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Dobratz Wins Second Straight At Columbus 151 Speedway
Rio's Steve Dobratz won the late model 35 lap main event to win back to back
features to open the season at Columbus 151 Speedway. Dobratz started
dead last in the 17 car field to accomplish the feat. John Acker and
Sean Retallick brought the pack to the drop of the green flag. Acker
grabbed the initial lead, but the first of four cautions flew on the first
lap. Several cars were involved, but most were able to continue with
only cosmetic damage. Jeff Falbe used the restart to pull alongside
Acker in a bid for the lead. Falbe was unable to make a run past the
leader before caution number two on lap nine. The restart once again saw
Falbe attempt an outside pass while Dobratz was maneuvering through the
field. Falbe was unable to make it stick and began sliding backwards as
Shaun Scheel took over second and Kurt Clapper moved into third. Clapper made
a move to the high side and, at one point, pulled even with Acker for the
lead. But Clapper was also unable to hold his position as he began to
drop back. Lap 17 played host to the third caution of the race as
Clapper and Scheel made heavy contact. This allowed Rocky Breezer
and Dobratz to move into second and third respectively. Dobratz used the
restart to charge to the outside of Acker, and two laps later claim the
point. Dobratz immediately began to pull away from the pack. After
surviving the final caution on lap 25, Dobratz and Breezer drove out to a
healthy lead and at the line, it was Dobratz followed by Breezer, Clapper,
Acker and Bobbi Bishofberger. Dobratz also claimed honors in qualifying
for the second straight week with a lap of 13.153. Heat winners were
Jason Dunn of Sun Prairie and Lone Rock's John Acker.
Ed Jackson of Madison used his front row starting spot to charge to victory in
the 25 lap street stock feature. Starting alongside Derek Childs,
Jackson took the top spot out of turn two on the first lap and lead every lap
of the event. The first of two cautions flew on the first lap for the
spinning vehicle of Childs. The restart saw the field run in formation
as Jackson opened up a big advantage. Eventually, Tony Showers took over
second with Bud Riedner and Tylor Schultz lined up behind him. Jim
Rohrbeck moved into the top five on lap ten using the outside groove to gain
positions. Rohrbeck advanced to second before a caution on lap18 slowed
the field and erased Jackson's large lead. Rohrbeck encountered a
flat tire during the caution and was forced to retire. This handed
second back to Showers. Zeke Bishofberger used the restart to take a
look to the high side of the leader, but he couldn't hold on as he began
sliding back with five laps to go. On the final lap, Showers got very
loose and lost four spots to fifth while Jackson crossed the line in
first. Rounding out the top five were Riedner, Bishofberger, Schultz and
Showers. Poynette's Tim Syvrud claimed fast time on the afternoon with a
13.924 second tour of the quarter mile. Heat winners included Jackson
and Waunakee's Bud Riedner.
In hobby stock action, Brad Luck of Prairie Du Sac rode his pole starting spot
to the 20 lap feature win. Starting inside Nick Newton, Luck owned the
lead on the first lap and never looked back. Initially, Roger Stephenson
challenged Luck for the top spot, but Stephenson encountered problems mid-race
and began dropping back. This gave the runner up position to Jerrod
Sutherland. Sutherland battled Mike Storkson for the spot, but Storkson
was not able to complete the pass on the outside and fell to fifth. As
the checkers flew, it was Luck in control with Sutherland, Andy Raley, Chet
Paffel and Storkson rounding out the top five. Jim Tate, Jr of Watertown
was fast qualifier with a lap of 15.162. Heat winners were Sutherland
and Jason Brewster, both of Beloit.
Stephen Scheel of Lake Mills took over the lead on lap three and drove to
victory in the 18 lap bandit feature event. Starting outside row four,
Scheel used an early caution to advance quickly to the front. He was
followed closely by Kyle Watters and Sean Watters as they moved into the top
three. Kyle Watters made several attempts to pass Scheel, trying every
lane possible, but was unable to make a pass. The leaders encountered
lapped traffic on lap ten which allowed Jake Wasserburger to close with the
leaders. Wasserburger made it a three way battle for the lead with
Scheel and Kyle Watters, but Scheel proved to have enough to hold them off for
the win. Following Scheel across the line was Kyle Watters, Wasserburger,
Gary Stark and Sean Watters. Carlyn Voigt of Beaver Dam and Waunakee's
Gary Stark took heat wins while Wasserburger of Poynette was fast qualifier.
Finally, in wild and crazy back up action, Bruce Havel of Deerfield won the 10
lap feature event. Jim Remsik, Jr grabbed the early lead on the start
and pulled out a healthy lead. Havel began running the leader down when
he pulled into the second spot on lap three. Havel caught the leader two
laps later and made the winning pass as lapped traffic make things hectic for
the leaders. At the checkers, it was Havel for the win followed by
Remsik and Ryan Oetzel.
This Friday, May 11, Columbus 151 Speedway returns to it's normal Friday night
schedule with a full program in all divisions. Time trials begin at 6:30
with racing at 8 pm.
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