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Chad Wood Wins Firecracker 75
Friday, June 23, 2006 (Oregon, WI) - It was a night of great racing and great
weather as Chad Wood, Bill Prietzel, Johnny Robinson II, and Stephen Scheel
went home the big winners after Gordie Boucher of Janesville Night at the
Races at Madison International Speedway. Along with a great evening of
racing, the large crowd was treated to one of the best fireworks shows in the
Midwest thanks to Thundercat Fireworks.
Chad Wood of Madison held off a star-studded field of Weaver Auto Parts ASA
Late Models to win the Firecracker 75 sponsored by Gordie Boucher of
Janesville.
Dan Lensing and Dave Feiler led the field of twenty-five cars to the start of
the feature with Feiler taking command of the race. By lap three quick
qualifier Bobby Wilberg, the point leader going into the night, was up to
sixth from his twelfth starting position.
Following the race’s first caution on lap seven, Feiler and Jason Schuler
would race side by side for the lead with Feiler able to hold down the top
spot with Wood in third. Three laps later Wood slipped by Schuler for second
and started to close in on Feiler.
On lap fourteen Wood could wait no longer and made his move for the
lead. Wood was able to pass Feiler and start to put some distance
between himself and the rest of the field. Wilberg continued to move up
and as Wood moved into the lead he was moving up to fourth behind Feiler and
Schuler.
By lap twenty five, Travis Sauter was up to join the top five when he passed
Jesse Saunders. The top five would remain the same until lap fifty when
Wilberg experienced mechanical problems and headed to the pits. Wilberg would
not return. The Orfordville, Wisconsin driver’s misfortune would
project Nathan Haseleu into the top five.
Despite some hot competition behind him, Wood would have no problem holding
off the field and continued to lead the remaining twenty five circuits and
came home with the Firecracker 75 checkered flag.
“The car was awesome,” said a jubilant Wood during a post race interview.
Bobby Wilberg set fast time with a lap of 18.143. Qualifying races were
won by Andrew Morrissey and Scott Broughton. The last chance race was
won by Brett Piontek.
Veteran driver Bill Prietzel, better known as the Franklin Flyer, bested a
field of twenty-three Mid American Stock Car Series drivers to win their forty
lap feature.
Scott Null and Brad Keith led the field of cars to the green flag with Keith
proving to be the quickest and taking the lead. By lap five Prietzel was
up to fifth and by lap thirteen had taken over the top spot.
Prietzel built a sizeable margin over his fellow competitors and appeared to
well on his way to an easy win when the caution flag came out on lap
thirty-seven. George Schultz, who had adeptly worked his way up through
the field, would now get the chance to challenge the leader on the restart.
The restart was favorable for Prietzel but Schultz would be denied his
opportunity. With lapped traffic ahead, the final lap was setting up to
be a classic as Prietzel maneuvered his way around the slower cars.
Schultz was not as fortunate and despite pulling out all of the stops on the
final lap would be unable to catch Prietzel. Following Prietzel and
Schultz at the stripe were Lyle Nowak, Brad Keith, and former MIS Midwest
Sportsman champion James Swan.
Heat races were won by Bobby Gutenknecht and Ron Weyer.
Stephen Scheel of Lake Mills held off Tyler Kelley of Oregon for an exciting
win in the twenty lap feature for the Roto Rooter Bandits.
The field was led to the green by Scheel and Brandon Skolaski with Scheel
jumping out to the early lead. Rory Padfield had pulled up behind Scheel
to challenge for the lead with Kyle Smith quickly up to challenge the leaders.
On lap ten Kelley passed Padfield for second and started to hunt down Scheel.
Things really got interesting on lap fifteen when Kelley tapped Scheel
but was unable to get by him for the lead. The two continued to battle
it out the rest of the way with Scheel refusing to give up the lead and Kelley
having to settle for second. Rounding out the top five were Kyle Smith,
Padfield, and Kyle Riedner.
Riedner and Rodney Mundt were victorious in the heat races.
Johnny Robinson II of Beloit easily outdistanced the field of eight Club La
Mark Hobby Stocks to win the feature and take over the points lead in the
division.
Andy Raley of Fall River and Tom Waldman of Edgerton paced the field of eight
hobby stocks to the green flag. Raley jumped out to the early lead
before the caution flag waved on lap three for an incident that forced Kyle
Stark to the pits with damage. Stark was able to return but would be
several laps down.
