Knoblock Wins Super Late Feature & Breaks Streak By Mae Schultz

June 2, 2007; Marshfield, WI: - The St. Joseph’s Hospital Kids Night turned out to be an exciting night of racing. Neil Knoblock, making his first trip to the speedway picked up super late model fast time honors and the feature win. Brian Back earned another super stock fast time. Kyle Opelt in the 4-cylinder division had the best qualifying time. Junkyard Warrior Kyle Rasmussen claimed the division’s quickest lap. Following time trials, kids were invited to take a ride in a stock car. Every kid in attendance also received a FREE movie rental, compliments of Hollywood Video.

Photo Highlights

The streak of Eugene Gregorich Jr., was stopped at three as super late model feature winner Neil Knoblock is pictured with his crew and his daughter, Kennedy after the event. Rick Grunden (#15) won his second straight Super Stock feature contest. J.J. Flick was the evening's winner of the 4 Cylinder feature event. Kyle Rasmussen (#00) topped the Junkyard Warrior feature contest. As part of kids night at the speedway, kids were invited to go for a ride in a stock car.  Here super late model #01 Elliott Weiler and his nephew, Carston Freis take a tour around the track.

Tonight’s Hometown Night at the races featured Wausau, Schofield, Rothschild, Brokaw, Ringle, Hatley, Mosinee, Merrill, Gleason, Tomahawk, Marshfield, Chili and Hewitt. Fans from these towns were afforded FREE admission to the races tonight. A special thanks to Cellcom of Marshfield, located next to the Super 8 hotel in the Century Suites 21, and Lietz Service for sponsoring this hometown night.

Check out our schedule page for your Hometown Night. On your hometown night, show your picture ID at the ticket booth, receive a FREE admission ticket to the races!

Cale Laessig took the early lead from his outside pole position start of the thrilling green to checkered CarQuest super late model feature. Dean Lapointe quickly positioned himself in second, followed by Monte Gress, Jay VanDerGeest and Elliott Weiler. By lap two, Weiler and Chris Weinkauf had passed VanDerGeest for fourth and fifth. Weiler made his move for third first, taking it from Gress. Only two laps later, Weinkauf challenged Weiler and took the spot from him. Fast timer Neil Knoblock wasted no time going to the front and broke into the top five on lap four. Knoblock then began to move through the field take spot after spot. Behind Knoblock, Ben Pettis and Eugene Gregorich Jr were both working their way through traffic. Knoblock passed LaPointe for second on lap nine, and then chased down Laessig to take the lead on lap 11. Gregorich made a gutsy three-wide to the outside pass only a few laps later, trying not to let Knoblock stretch out a big lead. On lap 15, Gregorich was second, and on the hunt for that lead. The battle for the remaining top five spots was fierce between LaPointe, Weinkauf, Tim Hintz and Pettis. Pettis on a strong run, took fifth from Hintz on lap 18 and began to challenge Weinkauf for fourth. Pettis earned the spot two laps later and then worked his way past LaPointe for the third spot with only three to go. Knoblock’s lead proved to be too big for Gregorich to close up by the checkers. Knoblock won, earning the Beway Race Products feature win award. Gregorich settling for second, the first time this season. Pettis third, LaPointe fourth and Hintz fifth.

The only caution of the CarQuest super stock feature flew after just the first lap, when the axle on Geno Eckes’ car broke sending him into the outside turn four wall, and forcing him to retire his machine to the pits. Adam Eckes had taken the lead from the start for that first lap, with Mark Langreck in a close second. On the re-start, Mike Gwidt chose to take the outside and passed Eckes for the lead. Gwidt held strong in the lead, as Travis Zvolena and Rick Grunden raced to the front. Both Zvolena and Grunden passed Eckes for second and third, the following lap Chad Scholl and Brian Back overtook the fourth and fifth spots. Grunden made his pass on Zvolena stick for the second spot and then began to work on Gwidt, the leader. Grunden raced in the outside groove to take away that lead, while Scholl began to work the inside to pass Zvolena for third. Grunden took the lead and began to pull ahead of the field a little more each lap. Zvolena not giving up on the third spot challenged Scholl back, this time with Zvolena on the inside. Scholl was able to hold off Zvolena, but fast timer Brian Back had worked his way into the top five and took fourth from Zvolena and then worked on Scholl for third. With only five laps left, Back was in the third spot, looking to take second from Gwidt. It was a battle for second, with Back taking the spot for the checkered flag lap. Grunden won, two in a row, picking up the bonus pay compliments of RZ Builders LLC and the Krings Motorsports feature win award. Back second, Gwidt third, Zvolena fourth and Scholl fifth.

