Richert Nabs Billy Anderson Memorial Race
by Scott Malotke
April 17, 2004 Cedar Lake Speedway

Jerry Richert, Jr. captured the 20 lap Wissota sprint car feature Saturday night at the Cedar Lake Speedway returning the trophy to its rightful home in Minnesota.  Richert swept past leader Roger Rager with a pass down the backstretch and then was able to fend off several challenged after a plethora of cautions late in the race.

Rager blasted to the lead on lap two after starting on the outside of row four.  Initial lap leader Dustin Lindquist settled into second as Richert bided his time in the three spot. Rager shot out to a sizable lead when the races first caution was drawn when Bruce DeFries collected the wall in turns three and four.

Richert and defending champion Bill Boles both trailed Rager at the halfway point and looked to challenge for lead on the restart.  Rager led for two more laps when yellow was waved for the crashed mount of Leigh Thomas on the front stretch. 

Richert began pressuring Rager for the lead on lap 13.   Rager drove the high line on the high banked clay oval, while Richert searched for an opening.  Richert made his move on lap 16 and passed Rager in front of the backstretch with a mid-lane pass.  Dave Becker's spin in turn one closed the field on lap 17, and gave Rager one last chance to make an assault on Richert for the win.

The lap restarts tuned into a difficult obstacle to overcome as the yellow waved on five separate occasions  for misguided racers.  Race officials called for a one lap shootout as sprinkles started to appear.  Richert sped off for the win with Rager following closely. Lindquist captured third, Boles fourth, and Sy Anderson rounded out the top five.

John Kaanta fended off late race challenges from Tony Bahr and Duane Mahder to grab the win in the 30 lap late model feature.  The race got off to an ominous start as veteran Tom Nesbitt's car broke loose and slammed the wall hard in turn one.  Nesbitt's blue Rayburn had to be lifted from the track with two wreckers and towed to the infield. 

Kaanta used the top cushion to gain the lead on the restart as Tony Bahr and Steve Laursen gave chase during the early laps of the event.  While the top three sped off, behind them Joel Cryderman and Darrel Nelson were locked into a battle for the fourth spot.

The duel for fourth would come to halt on lap 14 when Nelson attempted to pass Cryderman in turn three and spun.  Nelson was sent to the rear of the field while Cryderman took his mount pitside. 

Near the half way mark, Kaanta, Bahr, Laursen, Mahder, and Rick Egersdorf  stood in the top five.   Bahr and Mahder each took turns exploring the various grooves when racing resumed.  Several times Bahr pulled up on Kaanta's bumper in turn two, only for Kaanta to widen the margin on the backstretch.  Mahder catfished his way around the bottom hoping to gain ground.  Mike Hesselink's slowing race car on lap 23 brought out the caution. 

Bahr and Mahder again dogged Kaanta until lap 27 when the yellow flew for a spinning Dave Cain.   Kaanta was able to hold off the duo on the restart as both drivers to to Kaanta's lowside.  Kaanta held off the charge.  Justin Fegers slipped by Egersdorf late in the race to grab fifth.  Laursen was able to hold for fourth.

Dave Cain and Dale Gangl both used front row starting positions to pick up their second straight wins in their respective classes.

Cain fought off a hard charge from central Wisconsin visitor Paul Knauf during the early stages of the race as Bruce Fouks, Jeremy Kerzman, Nelson, Ron Schreiner, and Craig Thatcher mixed it up behind  them.  

Kerzman dropped out  on lap five after losing fuel pressure, one lap later the caution dropped when Jamie Lemke spun in turn one.  At this time, Schreiner exited for the pits.

Cain led on the restart and paced the next two laps when near misfortune almost struck the leader.  Cain ran in to the rear of Craig Brightbill's racer as he exited the turn one pit entrance.  The mishap knocked the bumper off Cain's car and the yellow flew again.

Cain led the restart and was unchallenged for the win during the remainder of the event. 
Darrel Nelson overhauled Knauf for second on lap nine when Knauf ran high into the marbles between turns one and two.  Mike Anderson was able to sneak into fourth when Fouks went high in the middle of three and four, slowing himself and Thatcher.  The top five finishers were Cain, Nelson, Knauf, Anderson and Thatcher.

Dale Gangl is still riding high from last fall's Wissota 100.  The veteran super stock driver has now collected three straight wins counting last fall's showcase.  The win didn't come easy.

Gangl and Adam Hensel paced the field at the start of the 20 lap main, with Gangl gaining the advantage and charging to the cushion.  Joel Nelson followed Gangl with Hensel third .  Sixth starting Mark Chamernik moved into fourth on the opening lap and swapped spots with Hensel on lap six.  

Chamernik displaced Nelson on lap 8 when the yellow flew for David Emerfoll's spin.  Gangl paced the field and Chamernik stayed glued to his deck.  Fifth running Greg Nippoldt and Ron Host exchanged spots over the next few lap.  

Jim Martinson stalled on the backstraight bringing out the caution on lap 14.  Dan Carlson had mad the dash to eighth after starting a dead last 24th.  The top five were Gangl, Chamernik, Nelson, Hensel, and Nippoldt.  Gangl was able to hold off Chamernik thru the course of the event.  Nelson dropped out on lap 17 after mechanical woes.  Gangl took the checkered ahead of Chamernik, Hensel, Nippoldt, and Host.

NOTES
Richert became the third different winner of the Billy Anderson Memorial Race.  Tony Norem and Boles were the other two winners.  Dave Cain drove Rob Caho's late model tonight.  Reports are there were ergonomic difficulties for the larger Caho.  Weekly late model contender Brady Smith picked up a WDRL feature win at Freeport (Ill.) Pat Doar garnered a top ten placing.  Twenty-eight lates, 23 sprinters, 40 supers and 34 mods checked in at the gate.  Racing resumes next week at 6:00 pm.