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Defending Series Champ Haseleu Halts Bad Luck With Marshfield WCS Victory
by Jeffrey Sachse
MARSHFIELD, WI. (July 15, 2006) - The mechanical gremlins which have plagued
defending Wisconsin Challenge Champion Nathan Haseleu since the beginning of
the racing season were no where to be found, as the hard charging racer from
Marshall, Wisconsin dominated the later stages of the Earth Inc / V&H
Heavy Truck Marshfield 80, to score his first WCS victory of the season.
The win was his sixth career WCS checkered breaking a tie with 2003 WCS series
champion Erik Darnell, as both had five event victories prior to this
evening's event.
To reach the finish line first Haseleu would outrun a stellar field of 24
drivers after having taken the lead from current WCS point leader Kenny
Richards of Montello as the field came back to green after the second and
final caution of the contest which appeared just past the halfway point.
Haseleu then set a blistering pace to best two-time WCS champion Mark Eswein
of Wisconsin Rapids by nearly a full straightaway. Richards would finish
in the third position.
Local favorite Tim Hintz of Marshfield would find himself on the pole of the
80 lap main event with current WCS point runner-up Jeff Kendall of Montello to
is outside. 2002 Wisconsin Challenge Series champion Gary Back of Vesper
and current WCS point leader Kenny Richards of Montello would give chase from
row two at the drop of the green. With the field invert determined by drawing,
fast qualifier Haseleu would find himself inside the fifth row for the start
of the contest.
Kendall would power ahead of Hintz down the backstretch to take the initial
lad, with Richards following suit to place himself in second before the
completion of lap two. Kendall and Richards would then pull away from
Hintz who would slowly drift backwards in the running order. Richards, opting
to run a lower line than Kendall would use the groove to his advantage the
pair would wind up side by side for the lead as lap four began, but by the
time the circuit was complete Richards had become the new leader.
On lap seven, Back would drop off pace while running in the top five after
suffering an engine failure. The former winner of a WCS contest at
Marshfield would not see another victory on this day.
Two-time series champion Mark Eswein of Wisconsin Rapids would work by Hintz
for the third spot brining Charlie Menard of Eau Clair with him to fourth
before reaching lap eight. Menard continued his march forward working the high
lane past Eswein on the following circuit to reach third.
The positions throughout the pack continued to switch at a rapid pace with
drivers using both the low and high lines in effort to gain an advantage.
Haseleu would crack the top five for the first time on lap 11 as he motored
past Hintz.
Out front Richards was able to keep Kendall in his rear-view mirror, while
Menard and Eswein closed up making it a four car battle for the top spot.
Kendall would drift to the outside line on lap 16, allowing Menard to squirt
past for the second spot, Eswein was able to follow reaching third and
dropping Kendall back to the fourth position
Ben Pettis would come to a halt in turn four forcing the first of only two
caution during the event on lap 17.
On the restart Richards went back to pacing the contest with Menard pressuring
for the top spot. Eswein continued in third, while Haseleu for fourth
before lap 20 began.
Menard meanwhile began to seek a way past Richards ducking to his inside on
several occasions. Over the next ten laps Menard continued to apply the
pressure but Richards was able to repel the challenges. On lap 30
Haseleu would duck under Eswein for the third spot and moments later performed
a similar move on Menard to rumble to second.
The halfway point of the event was reached with Richards, Haseleu, Menard,
Eswein and Adam Royle another former winner of a WCS contest at Marshfield
holding down fifth. 21 cars were still on the lead lap at the time.
On lap 44 Hintz would slide off the track in turn two forcing the final
caution of the event. Just prior to the caution Haseleu had begun to
work low on Richards but the caution negated the passing attempt.
When action resumed however Haseleu was quick to pounce, immediately working
to Richards' inside down the backstretch. Haseleu would make his car
stick in the low groove and powered ahead coming off turn four for the lead as
lap 45 began. Menard was quick to follow Haseleu, also squirting past
Richards, to reach the second spot.
In a swift move, Eswein was able to drat past both Richards and then Menard to
place himself in second on lap 46, as it appeared Menard began to slow his
pace. After being shuffled to fourth Richard's was able to regroup and
get back to the low groove which he used to his advantage to reclaim third on
lap 48.
