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Royle Captures First Career Wisconsin Challenge Series Victory
June 19, 2004
MARSHFIELD, WI. (June 19, 2004) -- It was just over a year ago at the Dairy
Days 75, that Farmington, MN native Adam Royle, lead his first laps in WCS
competition. On that day is brilliant charge to the lead was negated by
a spin while out front of the contest.
This evening, he earned some redemption, as he again bolted ahead of the pack
after snaring the top spot from Jeff Weinfurter. This time, his trip to
the checkered flag was flawless, interrupted by just a single caution period,
Royle dominated the closing laps of the race enroute to his first career
Wisconsin Challenge Series victory. Perhaps the biggest win of his young
career.
Held in nearly ideal weather conditions, a field of 23 cars took the green
flag. Polesitter Jeff Weinfurter, who has captured three WCS events during his
career would square off with Jeremy Lepak at the start of the main event which
would be contested at 75 laps.
Weinfurter would surge ahead of the initial lead, with Lepak settling in
behind him at the conclusion of the first lap. Kirby Kurth, making his
first WCS start of the season, showed off his sharp looking machine in
third. Royle meanwhile had started in the sixth position, and had
already climbed to fourth by lap two, running the outside line around the
half-mile oval.
On the fifth round Royle would slip past Kurth for the third spot and begin to
set his sights on the lead duo of Weinfurter and Lepak.
Lepak, who has paced several WCS events this season began to experiment with
the outside line in effort to challenge Weinfurter. While Royal closed
the gap. The trio were nose to tail by lap 10.
Just behind them, Elliott Weiler, a former Legends car racer and a rookie in
Super Late Model competition was having a fantastic race. He had moved
up several positions in the early laps and then swept by Kurth to run in the
fourth spot. Weiler looked very impressive running just a few car
lengths behind the lead trio.
Current Wisconsin Challenge Series point leader Mark Eswein placed himself on
the scoreboard on lap 15, having reached the fifth position.
On lap 22, Royle would work his way under Lepak, and the two would engaged in
a wheel to wheel battle for the lead over the next several
circuits. Royal would eventually work his way by into the
runner-up spot.
At the same time Weiler's solid showing was beginning to come to an end.
He slid up the track on lap 23 allowing Eswein to advance to fourth and
moments later began to slow dramatically as his car refused to turn in the
corners.
Out front Weinfurter had his hands full with Royle, who moved to his outside
as the race reached lap 25. Royle would surge ahead on the next lap to
pace his first lap of WCS competition this season.
Meanwhile the lone caution would appear on lap 26 as Weiler's problem became
apparent. A shower of sparks indicated a flat tire and unable to make the pit
lane, forcing a slowdown.
When the green flag flew again Royle bolted back to the lead with Weinfurter
in tow. Behind them Eswein had worked to the inside of Lepak and would
steal away the third position, dropping Lepak to fourth.
Weinfurter would look low on Royal several times over the next ten laps in an
attempt to regain the top spot, but Royal thwarted every effort.
With 30 laps remaining Royal began to get some breathing room, slowly edging
away from Weinfurter and Eswein. Behind this group, the remaining
positions changed often, with Chris Weinkauf settling into fourth. A
cluster of cars including Todd Stapleman, Judd Brandl, Jason Weinkauf, Lepak
and Gary Back the 2002 series champion all swapped the fifth spot back and
forth between them.
Royle's effort out front were further favored when Eswein and Weinfurter began
to tussle over the second spot. Eswein, working the outside line, would
power past Weinfurter for the second spot on lap 52.
After the pass however, Royle had extended his lead to a dozen car lengths as
Eswein fought to close the gap. Weinfurter would settle into the third
spot.
The laps quickly passed and Royle would extend his lead to nearly a full
straightaway when he began to encounter lapped traffic with 10 laps
remaining. While it was beginning to be apparent that Royle would
win the contest barring some malfunction or miscue, the action further back
was heating up, as several cars had caught Weinfurter who was still in third.
Royle would reach the checkered with a solid lead intact scoring his first WCS
feature victory. Eswein, would reach the finish in second. The
finish further enhanced his position atop the standings as he seeks to become
the first driver in WCS history to win 2 championships. Eswein's
performance was his second runner-up showing this season, and the third
straight time he has finished in the top three.
The battle for third went down to the final laps as Weinfurter fought hard to
fend off a fast closing Chris Weinkauf and Gary Back.
