Shane Halopka of Medford, Wisconsin started on the pole and led all laps of the race to claim the top prize of the Firecracker 40. The field only completed 18 laps before the race was ended for exceeding the time limit.

A special drivers meeting was held just before the start of the race, where track owner and promoter Don Scharf told the fifteen participants not to try to win the race in turn one on the first lap. Minutes later, a big wreck before the first lap even began nearly lost the race for several drivers.

Halopka started from the pole by virtue of winning the first qualifying heat race. As the field accelerated to the green flag, Halopka and outside pole-sitter Bruce Belland touched wheels. Belland spun and the big accident was on.

With the field bunched together in double-file formation, several drivers hit the breaks, other drivers tried to swerve to miss the accident. When it was over, twelve cars were piled up in a tangled mess about 30 yards short of the start line.

Belland was the only driver that retired from the race. He sustained heavy damage to his left-rear wheel. Several cars went to the pits to replace tires and survey damage. It took ten minutes to clean up the accident.

Halopka took the lead on the restart as Bob Richardson began to launch a challenge. Richardson, who came into the night a perfect 4-for-4 in features at Riverside this season started fourth on the restart. He quickly passed Wayne Engen and went to battle with 2004 winner of the race Jerry Grasse. Richardson went side by side with Grasse into turn three when contact was made. Richardson spun. Cody Schmidt was caught up in the accident, as was Engen, whose rear suspension appeared to break as he slammed into the guardrail on the front stretch.

Richardson went to the pit road as his crew went to work on the front end of his car. Another lengthy caution proved to be beneficial as his crew was able to complete work on the car just before the race went back to green. Richardson started almost three-quarters of a lap down and needed a caution to get back into contention.

He got his caution on lap eight when Duane Dunbar’s engine expired. Richardson moved back to sixth a couple of laps later when the caution flew again for debris. From there Richardson fought to get back into the top five, when the final big accident of the night happened.

Once again, it involved two cars touching wheels. Richardson slipped passed Randy Bargender for fifth position on lap eleven, but the next lap, Bargender worked back to the outside in turn four when he and Richardson touched. Bargender’s car became partially airborne as it skidded against the outside retaining wall. It came down on the right side of Richardson’s car. Both cars dropped out of the race with heavy damage.

The fifth caution brought the race to its 30-minute time limit with only 11 laps complete. So, per Riverside Raceway rules, the race would continue until the next caution flag. On the final restart, Halopka took the lead with Grasse, Jason Zdroik and 2005 winner Kevin Adams close behind. Zdroik began to battle for second and Grasse would not give an inch. They battled closely until they made contact in turn four. Zdroik spun, and when he did not get his car moving again, the caution came out and the race came to an end.

Halopka said before the race, winning $1,000 would make the rest of the racing season a little easier. Halopka is in contention for the state and national WISSOTA point championships in the Midwest Mods. He was 14th in the national rankings entering as of July 6 according to WISSOTA, and maximum points on the night will help his chase.

Three to the top 25 in WISSOTA national points finished in the top four in the feature. Kevin Adams of Chetek, Wisconsin finished third. Adams is 12th in the nation. Jim White of Zimmerman, Minnesota suffered a flat-tire in the opening lap accident, but the driver 25th in national points worked his way back to a fourth place finish.

Of the local drivers, Jason Zdroik of Eagle River was awarded second position by track officials following the last-lap contact with Grasse. Rob Rodziczak of Rhinelander finished fifth and Neal Dixon of Woodruff wound up seventh. Grasse, from Phelps, was deemed at fault for the final lap accident and was given credit for eighth position.

Sponsors Custom Build by Richardson, Eagle Lanes and Tiny Tap help contribute to Tuesday night’s large payout. Track owner Don Scharf told drivers in last night’s drivers meeting that talks are already underway with sponsors for next year’s Firecracker 40.


Riverside Raceway Results: July 11, 2006

WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds

Heat 1: 1st 3JR-Shane Halopka; 2nd 7E-Wayne Engen; 3rd 7-Duane Dunbar; 4th 01-Bryce Johnson; 5th 15-Rob Rodziczak; 6th 15S-Cody Schmidt; 7th 17-Devan VanHouse

Heat 2: 1st 22B-Bruce Belland; 2nd 5-Jerry Grasse; 3rd 1J-Jason Zdroik; 4th 40-Kevin Adams; 5th 0-Bob Kleinschmidt; 6th 24-Randy Bargender; 7th 14-Troy Smart

Heat 3: 1st 7W-Jim White; 2nd 2-Bob Richardson; 3rd 30-Guy Carley; 4th 28-Mark Rose; 5th 8D-Neal Dixon; 6th 30L-Matt Leer

Consi: 1st 0-Kleinschmidt; 2nd 24-Bargender; 3rd 15-Rodziczak; 4th 15S-Schmidt; 5th 8D-Dixon*

Feature: 1st 3JR-Halopka; 2nd 1J-Zdroik; 3rd 40-Adams; 4th 7W-White; 5th 15-Rodziczak; 6th 01-Johnson; 7th 8D-Dixon; 8th 5-Grasse; 9th 24-Bargender; 10th 2-Richardson; 11th 7-Dunbar; 12th 7E-Engen; 13th 15S-Schmidt; 14th 0-Kleinschmidt; 15th 22-Belland