While Haseleu began to pull away with Eswein and Richards giving chase, it
became apparent that Menard, who was running fourth was encountering
mechanical ills as his car kept getting slower with each passing lap.
Royle would blast past for fourth on lap 52, and Blake Horstman made his way
into the top five moments later. Menard would then head to the pit area ending
a solid run.
With less than 22 laps to go, Eugene Gregorich Jr., who won last the WCS
contest at Marshfield last fall pulled from the contest after having working
into the top ten.
With each passing lap Haseleu would pull further and further ahead of the
field, having gained a full straightaway advantage as the final ten laps
began. Eswein, Richards and Royle were line up nose to tail for the
second spot, while Horstman ran comfortably in fifth. Among the leaders
the biggest battle was waged for the sixth spot as Frank Kreyer who started
23rd on the grin, had slowly worked through the field. He had reached
Trent Snyder in the sixth position and the pair of Kreyer and Snyder
entertained fans with a thrilling side by side duel which would also include
the occasional exchange of paint.
The final ten laps past swiftly and Haseleu would reach the finish to scored
his first WCS victory of the 2006 season. Eswein would finish
solidly in second with Richards' extending his point lead with a third place
run. Royle would finish with a strong fourth place showing while
Horstman ran to his best WCS finish of the year claiming fifth.
Snyder would fend off Kreyer over the final laps to hold sixth, while Kreyer
made the biggest move of the day racing from 23rd to seventh at the
finish. Jason Weinkauf would complete the race in eighth place in a car
borrowed from Jay VanderGeest, after his own machine developed mechanical
difficulties in practice. Jeremy Lepak would grab the ninth spot with
Andy Monday completing the top ten finishers.
Earlier in the day a 25 lap qualifying race was used to complete the field for
the main event, and the race was won in convincing fashion by Neil Knoblock.
Knoblock would later race to 11th in the big show. Following
Knoblock to the line in the qualifying race was Ben Pettis, Nick Hammer,
Monday and Jacob Humphrey to complete the top five. Tommy Pecaro
finished six, in the final transfer spot to the main event.
At the end of the program a very exciting B-feature was held as Jeff Way,
Dennis Prunty, Elliott Weiler and John Zimmerman ran nearly pack style
battling for the lead. Prunty would manage to work ahead of way and fend
off Way's challenges to win the race. Way would slow over the final laps
giving second to Weiler. Hintz would finish third. Pete Moore
making his first run of the year cam from dead last on the grid to claim
fourth and Mike DeKeuster rounded out the top five.
The Wisconsin Challenge Series will now head to Golden Sands Speedway on
Friday Night, July 28th for the Power Playground 100. All the stars of
the WCS series will be on hand to challenge the Golden Sands Speedway
regular's on the high banked third mile oval for top honors.
The 100 lap main event will feature 24 starters. A pair of 30 lap
qualifying races will set the field for the race, and the day will conclude
with a 30 lap B-Feature contest for those not making the main event.
In addition to the WCS Super Late Models, the show will feature, 2-Man
Cruisers and 4 cylinders.
Time trials will be at 6:30 p.m. and the first race will get the green flag at
7:45 p.m.
Golden Sands Speedway is located between Wisconsin Rapids and Plover,
Wisconsin on Highway 54. For additional information please call (715)
423-4660 or consult the track website at www.goldensandsspeedway.com
More information and a complete season schedule for the Wisconsin Challenge
Series can be found at www.wisconsinchallenge.com
EARTH INC. / V&H HEAVY TRUCK Marshfield 80 - Marshfield Super Speedway -
July 15, 2006
100 Lap Feature: -- 1.) Nathan Haseleu, Marshall; 2.) Mark Eswein,
Wisconsin Rapids; 3.) Kenny Richards, Montello; 4.) Adam Royle, Farmington,
MN; 5.) Blake Horstman, Rockland; 6.) Trent Snyder, Ironton, MN; 7.) Frank
Kreyer, Pardeeville; 8.) Jason Weinkauf, Merrill; 9.) Jeremy Lepak, Wausau;
10.) Andy Monday, Appleton; 11.) Neil Knoblock, Wausau; 12.) Chris Weinkauf,
Merrill; 13.) Jeff Kendall, Montello; 14.) Dave Feiler, Sun Prairie; 15.)
