The Ups, Downs And (Roll) Overs Of Racing
by Dan Bailey

(Arcadia, WI) When things go right it can be a great night at the racetrack. When things go wrong it can be a nerve-wracking night. Friday night racers and fans experienced some of both.

For the second time this season the WISSOTA Street Stock feature was red flagged for almost half an hour, and the grand stands were hushed to silence after a vicious rollover. With just a single lap completed the fifteen-car field was still tightly grouped as it raced into turns one and two. Slight
contact, near the front of the field, slowed two cars right in the middle of the racing groove. With the racing line quickly disappearing, Michael Conrad found himself with just a split second to decide what to do and where to go as he exited turn two.

Already hard in the throttle the Independence, WI driver was left with no option but to turn to the right to avoid the cars blocking his way. Unfortunately, the right turn took his #76 into the back straight wall.  Looking like a stunt scene from a long lost episode of “The Dukes of Hazard”, Conrad’s car climbed the back straight wall and then began a frightening series of 7 barrel rolls down the length of the back straight, throwing debris in the air, before coming to rest on its roof.

The FOX RIDGE SPEEDWAY safety crew was on the scene immediately coming to the aid of Conrad. Initially, Conrad was understandably dazed, but he was awake and conversing with the officials. With fuel leaking and Conrad unable to escape the wreckage, it quickly became apparent that immediate action was necessary. A brief flare-up was quickly extinguished and the safety crew
commenced with helping Conrad out of the remains of his car.

While Conrad was conscious and alert a trip to the local hospital via the areas ambulance was suggested for safety reasons.

With the car and debris cleared from the racing surface, the Street Stock feature resumed; what followed was an incredibly entertaining fourteen-lap battle for the feature win. While Stockton, Mn’s Shaun Wehlage never once relinquished the lead, Kylan Gamez, Tom Hund and Travis Krause created a four-car skirmish that lasted all the way to the checkered flag.

But the checkered flags belonged to Wehlage as he gathered in his third feature win of the 2004 season. Gamez, Hund and Krause finished second through fourth with Galesville’s David Nastvold rounding out the top-five.

Huse Collects second feature win in a row
After picking up his first feature win of the season the previous Friday night, Shaun Huse passed Dennis Earney just after the half way point of the feature and stretched the lead en route to his second feature win in as many weeks. Just like the previous week’s race to the checkered flag, Huse found himself following another car running where he wanted to drive, bidding his time and looking for an opportunity to pass. “I went down there and tried the low line once,” smiled the Bloomer, WI driver, “but there was no way I was going to make a pass down there. There just wasn’t enough traction down there coming off the corner.”

Wanting to run the high line, Huse suddenly found the way clear when Earney changed his line in turns one and two. “He started running down low in one and two,” said Huse, “and that opened up the high groove for me, and that’s all I needed.”

Huse cleared Earney in turn two and motored on to his second feature win in two weeks. Earney brought his #4 home second just in front of Troy Langowski with second heat-race winner Gary Wiersgalla and Troy Brand finishing fourth and fifth respectively.

Timm Finally in Victory Lane
“It’s about time,” were the first words out of Bob Timm’s mouth after winning Friday nights USRA Modified feature, “It’s been half a year since we ’ve won a race over here!”

After winning the lone heat-race, Timm battled Rochester racer Tim Donlinger for the lead over the entirety of the feature race. Timm followed Donlinger for a majority of the feature searching for an opening that would allow him to pass. “My big run was coming out of turn three and through four up high,” explained 36 year old Winonan, “So I was hard in the throttle in four and Tim (Donlinger) would slide up in front of me so I would have to brake or ease off a little bit so that I could gauge where he was going to be when I was on the gas and time my pass just right.”

Timm’s after several laps gauging and planning, Timm found the opening and the opportunity and made the pass for the lead and eventual win. Donlinger settled for second with John Doelle, Karl Fenske and Jonah Daffinson rounding out the top-five.

Jeff Ringenberg grabs first win
Just one week after fellow WISSOTA Midwest Modified driver Dan Hesch said, “Once Jeff gets his car figured out he’ll be a strong challenge” Eyota, MN’s Jeff Ringenberg brought home is first feature win of the year. Holding off challenges by Hesch and fellow Eyota driver Harlan Morehart, Ringenberg pulled his #07 into Victory Lane for the first time this year.

Morehart capitalized on a late race bobble by Hesch to finish second. Hesch settled for third with Clint Wittlief and Bob Fort completing the top-five.

Knopps and Schermerhorn win remaining features
Chippewa Falls, WI’s Mike Knopps won the Pure Stock feature for the fourth week in a row while Lacrosse racer Rick Schermerhorn survived a 15-car pile-up (including another roll-over) in the 4-Cylinder Hornet feature and passed Charlie Schwabenbauer to win the Hornet feature.

