New Surface, Thrilling Finish, All Part of Action-Packed Night at CLS
New Richmond, WI
by Greg Parent (7-25-09)
As racers and fans arrived at the Cedar Lake Speedway on Saturday night July 25, they immediately noticed a different look to the racing surface at the famed 3/8 mile high-banked track. A new greyish-blue colored clay surface had been applied to freshen the track prior to the USA Nationals. The new surface held up well, as it was smooth, survived the on-slaught of 106 cars, came through a rain-delay, and produced some action-packed racing on another entertaining evening during the regular NASCAR dirt track weekly show. A rain shower hit the track following the conclusion of the second late model heat race, causing about a one hour delay. The new clay surface passed the test after it was tilled and rolled back in, allowing the program to be completed.
The NASCAR Midwest Modified feature race produced a thrilling finish with Jason Vandekamp edging Jeremy Houle by inches at the line to earn his fourth CLS win of the season. Cory Davis became the third different leader in the NASCAR Pro Stock main event and raced to his second win of the season at CLS. Rick Kobs, like Davis, also raced to his second victory at CLS when he powered past Jason Gross near the midway mark of the NASCAR Modified main event. Earning his first CLS win in 2009, Pat Doar passed Pete Parker on lap 3 of the NASCAR Super Late Model feature race and then held off Adam Hensel during the caution-filled event. The NASCAR Late Models were the only division requiring a B Main, as a very strong 30 car field turned out with a few surprise visitors on hand. Young Cory Mahder also provided some anxious moments in his heat race when he rolled his late model on the back stretch after climbing the concrete wall following contact with another car. Mahder walked away from the incident, but his car was destroyed and out of action for the rest of the evening.
Following the rain delay, the NASCAR Midwest Modifieds were up first for their 20 lap feature race on a lightning quick racing surface. With 26 of the 27 cars on hand taking the green, it took a few attempts to get the race underway. On the first try, Kenny Jordan and Mike Kyllonen made contact in turn four with Jordan sent to the tail. The second attempt saw A J Roschen break, scattering debris on the track. The third time was not the charm, as Eric Herbison and Don Craig made contact in turn two. Herbison earned a trip to the tail. Finally on the fourth try, the race got underway with pole sitter Jeremy Houle holding a narrow lead over Vince Corbin. Corbin got by Houle to lead lap 2, as the fourth caution flew the next lap for contact between David Swearingen and Tony Schill. Schill went to the tail of the field for the restart while infrequent visitor Curt Myers dropped out under the caution. Houle got past Corbin when the race returned to green. Jason Vandekamp was soon in the battle. Vandekamp moved to second on lap 7 just behind Houle. The fifth and final caution slowed the pace with eight laps in when the third and fourth place cars of Corbin and Kyle Steffen got together. Steffen was placed at the rear of the field while Corbin got his spot back. It would then be 12 laps of exciting nonstop racing to the finish.
Jeremy Houle led one more lap before Jason Vandekamp raced to the front on lap nine. Houle stayed close though while Matt Lear had come from eighth to third by the midway point. The laps rolled by under green while battles continued for several positions. Lapped traffic with five to go allowed Houle to close in on Vandekamp. The two leaders raced nose to tail for a few laps before Houle took a look inside of Vandekamp coming off turn four with two to go. Vandekamp held him off. Again Houle looked for a way around. As the white flag flew, Vandekamp held a narrow lead over Houle with Lear a short distance back in third. Exiting turn four on the final lap, Houle dove to the inside of Vandekamp and the race was on to the checkers. Jason Vandekamp just barely edged out Jeremy Houle by inches at the line in a thrilling finish! Matt Lear, Alex Gerlach and Mike Gibson completed the top five. Rounding out the top ten finishers were Vince Corbin, 17th starter Josh Bazey, Ronnie Rihn, Shawn Phillips and Bryan Siercks. Kyle Steffen, Gibson and Houle were heat race winners.