Jacob Humphrey, Lake Geneva; 16.) Pete Kempf, Nekoosa; 17.) Nick Hammer, Sun
Prairie; 18.) Brandon Selle, Dale; 19.) Tim Hintz, Nekoosa; 20.) Ben Pettis,
Elk Mound; 21.) Eugene Gregorich Jr., Kewaunee; 22.) Charlie Menard, Eau
Claire; 23.) Dean Cornelius, Chaska, MN; 24.) Gary Back, Vesper
30 Lap Qualifier -- 1.) Knoblock; 2.) Pettis; 3.) Hammer; 4.)
Monday; 5.) Humphrey; 6.) Cornelius; 7.) Tommy Pecaro, Edgerton; 8.) Jeff Way,
Burlington; 9.) Selle; 10.) Mike DeKeuster, Racine
25 Lap B-Feature: 1.) Dennis Prunty, Lomira; 2.) Elliott Weiler,
Marshfield; 3.) John Zimmermann, Markesan; 4.) Pete Moore, McFarland; 5.)
DeKeuster; 6.) Paul Prokusch, LaCrosse; 7.) Frank Nitzke, Berlin; 8.) Way; 9.)
Darren Wolke, Minneapolis, MN; 10.) Kyle Davis, Marshfield
Additional Report for Support Classes Provided by Sara Johnson
Pure Stock
Ron Kundinger and Richard Delis led the pure stock division to the green in
their 12 lap feature event. Kyle Genett wasted little time and quickly
maneuvered to the top spot, followed by Troy Engman. Genett surrendered
the lead to Engman on lap three who held the top spot to the checkered.
Following Engman was Gennet and Matt Ciesielski, who made a mid race charge
from a rearward starting position to finish third. Rounding out the top
five were Jeff Behrens and Ron Kundinger.
1 Man Cruiser
A first lap collision in the 1 Man Cruiser division between Charles Dibble,
Mike Denny, Todd Hoeper, and Travis Paul left several cars with severe damage,
sidelining them for the remainder of the event. Following the race
restart, David Knauf sliced his way to the lead by lap two from his back row
starting spot. Knauf was followed closely by Kyle Rasmussen, who held
down the second spot for the entire contest. Contact between Todd Hoeper
and Wayne Dietz on lap three allowed Dietz to slide into third, followed
closely by Lester Kuehn. At the checkered flag, the top five were Knauf,
Rasmussen, Dietz, Hoeper and Paul.
4 cylinder
Erin Schlough quickly took the lead over the pole sitter Don Elmhorst in the 4
cylinder feature event. Schlough was followed closely by Adam Krzykowski,
who made his move to the top spot by lap four. His lead was short lived
as Steve Stewart over took him on lap six. At the same time, Kyle Opelt
and JJ Flick began a charge to the front from deep in the field. Opelt,
who started eleventh, worked his way to second by lap nine and the lead by lap
14. Opelt cruised to the victory, followed by Stewart, Krzykowski, Flick
and Dan McGiveron.
Next Saturday, July 22nd is the Bill Sherman Memorial sponsored by V&H
Heavy Trucks. Featuring CarQuest Super Late Models, CarQuest Super
Stocks, Motorcycles, 1-Man Cruisers, Junkyard Warriors and Pure Stocks.
Grandstand gates open at 5 p.m., time trials at 5:30, racing starts at 7
p.m. Marshfield Super Speedway is located 3.5 miles west of Marshfield
on County Road H with weekly Saturday night stock car racing April through
September. Adult grandstand admission is $10.00, Students ages 10-15
yrs. $5.00 and under 10 yrs FREE with a parent. Rain dated for Sunday,
two hours earlier.
Everyone 16 yrs and older may sign up FREE every race night to win the 2006
Dodge Charger Pace Car.