7/9/2004 - Fox Ridge Speedway Results

Hornets
A-Main 01 --  1. Rick Schermerhorn, Lacrosse, Wis; 2. Charlie Schwabenbauer, Holmen, Wis; 3. Ryan Ruhbusch, Holmen, Wis; 4. Gary Towner, Galesville, Wis; 5. Justin Yahnke, Holmen, Wis; 6. Brandon Gleiter, Alma, Wis; 7. Shane Anderson, Holmen, Wis; 8. Carrol Hundorf, Winona, Minn.; 9. Kevin Baertsch, Fountain City, Wis; 10. Joel Hesch, Arcadia, Wis; 11. Brent Szymoniak, Elk Mound, Wis; 12. Scott Harsh, Eau Claire, Wis; 13. Darrell Hundorf, Winona, Minn.; 14. Jacob Schreiner, Fall Creek, Wis; 15. William Hicks Jr, Winona, Minn.; 16. Michael Peters, Whitehall, Wis; 17. Colin Dubiel, Whitehall, Wis; 18. Loren Nelson, Independence, Wis; 19. Mark Bornitz, Holmen, Wis; 20. Klye Franson, Strum, Wis; 21. Dan Hundorf, Winona, Minn.; 22. Stacey Nelson, Eau Claire, Wis; 23. Coty Slawson, Ettrick, Wis; 24. Steve Owen, LaCrosse, Wis.
Heat 01 --  1. Charlie Schwabenbauer, Holmen, Wis; 2. Rick Schermerhorn, Lacrosse, Wis; 3. Ryan Ruhbusch, Holmen, Wis; 4. Mark Bornitz, Holmen, Wis; 5. Gary Towner, Galesville, Wis; 6. Michael Peters, Whitehall, Wis; 7. Stacey Nelson, Eau Claire, Wis; 8. Klye Franson, Strum, Wis; 9. Coty Slawson, Ettrick, Wis; 10. Carrol Hundorf, Winona, Minn.; 11. Steve Owen, LaCrosse, Wis; 12. Jacob Schreiner, Fall Creek, Wis; 13. Loren Nelson, Independence, Wis.
Heat 02 --  1. Justin Yahnke, Holmen, Wis; 2. Dan Hundorf, Winona, Minn.; 3. Brandon Gleiter, Alma, Wis; 4. Shane Anderson, Holmen, Wis; 5. William Hicks Jr, Winona, Minn.; 6. Joel Hesch, Arcadia, Wis; 7. Brent Szymoniak, Elk Mound,  Wis; 8. Colin Dubiel, Whitehall, Wis; 9. Kevin Baertsch, Fountain City, Wis; 10. Scott Harsh, Eau Claire, Wis; 11. Darrell  Hundorf, Winona, Minn.; 12. Chris Gilbertson, Trempealeau, Wis; 13. Bryan Conners, Fountain City, Wis.

WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds
A-Main 01 --  1. Jeff Ringenberg, Eyota, Minn.; 2. Harlan Morehart, Eyota, Minn.; 3. Dan Hesch, Arcadia, Wis; 4. Clint Wittlief, Oronoco, Minn.; 5. Bob Fort, Fountain City, Wis; 6. Tom Brink, Winona, Minn.; 7. Ryan Olson, Strum, Wis; 8. David Kruckeberg, Zumbrota, Minn.; 9. James Pehler, Fountain City, Wis.
Heat 01 --  1. Ryan Olson, Strum, Wis; 2. Dan Hesch, Arcadia, Wis; 3. Jeff Ringenberg, Eyota, Minn.; 4. Harlan Morehart, Eyota, Minn.; 5. Bob Fort, Fountain City, Wis; 6. Tom Brink, Winona, Minn.; 7. David Kruckeberg, Zumbrota, Minn.; 8. Clint Wittlief, Oronoco, Minn.; 9. James Pehler, Fountain City, Wis.

USRA Modifieds
A-Main 01 --  1. Bob Timm, Winona, Minn.; 2. Tim Donlinger, Rochester, Minn.; 3. John Doelle, Arcadia, Wis; 4. Karl Fenske, Winona, Minn.; 5. Jonah Daffinson, Galesville, Wis; 6. Gary Doelle, Fountain City, Wis; 7. Jason Marten, Mondovi, Wis; 8. Ron Britain, Winona, Minn.; 9. Les Jonsgaard, Winona, Minn.; 10. Kerry Ledebuhr, Winona, Minn..
Heat 01 --  1. Bob Timm, Winona, Minn.; 2. John Doelle, Arcadia, Wis; 3. Karl Fenske, Winona, Minn.; 4. Tim Donlinger,  Rochester, Minn.; 5. Kerry Ledebuhr, Winona, Minn.; 6. Ron Britain, Winona, Minn.; 7. Jonah Daffinson, Galesville, Wis; 8. Jason Marten, Mondovi, Wis; 9. Gary Doelle, Fountain City, Wis; 10. Les Jonsgaard, Winona, Minn.; 11. Ben Anderson, Winona, Minn..

