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Crate Victory for Frank Nitzke in Sands Super Lates!
Hamel Best In Super Stock Test!
By Jeffrey Sachse |
June 3, 2005;
Plover, WI - The
evening was Crusin' for a Cure Night for the American Cancer Society, and it was Frank
Nitzke who would cruise to the win in the Super Late Model main event. The victory
will place Nitzke in the record books as the answer to the trivia question.. who won the
first Super Late Model feature with a "crate" engine. Nitzke's machine was
powered by an economical factory sealed high-performance engine. In the Super Stock
division it was Scott Hamel recording his first feature win of the 2005 season after
making a pass of visiting driver Dan Linnehan for the lead midway into the contest.
In the Pure Stock division a quartet of racers were all doing battle pack style the final
laps, with fast qualifier Frank Calabrese squeaking out a win. In an equally hard
fought contest, Dale Robinson earned his first career 4 cylinder win by a very small
margin over current point leader and defending champion Mike Oehmichen.
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Frank Nitzke (#18) earned his fourth career
Super Late Model victory at Golden Sands Speedway, and went into the history books as the
first winner to utilize a crate engine for the win.
Frank Nitzke (#18) slips under early race leader
Dillon Kralovetz (#2) for the lead during the Super Late Model feature contest.
A late race charge would earn Jeff Weinfurter
(#3) a second place finish in the Super Late Model headliner.
Allen Check (#20) was a double winner this
evening winning both his heat race and the semi-feature in Super Late Model action.
Troy Nelson (#66) turned in the fastest qualifying effort in the Super Late Model
division for the second straight week.
Melvin Zehr (#05) was a 14 year old hard charger from Florida who paid a visit to
Golden Sands Speedway and wound up winning a heat race in Super Late Model action.
Scott Hamel (#78) celebrates his first Super Stock feature win of the 2005 season
here at Golden Sands Speedway.
Visitor Dan Linnehan (#48) turned in a strong showing in Super Stock action.
Scott Hamel (#78) however would go on to win the feature contest.
An unplanned gathering occurred during the Super Stock semi-feature as David Pagels
(#409), Matt Cournoyer (#7) Matt Osowski (#99) tangle.
Defending Super Stock champion Tim Plowman (#80) was the fastest qualifier this
evening.
Dale Robinson (#3D) scored his first career
feature win taking top honors in the 4 cylinder class.
The battle for the win was hotly contested on
the final lap of the 4 cylinder feature. Dale Robinson would edge out Kevin Reske
(#27) and the evenings fast qualifier Mike Oehmichen (#87) for the win.
Frank Calabrese (#56) captured the Pure Stock
feature event after setting fast time in the class in qualifying. |
The evening started out with Troy Nelson scoring his second
fast qualifying effort of the season in Super Late Model action. Tim Plowman, the
defending Super Stock champion turned the quickest lap in his division. Likewise 4
cylinder defending title holder Mike Oehmichen turned in the quickest lap in the class.
Frank Calabrese completed the divisions competing this evening, with a fast lap in
the Pure Stock division.
The main events for the evening unfolded on a warm and still night,
former track champion Burton Brown and youngster Dillion Kralovetz brought the field to
the green flag for the 40 lap Super Late Model main event. Kralovetz got the upper
hand at the start leaving Brown, Blake Horstman and Nitzke doing battle for the runner-up
slot.
Nitzke would work the low line to get under Horstman for the third
position on lap six and he then set his sights on Brown.
The pace was slowed with Kralovetz still in the lead when several
cars made contact in turn two on lap ten resulting in a spin by Mark Van, forcing the
first caution of the contest.
Underway again Kralovetz led the way, while Nitzke continued his
progress forward working the high line around the banked third-mile oval to surpass Brown
for second on lap 13. Nitzke's then closed up on the rear deck of Kralovetz who continued
to fight to hold the lead.
Meanwhile behind the lead duo Jason Weinkauf and Jeff Weinfurter were
making swift progress. Weinkauf reached third place at Brown's expense on lap 18,
while Weinfurter who started deep in the field reached the top five.
Out front Nitzke's pressure began to pay off as Kralovetz began to
run higher in the turns allowing Nitzke to work the bottom groove of the raceway. The pair
ran side by side for several laps before Nitzke placed his lime green machine out front
for the first time on lap 26.
Meanwhile a similar battle was taking place for third as Weinfurter
had worked to the inside of Weinkauf as the pair ran wheel to wheel for the third
position. Weinkauf hung tenaciously to the outside line while Weinfurter worked the
bottom portion of the raceway. Each lap the pair would draw even by the finish line.
Out front Nitzke began to pull away from the field with a clear track
ahead of him. Weinfurter finally gained the upper hand in his battle for third with
six laps to go, on the next lap Weinfurter managed to work under Kralovetz for the
runner-up spot. By this time however Nitzke had built up a six car length cushion
and appeared to have the speed to keep Weinfurter at bay.
Nitzke drove a flawless race the final laps scoring his first feature
win at the raceway since June of 2002. Weinfurter would settle for second, for the
second straight time in a weekly race program this season. Weinkauf would surpass
Kralovetz on the final lap to gather in third, with Kralovetz and defending track champion
Mark Eswein completing the top five finishers.
The Super Stock contest had it's share of twists and turns as a
dominating performance would come to and end for race leader Mike Brooks late in the
contest.
Visiting driver Dan Linnehan would get the better of local racer Wes
Coon at the start of the 30 lap main event. Mike Brooks, would follow Linnehan past
Coon before the first lap was completed and the case for the lead began.
