CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS 100 OPENS DELLS MOTOR SPEEDWAY IN SPECTACULAR FASHION AS KEVIN BRESCIA CLAIMS CAREER FIRST SUPER LATE VICTORY! WISCONSIN DELLS, WI. (April 12, 2003) -- One word summed up the start of the 2003 racing season for the Wisconsin Challenge Series and Dells Motor Speedway. Spectacular! In front of a full grandstand, on a cool evening, local racer Kevin Brescia of Baraboo topped the Charter Communications 100. For Brescia, a former Super Stock standout, the victory marked his first behind the wheel of a Late Model and continued the streak of no repeat winners in WCS competition. That streak dates back to the 2001 season, some 10 events ago. Interestingly enough, Kevin Brescia, drives a car owned by his father Dick Brescia. As a car owner, the senior Brescia holds three WCS victories to his credit. Kirby Kurth, the only driver in WCS history to win more than a single event had captured two wins for Brescia in 2001 in WCS competition.
The finish to the event itself proved spectacular, as on the last lap of the 100 lap main event, the lapped car of Dan Mills, slightly delayed his change to the bottom groove, where lapped cars are directed to go to allow the leaders safe passage. As Brescia attempted to lap Mills, he was temporarily slowed, which allowed Kyle Kinder of McFarland, who was running second, to attempt a pass to the outside of Brescia. As the quagmire of cars which also included defending Dells Motor Speedway champion Dave Feiler and hard charging youngster Andrew Morrisey of DeForest entered turn three, Brescia was able to wedge under Mills who slipped to the second groove forcing Kinder to slow dramatically. Brescia would reach the finish line with the lead scoring the victory. Taking advantage of the situation, Feiler sliced to the inside of both the lapped car of Mills and Kinder to claim second. Morrisey would also pass Kinder for third. By the time Kinder reached the line, he would finish the event in fifth, as Erik Darnell also slipped past for fourth by less than a foot. While Brescia celebrated victory, Kinder, the winner of the last WCS event at Dells was dejected with a fifth place performance after a strong run. The day started out with a WCS record 51 cars entering the pit area. After the extended practice session 48 were to attempt qualifying for the 22 starting spots in the event. With the field staged for the start of the race, polesitter Joe Krzykowski paced the field to the green flag with Steve Rubeck making his first WCS start to his outside. Krzykowski would edge out Rubeck for the initial lead, hugging the inside groove. The field barely had time to settle in before the first caution of the race appear for a multi-car tangle on the backstretch which left Jeff Kendall, the fast qualifier of the day, and winner of last year's WCS North American Cup event with terminal damage ending his day after it barely began. Nathan Haseleu, another former WCS event winner was forced to the pits to repair damage to his ride, and Tony Strupp joined the field at the back of the pack as his car had spun and stalled on the backstretch. Underway again Krzykowski bolted back into the lead, with Rubeck, young hotshoe Kelly Bires, Brescia and Kinder in pursuit. While Rubeck worked the low groove in pursuit of Krzykowski, Bires opted for the high line. Bires decision proved fruitful and he motored past Rubeck and then edged ahead of Krzykowski for the lead on lap nine. Bires was able to stretch out his lead over Krzykowski as the pack jockeyed for position behind. Darnell who had started ninth began to pick off cars at a rapid pace moving forward in the tricky outside groove. He cracked the top five on lap 24 at Kinder's expense and continued his move forward taking fourth from Brescia on lap 27 just before the second caution of the day on lap 30. The yellow flag flew for what was thought to be a fire under the hood of race leader Bires. When the car was examined by the safety crew, no fire was found. Bires was returned to the lead position, but his quarter-lap lead had been wiped out by the caution flag. The race resumed and Bires again bolted to the lead. Rubeck was able to wedge under Krzykowski for second on lap 35, and he was followed by Darnell who assumed the third position as Krzykowski fell back on the outside. Darnell and Rubeck engaged in a hard fought battle for the runner-up spot which resulted in some paint swapping and ultimately caused a spin by Rubeck in turn four on lap 42. Several cars swerved to avoid contact behind them which resulted in Strupp tagging the wall and ending his evening. Darnell and Rubeck were both placed at the rear of the field for the restart. This left Bires still in command with Brescia second, Krzykowski third followed by Kinder, Feiler and Andrew Morrisey who had started deep in the field. As the green flew Bires again took control of the pace with Bresica in pursuit. Kinder nosed under Krzykowski for third and Krzykowski again found himself losing spots, stuck in the outside line. On lap 52, the event changed dramatically as the caution again flew for visible flames under the hood of race leader Bires. This time he was forced to pit and upon his arrive in the pits, his crew diagnosed a oil leak which was causing the problem. The team determined the situation terminal and Bires retired from the event after a great showing. This put Brescia, who showed the poise of a veteran in the lead of the race, with Kinder, Feiler, Morrisey and Brad Mueller in the top