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Late Charge Carries Groelle To 141 Win
Francis Creek, WI - August 12, 2006 - A late caution set the stage for a
dramatic finish as Travis Groelle captured his first Mid-American feature win
of the season Saturday night at the 141 Speedway in Francis Creek.
Matching Groelle as first time feature winners on the night were the Welsing
brothers, Todd in the Super Stocks and Jay in the Hobby Stocks, as well as
points leader Kurt Naidl in the Mini-Stocks and Kendra Cretton in the Sport
4s.
Like a good mystery novel, the Mid-Am feature had a few plot twists that kept
fans guessing who would be the eventual winner. Dennis Rabas established
the lead from the drop of the green with Groelle, Todd Mott, Joe Kerkhoff and
Mike Oswald giving chase. When the event hit halfway, Kerkhoff began to
make his move on the outside line.
He quickly picked off second and third, then began his move on Rabas. On
the 24th lap, Kerkhoff edged to the lead as they charged toward the
line. But a major incident in the 3rd turn waved off the lap, as Oswald
ended up sideways sending no less then six cars scattering in all directions.
On the restart, Kerkhoff again took command, and appeared headed to his first
win of the season until caution flew again with just four laps to go.
The ensuing restart proved to be Kerkhoff’s undoing as he was flagged for
jumping the start.
That moved Groelle into the outside front row spot, a position he parlayed
into the lead as the green flew. Once out front, he edged away from the
pack to record the win. The last four-lap sprint allowed Daryl Gerke and
Jeff Tisler to advance into the lead pack, as they finished second and third
respectively. Rabas placed fourth with Kevin Damrow fifth.
In the Supers, Todd Welsing survived a late charge from division leader Greg
Thompson to take home his trophy. Thompson was forced to rally from the
back of the pack after he cut a tire and spun on the 12th lap.
He received some help on the first restart as a crash in four ended the night
for Nathan Wegner, Kurt Naidl and Tim Conard.
Back under green to stay, Welsing used the high line to edge Jo Gauger for the
lead. He gained some ground on the pack, and would need every inch of it
as Thompson worked his way toward the front.
With five to go, Thompson caught him and went for the pass on the high line
through one and two. He slipped out of the groove and nearly spun,
allowing Welsing to gain some breathing. Thompson wasn’t quite able to
pull even again, as Welsing would take the win with Thompson in his tire
tracks. The race for third was just as tight, as rookie Adam Pontzlaff
nipped Errol Berry and Lee Kielpikowski, who had started last, for the spot.
Naidl’s win in the Mini-stocks was a bit less dramatic. He took the
lead from Chris Wellner on the 7th lap, and then pulled away to a comfortable
margin. Three laps later, Kevin Peroutka raced into second. With
no cautions in the 25-lap headliner, Naidl eventually picked up some heavy
lapped traffic. Despite that, Peroutka was never able to reel him in.
Behind Peroutka, Jason Willadsen, Erik Turner and Wellner recorded top five
runs.
Jay Welsing’s first career win in the Hobby Stocks came at the expense of
point leader Tyler Bauknecht. Welsing managed to muscle his way to the
inside of Bauknecht on the sixth lap to take over the lead.
Bauknecht chased him the final 15 laps, but a last lap run on the inside for
the point leader ended when he caught the edge of the infield.
Bauknecht recovered to finish second ahead of Joshua Setzer and Arron Gretz.
In the Sport 4s, Cretton used the outside to pass Dave Gauger, Sr on the ninth
lap, and then pulled away to an insurmountable advantage. At the
checker, Cretton led second place finishing Matt Cherney by a half lap.
Cherney passed Rick Lorrigan in the late stages to record the runner-up
finish.
This coming Saturday night, it’s round three of the Triple Crown Series for
Supers and Minis with extended 40 lap features. The night will also
feature the annual Pa Murray Memorial 50 for the Sport 4s, and vintage
modifieds as well.
Top Hat Lounge will sponsor the show, with time trials at 5:00 PM and the
first race at 7:00. For more information, visit the track’s website at
www.141speedway.com.
