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Shryock Victorious In USMTS At Fox Ridge
by Pat Rohn
August 15, 2003…Arcadia, WI. The United States Modified Touring
Series made it’s second appearance of the season at Fox Ridge Speedway of
Friday.
A quality group of 33 Modifieds was on hand including series regulars like
Jason Hughes, Tommy Myer, Kelly Shryock, and Corey Dripps. When the
USMTS visited FRS back in July, it was the local guys that dominated the
feature with Knapp, WI’s Craig Thatcher taking the win followed by
Winonan’s Bob Timm and Les Duellman.
This time however, it was the travelers that would prevail.
Thatcher, starting from the outside of row one of the 30 lap feature, got out
to an early lead, but was followed closely by pole sitter Hughes.
Garner, IA’s Dean Mahlstedt jumped into third with fellow Iowan Shryock in
fourth. Mahlstedt, who appeared to be the among the favorites in the
feature coming off a dominating performance while capturing his heat, vaulted
from his sixth starting spot into third on the first lap. On lap two,
Mahlstedt moved into position to challenge Hughes for second, when suddenly
something went awry with his ride, forcing him to the pits and ending his
promising night with disappointment.
Mahlstedt’s misfortune turned into opportunity for Shryock who then took
over the third spot. On lap three, Hughes was battling Thatcher for the
lead, allowing Shryock to close the gap on the two leaders.
By lap five, Hughes was able to get past Thatcher and the two ran that way,
until a yellow on lap eight tightened up the field. On the restart,
Hughes took the lead followed by Shryock, with Hudson’s Ron Schreiner moving
past Thatcher into third. The front of the pack remained that way until
Thatcher’s night ended on lap 14 due to mechanical failure.
On lap 16, the caution again dropped due to debris on the track in turn
three. On the restart, Schreiner gained the lead from Hughes with
Shryock in third and local drivers Karl Fenske and Timm moving into fourth and
sixth respectively. Shryock, Hughes, and Schreiner fought for the lead
until lap 20, when both Shryock and Hughes got past Schreiner. The lead
group remained essentially the same while Tommy Myer and Corey Dripps moved
into the fray for fourth on back stretch.
Schreiner got past Hughes and back into second but could not challenge Shryock
who went on to take the checkered flag. Hughes finished third followed
by Myer, Cedar Falls, IA’s Dripps, Fenske, and Timm.
Winners in the USMTS heats were Thatcher, Mahlstedt, Mark Noble, and Shryock
while Les Duellman and Pea Ridge, Arkansas’ Johnny Bone, Jr. took the B
Features.
In talking with Arcadia driver John Doelle, he stated that the track was in
fairly good condition. Even with the somewhat slick surface, the track
was still conducive to good racing. However, during the Modified
feature, with several of the cars running the extreme bottom, they kept
throwing loose marbles into the grooves, making for extremely difficult
conditions. Doelle stated that it was somewhat similar to running up
into the marbles on an asphalt track. The Arcadia driver who is in his
second year in the WISSOTA modifieds class is currently second in track
points and trails only Karl Fenske.
The night’s racing progressed at a good pace, without one caution during the
entire heat portion of the program
The Midwest Modifieds took to the track for the first feature.
Jeff Ringenberg, who is currently second in the Midwest Mods points race
started from the pole, while current points leader, Dan Fagerlind did not have
that fortune, starting well back in the pack. Ringenberg took the lead
at the drop of the green and opened a comfortable early lead.
Marshfield’s Jack Larson took off in hot pursuit and by lap five, had caught
Ringenberg. On lap six, as Larson appeared ready to take the lead, his
car suddenly slowed. The problem was terminal for the hard charger,
ending his night prematurely. After Larson’s misfortune, the only
other competitor to give Ringenberg a challenge was Bangor’s Dan Koziol.
Koziol closed on Ringenberg, but was never able to seriously challenge for the
lead, with Ringenberg taking the win followed by Koziol, Harlan Morehart,
Fagerlind, Matt Durnen, and Bud Pehler.
Ringenberg took his heat also for a sweep of the Midwest Mods. Durnen
won the other Midwest heat.
Current points leader, Travis Krause had the fortune of starting from the pole
in the WISSOTA Street Stock feature. Krause jumped to a large early lead
with Andy Bohnstengel and Dave Nastvold battling for second. By lap
four, Shawn Wehlage had moved into second and begun chasing down Krause.
