 |
Don “Thunder” Turner Wins
First Marshfield Feature This Season
By Brian Back |
August 6, 2006;
Marshfield, WI: - The WGLX and CarQuest week of racing
came to a conclusion at the Marshfield Super Speedway. The Super
Bikes began the day with an early practice followed by six laps
of qualifying. The show continued at regular schedule for the
stock program. Eugene Gregorich Jr. took home his first fast
time of the season in the CarQuest Super Lates. Super Stock
driver Matt Pyburn set yet another quick time. Kyle Opelt also
scored another 4-Cylinder fast time.
The CarQuest super late model feature saw its
share of three-wide racing as Elliott Weiler dove to the inside
of pole sitters Don Turner and Ben Pettis entering turn one. His
efforts went unrewarded, as Eric Wisz and Rick Grunden brought
out the first caution before completing the first lap. As they
retook the green, Turner shot into the lead with a half car
length advantage over Pettis entering turn one. He took the
outright lead entering turn three, with Weiler closely
following. The pace was slowed by caution on lap three as Jim
Cormack slowed to a stop on the backstretch. Turner again gained
a big lead on the restart as they retook the green, while Pettis
dove low of Jay VanDerGeest exiting turn two to take away third
on lap four. Troy Nelson began a charge on the high side
overtaking Dean LaPointe for fifth on lap five. Pettis made his
move to the bottom on lap six, as Weiler slipped up in turn one.
Weiler battled back trying to retake the position, but
eventually slipped to fourth as Pettis and VanDerGeest motored
past. Jason and Chris Weinkauf hooked up in the high line,
passing John Froelich on lap eight for seventh and eighth place.
Chris then moved high of brother Jason Weinkauf, pulling along
side before running off the backstretch on lap ten.
Taking advantage, Eugene Gregorich charged past
the recovering Chris Weinkauf, and rolled past Jason Weinkauf on
the high side on lap 13. He then followed Nelson past Weiler,
and immediately sliced to the low side, sliding into the fourth
position on lap 18. The brothers Weinkauf followed, with Jason
challenging low of Nelson and Chris latched to his bumper.
Weiler began to fade late, as LaPointe, Froelich, and Frazier
passed him by with five to go. Nelson’s determination was
rewarded with four laps to go, as he held onto fifth over Jason
Weinkauf when the caution flew for the spinning Larry Schotten.
Turner’s experience paid dividends as he stretched a huge lead
at the restart. Gregorich made a bold move low in turn one,
taking away third from VanDerGeest with three to go. He then
moved to the high side of second place Pettis, and overtook him
as they took the white flag. Turner’s restarts turned out to be
the final difference maker. Gregorich closed to his rear bumper
cover entering turn three, and looked high exiting turn four.
The aggressive move was not enough to overtake Turner, as
Gregorich made contact with the front stretch wall and slid to a
stop, receiving an ovation from the crowd for his failed attempt
at victory. Third place went to Pettis, followed by VanDerGeest
and Jason Weinkauf.
The CarQuest Super Stock feature was lead by polesitter Andy
Munthe on lap one. Outside polesitter Matt Raykowski overtook
the lead on lap two, and would hold it until a caution on lap
five between Munthe and Randy Meyer on the backstretch. The
restart saw Travis Zvolena challenge newcomer Travis Hancock to
the inside to take over the second position on lap seven. He
then over took the leader Raykowski on the low side one lap
later. Corey Jankowski followed Zvolena, showing impressive
speed on his first visit to the speedway this season. Jankowski
passed Zvolena for the lead on lap 11, followed by Brian
Weinfurter and Wes Coon by lap 13. Matt Pyburn began to close on
the lead group, as he passed Hancock and Zvolena to take over
fourth on lap 15. Weinfurter began to challenge Jankowski to the
low side late in the race, allowing Coon and Pyburn to close in
on the lead pair. Jankowski slowed to protect the bottom, and
Coon seized the opportunity, charging by both Weinfurter and
Jankowski on the high side on lap 18. He led the field to the
finish, followed by Jankowski, Weinfurter, Pyburn, and Zvolena.
Jason Ferrel of Oshkosh took fast time in the Super Bike
qualifying and then went on to win the main contest. Shawn
Purkis of Marshfield was able to secure the second quick and
second in the feature. John Smarek of Elk Mound did not make it
in time for qualifying, however was able to race up into a third
place finish. Bill Larson of Ripon took fourth in the feature
followed by Brian Frank of Omro in fifth.
The 4-cylinder feature went quickly to caution, due to a
multiple car crash in turn two on the first lap. Erin Schlough
wasted no time taking the lead, passing pole sitter Ron Sischo
as racing resumed. As the field completed lap one, Paul Berg,
Dan McGiveron, and Steve Stewart entered turn one three-wide.
The track proved to be too narrow, as Stewart and McGiveron
spun, sending both to the rear. As the racing restarted, it was
again slowed by caution. Three-wide racing between Eric Haring,
Stewart, and Don Elmhorst send Elmhorst up the track, stopping
inches from the turn two wall. Don Dunow used the caution to his
advantage, quickly passing Berg and Kyle Opelt on the high side
for the fourth position. On lap three, Derk Hauser moved inside
of Steve Hauser taking the second position. One lap later, he
looked inside of leader Schlough to take the first position,
followed by Steve Hauser. Flick began to charge toward the front
diving under Schlough on lap five and Steve Hauser on lap six
followed closely by Opelt. Tire problems on the Berg machine
brought out another caution on lap eight. As racing resumed,
Jeremiah Strauss overtook the fourth position from Dunow
entering turn one. Flick also powered to the high side of Derk
Hauser pulling nose to nose with the leader entering turn one of
lap nine. Opelt moved low of the lead pair entering turn three,
but wisely backed out as the opening closed. Flick completed the
pass of the persistant Derk Hauser on lap ten with Opelt
following closely. Opelt closed to within a half a car length of
Flick, only to end up three car lengths back as Flick took
command by the checkered. The top five crossed with Flick the
victor, Opelt, Derk Hauser, Strauss, and Steve Hauser rounding
out the top five.
Next Saturday, August 12th is sponsored by WYTE 106.5FM and the
Marshfield News-Herald. Racing includes CarQuest Super Late
Models, CarQuest Super Stocks, Motorcycles, 1-Man Cruisers,
Junkyard Warriors, and Pure Stocks. Plus Powder Puff races! Pit
gates open at 3:30, grandstand gates open at 5 p.m., Miller Lite
time trials at 5:30, racing starts at 7 p.m. Marshfield Super
Speedway is located 3.5 miles west of Marshfield on County Road
H with weekly Saturday night stock car racing April through
September. Adult grandstand admission is $10.00, Students ages
10-15 yrs. $5.00 and under 10 yrs FREE with a parent. Rain date
for Sunday two hours earlier.
Everyone 16 yrs and older may sign up FREE every race night to
win the 2006 Dodge Charger Pace Car.
For
complete RACESTAT Computer Results Click Here
|
