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Champions Crowned At Columbus 151 Speedway
By Andrew Schaller
With inclement weather on the doorstep of the speedway, the racing got
underway to decide the 2006 season champions at Columbus 151 Speedway.
While Jim Syvrud showed his muscle by winning the 50 lap championship feature,
Dean Schultz was finishing fourth and wrapping up the late model title.
Syvrud began his trek to the front from the inside of row four, entering the
top five and moving into fourth on lap three. Brent Knight held the
point as the first of three cautions flew on lap 10. Syvrud used the
restart to slide into second behind Knight and immediately go to work on the
leader. Syvrud looked high and low for a lane to make the pass, but
Knight was able to thwart every attempt. The second caution arrived on
lap 26, and the restart saw Syvrud charge to the outside of Knight. The
two battled for three laps until Syvrud was able to clear Knight and take over
sole possession of the lead. He drove away to a straightaway advantage
as the fight for second raged behind him. Scott Patrick claimed the
runner up spot just before the final caution of the event erased Syvrd's lead
on lap 47. Syvrud survived the three lap shootout to take the checkers
in first followed by Patrick, Andy Wendt, Dean Schultz and Andy
Tomlinson. Tomlinson also scored fast time in qualifying with a lap of
13.485. Heat winners were Terry Sauer, Patrick and Al Weishoff while
Jeff Falbe took the semi feature.
Dan Gosda took advantage of his front row starting position to run to the win
in the 35 lap street stock championship feature. Starting alongside
Derek Childs, Gosda grabbed the lead heading into turn one of the first lap
and never looked back. The inside lane followed Gosda by Childs as Mike
Amador moved into second and Ed Jackson into third. Jackson made several
attempts to advance his position in the high groove, but eventually succumbed
and slid back out of the top five. Amador shadowed Gosda, but was never
able to mount enough of a charge to make a pass. Gosda lead every lap en
route to victory. Amador, Zeke Bishofberger, Dan Schmidt and Tim Syvrud
rounded out the top five. Don Trush was quick qualifier with a lap of
14.098 while heat winners included Tylor Schultz and Tony Showers. Point
leader Kevin Anderson was forced to retire early in the event, but entered the
evening with enough points to defend his street stock championship, winning
the title by 425 points.
Brian Piller also made his front row starting spot pay off as he lead every
lap of the 20 lap hobby stock championship feature. Piller took the lead
on lap one after a short battle with Travis Schneeberg and was never
challenged for the top spot. One caution slowed the race, but proved to
have no effect on the outcome. At the checkers, it was Piller for the
win followed by Andy Junget, Jim Tate, Andy Raley and Steven Sauer. Kyle
Stark held fast time on the evening with a 15.181 second tour of the quarter
mile oval. Steven Sauer won the heat event. Jim Tate won his first
championship at Columbus 151 Speedway claiming the hobby stock title.
The Watters brothers, Sean and Kyle, finished first and second respectively to
wrap up the season in the bandit division 20 lap championship feature.
Sean Watters began his charge to the front from the inside of row seven with
brother Kyle starting two rows behind him. The only caution of the race
flew on lap two, and Sean Watters used to restart to enter the top five.
He was in second by lap four and a lap later he flew into the lead. Only
two laps later, Kyle Watters was in third behind Ashley Smith and the three
leaders opened up a healthy advantage. Kyle Watters was able to get by
Smith for second before the checkered flag flew and in the end, it was an all
Watters top two with Smith in third and Jake Wasserburger and Tim Bristol
finishing the top five. Kyle Watters owned fast time with a lap of
15.988. Heat winners included Eric Melchior, Wasserburger and Kyle Klein
with Tina Remsik winning the semi feature. Kyle Watters used his
successful evening to cap off the bandit championship for the 2006 season.
In wild and crazy back up action, Dave Moore took advantage of the spinning
leaders in front of him to win the final back up feature of the season.
Steve Privett held the initial lead with Jim Remsik in tow. The two
competitors made contact on lap two and both drivers spun. This handed
the lead over to Andy Ward who promptly spun two laps later, giving the lead
to Moore. Moore survived a late race charge by Ryan Oetzel to win the
feature. Oetzel used his second place finish to clinch the back up
division championship.
Concluding the night's festivities were the powder puff and mechanics races,
but these events were unable to be completed due to the arrival of the
rain. This ends the 2006 season at Columbus 151 Speedway. The
track would like to thank all the sponsors and race teams for a great season
and congratulations to our champions!
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