September 21, 2001; Marshfield, WI: - - Over 100 cars were in attendance for the first day of the inaugural Fall Spectacular. The Super Late Model drivers that were not already qualified for the Race of Champions were required to time in. Scott Broughton turned the quickest lap, qualifying himself for the big race.
Rod Wheeler and Keith Bohmsach won their heat events, also qualifying themselves. Jim Duchow and Mark Eswein, already qualified for the Race of Champions, won their heat events. And Neil Knoblock, doing double duty in his Super Late Model and Limited Late Model won the Super Late Model Last Chance, to be the last qualifier for the Race of Champions. Knoblock, also excelling in the Limited Lates by setting fast time and the track record with a 19.297, and went on to win the feature event. Mike Witberler and Brian Paszek both Limited Late Model heat winners. Five different Great North Legends came out on top, Al Smith with fast time, Dan McGiveron, Phil Bickley and Josh Schoenick all heat winners, and Jon Lewerer with the feature win. In the Street Stock division, Justin Woller was quick timer and won the feature. Brian Bartelt and Jeremy Faust both heat winners. The last chance to qualify for the Race of Champions, had the drivers on edge, as two cautions were brought out before a lap was completed. Pete Kempf led the first three laps, with Monte Gress, Neil Knoblock, Rob Vanerloop, and Greg Back in hot pursuit. By lap four, Knoblock had moved into the lead, Kempf fell to second and Justin Hirt third. Toby Rott and M.G. Gajewski had drove up to the fourth and fifth spots. Rott got around Hirt for third, and then Gajewski passed Hirt. Andrew Morrissey grabbed the fifth spot on lap 16. Knoblock held on for the win, Kempf second, Rott third, Gajewski fourth and Morrissey fifth. Pete Hintz led the first lap of the Limited Late Model feature. Allen Brunker led the following two, and then lost the lead to Justin Switlick. By lap eight, Neil Knoblock had worked his way from his twelfth place start up to second. The next lap he took the lead from Switlick. Mark Sherfinski running third, Lyle Nowak fourth and Brian Paszek fifth. Nowak and Paszek also quickly moved up to the runner up spots, trying to chase down Knoblock. Brad Teske who started behind Knoblock was also on the move and at the checkered flag took fifth from Switlick. Knoblock won, Paszek second, Nowak third, Sherfinski fourth and Teske fifth. The first lap of the Legends feature was led by Elliott Weiler. Rob Thurston led the next three. Jon Lewerer led lap five and then the lead went back to Thurston. Thurston, Rick Jensen, Eric Lokemoen, Lewerer and Greg Gress all battling for the lead. Lokemoen took second on lap seven, Lewerer third, Jensen fourth and Gress fifth. Lap eight, Lewerer moved up to second, Gress passed two cars for third, Lokemoen fell to fourth and Phil Bickley grabbed fifth. Bickley moved up to fourth and Jensen came back for fifth on lap nine. Lap 10, Curt Gnatzig grabbed fifth. Russ Weiler, working his way through the field took fifth on lap 12. A spin on lap 13 brought out the caution, and on the re-start, Lewerer took back the lead. Lap 15, Josh Schoenick flew into the top five and by the white flag lap was in second. He made an attempt for the lead, but Lewerer took it at the checkered, Schoenick second, Gress third, Thurston fourth and Al Smith fifth. Ben Duberstein led lap one of the Street Stock feature. Brian Bartelt led the next nine laps. Fast timer, Justin Woller, then took the lead. Brian Bartelt fell to second, Scott Volm third, Andy Bartelt fourth and Gary Kasperek fifth. The following lap, Volm took second, Kasperek moved up to third, Nick Erickson up to fourth and Brian Bartelt fifth. Erickson passed Kasperek for third on lap 17. Woller won, Volm second, Erickson third, Kasperek fourth and Brian Bartelt fifth. The winners of the Two Man Cruiser race were Mike Dodson and Luke Hall. Paul Hasenhorl and Scott Strigel second, and Ric Anderson and Jon Vayda third. Due to inclement weather, Saturday's events were postponed to Sunday, and unfortunately, Sunday's events were also postponed. The second day of the Fall Spectacular and the Fifth Annual Race of Champions, will be held on Sunday, October 14, 2001. Pit gate opens at 9 a.m., Practice/Hot Laps 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Qualifying at 12 p.m. and racing will begin at 2 p.m. We at the Marshfield Super Speedway and Steve Parsons would like to thank all the drivers, crews, fans and sponsors for your patience and understanding. We hope all of you can make it to the show in October. |