Summary
WI Challenge Series Super Late Models
* * * QUALIFYING RESULTS * * *
Plce Car # Driver Home Town Model Fast
1 87H HASELEU, NATHAN MARSHALL FORD 17.742
* * * LAST CHANCE RESULTS * * *
Place Start Car # Driver Event Home Town Model
1 1 8K KNOBLOCK, NEIL LAST1 - - - - - -
2 3 22P PETTIS, BEN LAST1 ELK MOUND CHEVY
3 4 40H HAMMER, NICK LAST1 SUN PRAIRIE FORD FUSIO
4 6 10M MONDAY, ANDY LAST1 APPLETON - - -
5 7 63H HUMPHREY, JACOB LAST1 - - - FUSION
6 9 9C CORNELIUS, DEAN LAST1 CHASKA, MN - - -
7 15 9P PECARO, TOMMY LAST1 - - - FORD
8 2 68W WAY, JEFF LAST1 - - - MONTE CARL
9 5 98S SELLE, BRANDON LAST1 HORTONVILLE - - -
10 11 6D DEKEUSTER, MIKE LAST1 - - - FUSION
* * * FEATURE RESULTS * * *
Place Start Car # Driver Event Home Town Model
1 9 87H HASELEU, NATHAN 80LAP MARSHALL FORD
2 6 71E ESWEIN, MARK 80LAP WI RAPIDS FORD
3 4 09R RICHARDS, KEN 80LAP MONTELLO FORD
4 7 89R ROYLE, ADAM 80LAP FARMINGTON, MN DODGE
5 8 75H HORSTMAN, BLAKE 80LAP ROCKLAND CHEVY
6 10 88S SNYDER, TRENT 80LAP IRONTON - - -
7 0 99K KREYER, FRANK 80LAP PARDEEVILLE FORD
8 16 23W WEINKAUF, JASON 80LAP MERRILL CHEVY
9 11 40L LEPAK, JEREMY 80LAP WAUSAU DODGE
10 0 10M MONDAY, ANDY 80LAP APPLETON - - -
4-Cylinders
* * * QUALIFYING RESULTS * * *
Plce Car # Driver Home Town Model Fast
1 23O OPELT, KYLE GREENWOOD SATURN 22.353
* * * HEATS RESULTS * * *
Place Start Car # Driver Event Home Town Model
1 8 14X MCGIVERON, DAN HEAT1 MARSHFIELD - - -
2 6 9H HAUSER, DERK HEAT1 GILMAN DODGE
3 7 26K KRZYKOWSKI, ADAM HEAT1 PLOVER FORD
4 5 45S SCHLOUGH, ERIN HEAT1 GREENWOOD FORD
5 4 17E ELMHORST, DON HEAT1 NEILLSVILLE FORD
1 1 79S STRAUSS, JEREMIAH HEAT2 NEILLSVILLE DODGE
2 3 13S STEWART, STEVE HEAT2 MARSHFIELD SATURN
3 6 99F FLICK, JJ HEAT2 WI RAPIDS FORD
4 2 43B BRANDL, RICKY HEAT2 MILLADORE DODGE
5 7 23O OPELT, KYLE HEAT2 GREENWOOD SATURN
* * * FEATURE RESULTS * * *
Place Start Car # Driver Event Home Town Model
1 11 23O OPELT, KYLE FEAT GREENWOOD SATURN
2 7 13S STEWART, STEVE FEAT MARSHFIELD SATURN
3 4 26K KRZYKOWSKI, ADAM FEAT PLOVER FORD
4 10 99F FLICK, JJ FEAT WI RAPIDS FORD
5 5 14X MCGIVERON, DAN FEAT MARSHFIELD - - -
6 3 9H HAUSER, DERK FEAT GILMAN DODGE
7 9 73D DUNOW, DON FEAT BOYD FORD
8 8 19H HAUSER, STEVE FEAT GILMAN DODGE
9 14 79S STRAUSS, JEREMIAH FEAT NEILLSVILLE DODGE
10 2 45S SCHLOUGH, ERIN FEAT GREENWOOD FORD
1-Man Cruisers
* * * QUALIFYING RESULTS * * *
Plce Car # Driver Home Town Model Fast
1 31K KNAUF, DAVID MARSHFIELD FORD 24.124
* * * HEATS RESULTS * * *
