April 29, 2000; Marshfield, WI: -  Tonight's season opener had a record attendance of over 7,000 people, with over 1,000 people turned away and given free tickets to attend an event in May.  The action packed racing hosted the CARQUEST Super Late Models, CARQUEST Super Stocks, 1-Man Cruisers, CARQUEST 2-Man Cruisers and Motorcycles.  A new track record was set by Mark Eswein of Wisconsin Rapids in his Super Late Model, 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix with a BCR engine. He turned in a lap of 17.930 Seconds on the half-mile paved oval to establish the track record..   1999 Track Champion Rory Melbinger of Marshfield finished in the top spot in the Super Late Models. 

A full house!  Marshfield Super Speedway opens their season by hosting a FREE racing show for the fans.  This year 7,000 people were on hand for the opening event!

Polesitter Mark Mackesy led the first laps of the Super Late Model feature, with Jesse Hasse hot on his tail.  A battle for third continued for several laps between Mike Brahmstedt, Wayne Breitenfeldt, and Don Trapp.  Meanwhile Rory Melbinger was working his his way from a tenth position start to the front.  By lap seven Melbinger took the third position and began working his way ahead of Haase.

Defending track champion Rory Melbinger (#88) was in fine form opening day as he wheeled to victory in the Super Late Model feature event.

Lap ten he edged his car ahead of Haase for second.   Melbinger then set his sights on Mackesy.  By lap 12 he caught Mackesy and took the lead.  Breitenfeldt continued to hold third, Jeremy Lepak moved into fourth.   On lap 15 Jeff Weinfurter took away fourth from Lepak, with track record holder Mark Eswein moving his way into the top spots.  Eswein grabbed fourth on lap 18 and third one circuit later, however on lap 23 Eswein lost third to Weinfurter, who make the pass and continued on into second.  At the checkered it was a three car battle for third with Eswein reclaiming his position.  Melbinger won, Weinfurter was second, Eswein third, Mackesy in a close fourth and Breitenfeldt not far away in fifth.

Mark Eswein (#71) had a good day at the track setting a new track record in the Super Late Model division.

In the Super Stocks Shawn Stelzer started off with the lead and Larry Schultz followed in second.  Johnny Bell passed Schultz for second on lap four but couldn't catch Stelzer.  Scott Hamel moved ahead into third on lap five, with Allan Sankey charging ahead.  Sankey ran in fourth for several laps. until he went by Bell on lap 11, and then by Hamel on lap 12.  Merle Weinfurter moved into third spot on lap 14.  On lap 16, Sankey took the lead away from Stelzer and went on to the victory.  Stelzer was second, Weinfurter third, Hamel fourth and Schultz fifth.

Whether you prefer your racing on two wheels or four you could find it at Marshfield Speedway on opening day.   Alan Sankey won the Super Stock main event, while fans thrilled to the two-wheeled action of the motorcycles.

Randy Bargender led the first five laps of the 1-Man Cruiser feature, while holding off Darrell Paschel, Ric Anderson, and Duwayne Davis.  On lap six Bargender could no longer fight off Anderson, who took the lead.  Last year's track champion, Doug Becker had worked his way through the field and was now running second.  Anderson who was running in the lead was not battling with Becker, and on the checkered flag lap Becker grabbed the lead for the win.  Anderson was second, Bargender third, Cory Reuth fourth and Don Tieman Jr., fifth.

The cycles returned with sparks flying around the corners and three wide racing down the straight-aways.  Granton's Scott Winkler won the heat race after sliding down in practice.  8 steel toed warriors came to the line for the final event.  Spencer's Woody Eckes led the first lap but was quickly passed by Winkler and T.J. Zeidler.  Next Steve Kasten and Cliff Eckes came by, but Kasten fell in the third turn, bringing out a red flag restart.  Despite a hand injury, Kasten came back out for the restart, bringing up the rear.  Winkler led the restart, but was hounded by Marshfield's Cliff Eckes who took the lead on lap 6.  But Shawano's Lee Johnson would not be denied as he swept past Eckes on the backstretch of the last lap to claim the victory.  The injured Kasten claimed third place over Winkler at the line by a margin of six inches.

