KURTH STICKS TO WINNING FORMULA PLOVER, WI. (August 5, 2001) -- Nekoosa, Wisconsin's Kirby Kurth used the same winning formula as he had a month earlier to capture the Reffner Race 88 at Golden Sands Speedway. Kurth, would overcome oppressive heat and survive several late race challenges from a couple different competitors to continue his win streak in the Wisconsin Challenge Series. Contested under hot and humid conditions, Kurth was able to pace all but the very beginning of the 88 lap feature contest to score a win worth $2,000 in spite of heavy pressure in the closing laps from defending Dells Motor Speedway champion Ken Reiser. With the victory Kurth now finds himself on top the Wisconsin Challenge Series standings with a 273 to 255 point margin over Reiser with two events still on schedule for the 2001 season.
22 cars took the green flag for the start of the Reffner Race 88, named in honor of central Wisconsin racing ace Tom Reffner. By virtue of a dice roll which determined the starting order, it was Kurth who would start on the pole position for the contest. When the green flag waved, it was outside front row starter Jason Weinkauf who would set the pace as he and Kurth waged a side by side battle on the high banked third-mile paved oval. Jason Weinkauf who was the initial leader of the first Wisconsin Challenge Series event contested at Golden Sands Speedway a month ago, kept his bright purple machine out front the first two circuits, while his broth Chris Weinkauf would motor past Judd Brandl for third. Kurth holding the inside line was able to edge ahead of Jason Weinkauf at the line on the third circuit. Kurth would secure the lead as the front of the field fell into line by the eighth lap with Kurth and Jason Weinkauf beginning to clear themselves from the remainder of the field. Further back in the pack however, Jeremy Lepak was putting on a stunning charge. After qualifying fastest of the 40 cars on hand for the event, Lepak has started the event in the 12th spot. By lap 15 he had worked past Burton Brown for the fifth spot using the outside line to perfection. Brown lost the handle on his machine in turn one on lap 16, scattering the middle of the pack. Several cars made contact and spun, most notable was Terry Schoppenhorst whose car was too damaged to continue. The cars of Brown, Gary Back and Tony Strupp also sustained mainly cosmetic damage and were able to continue after some quick pit work. When action continue it was again Kurth and Jason Weinkauf pulling ahead of the field, but attention was focused back in the pack as Lepak and Reiser, who had started 11th continued their trek toward the front of the pack. Lepak clearly has a fast machine, jumping to the outside and motoring past Brandl for third lap 24 and then annexing second from Jason Weinkauf on the next circuit. The event saw it's second slowdown on lap 30 when Jesse Haase, who had finished second in the inaugural event of the Wisconsin Challenge Series, had a suspension failure caution his car to spin in turn one. The caution allowed Lepak to close up on Kurth rear bumper for the restart. Chris Weinkauf, defending track champion Mark Eswein and Brandl had the top five positions for the restart. With 20 of 22 cars still on the track as the green waved, Lepak immediately began to pressure Kurth for the top spot moving up to his rear bumper in search for a way to the lead. Meanwhile it was Eswein and Reiser working their way forward providing the drama. Eswein used the outside line past Jason Weinkauf for third on lap 37 as Reiser made rapid progress entering the top five at Brandl's expense and shortly thereafter dropping Jason Weinkauf another notch to earn fourth as the race reached the halfway point. Kurth and Lepak worked their way through lapped traffic as the dueled for the lead. Action was halted for the third time when Jason Weinkauf had brake failure and spun in turn four on lap 56 ending his solid performance with a trip to the pits on the back of a wrecker. It was just after the return of the green flag that the race took a dramatic turn of events. Lepak suddenly fell off pace and pulled to the infield while running second turning the position over to Eswein, with Reiser, Brandl and Kyle Kinder who was making his Wisconsin Challenge Series debut entering the top five for the first time in the contest. Kurth got a brief break for his challengers behind as Eswein and Reiser became engaged in a duel for the runner-up position. On lap 66 Reiser went to the outside of Eswein and wrestled the runner-up spot away from the local favorite. The battle however allowed Kurth to pull away to a ten car length advantage. Reiser was able to narrow