stocks and Pro 4's were also on the slate for racing action.  Charles Dixon of Waukesha set fast time for the Mini-Stocks and Eric Derks set fast time for the Pro 4's.

Rocky Breezer of Poynette and Monte Gress of Neillsville battles for the lead for the first few laps of the 40 lap CWRA Late Model feature.  Gary Back of Vesper passed Gress for second on lap four and Breezer now had a new challenger.

Breezer and Back vied back and forth for the lead the next 26 laps.  Each driver challenged the other on the inside and outside grooves.  As the leaders battled, Gress, Mike Budleski, Joe Krzykowski and Pete Kempf raced hard for a top five position. 

As the race continued, Rory Melbinger of Marshfield and Troy Nelson were both in the top five by lap 18.  Melbinger and Nelson both passed Krzykowski on lap 24, placing Krzykowski fifth.

With Back now in the lead, the race was for second behind him as Breezer and Melbinger battled.  The pair raced for the second spot from lap 30 until lap 34 when a spin placed both of them at the back of the pack.

When the green returned Back lead lap 35, but fast timer Mark Eswein took the lead on lap 36.  Back then reigned his front-running position on lap 37 and held on for the win.  Eswein took second, Krzykowski third, Breezer and Melbinger made their return to fourth and fifth respectively.

Jason Kirsling came from near the tail of the pack to capture the first CWSSA Super Stock feature race of the 1999 season on Marshfield Speedway's big half-mile paved oval.

John Bell of Marshfield led one lap of the CWSSA Super Stock feature.  Lap two saw Shawn Stelzer of Wisconsin Rapids take the lead.  By lap ten, Jason Kirsling of Nelsonville had made his way through the field to take the lead.   Merle Weinfurter was also making his way through the field and took second.   The top three drivers on lap 11 were Kirsling, Weinfurter and Stelzer.

Fast timer Cale Laessig made his way through the pack from his starting position of twelfth to claim fourth followed by Scott Hamel in fifth.  Jason Szymkowiak of Stevens Point, who had also started in the back of the field, took the fifth place spot away from Hamel on lap 23.  When the checkered fell Kirsling won, Weinfurter was second, Stelzer third, Laessig fourth and Szymkowiak fifth.

The top five finishers of the Pro 4's were Brian Besaw, Dave Eggert, Eric Derks, Kevin Eggert and Ryan Kamba.

A couple of four-cylinder divisions were part of the season opening show at Marshfield Speedway.  In the left photo, the Pro 4's make their first ever appearance at the track and Brian Besaw (#18) came home the winner, in the Mini-Stock class Paul Berg (#4x) took home a checkered flag after the feature race.

The top four finishers in the Mini Stocks were Paul Berg, Charles Dixon, John Froelich and Matt Frey.

The top four finishers in the newly formed 1-man Cruiser division were Doug Becker, Darrell  Paschel, Pat Wolf and Chad Simone.

Doug Becker won the first ever 1-man Cruiser division feature event at Marshfield Speedway.  This entry level class replaces the former Pure Stock class at the raceway.  Look for more of these affordable racing machines to take to the track shortly.

Winners of the two man Cruiser division were Rodney Feltz and Terry Hanson, second place was taken by Glen Bargender and Randy Bargender and third was the team of Jason Blenker and John Kampert.

The "Zebra Car" driven by the team of Rodney Feltz and Terry Hanson came home the winners in the popular "2-man Cruiser" class.

Next Saturday's events are sponsored by American Asphalt.   Time trials are at 5:00 p.m. and racing begins at 6:30 p.m.  Divisions racing next week are CWRA Carquest Late Models, CWSSA Carquest Super Stocks, 1-Man Cruisers, Great North Legends and 2-Man Cruisers.

For addition information on Marshfield Speedway please call (715) 387-2717 or (715) 384-8325.  Marshfield Speedway is located three miles west of Marshfield Wisconsin on County Highway H.

Come out and see the action!!

Race Results

Super Late Model Division

First Heat: 1.) G. Back; 2.) Breezer; 3.) Gress
Second Heat: 1.) Kryzkowski; 2.) Melbinger; 3.) B. Back
Dash: 1.) Weinfurter; 2.) LaPointe; 3.) Melbinger

CWSSA Super Stock Division

First Heat: 1.) Stelzer; 2.) Bell; 3.) Lyons
Second Heat: 1.) Kirsling; 2.) Weinfurter; 3.) Laessig
Dash: 1.) Kirsling; 2.) Weinfurter; 3.) Laessig

1-Man Cruiser

Feature: 1.) Doug Becker; 2.) Darrel Paschel; 3.) Pat Wolf; 4.) Chad Simone
Heat: 1.) Becker; 2.) paschel; 3.) Wolf; 4.) Simone

2- Man Cruiser

Feature: 1.) Rodney Feltz / Terry Hanson; 2.) Glen Bargender / Randy Bargender

Pro Fours

Feature: 1.) Brian Besaw; 2.) Dave Eggert; 3.) Eric Derks; 4.) Kevin Eggert; 5.) Ryan Kamba.

Mini-Stocks

Feature: 1.) Paul Berg; 2.) Charles Dixon; 3.) John Froelich; 4.) Matt Frey