Pure Stocks
A-Main 01 --  1. Mike Knopps, Chippewa Falls, Wis; 2. Kevin Smeltzer, Menomonie, Wis; 3. Josh Rud, Osseo, Wis; 4. Dustin Thorson, Mondovi, Wis; 5. Jordan Johnson, Augusta, Wis; 6. Shawn Krousey, Winona, Minn.; 7. Eric Partlow, Altoona, Wis; 8. Michael Harsh, Eau Claire, Wis; 9. Mike Knudtson, Osseo, Wis; 10. Matt Helgeson, Arcadia, Wis; 11. Chris Endle, Mondovi, Wis.
Heat 01 --  1. Mike Knopps, Chippewa Falls, Wis; 2. Dustin Thorson, Mondovi, Wis; 3. Kevin Smeltzer, Menomonie, Wis; 4. Jordan Johnson, Augusta, Wis; 5. Josh Rud, Osseo, Wis; 6. Michael Harsh, Eau Claire, Wis; 7. Shawn Krousey, Winona, Minn.; 8. Chris Endle, Mondovi, Wis; 9. Eric Partlow, Altoona, Wis; 10. Matt Helgeson, Arcadia, Wis; 11. Mike Knudtson, Osseo, Wis.

WISSOTA Street Stocks
A-Main 01 --  1. Shaun Wehlage, Stockton, Minn.; 2. Kylan Gamez, Arcadia, Wis; 3. Tom Hund, Fountain City, Wis; 4. Travis Krause, Buffalo City, Wis; 5. David Nastvold, Galesville, Wis; 6. Andy Bohnstengel, Winona, Minn.; 7. Kevin Hager, Kellogg, Minn.; 8. Jesse Hansen, Alma, Wis; 9. Corey Breitung, Prior Lake, Minn.; 10. Fred Prudoehl, Winona, Minn.; 11. Matt Wolfe, Independence, Wis; 12. Brad Dennis, Winona, Minn.; 13. Cory Hanson, Onalaska, Wis; 14. Tagge Pape, Arcadia, Wis; 15. Michael Conrad, Independence, Wis.
Heat 01 --  1. Kylan Gamez, Arcadia, Wis; 2. Shaun Wehlage, Stockton, Minn.; 3. Kevin Hager, Kellogg, Minn.; 4. Brad Dennis, Winona, Minn.; 5. Fred Prudoehl, Winona, Minn.; 6. Matt Wolfe, Independence, Wis; 7. Tagge Pape, Arcadia, Wis; 8. Jesse Hansen, Alma, Wis.
Heat 02 --  1. Travis Krause, Buffalo City, Wis; 2. Andy Bohnstengel, Winona, Minn.; 3. Tom Hund, Fountain City, Wis; 4. Michael Conrad, Independence, Wis; 5. David Nastvold, Galesville, Wis; 6. Cory Hanson, Onalaska, Wis; 7. Corey Breitung, Prior Lake, Minn..

WISSOTA Super Stocks
A-Main 01 --  1. Shawn Huse, Bloomer, Wis; 2. Dennis Earney, Cochrane, Wis; 3. Troy Langowski, Winona, Minn.; 4. Gary Wiersgalla, Fountain City, Wis; 5. Troy Brand, Winona, Minn.; 6. Rodney Dregney, Mondovi, Wis; 7. Jon Duffy, Winona, Minn.; 8. Justin Sass, Alma, Wis; 9. Kevin Hager, Kellogg, Minn.; 10. Wyatt Wolfe Jr, Lacrosse, Wis; 11. Dan Arneson, Eleva, Wis; 12. Travis Wagner, Arcadia, Wis; 13. Jeff Dregney, Eleva, Wis; 14. Brian Fetting, Fountain City, Wis.
Heat 01 --  1. Rodney Dregney, Mondovi, Wis; 2. Wyatt Wolfe Jr, Lacrosse, Wis; 3. Shawn Huse, Bloomer, Wis; 4. Dennis Earney, Cochrane, Wis; 5. Troy Brand, Winona, Minn.; 6. Dan Arneson, Eleva, Wis; 7. Travis Wagner, Arcadia, Wis.
Heat 02 --  1. Gary Wiersgalla, Fountain City, Wis; 2. Jon Duffy, Winona, Minn.; 3. Troy Langowski, Winona, Minn.; 4. Justin Sass, Alma, Wis; 5. Jeff Dregney, Eleva, Wis; 6. Kevin Hager, Kellogg, Minn.; 7. Brian Fetting, Fountain City, Wis.