Weinfurter would reach the stripe in third just ahead of a fast closing Back
the evening's fast qualifier and the 2002 series champion turned in a dramatic
late race charge advance him several positions in the final laps. He would
assumed fourth with only a two laps remaining, but was unable to pressure
Weinfurter into a mistake to have a shot at third. Chris Weinkauf
rounded out the top five as a gaggle of cars reached the stripe, several two
wide.
Stapleman would finish sixth, Jason Weinkauf seventh, Don Turner, who
worked his way from deep in the field advanced into eight at the
finish. Lepak, and Keith Bohmsach would round out the top ten
runners at the checkered, in an event where only 4 cars dropped from the
contest.
Thomas Electric Service / Earth Inc. 75 - Results
Marshfield Speedway - June 19, 2004
Feature: 1.) Adam Royle, Farmington, MN; 2.) Mark Eswein,
Wisconsin Rapids; 3.) Jeff Weinfurter, Wisconsin Rapids; 4.) Gary Back,
Vesper; 5.) Chris Weinkauf, Merrill; 6.) Todd Stapleman, Wautoma; 7.) Jason
Weinkauf, Merrill; 8.) Don Turner, LaCrosse; 9.) Jeremy Lepak, Wausau; 10.)
Keith Bohmsach, Wisconsin Rapids; 11.) Ken Reiser, Waukon, IA; 12.) Eugene
Gregorich Jr., Kewaunee; 13.) Judd Brandl, Arpin; 14.) M.G. Gajewski, Wausau;
15.) John Zimmerman, Markesan; 16.) Brian Johnson Jr., Roscoe, IL; 17.) Kirby
Kurth, Nekoosa; 18.) Elliott Weiler, Marshfield; 19.) Scott Broughton,
Stoughton; 20.) Dean Lapointe, Marshfield; 21.) John Frazier, Marshfield; 22.)
Terry Van Roy, Darboy; 23.) Rory Melbinger, Marshfield.
30 Lap Qualifier: 1.) Melbinger; 2.) Broughton; 3.) Lapointe; 4.)
Turner; 5.) Bohmsach; 6.) Gajewski; 7.) Brandon Selle, Dale; 8.) Tony Strupp,
Slinger; 9.) Dean Schultz, Juneau; 10.) Andy Tomlinson, Pardeeville
The first two laps of the CARQUEST Super Stock feature were led by Chad
Scholl. Brian Weinfurter then moved up to take the lead. As
Weinfurter began to stretch his lead, fast timer Cale Laessig, Tim Hintz and
Randy Emmerich were working their way to the front. Weinfurter led with
Randy Meyer, Rick Hetzel, Travis Zvolena and Chad Scholl the top five on lap
four. Hetzel passed Meyer for second on lap six as Zvolena and Scholl
battled back and forth for the fourth spot. Lap seven, Zvolena took
fourth from Scholl and then third from Meyer on lap eight. Matt
Raykowski also passed Meyer on lap eight to take fourth. Lap nine, Hintz
took fifth from Meyer, then fourth from Raykowski. Hintz trying to get
to the front to chase down the leader, passed Zvolena for third and then
Hetzel for second. Hintz was unable to catch up to Weinfurter.
Weinfurter took the win, Hintz second, Hetzel third, Laessig fourth and
Emmerich fifth.
Fifteen two-wheeled thunder cycles battled it out tonight on the super fast
blacktop 1/2 mile track. Junction City's Brad Seavers edged
Hatley's Steve Kasten for the first heat win, while Marshfield's Cliff Eckes
Jr. fled from the pack in heat two, setting the stage for the ten lap
final. In a three-row starting grid, the riders revved their
engines in anticipation of the green flag. The light went on, and they
rocketed into turn one in a cloud of noise and sparks, a freight train of
sound and color down the backstretch. Once again, Cliff Eckes Jr. put
his Cliffs Cycle Service Yamaha into the lead, closely followed by Dan Vrana
from West Bend and Hatleys' Steve Kasten. While the front three shadowed
each other around the track, another battle was happening for spots four
through six between first heat winner Brad Seavers, Ringle's T. J. Zeidler and
the up and comer of the night, Randy Ruffi of Lake Nebagamon. On lap
five, third place Kasten worked his way into second past Vrana, while Eckes
controlled the front, and Ruffi worked the high line past Seavers and Zeidler
to take over fourth. But Kasten was not done moving forward yet, on lap
seven, taking the lead from Eckes, who tucked back into Kasten's draft,
looking to repay the favor. In a game of high speed chess they sped
through the remaining laps, with Eckes getting a run out of turn two, pulling
even with Kasten on the backstretch, only to be fended of by Kasten entering
turn three. On the last lap Eckes looked like he had the drive on Kasten
coming out of turn four towards the checkers, only to slip sideways exiting
the turn, as his rear tire said enough before the race was over. Kasten
took his second victory of the season and a well deserved one it
was.