RESULTS
Hobby Stock - Feature
Pos Driver Car #
1 Jay Welsing51
2 Tyler Bauknecht33
3 Joshua Setzer79
4 Arron Gretz71
5 Dennis Duggan 4
6 Mark Anderson 9
Hobby Stock - Heat
Pos Driver Car #
1 Joshua Setzer79
2 Tyler Bauknecht33
3 Kraig Koehler 29K1
4 Mark Anderson 9
5 Jay Welsing51
6 Dennis Duggan 4
7 Kris Conard57
8 Arron Gretz71
Mid American - Feature
Pos Driver Car #
1 Travis Groelle3
2 Daryl Gerke64
3 Jeff Tisler31
4 Dennis Rabas7
5 Kevin Damrow12
6 Travis Rodewald27
7 Jimbo Schleis4
8 Todd Mott 62
9 Don Wood 32
10 Crystal Koenig 10
11 Andy Casavant01C
12 Joe Kerkhoff65
13 David Verhagen0V
14 Monte Strouf8
15 Mike Oswald 38
Mid American - Heat 1
Pos Driver Car #
1 Joe Kerkhoff65
2 Jimbo Schleis4
3 Travis Groelle3
4 Dennis Rabas7
5 Andy Casavant01C
6 Mike Oswald 38
7 Daryl Gerke64
8 Don Wood 32
Mid American - Heat 2
Pos Driver Car #
1 Jeff Tisler31
2 Crystal Koenig 10
3 Travis Rodewald27
4 Kevin Damrow12
5 David Verhagen0V
6 Monte Strouf8
7 Todd Mott 62
Mid American - Qualifying
Pos Driver Car #
1 Monte Strouf8
2 Daryl Gerke64
3 Todd Mott 62
4 Mike Oswald 38
5 Kevin Damrow12
6 Jimbo Schleis4
7 Jeff Tisler31
8 Dennis Rabas7
9 David Verhagen0V
10 Travis Groelle3
11 Travis Rodewald27
12 Andy Casavant01C
13 Crystal Koenig 10
14 Joe Kerkhoff65
Mini Stock - Feature
Pos Driver Car #
1 Kurt Naidl97
2 Kevin Peroutka86
3 Jason Willadsen7
4 Erik Turner 29T
5 Chris Wellner29
6 Jason Novak 13
7 Josh Lammers6
8 Todd Hebel1
9 Steve Schneider 21
10 Rick Kretschmann2
11 David Gauger Jr. 24
12 Kyle Pieschek65
13 Kari Kostichka72
14 Cory Kemkes07
15 Kraig Koehler 58
16 Allen Dillon 4
Mini Stock - Heat 1
Pos Driver Car #
1 Kraig Koehler 58
2 David Gauger Jr. 24
3 Kyle Pieschek65
4 Rick Kretschmann2
5 Jeff Kozaczuk16
6 Brian Watzka, SrUS1
7 Adam Launer5L
Mini Stock - Heat 2
Pos Driver Car #
1 Todd Hebel1
2 Kurt Naidl97
3 Kevin Peroutka86
4 Jason Willadsen7
5 Kari Kostichka72
6 Corey KaczorowskiK9
Mini Stock - Heat 3
Pos Driver Car #
1 Cory Kemkes07
2 Jordan ThielX2
3 Steve Schneider 21
4 Jason Novak 13
5 Erik Turner 29T
6 Chris Wellner29
7 Allen Dillon 4
Mini Stock - Qualifying
Pos Driver Car #
1 Erik Turner 29T
2 Jason Willadsen7
3 Allen Dillon 4
4 Kurt Naidl97
5 Chris Wellner29
6 Kevin Peroutka86
7 Jason Novak 13
8 Todd Hebel1
9 Jordan ThielX2
10 Kari Kostichka72
11 Cory Kemkes07
12 Josh Lammers6
13 Steve Schneider 21
14 Corey KaczorowskiK9
15 Rick Kretschmann2
16 David Gauger Jr. 24
17 Kyle Pieschek65
18 Kraig Koehler 58
19 Adam Launer5L
20 Jeff Kozaczuk16
21 Brian Watzka, SrUS1
Mini Stock - Semi Feature
Pos Driver Car #
1 Rick Kretschmann2
2 David Gauger Jr. 24
3 Kraig Koehler 58
4 Kyle Pieschek65
5 Adam Launer5L
6 Jeff Kozaczuk16
Sport 4 - Feature
Pos Driver Car #
1 Kendra Cretton55
2 Matt Cherney64
3 Rick Lorrigan33
4 Don Murray 88
5 Bruce Sand 90
6 Aaron Dalton 49
7 Ashley Wertel30
8 Dan Vandaalwyk9
9 David Gauger, Sr. 28
10 Sue Cherney58
11 Tim Kirchner 69X
12 Phil Mott 21
Super Stock - Feature
Pos Driver Car #
1 Todd Welsing29
2 Greg Thompson 31
3 Adam Pontzloff25
4 Errol Berry 75
5 Lee Kielpikowski51
6 Brian Stanelle001
7 Jason Kostichka24
8 Peter Kumbalek42
9 Dave Stoffer22
10 Jeff Treml65T
11 Jolene Gauger26
12 Brian VanAsten84
13 Kurt Naidl5N
14 Nathan Wegner 50
15 Tim Conard57
16 Jamie Van Hout57V
17 Kraig Koehler 65K
18 Jim Meissner22R
Super Stock - Heat 1
Pos Driver Car #
1 Lee Kielpikowski51
2 Jeff Treml65T
3 Brian VanAsten84
4 Jamie Van Hout57V
Super Stock - Heat 2
Pos Driver Car #
1 Dave Stoffer22
2 Brian Stanelle001
3 Kraig Koehler 65K
4 Errol Berry 75
5 Jolene Gauger26
6 Jason Kostichka24
7 Kurt Naidl5N
Super Stock - Heat 3
Pos Driver Car #
1 Adam Pontzloff25
2 Greg Thompson 31
3 Peter Kumbalek42
4 Nathan Wegner 50
5 Todd Welsing29
6 Jim Meissner22R
7 Tim Conard57
Super Stock - Qualifying
Pos Driver Car #
1 Greg Thompson 31
2 Kraig Koehler 65K
3 Tim Conard57
4 Errol Berry 75
5 Todd Welsing29
6 Kurt Naidl5N
7 Jim Meissner22R
8 Jolene Gauger26
9 Nathan Wegner 50
10 Brian Stanelle001
11 Adam Pontzloff25
12 Jason Kostichka24
13 Peter Kumbalek42
14 Dave Stoffer22
15 Jeff Treml65T
16 Jamie Van Hout57V
17 Brian VanAsten84
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