Place Start Car # Driver Event Home Town Model
1 5 55D DIETZ, WAYNE HEAT1 PITTSVILLE OLDS
2 9 00R RASMUSSEN, KYLE HEAT1 ARPIN OLDS
3 6 49H HOEPER, TODD HEAT1 MARSHFIELD CHRYSLER
4 8 38P PAUL, TRAVIS HEAT1 SPENCER - - -
5 7 K15 KUEHN, LESTER HEAT1 GRANTON OLDS
* * * FEATURE RESULTS * * *
Place Start Car # Driver Event Home Town Model
1 9 31K KNAUF, DAVID FEAT MARSHFIELD FORD
2 8 00R RASMUSSEN, KYLE FEAT ARPIN OLDS
3 10 55D DIETZ, WAYNE FEAT PITTSVILLE OLDS
4 5 49H HOEPER, TODD FEAT MARSHFIELD CHRYSLER
5 7 38P PAUL, TRAVIS FEAT SPENCER - - -
6 4 079S SISCHO, RON FEAT - - - - - -
7 6 K15 KUEHN, LESTER FEAT GRANTON OLDS
8 3 92K KUNHART, BEN FEAT - - - - - -
9 1 26D DIBBLE, CHARLES FEAT PITTSVILLE OLDSMOBILE
10 2 69D DENNY, MIKE FEAT COLBY OLDSMOBILE
Pure Stocks
* * * QUALIFYING RESULTS * * *
Plce Car # Driver Home Town Model Fast
1 99E ENGMAN, TROY WAUSAU FORD 23.470
* * * HEATS RESULTS * * *
Place Start Car # Driver Event Home Town Model
1 6 99E ENGMAN, TROY HEAT1 WAUSAU FORD
2 5 16X GENETT, KYLE HEAT1 RANGELINE CHEVY
3 8 21C CIESIELSKI, MATT HEAT1 PLOVER OLDSMOBILE
4 4 8B BEHRENS, JEFF HEAT1 MARSHFIELD OLDS
5 1 MOO KUNDINGER, RON HEAT1 - - - FORD
* * * FEATURE RESULTS * * *
Place Start Car # Driver Event Home Town Model
1 5 99E ENGMAN, TROY FEAT WAUSAU FORD
2 6 16X GENETT, KYLE FEAT RANGELINE CHEVY
3 8 21C CIESIELSKI, MATT FEAT PLOVER OLDSMOBILE
4 4 8B BEHRENS, JEFF FEAT MARSHFIELD OLDS
5 1 MOO KUNDINGER, RON FEAT - - - FORD
6 2 03D DELIS JR., RICHARD FEAT - - - CHEVY
Point Standings As Of July 15, 2006
CWMSA 4-Cylinders
Place Car No Driver's Name Points
1 13S STEWART, STEVE 451
2 23O OPELT, KYLE 415
3 99F FLICK, JJ 374
4 79S STRAUSS, JEREMIAH 371
5 19H HAUSER, STEVE 364
6 73D DUNOW, DON 356
7 43B BRANDL, RICKY 309
8 14X MCGIVERON, DAN 300
9 9H HAUSER, DERK 294
10 45S SCHLOUGH, ERIN 256
1-Man Cruisers
Place Car No Driver's Name Points
1 55D DIETZ, WAYNE 415
2 38P PAUL, TRAVIS 342
3 00R RASMUSSEN, KYLE 294
4 69D DENNY, MIKE 268
5 49H HOEPER, TODD 248
6 4M MOORE, JUSTIN 211
7 K15 KUEHN, LESTER 173
8 26D DIBBLE, CHARLES 164
9 079S SISCHO, RON 130
10 25C CARPENTER, SHAWN 121
Pure Stocks
Place Car No Driver's Name Points
1 16X GENETT, KYLE 328
2 8B BEHRENS, JEFF 291
3 4S SIMONE, CHAD 239
4 45D DOMINE, SKYLAR 187
5 03D DELIS JR., RICHARD 178
6 MOO KUNDINGER, RON 133
7 99E ENGMAN, TROY 114
8 IMOO2 KUNDINGER, JOHN 113
9 48P PODRATZ, TOM 81
10 9G GOMES, COLETTA 78
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