Raley maintained his lead after the green flag waved until Robinson II made
the big move on lap seven to take the top spot and the Beloit driver cruised
the rest of the way to an easy victory. Following Robinson to the
checkered flag were Mike Storkson, Raley, Nick Newton, and Waldman.
Stark won the heat race.
Racing continues on Tuesday, June 27th with the First Supply All Star
Challenge featuring Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart. Gates open at noon,
practice at 12:30 and qualifying for the Madison Late Models set for 4:00
PM. Racing begins at 7:00 with the First Supply All Star Challenge 100
scheduled for 8:00 PM. The Roto Rooter Bandits will also be in action.
Next Friday night (June 30th) at Madison International Speedway will be the
Champions Invitational and the return of the super late models. See
twenty-six of the midwest’s finest super late model drivers compete in the
Culvers / WJJO 100. Former track champions Dave Feiler, Conrad Morgan,
Rich Bickle Jr., Scott Ollerman, and Dale Nottestad will all be in action
along with other top drivers such as Steve Carlson, Nathan Haseleu, Andrew
Morrissey, Frank Kreyer, and many, many more.
Pit gates for Friday’s race open at 3:30 with hot laps at 4:45, qualifying
at 6:45 and racing at 7:30. For more information please call the track
at 608.835.9700 or check out the track website at www.madisoninternationalspeedway.com.
Results
Weaver Auto Parts ASA Late Models
Feature: (1-10) Chad Wood- Madison, Dave Feiler- Sun Prairie, Jason
Schuler- Cambridge, Travis Sauter- Necedah, Nathan Haseleu- Pardeeville, Jesse
Saunders- Janesville, Dan Lensing- Rockford, IL, Ken Wills- Milwaukee, Nick
Hammer- Sun Prairie, Zack Riddle- Brooklyn
(11-20)Tom Gille- Winnebago, IL, Andrew Morrissey- DeForest, Troy Hintzsche-
Malta, IL, Jason Erickson- Lake Mills, Brett Piontek- Green Bay, Mike Beyer-
Machesney Park, IL, Chad Stevens- Orfordville, Shane Morrissey- Cuba
City, Nathan Oppliger- Oregon, Beau Bavery- Oregon
(21-24) Dean Cornelius- Chaska, MN, Bobby Wilberg- Orfordville, Leilani
Munter- Charlotte, NC, Josh Weir- Cottage Grove, Scott Broughton- Stoughton
Fast Qualifier: Bobby Wilberg- Orfordville 18.143
Qualifier One: Andrew Morrissey- De Forest
Qualifier Two: Scott Broughton- Stoughton
Last Chance Race: Brett Piontek- Green Bay
Mid American Stock Car Series
Feature: (Top Five Only) Bill Prietzel- Franklin, George Schultz-
Bristol, Lyle Nowak- Wausau, Brad Keith- West Bend, James Swan- Lake
Geneva
Heat One: Bobby Gutenknecht- Oak Creek
Heat Two: Ron Weyer- Richfield
Club La Mark Hobby Stocks
Feature: (1-8) Johnny Robinson II- Beloit, Mike Storkson- Evansville,
Andy Raley- Fall River, Nick Newton- Jefferson, Tom Waldman- Edgerton, Roger
Stephenson- Cambridge, Kyle Stark- Waterloo, Greg Pruitt- Rockford, IL
Heat One: Kyle Stark- Waterloo
Roto Rooter Bandits
Feature: (1-10) Stephen Scheel- Lake Mills, Tyler Kelley- Oregon, Kyle Smith-
Lake Mills, Rory Padfield- Stoughton, Kyle Riedner- Waunakee, Rodney Mundt-
Johnson Creek, Ashley Smith- Lake Mills, Ryan Oldenhoff- Fort Atkinson, Steve
Dickson- Rockton, IL, Alex Jones- Middleton
(11-16) Chester Ace- Oregon, Jody Schmidt- Belleville, Shaun Scheel- Lake
Mills, Bradon Skolaski- Fitchburg, Scott Watkins- Oregon, Aaron Reeve-
Fitchburg
DNS- Cory Skolaski- Fitchburg, Kyle Padfield-Stoughton
Heat One: Kyle Riedner- Waunakee
Heat Two: Rodney Mundt- Johnson Creek
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