All 25 cars on hand lined up for the 20 lap NASCAR Pro Stock main event paced by Jake Hiatt and Dale Gangl. Gangl grabbed the early lead with a wild scramble for positions taking place immediately behind him. With two laps in, a crash in turn three slowed the pace. A brief fire under the hood of Dave Emerfol's car turned the yellow to red, but it was quickly extinguished. When the race restarted, it would go 18 laps nonstop to the finish. Gangl continued to lead, but the battle for second was intense. Justin Dodge, Cory Davis, Greg Nippoldt, Jim Gullikson and Tim Borgeson were mixing it up. By lap 5, Nippoldt had moved to second ahead of Dodge, Davis and Borgeson. One lap later, Nippoldt moved past Gangl for the lead followed by Dodge, Borgeson and Davis. The incredible racing continued up front for the top five spots with Nippoldt holding a slim advantage. Davis came from fifth to third on lap 7, then moved past Gangl on lap 8 for second. Gangl retook the spot a lap later only to see Davis return the favor at the midway mark. The leaders began working lapped traffic on lap 11 with Nippoldt leading Davis. Dodge was now in third over Gangl, Borgeson and Rich Bishop. A lap later, Gangl moved back to third again.
Cory Davis was quickly closing in on leader Greg Nippoldt. On lap 14, Davis blasted off turn two and blew past Nippoldt down the back stretch for the lead. With Davis now in control up front, Nippoldt settled into second. The race rolled by quickly under green, as Cory Davis recorded his second feature race win of the season at CLS. Greg Nippoldt, Dale Gangl, Justin Dodge and Tim Borgeson completed the top five. Rounding out the top ten was 12th starter Rich Bishop, the winner the previous two weeks, Dan Carlson, 18th starter Shawn Kammerud, Brian Lick and Jim Gullikson. Heat race winners included Carlson, Borgeson and Gullikson in the competitive NASCAR Pro Stock division.
A fast track and 24 open wheel NASCAR Modifieds for 20 racing laps is a good formula. Scott Splittstoesser subbing in Koen VanMeeteren's car, brought the field to the green with fellow front row starter Craig "Wild Child" Brightbill. Splittstoesser sped to the early lead over Brightbill, Jason Gross and Rick Kobs. Like the pro stocks, the modifieds were really mixing it up early with exciting racing action. Gross moved to second on lap 2 with Kobs in tow. On lap 3, Gross grabbed the lead while Shaun Kelley appeared in the top five. The first of two cautions waved with three laps in when Ron Schreiner and Andy Jones made contact in turn two. Jones went to the work area to change a flat tire and returned at the tail of the field. A couple laps after the race went green again, Kobs drove around Splittstoesser for second and closed in on Gross. Gross held off Kobs for a few laps while cars battled two and three wide at times behind them. Brightbill moved to third on lap 6. On lap 8, six time winner Darrell Nelson went from sixth to fourth. Kobs was applying some serious pressure on race leader Gross. On lap 9, Kobs moved past Gross for first. The final caution blinked on after nine laps for a spin by Steve Lavasseur. On the restart, Brightbill got by Gross for second. At the mid point of the race, it was Kobs, Brightbill, Gross, Nelson and Kelley in the top five.
With Rick Kobs holding down the front running spot over Craig Brightbill, Shaun Kelley continued his march forward on lap 12 when he raced past Nelson and Gross into the third position. Suddenly Kevin Viebrock's car was a rocket and he was also on the move forward. Viebrock cracked the top five on lap 13 coming from sixth to fourth ahead of Nelson. Nelson got back around Viebrock the next lap. The running order up front remained the same over the remaining laps, as the race ran the final 11 circuits caution-free. Rick Kobs recorded his second win of the season at CLS over Craig Brightbill, Shaun Kelley, Darrell Nelson and Kevin Viebrock. Completing the top ten were Ron Schreiner, Jason Gross, Jeremy Gross, Scott Splittstoesser and Mike Kelley Jr. Heat race wins went to Splittstoesser, Kobs and Jason Gross.