Picking up where he left off Doug Becker (#77) proved to be the class of the 1-Man Cruiser field.  The division which was new last year now has a large field of cars every night. Becker was one of the first to join the class and used his experience to score a convincing win.

After some four-wide racing and close calls in the 2-Man Cruisers, Tim Firkus and Greg Firkus won.  Paul Hasenhorl and Scott Strigel second and John Kampert Sr., and John Kampert Jr. third.

Next weeks events are sponsored by Fleming Corporation and there will be FREE admission for all Scout's in uniform.  In addition to the regular classes Legends will also be on hand.  Pit gates open at 5pm, qualifying starts at 6pm and racing begins at 7:30pm.

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!!

Super Late Model Division
Feature: 1.) Rory Melbinger, Marshfield; 2.) Jeff Weinfurter, Wisconsin Rapids; 3.) Mark Eswein, Wisconsin Rapids; 4.) Mark Mackesy, Wausau; 5.) Wayne Breitenfeldt, Wausau; 6.) Jeremy Lepak, Wausau; 7.) Dean LaPointe, Marshfield; 8.) Judd Brandl; 9.) Mike Brahmstedt, Wisconsin Rapids; 10.) Don Trapp, Wisconsin Rapids
First Heat: 1.) Mackesy; 2.) Breitenfeldt; 3.) Weinfurter
Second Heat: 1.) Melbinger; 2.) Mark Kraus, Stratford; 3.) Eswein
Dash: 1.) Kraus; 2.) Melbinger; 3.) Weinfurter
Time Trials: 1.) Eswein, 17.930 Seconds; 2.) Weinfurter, 19.946 Seconds; 3.) Melbinger, 18.031 Seconds

CWSSA Super Stock Division
Feature: 1.) Allan Sankey, Stevens Point; 2.) Shawn Stelzer; 3.) Merle Weinfurter, Wisconsin Rapids; 4.) Scott Hamel, Wisconsin Rapids; 5.) Larry Schultz, Marshfield; 6.) Johnny Bell, Marshfield; 7.) Carl Saylor, Wisconsin Rapids; 8.) Brian Stroik, Stevens Point
First Heat: 1.) Saylor; 2.) Stelzer; 3.) Wes Coon
Second Heat: 1.) Hamel; 2.) Schultz; 3.) Sankey
Dash: 1.) Bell; 2.) Weinfurter; 3.) Sankey
Time Trials: 1.) Sankey, 20.432 Seconds; 2.) Weinfurter, 20.569 Seconds; 3.) Hamel, 20.655 Seconds

1-Man Cruiser Division
Feature: 1.) Doug Becker, Granton; 2.) Ric Anderson, Marshfield; 3.) Randy Bargender, Marshfield; 4.) Cory Rueth, Marshfield; 5.) Donald Tieman Jr., Willard; 6.) Darrell Paschel; 7.) Travis Zvolena; 8.) Robert Hainzsprerger
First Heat: 1.) Bargender; 2.) Paschel; 3.) Frank Wilhelm
Second Heat: 1.) Rodney Feltz; 2.) Becker; 3.) Anderson
Time Trials: 1.) Duwayne Davis, 23.852 Seconds; 2.) Becker, 24.334 Seconds; 3.) Anderson, 24.395 Seconds

Motorcycles
Feature: 1.) Lee Johnson; 2.) Cliff Eckes; 3.) Steve Kasten; 4.) Scott Winkler; 5.) T.J. Zeidler; 6.) Woody Eckes; 7.) Ron Bean; 8.) Brad Seversn

2-Man Cruisers Division
Feature: 1.) Tim Firkus & Greg Firkus; 2.) Paul Hasenhorl & Scott Strigel; 3.) John Kampert Sr. & John Kempert Jr; 4.) Kevin Clark & Dave Swenson; 5.) Wayne Meyer & Dave Hasenhorl