the lead down to three car lengths when he received a break, in the form of a yellow flag. Benjamin Brinkman, caused the final slowdown of the day on lap 77 when he spun in turn one. This put Reiser squarely on the bumper of Kurth for the restart with Eswein, Brandl and Kinder trailing. When action resumed for the final 11 laps it would be a clear track for the leaders. Kurth has a fairly slow start, and Reiser was right on his rear bumper while Eswein experimented with the outside groove. As the laps clicked off Kurth was able to ward off the challenges of Reiser to earn his second straight Wisconsin Challenge Series feature checkered. Reiser in turn was able to fend off a last laps charge by Eswein to maintain second. Eswein took third, Brandl fourth and Kinder rounded out the top five. Allen Check, who transferred from one of the two qualifying races, had advanced the most positions on the day climbing from 22nd to sixth. First time Golden Sands Speedway visitor Rich Schmann Jr., took seventh, Gary Back, Kevin Peterson and Tony Strupp made up the top ten runners at the checkered flag. Earlier in the day, two 30 lap qualifying events were held to set the balance of the field. In the first contest Bryan Roach was able to pass Brinkman for the lead late in the event to claim the victory. Brinkman and Tony Strupp would finish second and third to make the transfer. Jeff Way, in is Wisconsin Challenge Series debut claimed fourth ahead of early race leader Joe Fischer who rounded out the top five. In the second qualifier, Rick Corso managed to check out on the field and run comfortably to victory. Scott Beyer and Check took second and third to transfer to the big show, just ahead of a fast closing Frank Nitzke. Jerry Schneider made up the top five finishers. 39 cars attempted qualification runs on the day, with Lepak turning in the only 11 second lap of the day, with a 11.999 second orbit of the high banked third-mile track to set fast time. Reiser, equaled his performance of a month earlier with the second fastest trip around the track with a 12.019 second trip and Haase earned third quick honors with a 12.023 second run. Eswein was fourth fast at 12.035 seconds and Jeff Weinfurter was fifth quick at 12.061 seconds. The top 16 qualifiers were separated by just of two tenths of a second. The Wisconsin Challenge Series now heads to it's final two events, the Dick Trickle 99, will be held at Dells Motor Speedway on Labor Day, September 3rd, while the season finale, known as the Legends of Yesterday 101, will conclude the season at Golden Sands Speedway on Sunday Afternoon, September 9th. Heading into those races, Kurth holds the advantage in points with an 18 point gap on Reiser. Eswein hold down the third position with 238 markers, while Check has 204 points and Haase has 197 points making up the top five runners. Dells Motor Speedway which hosts the next show is located on Highway's 12/16, just three miles north of the famous downtown Wisconsin Dells tourist area. The third-mile paved oval will open it's gates at 10:30 a.m. on Labor Day. Currently the Late Models and Pure Stocks are on the agenda, but there remains the possibility of an addition support class. For more information on the Wisconsin Challenge Series, please consult he series website at www.wisconsinchallenge.com. For complete RACESTAT Computer Results Click Here Reffner Race 88 -
Results 88 Lap Feature: 1.) Kirby Kurth, Nekoosa; 2.) Ken Reiser, Waukon, IA; 3.) Mark Eswein, Wisconsin Rapids; 4.) Judd Brandl, Arpin; 5.) Kyle Kinder, McFarland; 6.) Allen Check, Shantytown; 7.) Rich Schumann Jr., Portage; 8.) Gary Back, Vesper; 9.) Kevin Peterson, Big Flats; 10.) Tony Strupp, West Bend; 11.) Benjamin Brinkman, Oshkosh; 12.) Jeff Weinfurter, Wisconsin Rapids; 13.) Matt Kocourek, Racing; 14.) Burton Brown, Neenah; 15.) Rick Corso, McHenry, IL; 16.) Scott Beyer, Plover; 17.) Chris Weinkauf, Merrill; 18.) Bryan Roach, Becker, MN; 19.) Jeremy Lepak, Wausau; 20.) Jason Weinkauf, Merrill; 21.) Jesse Haase, Wausau; 22.) Terry Schoppenhorst, Berlin First 30 Lap Qualifier: 1.) Roach; 2.) Brinkman, Strupp, Jeff Way, Waterford; 5.) Joe Fischer, McHenry, IL; 6.) Paul Block, Tomahawk; 7.) Kevin Baldry, Omro; 8.) Jack Pankratz, Appleton; 9.) Mark Mackesy, Wausau; 10.) Rick Grunden, Marshfield Second 30 Lap Qualifier: 1.) Corso; 2.) Beyer; 3.) Check; 4.) Frank Nitzke, Berlin; 5.) Jerry Schneider, Kaukauna; 6.) Luke Westenberg, Palmyra; 7.) Aaron Roehl, Fond Du Lac; 8.) Brandon Selle, Dale; 9.) Gary Bock, Kaukauna; 10.) Kevin Beyer, Menominee, MI For additional information check out the series website at www.wisconsinchallenge.com |
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