Egersdorf And Thatcher Grab Wins At Cedar Lake
by Scott Malotke
May 15, 2004

Rick Egersdorf made an exciting last lap pass of John Kaanta to win the 30 lap Wissota late model feature Saturday night at the Cedar Lake Speedway.

Polesitter Brady Smith led the first four laps before Egersdorf  took the point in his Mastersbilt.  Methodically moving up through the field was Kaanta, starting sixth, Kaanta moved into the top five on lap three.   Kaanta displaced Eric Pember in fourth on lap six and then passed Trent Follmer one lap later.

Egersdorf was able to control the lead while Smith stayed within striking distance of the leader.  The events first yellow dropped on lap 13 when when Porky Brust and Jeff Provinzino got together entering turn three.

Egersdorf jumped out to the lead on the restart, but the yellow appeared once again, when Pat Doar and Mike Nutzman got tangled up.  Doar was sent to the rear for his involvement.

The last half of the race gave the fans their entertainment's dollar.  Egersdorf would have his hand's full of Smith and Kaanta.  During the first half of the race, each driver had successfully navigated the clay oval in the lower groove.  Smith changed his approach going to the cushion.  The change in strategy allowed Kaanta to close in.

With five laps to go, the three drivers could be covered by a blanket.  The winner would be determined by who could maneuver through the slower cars at the rear of the field.  On lap 28 the three drivers found the going tough as the backmarkers came into play.  Egersdorf and Kaanta stayed on the bottom, while Smith made a charge of the top of turn two.

Smith momentarily grabbed the lead, but was held up by Eric Breeschotten.  Egersdorf charged back into the lead.  Smith would not be so fortunate as he made contact with Breeschotten  on the backstretch and banged into the wall ending his night.

Egersdorf would lead Kaanta at the green with Eric Pember and Jimmy Mars waiting to capitalize on any mistake.  Kaanta blasted through the middle groove in turns three and four and coming across the flag stand had a two foot lead.

Egersdorf battled back on the bottom, and made the pass as he took the low groove and pulled a slide job on Kaanta in turn two.  The two drivers charged into the last turn and Egersdorf was able to maintain the advantage.  Pember, Mars and Follmer completed the top five.

Youngster Brent Prochnow making his first appearance of the season looked to have the Wissota modified feature in hand when an untimely spin by Joey Bellefeuille proved to be his downfall.

Prochnow took the lead from early leader Scott Splittstoeser on lap two and pulled away during the early portion of the race.  Fifth starting Craig Thatcher chased Prochnow but was unable to make up any ground as Prochnow steadied his Dirt Dueller around the bottom of the rubbered up surface.  Battling behind the two leaders were Splittstoeser, Dave Cain and Dennis Jones.

Prochnow's lead dissolved when Bellefeuille spun in turn three.  Prochnow led the restart, but Thatcher gained the upper hand on coming out of turn four as the white flag flew.  Entering into turn one, Cain ran into the back of Prochnow causing him to spin.  Prochnow's racer stood broadside in the middle of the corner and a hard charging Jones slammed into Prochnow. Cain was sent to the rear while Prochnow and Jones retired on the hook.

Thatcher led the  restart, and held on for the win.  Splittstoeser had a career best second.  Steve Arpin, Darrel Nelson and Mike Anderson rounded out the top five.

Kelly Anderson won the Wissota super stock feature by making his car work where others could not in grabbing the 20 lap main event.  Greg Nippoldt and Larry Boumeester paced the field for the first three laps until Brandon Jensen charged up to take second away from Boumeester.   

The caution waved on lap four when Anderson was spun into the infield as a result of contact with Steve Hucovski.  Hucovski would be sent to the tail end for his part in the incident.

Jensen pressured Nipplodt on the restart as the two battled for the lead around the bottom of the track.  Anderson made his presence felt as he quickly dispatched of  Boumeester and Scott Kobs by working the middle of the track.

Boumeester retired on lap eight with motor woes as Nippoldt, Jensen and Anderson battled up front.  Anderson passed Jensen for second on lap nine and one later disposed of Nippoldt.  Anderson steadily pulled away until a lap 14 caution for Justin Dodge.

Anderson was able hold his advantage throughout the remainder of the event to notch the win.  Jensen passed Nippoldt for second late in the race.  Mike Weber won the battle with Ryan Aho for fourth.

Dan Gullickson led from start to finish to pick up the 15 lap Wissota street stock feature.  Gullickson had to hold off fierce challenges from Chris Peterson and Jason Vandenkamp to gain the win.

Peterson tried several times to complete a pass around the defending track champ but came up empty on each effort during the mid stage of the race.  Vandenkamp took over second on lap 11 and was able to challenge for the lead as the two drivers raced out of turn two.  Each time, Gullickson withheld the challenge and was able to pick up the win. Following Vandenkamp and Peterson were Rod DeBernardeux and Mark Froehlich.

Results
Street stock
Heats
D. Gullickson, J.Gulickson, Hanestad, Walker, Svee
DeBernardeaux, Rosen, Froehlich, M. Thomas, Tourville,
Peterson, Kammerud, C. Gullickson, Vandenkamp, Miller

Feature
Dan Gullickson, Jason Vandenkamp, Chris Peterson, Rod DeBernardeaux, Mark Froehlich, Chris Gullickson, Cory Rosen, Mark Thomas, Shawn Kammerud, Scott Walker

Super stocks
Heats
M. Weber, Nelson, S. Thomas, Borgeson, Loomis
Boumeester, Aho, Gr. Nippoldt, B. Kobs, Dodge
Tardy, Peterlin, Hucovski, D. Thomas, Sinna
B. Jensen, Anderson, S. Kobs,  Gangle, C. Mahder

B feature
Archambeault, Ma. Chamernik, Hillman, Ga. Nippoldt

Feature
Kelly Anderson, Brandon Jensen, Greg Nippoldt, Mike Weber, Ryan Aho, Scott Kobs, Steve Thomas, Tim Borgeson, Kyle Peterlin, Danny Thomas   

Modifieds
M. Anderson, Jones, Olson, Lemke, Pember
Thatcher, Lear, Hanson, R. Prochnow, Harris
Arpin, Splittstoeser, B. Prochnow, Miller, Friendt
R. Mahder, Cain, Nelson,  Hardy, Girolamo

B feature
Schreiner, Kerzman, J. Jensen, Bellefeuille

Feature
Craig Thatcher, Scott Splittstoeser, Steve Arpin, Darrel Nelson, Mike Anderson, Dann Olson, Dave Lear, Ron Mahder, Eric Pember, Ron Schreiner

Late Models
Mars, Nutzman, Smith, A.Anderson, Cain
Egersdorf, Follmer, Pember, Plank, Doar
Kaanta, Ri. Hanestad, Redetzke, Mi. Chamernik, Cryderman

B feature
DeSmith, Provinzino, Nesbitt, Fegers

Feature
Rick Egersdorf, John Kaanta, Eric Pember, Jimmy Mars, Trent Follmer,
Rick Hanestad, Jerry Redetzke, Chuckie DeSmith, Joel Cryderman, Justin