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Nelson Notches Opening Night Victory at Sands!
Plowman Grabs Super Stock Win!
By Jeffrey Sachse |
April 29, 2005;
Plover, WI - The 2005
racing season opened on a cool night with plenty of hot racing action spiced by some hard
battles for victory and unfortunately the occasional greeting with the frontstretch wall.
In the Super Late Model division, Troy Nelson would power ahead of fellow front row
starter Dillon Kralovetz and hold the lead through several caution flags to outrun
defending track champion Mark Eswein the evening's fast qualifier and the only driver to
edge into the 11 second bracket in the evening's time trials.
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Troy Nelson (#66) opened the 2005 season at
Golden Sands Speedway with a feature win in the Super Late Model main event.
Chris Weinkauf (#75) made a strong closing
charge, working past Burton Brown (#07) and Neil Knoblock (#70) during the final laps to
claim third place in the Super Late Model feature.
Allen Check (#20) applied the pressure to Troy
Nelson (#66) early in the Super Late Model main event.
Jason Kirsling (#99) had a strong showing winning his heat, the semi-feature and
then charging through the pack to finish sixth in the Super Late Model feature.
Defending champion Mark Eswein (#71) was the only driver to crack into the 11
second bracket in qualifying, taking top honors for the evening. 
Defending Super Stock champion Tim Plowman (#80)
came through the field to score a convincing win in the main event this evening.
Tim Plowman (#80) works the high line past Tim
Zuehlke (#70) on his way to victory in the Super Stock feature.
Scott Hamel (#78) opened his 2005 season with fast qualifying honors in the Super
Stock division.
The defending 4 cylinder champion, Mike Oehmichen (#87) scored a clean sweep this
evening.
Adam Eckes (#4) hit the wall hard while doing battle for the lead on the final lap
of the 4 cylinder feature contest.
Frank Calabrese (#56) was victorious in the Pure Stock feature race.
The Pure Stock do a little three wide racing for the lead as Frank Calabrese (#56)
works by Ben Allen (#5) and Andrew Hintz (#7) for the lead in the Pure Stock feature race. |
In the Super Stock division, Tim Plowman put on a passing exhibition as the
defending class champion came from the tail of the field to the lead in the final stages
of the contest posting a convincing win in the division. In the 4 cylinder class
another defending champion returned to victory lane as Mike Oehmichen dominated opening
night action taking a sweep of the class. Rounding out the evening Frank Calabrese
was able to fend off fast qualifier Mike Gwidt in the Pure Stock class.
The Late Model main event rolled onto the raceway for their 40 lap contest with
Kralovetz on the pole. The youngster would surge into the initial lead, before
Nelson would power to the front at the conclusion of the first lap. Veterans Jeff
Weinfurter and Allen Check were engaged in their own duel directly behind the leaders.
Check would gain the upper hand in that battle and soon began to pressure Kralovetz
for the second position. One lap seven Check would slip into the runner-up spot
running four lengths behind Nelson's pace.
Kralovetz would hold the third position, doing battle with Mark Mackesy until the pair
touched coming off turn two on lap 15, the contact sent Mackesy into a spin off the
backstretch into the sandtrap. Though both drivers were able to continue they were
forced to start at the tail of the field.
The green returned with Nelson again setting the pace with Check and Weinfurter dueling
for second. Former track title holder Burton Brown held down the third position with the
evening's fastest qualifier Eswein already into the fifth spot.
The battle between Check and Weinfurter for second allowed Nelson to again pull away
slightly. the solid racing between Weinfurter and Check came to a halt on lap 23 when the
pair touched briefly in turn three sending Check into a spin forcing the second and final
caution of the contest. Both drivers gave up their positions among the leaders as a
result falling to the tail of the field. This left Nelson in the lead with Brown,
Eswein, Neil Knoblock and Pat Williams in the top five positions.
As he had been doing all evening, Nelson again set the pace of the contest when the
green flag unfurled. Brown managed to keep pace for several laps before coming under
pressure from Eswein. Eswein would work the low groove past Brown for the second
spot with 20 laps to go. Moments later a bobble by Brown coming off turn two allowed
Knoblock to pull alongside to battle for third.
