Gregorich Wins Season Opener Checkers!

April 28, 2007; Marshfield, WI: - The Kafka Conveyors and Kafka Granite season opener was perfect for a night of red hot racing. Mark Eswein qualified the quickest in the super lates and was the only driver to break into the 17 second bracket. Brian Back was on the only super stock to make a 19 second time and earned himself fast time honors. The 4-cylinder division fast time was set by Danny Zahn Jr. and Kyle Genett made clean sweep of the pure stock division.

Photo Highlights

Eugene Gregorich Jr. (#14) opened the 2007 racing season at Marshfield Speedway with a feature victory. Brian Weinfurter (#24) placed his Super Stock in the winner's circle after capturing the feature contest. Kyle Genett (#16x) swept the Pure Stock division.

Dean LaPointe charged and took the lead early for the first two laps of the CarQuest super late model feature. Elliott Weiler quickly began challenging LaPointe, taking the lead for several laps. LaPointe and Weiler battled back and for the first half of the feature. The first caution flew on lap 14 for the spun car of Tim Hintz. The field was tightened up again for the re-start, with Mark Eswein Eugene Gregorich and Jeff Weinfurter on the heals of leader Weiler.

A three-wide battle for the lead, with Gregorich emerging as the leader. The second caution flew on lap 18 for LaPointe. A mechanical difficulty forced the car to turn right, sending him into the front stretch wall. Weiler pulled ahead of Gregorich for the lead on the re-start, but through the corner, it was Gregorich taking charge. The final caution waved on lap 22, as a mechanical problem with Chris Weinkauf’s car turned him right, and sent him to the backstretch embankment. Gregorich again looked as though he’d lose the lead on the re-start, this time to Weinfurter. Through the corner, Gregorich pulled back into the lead, and won the race. Weinfurter second, Eswein third, Weiler fourth and Ben Pettis fifth.

The CarQuest super stock feature was dominated by Brian Weinfurter. Rick Grunden, Randy Emmerich and Travis Zvolena all battled within the top five spots. Fast timer Brian Back raced up to second by lap 16 and set his sites on Weinfurter. At the end of the race, Back was challenging Weinfurter for the lead on the outside, but wasn’t able to secure the lead. Weinfurter won, Back second, Grunden third, Zvolena fourth and Bo Bennish fifth.

Brad Conant led the first five laps of the 4-cylinder feature event. Steve Hauser was soon challenging him and took the lead on lap six. JJ Flick wasted no time getting to the front of the pack and racing second. Ricky Brandl was right up in the front battling to keep third with Derk Hauser and Don Dunow fighting for fourth. With only three to go, Flick took the lead on the outside for the win. Steve Hauser second, Brandl third, Derk Hauser fourth and Dunow fifth.

Kyle Genett made a clean sweep of the pure stock races. Genett had quite the battle to win the feature against Haarklau. On lap two Haarklau, Genett and Ryan Mork were three-wide for the lead. Genett won, Haarklau second, Mork third and Coletta Gomes fourth.