It was a short lived battle as Brooks immediately went to the low
groove to sweep past Linnehan placing himself in the top spot. At the same time
Hamel began his march forward working the high line. He quickly scrambled into the
third spot prior to a caution by Ken Soyka who spun in turn two on the sixth lap.
The green flag returned and Brooks went right back to the lead.
The battle would be for second as Hamel and Linnehan contested the spot. The
battle would allow Brooks to increase his lead with each passing lap. Hamel would
finally gain the runner-up spot with 12 laps to go in the contest, but by now Brooks had
built up a straightaway lead.
That lead however went away with 12 laps to go when Brian Weinfurter
experienced mechanical difficulty dumped fluid on the racing surface forcing a yellow
flag.
Brooks was again setting the pace and keeping Hamel in his tire
tracks with Brian Schmutzer, Linnehan and Coon giving chase.
Brooks however would not reach victory lane this evening as he
suddenly slowed coming off turn two with 9 laps left in the contest giving the lead to
Hamel. Brooks would coast to the infield with his evening coming to and end.
Hamel, now suddenly found himself out front with Schmutzer trying to
close the gap. Over the final laps Hamel was able to set the pace taking the win by
a car length over Schmutzer. Linnehan would finish third, a strong showing for the
visiting driver. Coon and Wally Kallman would complete the top five runners.
The Pure Stock main event would settle into a four car battle for the
second half of the contest with Frank Calabrese, Brad Guralski, point leader Michael Gwidt
and Andrew Hintz racing pack style for the top spot. Over the closing laps Guralski
would move almost dead even with Calabrese on several occasions but Calabrese was up to
the challenge taking his second win of the season in the Pure Stocks. Guralski,
Gwidt, Hintz and Chris Reindfleish would make up the top five at the checkered after a
thrilling race.
Likewise the 4 cylinder main event would be a hard fought contest for
the win. Though Casey Koback paced the first half of the contest, with was Dale
Robinson, Mike Oehmichen and Kevin Teske who would thrill the fans over the final laps
with a tussle for the top spot. On one occasion Robinson wiggled and the trio wound
up three wide with a pair of laps to go. Robinson however was able to quickly regain
his pace and shoot back ahead of Oehmichen to win the contest by the narrowest of margins.
Oehmichen, Teske, Randy Polansky and Koback would make up the top five runners.
Next Friday Night will feature a special Kid's Box Derby race, all
that's needed for the contest is a box and the willingness to do a little running on the
raceway. The motorsports activities will include Super Late Models, Super Stocks,
Pure Stocks and 2-Man Cruisers.
Gates open at 4:30 pm, with time trials at 6:30pm and racing at 7:45
pm.
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!
Super Late Models
40 Lap Feature: 1.) Frank Nitzke; 2.)
Jeff Weinfurter; 3.) Jason Weinkaf; 4.) Dillon Kralovetz; 5.) Mark Eswein; 6.) Troy
Nelson; 7.) Chris Weinkauf; 8.) Burton Brown; 9.) Keith Bohmsach; 10.) Blake Horstman
20 Lap Semi-Feature: 1.) Allen Check; 2.) Jason Kirlsing; 3.)
Brady Baldry; 4.) Pat Williams; 5.) Steve Gress; 6.) Wayne Mackesy
First 12 Lap Heat: 1.) Melvin Zehr; 2.) W. Mackesy; 3.) Joel
Schulz
Second 12 Lap Heat: 1.) Check; 2.) Rene Scheinoha; 3.) Williams
Third 12 Lap Heat: 1.) Mark Mackesy; 2.) John Totzke Jr; 3.)
Bohmsach
Fourth 12 Lap Heat: 1. ) Weinfurter; 2.) Nitzke; 3.) J. Weinkauf
Fast Qualifier: Nelson, 12.091 Seconds
Super Stocks
30 Lap Feature: 1.) Scott Hamel; 2.)
Brian Schmutzer; 3.) Dan Linnehan; 4.) Wes Coon; 5.) Wally Kallman; 6.) galen Manternatch;
7.) Dave Neitzer; 8.) Tim Plowman; 9.) Matt Raykowski; 10.) Collin Wilcott
10 Lap Semi-Feature: 1.) Dan Gollen; 2.) Brian
Weinfurter; 3.) Bradley Scholze; 4.) Dan Braun; 5.) Randy Meyer
First 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Gollen; 2.) David Pagels; 3.) Denny Crass
Second 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Hamel; 2.) Roger Stanczyk; 3.) Mike Brooks
Third 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Zuehlke; 2.) Kallman; 3.) Neitzke
Fast Qualifier: Plowman; 13.373 Seconds
Pure Stocks
15 Lap Feature: 1.) Frank Calabrese;
2.) Brad Guralski; 3.) Michael Gwidt; 4.) Andrew Hintz; 5.) Chris Rindflesich; 6.) Dean
Zakrezwski
First 8 Lap Heat: 1.) Sandy Brich; 2.) Wally Higgins; 3.) Raymond
Kramer
Second 8 Lap Heat: 1.) Marcus Marti; 2.) Gwidt; 3.) Guralski
Fast Qualifier: Calabrese; 15.308 Seconds
4 Cylinders
15 Lap Feature: 1.) Dale Rabonson; 2.)
Mike Oehmichen; 3.) Kevin Teske; 4.) Randy Polansky; 5.) Jenny Nitzsche; 6.) Casey Koback
Fat Qualifier: Oehmichen, 15.636 Seconds |