Further back in the pack Chris Weinkauf had been slowly moving forward reaching the top
five. With Nelson and Eswein pulling ahead of the pack, attention focused on the
battle for third between Knoblock, Brown and Weinkauf as the three drivers fought hard for
the third spot in close formation. Knoblock would power past Brown for the third
spot with 11 laps to go, brining Weinkauf with him.
Out front it became apparent that Nelson was able to set a pace which kept him out of
reach. The final ten laps quickly past with Nelson sprinting to the checkered for the win
some eight car lengths ahead of Eswein. The victory was Nelson's first since the 2003
season on the high-banked third mile oval. Eswein would settle for second after
starting near the tail of the field. Weinkauf made a pass on Knoblock with just a
pair of laps to go to annex the third position. Knoblock would settle for third with Brown
rounding out the top five. Former Super Stock competitors Keith Bohmsach and Jason
Kirsling put on a thrilling duel for sixth over the final laps with Kirsling getting the
nod as the wire. For Kirsling it was a solid run after starting in the last row of the
contest, transferring into the event after winning the semi-feature race.
The finish of the race also had a wild ending for Mark Mackesy as he slipped off the
top of the track heding for the checkered and slammed hard into the safter barrels that
protect the front stretch wall. Mackesy did finish eighth but his car was severely
damaged in the crash.
The Super Stock contest started 17 cars in their 30 lap main event with relative
newcomers Dan Braun and Denny Crass fighting tooth and nail for the top spot swapping the
lead on successive laps. Braun would secure the lead on lap three as Crass fell back to
battle with Wes Coon for second. Coon's position in the field was easily
recognizable has his florescent yellow machine worked past Crass for the runner-up spot on
lap four.
Coon wasted little time placing his brightly colored machine into the lead slipping
under Crass for the lead on the next lap, brining Tim Zuehlke with him into second. Brad
Scholze worked his way into the third position before lap six began.
Coon and Zuehlke traded a bit of paint on lap eight slowing Zuehlke momentarily and
allowing Scholze to squirt past into second. Meanwhile Plowman was quickly working
through the pack from deep in the field. The defending division champion reached the
top five on lap 11 as he focused on working to the lead.
Coon continued his advantage on Scholze but it was Plowman who was holding the fans
attention using the outside groove to work past cars in rapid succession to place himself
in third with ten laps to go in the contest. It was then the only slowdown of the contest
came when Roger Stanczyk spun, bunching the field for a ten lap sprint to the checkered.
When the green flag returned Scholze worked to the inside of Coon as the pair battled
side by side for the lead. Using the low line to his advantage Scholze would edge
into the lead with eight laps to go. Plowman holding tight to Scholze's rear bumper
advanced into second. Coon would fade from the front if the pack over the final
laps.
Plowman then wasted little time in grabbing the top spot powering past Scholze for the
lead with six laps to go in the contest. In the remaining distance Plowman steadily
increased his lead taking the win by a comfortable margin. Scholze would hold off
Zuehlke in the closing laps to retain second. Zuehlke, Dan Gollen and the evening's
fast qualifier Scott Hamel would comprise the top five.
The 4 cylinder contest would prove to be a wild contest with plenty of four wide racing
the opening laps of the event.. Adam Eckes would blast into the lead while the field began
to sort itself out. Eckes would stretch out a huge advantage by the halfway point of
the contest with Chris Luedtke and Oehmichen holding second and third well behind as the
laps clicked off.
With six laps to go, the competition yellow was thrown as Eckes was determined to be
exceeding his qualifying time by a good margin. Per class rules, he was moved back
two positions and the race was restarted with a six lap dash to the checkered. When
the race resumed Luedtke held the top spot, but quickly surrendered it to Oehmichen.
Eckes also worked past Luedtke and set out to regain the lead.