Eric Haring led the first four laps of the 4-cylinder feature, before losing the lead to JJ Flick. Paul Berg, Derk Hauser and Jeremiah Strauss running in the top five behind Haring were looking to advance their positions. With lots of close action and three-wide racing, Strauss was the one to take the second spot away. Fast timer Kyle Opelt, who started twelfth had raced up into the fourth spot with only five laps remaining. Opelt made the pass on Haring for the third spot, but was out of time to advance further. Flick won the feature and the Westside Service of Auburndale award, Strauss second, Opelt third, Ricky Brandl fourth and Haring fifth.

The early part of the Junkyard Warrior feature was led by Marc Baldwin. Fast timer Kyle Rasmussen was already there by lap three challenging Baldwin for the lead. Rasmussen took it on lap five on the outside. Andy Dean in the Lightning McQueen #95 car had steadily held his third place position, until three to go, when last week’s feature winner Jonathan Zuelke took the spot. Rasmussen won, Baldwin second, Zuelke third, Dean fourth and Roger Cochrane fifth.

Next Saturday, June 9th is the first of three RZ Builders LLC Super Stock Triple Challenge nights. Red hot racing includes CarQuest Super Stocks, 4-Cylinders, Motorcycles, Pure Stocks and recently added Junkyard Warriors. 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 Just $5.00, Students ages 10-15 yrs. $5.00 and under 10 yrs FREE with a parent. Rain date for Sunday two hours earlier.

Tuesday, June 12th is the Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry race night. Racing features CarQuest Super Late Models, 4-Cylinders and Pure Stocks. 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. Adult grandstand admission is $10.00, Students ages 10-15 yrs. $5.00 and under 10 yrs FREE with a parent. Rain date for Wednesday, June 13th, same times.

Everyone 16 yrs and older may sign up FREE every race night to win the PT Cruiser Convertible Pace Car.

June 16th is Hometown Night At The Races for Neillsville, Granton, Fairchild, Osseo, Black River Falls, Humbird, Merrillan, and Willard. Any race fan from any town listed for June 16th, will be able to show their picture ID that states they live in one of those towns, and receive FREE admission to that night’s races. Plus join us for the post race party in the VIP Bar for Attitude X2 Entertainment DJ & Karaoke.



$250.00
Additional prize money will be added to each of three super stock race nights during the 2007 Marshfield Super Speedway race season compliments of RZ Builders LLC of Loyal.
June 9th, July 21st, August 11th
Payout:
The top three eligible feature finishers will receive $50.00 in addition to the payout. The race winner will then draw a number and that position plus the three following will receive $25.00 in addition to the payout (these drivers must also be eligible).

Eligibility:
Prior to the first Challenge night the driver must at least race one night at Marshfield Super Speedway with the super stocks during the 2007 season. Prior to the second Challenge night the driver must at least race two nights at Marshfield Super Speedway with the super stocks during the 2007 season (previous Challenge night does not count towards eligibility). Prior to the third Challenge night the driver must at least race three nights at Marshfield Super Speedway with the super stocks during the 2007 season.

Points:
All races will be CWSSA Sanctioned points races.

Point Fund:
There will be a point fund payout for the points accumulated for eligible drivers on those nights. After the final Challenge night, the point fund will payout: 1st - $200.00, 2nd $150.00, 3rd $100.00

In addition to the Triple Challenge, RZ Builders LLC is adding $50.00 to the weekly payout. First place in the feature $25.00, then the winner will draw a number and that position will receive the other $25.00.