By: Mike Barrett
M.G. Gajewski of Wausau makes it to the front of the Feature field Friday at Golden Sands Speedway in a win that squeaked him ahead of Frank Nitzke of Berlin to win the Mid-Season Late Model Cranberry Cup trophy. The victory for Gajewski garnered him the prize by merely 1 point. The race began with Wes Coon and Jeff Weinfurter on the front row. Weinfurter jumped out front quickly, leaving Gajewski and Coon to battle for a few laps in a side by side duel that eventually left Coon on the outside, and losing positions fast. By lap 20 6 cars were separating themselves from the rest of the field to race for the lead; Weinfurter, Gajewski, Elliot Weiler, Nitzke, Brandon Selle and Mark Eswein. Fast qualifier Chris Weinkauf was caught in traffic and finally broke free of the pack around lap 22. About the same time Weinfurter's car seemed to lose traction allowing Weiler and Gajewski to roll past nearly simultaneously. The next couple of laps were a shuffling of spots, until Weinfurter and Eswein touched coming out of turn 2 causing Weinfurter to spin. The caution realigned the field at exactly the mid-way point with Gajewski leading, followed by Nitzke, Weiler, Selle, Rene Sheinoha, Keith Bohmsach, and Coon with Weinkauf next in 8th. The next ten laps saw a bunch of action all through the pack, and Gajewski strongly leading with space to spare. Lap 35 a yellow was brought out by Sheinoha and Mark Van, and a 15 lap shootout of racers lined up with a top 5 of Gajewski, Nitzke, Selle, Bohmsach and Weiler. With 10 to go Gajewski Nitzke and Selle all raced within inches even as Eswein and Weinfurter thrashed trough the pack from the rear trying to pick up positions. Weinfurter brought his machine back to 7th with Eswein riding his bumper across the line. Gajewski kept his lead, Nitzke finished in his 2nd runner-up spot of the year and Selle, Bohmsach and Weiler completed the top 5. Weinkauf's 6th place finish gets him within 3 points of leader Bohmsach, and now only 40 points separate 1st from 6th!
Michael Gwidt took a 5th place start to a 1st place finish Friday night by patiently waiting for chances and then strongly defending a lead that he drove to on lap 11 of a 25 lap feature. Tomah driver Corey Jankowski showed up with what he called "this super stock I had in the shop sittin' around" and took fast time! Luckily for the other drivers Corey's spin of the wheel started him 7th, and traffic never did allow him to easily drive to the front. Brian Weinfurter started pole with Bert Soyka alongside, and Weinfurter's car seemed to get wider and wider as he beat Soyka into the first couple of turns. Gwidt was behind Weinfurter by lap 8 or 9, and by lap 15 the lead was Gwidt's. Colin Reffner made his way past Weinfurter, and it looked at first like Reffner was going to win his 3rd Feature of his last 5. Reffner took his car to the outside but could never really make it even to Gwidt's door. Gwidt celebrated his first Feature win in his new car, ahead of Reffner, Brian Weinfurter, Bert Soyka, and Matt Raykowski in his best finish of the year. Gwidt also picked up the Cranberry Cup trophy for accumulating the most points in the night's racing.
Pure Stocks began with Richard Dunn and Caleb Marzofka up front. Marzofka became of victim of close racing when his car was knocked loose coming out of turn 2 and he gamely tried to save it all along the back straight and well into turn 3. Unfortunately Dustin Brillowski was close by in turn 3 and contact was made, spinning both cars out and bringing out the yellow flag. The restart saw Darren Jackson and Joey Kuhn get together, and after the dust cleared Randy Wierzba led the field for the next dozen laps. Troy Engman cleared Wierzba for the lead on lap 16 and Jeff Gruber, Erich Buchholz and Gary Haarklau along with Fast Qualifier Kyle Genett all drove by Wierzba. Lap 18 put the cap on it for Wierzba when he tangled with Mark Kalata, putting the former leader of the race all the way to the back. The final 7 laps Engman saw some exciting racing in his mirror while he had no real challenge to his lead, followed across the line by Gruber, Genett, Ryan Mork and Erich Buchholz.
4 Cylinder Stock drivers put on an all green flag Feature for 15 laps, with Fast Timer Tim Anderson spanking the field by coming from 13 th to 1st in the first 6 laps!. Travis Lepak started on the fron row and finished 2nd, Kelly Sankey 3rd, Tim Kundinger 4th and Bryce Mancheski 5th. Anderson took the Cranberry Cup trophy home.
4 Cylinder Mod cars started 15 strong and Phil Malouf took a 10th starting spot straight to the front in 3 laps by driving right up the middle. His daring driving got him out front quickly and cruised along ahead of Dale Robinson who neither lost or gained ground to the leader. The battle behind Robinson was a treat, with 6 or 7 drivers trying for 3rd lap after lap. Brad Conant edged out Randall Willhorn for 3rd, ahead of Scott Scholze in 5th. The event also went caution-free. Malouf also garnered the Cranberry Cup Trophy for his trouble.
Next week it's Union Night with Spectacular Fireworks (SLM, SS, 4CM&S) Figure 8’s, Sparkin’ Skid Car Races.
You can read all the results at www.gssraces.com and Mike's Dairy State Racing blog at www.gorapids.com
