By mike barrett
The 2nd Chicken Night at Golden Sands Speedway saw 4 classes compete, and every winner did their rendition of the “Chicken Dance”, at least they tried, even if they had no clue what the “Chicken Dance” was. Jim Sauter Jr. brought that #51 Coon-prepared speedster to the track and after starting 10th, marched to the front to take a win away from Brandon Selle. Selle led only 7 laps into the 40 lap feature for the Late Model class, and then drove off from the field, looking like a sure winner. The race continued for 26 laps, with Sauter, fast qualifier Chris Weinkauf and Jeff Weinfurter making it closer to the front until a caution re-set the field. Selle admitted later that caution was the last thing he wanted to see, and he was right, because 6 laps later Jim Sauter Jr. was passing for the lead spot. Weinkauf had worked up to 4th until a tire went flat at the same time as the caution, and after restarting last worked his way back up to 8th. Sauter had no competition the last 10 laps, but Jason Weinkauf, Jeff Weinfurter, and Frank Nitzke amazed the crowd with great racing mid-pack. Weinfurter and Weinkauf were rewarded with 4th and 5th at the end, and Nitzke’s 6th place finish was 9 spots forward of his starting spot. Mark Mackesy picked up 5 spots almost immediately, and 3rd was his finish in the order.
Super Stocks came with 14 contenders, and polesitter Matt Pyburn eagerly took the green, but saw it turn to a quick yellow after a messy gaggle mid-pack needed to be sorted out. After the hiccup at the start, Pyburn bolted to the lead, and never looked back. Dean Zakrzewski chased him around the 1/3 mile, but never really challenged. Fast qualifier Colin Reffner trailed a fast group that worked its way forward lap by lap, until Scott Hamel, Ryan Hinner, and Brian Weinfurter had closed in on the top 5. Hamel beat Zakrzewski to the line on a last lap pass, ahead of Colin Reffner and Ryan Hinner to complete the top 5.
Joachim Mangen brings an infectious enthusiasm to the races, and his roof-dancing with the rubber chicken earned him a case of beer after his feature win. The 4 Cylinder Stock class racer watched Adam Skibicki take a lead from Travis Lepak, then sliced his way past both to lead at lap 10. Fast qualifier Kevin Burris used every inch of Golden Sands to find a way to 2nd, and Skibicki, Kelley Sankey and Travis Lepak remained in the top 5.
Finally, the 4 Cylinder Mod class brought their usual mix of more than a dozen Saturns, Mustangs, etc. and Phil Malouf again notched fast time for the 2nd event in a row. Malouf’s 9th place starting spot looked like he would again run quickly to the front, but badly messed up traffic parted easily for Adam Eckes, but held Malouf too long in a box that would allow Eckes to march off and lead by nearly a straightaway by lap 10 . Lap 13 was a memorable one for the youngest Decker racing, as Natalie backed into the water barrels on the front straight. Green/White/Checkered saw Eckes again get a bit of a lead, and Malouf settling behind for 2nd. Brad Conant, Dale Robinson and Dale Louze posted 3rd, 4th, 5th.