On lap six, the first yellow of the night came out when Randy Bradford and
Matt Wolfe tangled in turn three. Officials were going to charge
Bradford with the caution, sending him to the back of the pack, but it was
here that Dennis Davis stepped up and admitted that Bradford’s spin was
actually his fault. You have to give Davis credit for his honesty in
doing the right thing. Good job Dennis!
Krause stayed in the lead on the restart, but Wehlage remained in close
pursuit until lap ten, when Wehlage was able to pull along side Krause at the
flag stand with Wehlage taking the lead. Krause was able to keep close
but could never get by Wehlage. The racing was tight and furious behind
the leaders, with the group that was fighting for fourth place coming out of
turn four, five wide at one point. Tom Hund took third while Bohnstengel
and Nastvold rounded out the top five.
Wehlage also had a sweep, having take the third heat earlier in the
night. Krause and Hund were also winners in their heats.
In the WISSOTA Super Stocks, Dennis Earney was able to take advantage of his
outside pole to grab the lead with Troy Langowski taking over second. On
lap two, Langowski took the lead from Earney, but the Cochrane driver was not
about to give in easily, regaining the lead from Langowski on the next
lap. In the meantime, Bloomer’s Shawn Huse moved into contention,
eventually capturing second from Langowski on lap eight. Huse’s
pursuit of Earney was relentless, with the two pushing it to the limit for
several laps. On lap 11, Earney went into turn three a little too hot,
causing him to slide high. With Huse hugging the bottom of the track, he
was able to gain the lead for good and with about five laps to go, checked out
on the field. Huse took the checkered going away, followed by Earney,
Langowski, Dan Nissalke, Kelly Anderson, Troy Brand, and Nick Herrick.
Brand, Langowski, and Huse took their heats respectively, but the “Rocket
Rider of the Night” award had to go to Nissalke. It was Nissalke who,
in the third heat started out in sixth place but by the middle of the back
stretch on lap one, had moved into second place. The burst of speed that
Nissalke showed caused many in the crowd to look in amazement asking “how
did he do that?”.
Fox Ridge returns to it’s regular racing program next Friday Night, with
Late Models, WISSOTA Modifieds, Midwest Modifieds, Super Stocks and Street
Stocks. There is only one week remaining before the track championships
on Friday Night of Labor Day weekend. Kids 12 and under will receive
free admission.
Fox Ridge Summary August 15, 2003
SUMMARY
USMTS Modifieds
Feature – Shryock, Schreiner, Hughes, Myer, Dripps, Fenske, Timm, Steve
Wetzstein, Bruce Hanford, Justin Boney
Heat 1 – Thatcher, Dripps, Doelle, Britian, Hesch
Heat 2 – Mahlstedt, Wetzstein, Schreiner, Duellman, Boney
Heat 3 – Mark Noble, Timm, Hughes, Craig Scott, Johnny Bone Jr.
WISSOTA Super Stocks
Feature – Shawn Huse, Dennis Earney, Troy Langowski, Dan Nissalke, Kelly
Anderson Troy Brand, Nick Herrick, Gary Wiersgalla, Dan Arneson, Adam
Stockhausen
Heat 1 – Brand, Wiersgalla, Kevin Hager, Matt Durnen, Mark Peterson
Heat 2 – Langowski, Stockhausen, Herrick, Anderson, Luke Schultz
Heat 3 – Huse, Nissalke, Earney, Arneson, Jon Duffy
WISSOTA Street Stocks
Feature – Shaun Wehlage, Travis Krause, Tom Hund, Andy Bohnstengel, Dave
Nastvold, Danny Hanson, Kylan Gamez, Mike Prochnow, Brad Dennis, Fred Prudoehl
Heat 1 – Hund, Bradford, Bohnstengel, Prudoehl, Matt Wolfe
Heat 2 – Krause, Dennis, Nastvold, Hanson, Lee Hager
Heat 3 – Wehlage, Gamez, Mike Prochnow, Dennis Davis, Loppnow
WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds
Feature – Jeff Ringenberg, Dan Koziol, Harlan Morehart, Dan Fagerlind,
Matt Durnen, James Pehler, Leigh Volkman, Lonnie Seipel, Dareck Volkman, Jack
Larson
Heat 1 – Ringenberg, Larson, Dan Hesch, Morehart, Fagerlind
Heat 2 – Durnen,
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