By: Mike Barrett
Who can Keith Bohmsach thank for his 4th win in the late model class at Golden Sands Speedway? Maybe Frank Nitzke or Mark Eswein, after the pair got together running up front and nearly wrecked allowing Jason Weinkauf, Chris Weinkauf and Bohmsach a shot at the lead. But probably not. Maybe Jason Weinkauf, who always runs clean and allowed Bohmsach a chance to pass for the lead by lap 15, although it wasn't an easy pass. But I don't think that's who he should thank. Or maybe even God (or the Racing Gods) after Chris Weinkauf suffered a broken rocker arm, leaving him out of contention. No, not that either. Keith Bohmsach knows that he has every reason to thank himself and every member of his own team for putting an awesome fast race car on the track, because in the end, that's what it took to win. Bohmsach was running in about 5th or 6th on lap 2 when Mark Eswein and Frank Nitzke rolled into turn 3 side by side and came out of 4 sideways. It appeared Frank's car slipped, got them both out of shape, and remarkably both Frank and Mark avoided being collected by the field fast gaining behind them. They sorted out their cars, and only lost about 3 spots each. Incredibly fast responses from the Weinkaufs and Bohmsach got them past Nitzke and Eswein without incident, with MG Gajewski also in the thick of the fray. Chris Weinkauf's rocker arm broke and he lost place after place until a very eventful lap 17. That is when both he and his younger brother Jason exited the speedway during a caution, Chris retiring for the night, and Jason fixing a broken rim, coming back to restart in last place. Bohmsach lined up with Gajewski behind him, and the restart gave Gajewski his shot at the lead. It looked like MG may have had the faster car, but a few laps later Bohmsach's literally took off, leaving Gajewski several lengths back. Keith said he didn'e have much at the start, but after 4 or 5 laps the car "took off". The final 15 laps had Eswein trying to get past Gajewski, just ahead of Mark Mackesy. He did it a few short laps from the end, leaving Gajewski 3rd. Mackesy held on for a steady 4th, and Jeff Weinfurter put on a fantastic show with Joe Krzykowski to wind up 5th after a 13th place start. Chris Weinkauf posted the fasted time, and looked poised for a win after a spin of the wheel started him in the 3rd row, but the broken rocker arm put him last. Brandon Selle had another fine night, having to start 15th after winning last week's feature and finishing 7th tonight.
Colin Reffner has had several front row starts this year. his best finish so far was 2nd. Until tonight. Colin fended off an obviously anxious Mike Gwidt to win his first Super Stock feature race at Golden Sands. Ryan Hinner started alongside Reffner at the start, and seemed to have a shot at the lead. But Reffner managed a bit more grip on the inside, cleared Hinner and took the lead. Hinner drifted back and by lap 5 was 8th. On lap 7 a turn 1 and 2 caused a flat on Brian Weinfurter's car, and his stoppage on the track brought out a caution. The double file restart allowed fast qualifier Greag Bach a chance to line up in 5th, looking like he was easily headed to another win. Unfortunatley for Greg, Scott Hamel and Don Zuehlke stayed locked in a battle for 3rd with Zuehlke clearing by lap 15. Back got caught behind Hamel and with 5 to go was all the way back to 7th. Up front Reffner simply planted his car 1 foot off the bottom of the track and defied Gwidt every lap, forcing Gwidt to either pull to the outside and risk being passed by Zuehlke, Bert Soyka, Mike Brooks, or any number of challengers or stay right behind him and hope for a mistake by the 14 year young Reffner. The mistake never happened. More than once Reffner slowed perceptibly, and Gwidt nudged him as a result of the close racing, but they both maintained a solid line, and finished 1st and 2nd. Later Reffner said he was nervous but knew he had to stay on the inside groove, and not spin out. Simple yet effective. 3rd place was a fast-gaining Back, and Don Zuehlke and Bert Soyka again posted top 5 finishes.
The night began as the Budweiser "500" because the Pure Stocks were going to get a chance to race for a $500 first place prize. Randy Wierzba and Rebecca Grabarski started out in the front, took the green and rolled into turn 1 side by side. Things deteriorated rapidly from there. Wierzba's car took off, looking like it was going to head off the track, but Becky Grabarski was there to save him. Unfortunatley the resulting contact shredded a bunch of sheet metal from Becky's car, and packed up the field behind them. Lap 1 was barely complete when officials called the caution, debris littering several places on the 1/3 mile. Grabarski headed off the track, never to return. Wierzba started with Darren Jackson behind him, along with Gary Haarklau, Ron Grabarski, and Mike Kasperek. By lap 5 Wierzba had literally disappeared, slipping to 8th, while Kyle Genett had streaked to 4th! Jackson did not fade quite so quickly, but ended up 7th after his 3rd place start. Haarklau jumped out front, trailing Kasperek. Kasperek drove alongside lap after lap, yet never cleared. With 3 to go Kasperek bobbled, and it looked like Haarklau would snatch up the bonus bucks, but Kasperek threw his racer into the final 2 laps with an outside pass attempt, winning by an inch or two. Following Kasperek were Haarklau, Ryan Mork, Kyle Genett, and Ron Grabarski.
Skid Cars returned to Golden Sands with several more models and drivers, including some in trucks. A few laps into the race Josh Klopotek lost a skid, suffered a gas tank failure, and finished the night standing trackside watching his car spectacularly burn. Because of the large fire the race was halted and Joey Kuhn once again claimed the win ahead of John Engebretson and Shane Bates.
Faster Pastor races continued and Pastor Coppersmith of Faith Lutheran Church in Wausau simply drove away with it in his Brew City Racer.