The rumble of the powerful NASCAR Super Late Models filled the damp night air, as their 30 lap feature race rolled trackside. With Ronnie Rihn unable to start, 23 cars took the green with eastern Wisconsin visitor Pete Parker jumping to the early lead from his pole starting spot over Pat Doar. Parker led the first three laps before Doar and Adam Hensel drove by on lap four. The first of several cautions slowed the pace with five laps in when Kelly Anderson stalled a short distance down the pit exit lane in turn one. Anderson's car was in an unsafe position, so track officials brought out the caution. Two laps after the green replaced the yellow, Darrell Nelson's car shot up the track in turn one and collected Eric Breeschoten and Jeff Patchen. Breeschoten and Patchen both had enough damage to their cars that they were unable to continue. Although Nelson continued on, he was charged with the caution and pulled off the track under the yellow.
When the race returned to green, Doar continued to hold a slim lead over Hensel with Pete Parker in third ahead of Brent Larson and Matt Aukland. Rick Hanestad, Jake Redetzke and Rick Egersdorf were hooked up and hauling from their 9th, 13th and 16th starting positions respectively. At the halfway mark, it was Doar, Hensel, Parker, Hanestad and Larson just in front of Redetzke, Egersdorf and Aukland. A spin by Jeff Martire brought out the third caution on the next lap, and scoring reverted back to lap 15. Brent Larson was assessed a two position penalty for jumping on the previous restart at this time. Two laps later, Steve Laursen and Matt Aukland got together in turn four. Both cars drove off the track and were done for the night. A second spin on lap 21 by Jeff Martire brought an end to his night. It was still Doar, Hensel, Parker, Hanestad and Redetzke in the top five. On lap 24, Larson got by Redetzke for fifth and went to work on Hanestad. With 25 laps in, Larson got into Hanestad in turn one. Hanestad spun around and was clipped by Jake Redetzke. Hanestad was towed to the pits while Redetzke pulled in with a flat tire. Larson tagged the tail for the restart. Pat Doar held off Adam Hensel over the final five laps to earn his first CLS win of the season. Pete Parker turned in one of his strongest CLS performances in many years, as the veteran eastern Wisconsin racer posted a solid third place run. Rick Egersdorf raced from 16th to finish fourth. B Main winner and 19th starter Mike Nutzmann completed the top five. With attrition high, only 12 cars finished the race. Rounding out the remaining finishers were Joel Cryderman, Paul Parker, Mike Bear, Jim Carlson, Brent Larson, John Kaanta and Bryan Wennen. Heat race victors included Doar, Hanestad and Pete Parker.
Racing action continues at the Cedar Lake Speedway on Thursday July 30th through Saturday August 1st with the running of the famous 22nd Annual USA Nationals. The WDRL Late Models will be in competition on Thursday evening along with the Winged Outlaw Modifieds and the NASCAR Midwest Modifieds. Then on Friday and Saturday, the 22nd Annual USA Nationals for the outlaw open late models will take place with qualifying and heat races slated for Friday followed by the B Mains and the big 100 lap $50,000 to win feature race on Saturday. The NASCAR Late Models will run full programs on both Friday and Saturday as well. Based on the incredible version of the 2008 USA National, race fans will not want to miss any of the exciting action at the legendary Cedar Lake Speedway during the three nights of racing. Many top national stars in dirt late model racing along with several young guns and several returning long-time USA Nationals competitors will be on hand to see who will be the champion of this year's crown jewel event at the 22nd Annual USA Nationals. For more information, be sure and check out our website at www.cedarlakespeedway.com or call 1-866-4CLS-FUN. Large crowds are expected each night over the course of the USA Nationals with plenty of events and activities for race fans to partake in.
