|
Taylor Triumphant at Columbus 151 Speedway
By: Natasha Fabian
August 8, 2003 (Columbus, WI) - Auto Armor night at Columbus 151 Speedway
drew a field of nearly seventy cars for an entertaining race program Friday.
Before Mike Taylor won the main event in his appearance at Columbus 151 in
2003, caution hung over the Late Model feature field halfway through, as
Tyler James and Bill Retallick got into each other in turn three. Jeff
Steenbergen dropped low to avoid the situation, but was unable to do so soon
enough to avoid race-terminating damage. At the restart, it was Delbert
Desjarlais at the point, with Mike Taylor and Greg Bowers on his tail.
Taylor made the pass at the green for the lead, and proceeded to pull away
from the pack. On lap twenty, Rob Retallick swung up into the turn three
wall, and Dean Schultz sailed through the infield. Aaron Wilke retired from
the battle along with Bowers. Taylor, quick-qualifier Steve Dobbratz, and
Andy Tomlinson ran a tough race until the checkered flag flew, Taylor edging
out in front to make the thirteenth feature winner of the season.
The first late model heat race had an aggressive run from the start. Bob
Taylor had handling troubles with his machine, causing rookie Steenbergen to
run up onto the car on his high side. The field remained under green, but
Steenbergen was forced to pull off after losing his right front. Joel
Soenksen nailed the win in the final race of the first half of the program.
A caution came out late in the Street Stock feature for an incident on the
track, and at the restart eleven cars were still running. Beaver Dam's
Dustin Ward was able to sweep up the thirty-lap main event.
Ward was the winner in the first Street Stock heat event. Perhaps one of
the closest races of the evening was the second heat, in which Dan Schmidt
eventually won after fighting Kyle Taylor from Stoughton off the point.
In Hobby Stock action, Lincoln Keeser was off the pace, sending Jeremy
Hartwig sailing through the grass on the eighth feature lap. The track
remaining clear, racing continued until Keeser took his vehicle around in
turn two, title contender Chuck Egli getting caught up on the way. Alan Dorn
of Waterloo made for the tenth winner of the fifteen races so far in the
season.
Dorn narrowly grabbed the checkered flag first over Jason Finnegan for
victory in the first Hobby Stock heat race. Fellow Waterloo native Jason
Deppe emerged victorious in the second and final heat.
The Bandits drove the opposite way, turning right for fifteen feature laps.
The initial start drew a caution after Charlie Spry and Justin Douglas spun
in the third turn. The restart gave second-year driver Rikki Bishofberger an
opportunity to jump to the lead in an Acura Integra owned by Jim Remsik, of
which she held until lap seven. Point leader Brian Paulson cleaned the field
for the win.
Brandon Johnson led from the pole for much of the first Bandit heat, but
Richard Boyce of Marshall snatched the win on the final lap. Bishofberger
picked up a trophy after winning from a healthy lead in the final heat
event.
The World's only backward-racing cars were nothing short of spectacular in
their feature race. There was more spinning and bumping than usual, but
Steve Oetzel managed to stay out of the thicket to win.
Nineteen contestants came out on the track together for a six-lap shoot-out
trailer race. Despite the debris cluttering the raceway, Paul Benjamin of
Madison waxed the win.
Friday August fifteenth will be highlighted by the Midwest/IMCA Modifieds.
The open-wheel speed machines are a fan favorite, along with the
four-cylinder Bandits which will be racing as part of the regular program.
Late Models, Street Stocks, Hobby Stocks and Backups will also be taking
part in the events of the evening. The Formula Indy Racing Association will
be running a scheduled series race. As an added attraction, Voit Concrete is
sponsoring Bubble Races, and a Gauntlet race will also be battled. For the
kids, a bubble blowing contest is slated. Racing at the quarter-mile asphalt
facility continues every Friday through September fifth. Qualifying is at
6:30 p.m. and the first Bandit heat spawns the program at 8:00 p.m. To get
to Columbus 151 Speedway, take exit 111 (Hwy V) on Highway 151 between
Columbus and Sun Prairie. More information is available on the web at www.racingonline.com/columbus151.
Late Model:
Quick Time: Steve Dobbratz, Rio 13.555 secs
Heats: Tyler James, Oconomowoc; Joel Soenksen, Baraboo
Feature: Mike Taylor, Stoughton; Andy Tomlinson, Poynette; Dobbratz; Denny
Bergeron, Waterloo; Rob Retallick, Marshall
Points: Tomlinson, 1265; Dean Schultz, 1088; Dobbratz, 970
Street Stock:
Quick Time: Kevin Anderson, Cottage Grove 14.334
Heats: Dustin Ward, Beaver Dam; Dan Schmidt, Watertown
Feature: Ward; Dale Weatherwax, Cambria; Chris Koepke, Fort Atkinson;
Anderson; Justin Schultz, Rio
Points: Schultz, 1401; Anderson, 1306; Ken Scott, 1140
Hobby Stock:
Quick Time: Brandon Riedner, Waunakee 15.234
Heats: Alan Dorn, Waterloo; Jason Deppe, Waterloo
Feature: Dorn; Deppe; Larry Moen, Madsion; Grant Lindner, Poynette; Garrett
Goth, Cottage Grove
Points: Gary Pashley, 1415; Chuck Egli, 1286; Lindner, 1286; Larry Moen, 1277
Bandit:
Quick Time: Brian Paulson 16.590
Heats: Richard Boyce, Marshall; Rikki Bishofberger, Fort Atkinson
Feature: Paulson; Chris Higgins, Watertown; Tina Remsik, Watertown; Joe Cross;
Bishofberger
Points: Paulson, 1068; Remsik, 721; Dan Birkett, 630
Backup:
Feature: Steve Oetzel, Marshall; Mark Remsik, Deerfield; Dave Moore;
George Wachuta, Oregon; Wayne Hook, Oregon
Points: Rick Verdon, 237; Oetzel, 196; Moore, 180
Trailer:
Feature: Paul Benjamin, Madison; Joe Roatch, Stoughton; Kevin Braunsky, Sun
Prairie;
Kyle Hopkins, Madison; Bryan Colden, Marshall
|
|
