June 27, 2003; Plover, WI - Heading into this evening's race program Wausau native Mark Mackesy had recorded a pair of third place finishes and a runner-up in feature competition this season. His strong performances were an indication that a feature victory was not far off. Tonight, Mackesy was able to fend off the challenges of Jeff Weinfurter to take a well deserved win in the non-stop 40 lap Super Late Model main event. The victory ended a dry spell for Mackesy at the Golden Sands Speedway, that dates back to July of 1998. In the Super Stock division Tim Plowman, who won his first career feature win in 13 years of trying just a couple weeks ago, decided not to wait that long before garnering his second checkered as he powered to victory ahead of Keith Bohmsach in the main event this evening. Rounding out the night Adam Krzykowski made some gutsy moves in the waning laps of the 4 cylinder feature to take the win.
Preliminary activities got underway on a nice summer evening and fans enjoyed some giveaways that took place throughout the night. Shane Smiley took home the WAL/MART Gift Certificate, while Ben O'Shasky was the Junior Short Trax fan of the week. In qualifying activities, Mark Eswein captured his third fast qualifying effort of the 2003 season. Eswein opted not to take the Bassuener Excavating Challenge which was up to $900 if he could win the main event from the tail of the field. In the Super Stocks, Tim Hintz did take the challenge, which was presented by Coors Light and was worth $450. Hintz however would become involved in a tangle which resulted in a spin keeping him from the top ten at the finish. The 40 lap Super Late Model headliner would run green to checkered without interruption as Monte Gress and Rene Scheinoha led the field to the green flag. Gress, would use the outside line to power past Scheinoha on the opening lap, with Rene losing several more positions in the next two circuits allowing Mackesy and Jeff Weinfurter to move into second and third. Jason Weinkauf and Brandon Selle made up the top five at the completion of the first five laps. Mackesy began to work on Gress looking for a weakness in his line to challenge for the lead. Mackesy tried the bottom on several occasions but Gress had the momentum to maintain the lead in the high line. Weinfurter closed to within a car length of the lead pair as they did battle. Further back, fast qualifier Mark Eswein was having a good deal of success moving forward, reaching the fourth spot on lap ten. Out front Mackesy managed to find room at the bottom of the track and he and Gress engaged in a wheel to wheel duel that lasted several laps before Mackesy was able to get the advantage on lap 12. Weinfurter seeing the maneuver, also worked the low line by Gress for the second spot on the next lap. Once he was out front Mackesy opted to run a higher line which allowed Weinfurter room at the bottom of the track to challenge for the lead position. However, Mackesy was able to use the momentum off the turns to pull ahead on the straights. The race quickly past the halfway point with the leaders putting on a show for the fans. Eswein meanwhile managed to work under Gress on lap 21 to go to the third position but he was unable to close on the lead pair as the race began to wind down. With less than ten laps remaining Weinfurter appeared to be making some headway in the low groove, drawing alongside Mackesy on a couple occasions, but again Mackesy was able to withstand the challenge and he squirted out to a two car length lead. On the final lap Weinfurter again closed on Mackesy but he was unable to get alongside to challenge for the win. Mackesy reached the strip a car length ahead of Weinfurter for the win. Eswein drove a solid race to finish a comfortable third. Weinkauf got by Gress for fourth with ten laps left in the race as Gress began to fade. Greg Back would reach fifth at the checkered after starting deep in the field and Benjamin Brinkman would edge out Gress at the finish for sixth. Galen Manternatch and Matt Raykowski made up the front row as the Super Stocks took the green flag for their 30 lap feature race. Raykowski would surge ahead taking the initial lead with Manternatch second. Tim Plowman secured third before the completion of lap two and closed on Manternatch. Raykowski was able to build up a eight car length lead as Plowman and Manternatch contested the second position. Plowman, using the high line was able to work by Manternatch for second on lap eight. Plowman now set his sights on Raykowski was was busy fleeing from the pack behind him. Keith Bohmsach moved forward to join the fray at the front of the pack on lap eleven as he worked past Manternatch for third. Out front Raykowski's lead had dissipated as Plowman's pace brought him up to the leaders rear bumper by lap 14. On lap 17, Plowman swung to the high side of Raykowski in turns one and two, and he powered ahead down the backstretch to take the lead. The lone slowdown of the event occurred with ten laps remaining when Tim Hintz and Jim Cormack exchanged paint resulting in a spin by Cormack. On the restart Plowman again set the pace, while Bohmsach worked past Raykowski for second. As Plowman and Bohmsach pulled away from the field, Raykowski found himself having to defend the third spot. Dan Gollen was able to work to Raykowski's inside with seven laps left in the event to snare third and Raykowski would lose several more spots of the final laps as his car got loose in the outside groove. Enroute to the checkered Plowman was able to maintain a three car length gap on Bohmsach for the win. Gollen would earn third, with Shawn Stelzer making a late charge to claim fourth. Scott Hamel and Raykowski made up the top six finishers. Next Friday evening, July 4th will prove to be an exciting evening. In addition to the Super Late Models and Super Stocks the always popular 2 Man Cruisers will be on hand. In addition the evening will present the amazing Trailer races, where the objective is to race around the track while tying to knock trailers off their hitches attached to basically stock street cars. The event must bee seen to be believed. Rounding out the evening will be several other stunts provided for fans entertainment. Time Trials take place for weekly events at 6:30p.m. and racing gets underway at 7:45 p.m. Golden Sands Speedway "Central Wisconsin's Power Playground" is located between Wisconsin Rapids and Plover, Wisconsin on Highway 54. For additional information please call (715) 423-4660 or consult the track website at www.goldensandsspeedway.com For complete RACESTAT Race Results Click Here! Late Models Super Stocks 4 Cylinders |