Oehmichen and Eckes were putting on a show for the fans as the laps clicked by until
Eckes slipped off the top of the track coming for the white flag. Eckes would slam
hard into the wall, ending his battle for the win. Since the white flag had already
been shown the race was declared complete with Oehmichen awarded the victory. Jenny
Nitzsche was awarded second followed by Luedtke, Matt Hansen and Brandon Polansky.
In the Pure Stock division, only one caution slowed the contest early in the event
which eliminated Brad Guralski as a contender for the win.
Ben Allen would open the Pure Stock main event with the lead as the field began to work
itself out. Calabrese and Gwidt quickly moved through the pack into third and fourth
by the third circuit. Out front Andrew Hintz attempted to work the high line past
Allen for the lead but wiggled allowing both Calabrese and Gwidt to scoot past into second
and third.
Allen would pace just one more lap before Calabrese shot into the lead with Gwidt still
in pursuit. For the remainder of the contest Gwidt kept constant pressure on
Calabrese attempting to wrestle the lead away, but Calabrese would hold fast to the lead
to the checkered taking the victory. Gwidt, Troy Engman, newcomer Dean Zakrezwski
and Allen would complete the top five runners.
Action returns to the high-banked third mile asphalt oval next week will WAL-MART Kid's
Night at the raceway. The evening will feature plenty of prizes and contests for the
young fans in attendance. Adult's will again be treated to high speed racing action
featuring Super Late Models, Super Stocks, Pure Stocks and the first appearance of the
2005 season for the popular 2-Man Cruisers.
Friday evening shows begin with qualifying at 6:30 p.m., and racing 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
40 Lap Feature: 1.) Troy Nelson; 2.)
Mark Eswein; 3.) Chris Weinkauf; 4.) Neil Knoblock; 5.) Burton Brown; 6.) Jason Kirsling;
7.) Keith Bohmsach; 8.) Mark Mackesy; 9.) Allen Check; 10.) Monte Gress
20 Lap Semi-Feature: 1.) Kirlsing; 2.) M. Gress; 3.) Brady Baldry;
4.) Steve Gress; 5.) Mark Van; 6.) Joel Schulz
First 12 Lap Heat: 1.) Baldry; 2.) Chad Devine; 3.) Gregg Ruffalo
Second 12 Lap Heat: 1.) Kirsling; 2.) Jeff Weinfurter; 3.) Check
Third 12 Lap Heat: 1.) Frank Nitzke; 2.) Bohmsach; 3.) Brown
Fast Qualifier: Eswein, 11.974 Seconds
Super Stocks
30 Lap Feature: 1.) Tim Plowman; 2.)
Brad Scholze; 3.) Tim Zuehlke; 4.) Dan Gollen; 5.) Scott Hamel; 6.) Galen Manternatch; 7.)
Wes Coon; 8.) Dan Braun; 9.) Wally Kallman; 10.) Dave Neitzke
First 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Coon; 2.) Matt Cournoyer; 3.) Denny Crass
Second 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Roger Stanczyk; 2.) Scholze; 3.) Zuehlke
Fast Qualifier: Hamel; 13.478 Seconds
Pure Stocks
15 Lap Feature: 1.) Frank Calabrese;
2.) Michael Gwidt; 3.) Troy Engman; 4.) Dean Zakrezwski; 5.) Ben Allen; 6.) Marcus Marti
First 8 Lap Heat: 1.) Allen; 2.) Andrew Hintz; 3.) Chris
Rindfleisch
Second 8 Lap Heat: 1.) Calabrese; 2.) Gwidt; 3.) Brad Guralski
Fast Qualifier: Gwidt; 15.252 Seconds
4 Cylinders
15 Lap Feature: 1.) Mike Oehmichen; 2.)
Jenny Nitzsche; 3.) Curtis Luedtke; 4.) Matt Hansen; 5.) Brandon Polansky; 6.) Kevin Teske
First 8 Lap Heat: 1.) Allen; 2.) Andrew Hintz; 3.) Chris
Rindfleisch
Second 8 Lap Heat: 1.) Calabrese; 2.) Gwidt; 3.) Brad Guralski
Fast Qualifier: Gwidt; 15.252 Seconds |