RESULTS: 1.Steve Kasten 2.Cliff Eckes Jr. 3.Dan Vrana
4.Randy Ruffi 5. Brad Seavers 6.T. J. Zeidler 7.Adam
Zwaschka 8.Jake Seavers 9.Jamie Seavers 10. Troy Johnson 11.
Woody Eckes 12.Tim Ronnenberg 13.Craig Nigh 14.Craig
Lewis 15. Mike Vogel
Story by Woody Eckes
June 19, 2004
Boyer and Clark took the lead from their pole position start of the 2-Man
Cruiser feature to take the win. Szymkowiak and Pionek after trying to
take the lead from Boyer and Clark ended up second. Wheelock and O'Keefe
finished third.
This Saturday's is the Merle Weinfurter Memorial, TJ's Auto & 8th Street
Auto, Coca-Cola & WDLB/WOSQ Mid-Season Championship. Racing includes
CARQUEST Super Late Models, CARQUEST Super Stocks, 4-Cylinders and 1-Man
Cruisers. Pit Gate opens at 3:30 p.m., Practice starts at 5 p.m.,
Grandstand Gates 5 p.m., Time Trials 6 p.m. and Racing 7:30. Saturday's
race is raindated for Sunday Same Times.
Summary
Qualifying
CARQUEST Super Late Models: WCS Race
CARQUEST CWSSA Super Stocks: Cale Laessig 20.358
CWMSA 4-Cylinders: Didn't race
1-Man Cruisers: Didn't race
Heats
CARQUEST Super Late Models
Heat 1:
Heat 2:
CARQUEST CWSSA Super Stocks
Heat 1: Scholl, W. Meyer, R. Meyer, Weinfurter, Stanley.
Heat 2: Hintz, Laessig, Zvolena, Raykowski, Hetzel.
CWMSA 4-Cylinders
Heat 1: Didn't race
Heat 2:
Heat 3:
1-Man Cruisers
Heat 1: Didn't race
Semi-Features
CWMSA 4-Cylinder:
Features
CARQUEST Super Late Model:
CARQUEST CWSSA Super Stock: Weinfurter, Hintz, Hetzel, Laessig, Emmerich,
Raykowski, Zvolena, R. Meyer, Hutchens, Schmutzer.
CWMSA 4-Cylinder:
1-Man Cruiser:
2-Man Cruiser: Boyer/Clark, Szymkowiak/Pionek, Wheelock/O'Keefe, Heegebo/Hoyfer,
Adams/Omerwik, Larsh/Becker.
POINT STANDINGS
CARQUEST Super Late Models
1. Dean LaPointe416
2. Brian Back 408
3. Judd Brandl394
4. Jeff Weinfurter392
5. Ben Pettis376
6. Eugene Gregorich Jr. 352
7. Rory Melbinger315
8. Darek Gress267
9. John Totzke Jr. 265
10. DuWayne Davis 255
CARQUEST CWSSA Super Stocks
1. Cale Laessig492
2. Tim Hintz 452
3. Matt Raykowski376
4. Travis Zvolena (R) 369
5. Rick Hetzel342
6. Randy Emmerich324
7. Chad Scholl 314
8. Bruce Stanley 297
9. Randy Meyer (R) 297
10. Larry Schultz 294
CWMSA 4-Cylinders
1. Keith Wirtz306
2. Kevin Eckes Sr. 300
3. Paul Berg 248
4. Steve Hauser 244
5. Jeremiah Strauss 226
6. Adam Eckes222
7. Erin Schlough193
8. Wayne Elmhorst187
9. George Brandl187
10. Don Elmhorst166
1-Man Cruisers
1. Pat Dickman263
2. Matt Curnoyer233
3. Cody Meyer 228
4. Dave Knauf221
5. Justin Moore 206
6. Sam Sudduth201
7. Larry Larsh159
8. Mike Denny 142
9. Steve Erdman 75
10. Scott Davis 44
2-Man Cruisers
1. Szymkowiak/Pionek96
2. Boyer/Clark 92
3. Dickman/Zopfi75
4. Larsh/Becker 62
5. Heggebo/Hoyfer43
6. Koplien/Zopfi43
7. Wheelock/O'Keefe 23
8. Netzel/Jisko23
9. Schmidt/Podratz22
10. Adams/Omerwik21
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