five slots. Brescia set the pace until the next yellow flag which flew on lap 65 the caution again flew for debris on the backstretch. The lead positions remained unchanged as the race resumed. While Brescia kept the field at bay, it was Darnell, again working his way towards the front having climbed back to eighth from the tail of the field after his part in an earlier caution. With 19 laps to go the field bunched again as Dave Lawrence spun toward the infield in turn two. Brescia, Kinder, Feiler, Morrisey and Darnell who had just reached the top five showing on the leaderboard. The final 19 laps would be run under green flag conditions with Brescia working hard now to keep Kinder and Feiler in his tire tracks. Kinder made several attempt to pass low before Feiler came up to challenge Kinder. This gave Brescia some breathing room as the laps clicked down. Darnell again opted for the outside line and used it to his advantage to surpass Morrisey for fourth. He then engaged in a wheel to wheel battle with Feiler for third. Actually assuming the position by a foot with two laps to go. As the white flag flew the leaders encountered the lapped machine of Mills setting the stage for an exciting finish. When the checkered flew, it was Brescia scoring a crowd pleasing win. Feiler was second followed by Morrisey, Darnell and Kinder in the top five spots. Mueller drove a steady race to finish sixth, while Chris Weinkauf, who earlier won a qualifying race had worked the pack well to claim seventh. Haseleu has worked his way back to eighth, Rich Loch took ninth and Rubeck rounded out the top ten finishers. In earlier action, Jerry Gille won the first qualifying race in exciting fashion. Rich Loch had paced much of the event, but with a pair of laps remaining he managed to slice under Loch for the lead to score the win. Loch would settle for second followed by Rory Melbinger the 2002 Marshfield Super Speedway champion who made his first career WCS start by making the feature with his third place run in the qualifier. Veteran racer Don Turner and 2002 Lake Geneva Raceway champion Matt Kocourek made up the top five finishers in the event. In the second qualifying race, John Zimmermann set the early pace, but an unfortunate spin dropped him from the lead and placed Chris Weinkauf in the lead. Weinkauf set the pace the remaining distance to the checkered for the win. Two-time Dells Motor Speedway champion Ken Reiser laid claim to second to make the show and Dave Lawrence who just missed the show in qualifying took the final transfer spot finishing third. Jeff Richards and Chad Holm grabbed fourth and fifth just missing the feature race. The next event on the Wisconsin Challenge Series event is the Spring Fling 100 to be held Sunday Afternoon May 4th at Columbus 151 Speedway. Last year the series held it's first event at the quarter-mile paved oval and no one left disappointed. A field of 22 cars took the green flag for a 75 lap contest. The race was decided in the final two laps as Burton Brown of Neenah slipped past race leader Ken Reiser of Waukon, IA with two laps to go for the lead. Two-time Columbus 151 Speedway champion Scott Patrick of Dousman, moved past Reiser on the final lap and came up just short of Brown by a car length making for an exciting finish to the first Super Late Model program held at the track in nearly a decade. A solid showing of Super Late Models is expected as well as the area Late Model cars Columbus 151 and Jefferson. "Though the weekly cars have a bit less horsepower than the WCS Super Late Models, area Limited Late Models can do real well on the smaller tracks", claimed WCS Events Director Jeffrey Sachse. Last year a half-dozen "limited" type Late Models made the feature race. The Spring Fling activities are set to get underway with practice at 10:00 a.m., while qualifying is schedule for Noon. The first race is to get the green flag at 2:00 p.m. In addition to the Super Late Models, fans will witness Street Stock, Hobby Stock, Backup Car and Bandit racing action. The Street Stock and Hobby Stock division must comply with the rules for Columbus and Jefferson Speedway. For information call (608) 233-0002. The bandit division is run as an invitational event allowing cars to travel from other area tracks to take on the Columbus 151 oval. The Bandit cars must have a 4 point roll cage, but otherwise remain stock. Each class will hold qualifying races and feature events. Adult admission for the show is a fan friendly $12. On the Saturday afternoon, May 3rd, prior to the big event on Sunday, the track will host an open practice. Concessions will be available and the practice sessions are free to the public. Free overnight camping is also available. 151 Speedway is located between Columbus and Sun Prairie, Wisconsin on Kraus Road, near the intersection of Highway 151 and County Trunk V. The exit onto County V is 111. For additional information please call (920) 582-4093 or check out the Columbus 151 Speedway website at www.racingonline.com/columbus151. Information on the Wisconsin Challenge Series is available online at www.wisconsinchallenge.com For
complete RACESTAT Computer Results Click Here Charter Communications
100 - Results 100 Lap Feature: 1.) Kevin Brescia, Baraboo; 2.) Dave Feiler, Sun Prairie; 3.) Andrew Morrisey, DeForest; 4.() Erik Darnell, Beach Park, IL; 5.) Kyle Kinder, McFarland; 6.) Brad Mueller, Random Lake; 7.) Chris Weinkauf, Merrill; 8.) Nathan Haseleu, Marshall; 9.) Rich Loch, Muskego; 10.) Steve Rubeck, Kirkland; 11.) Ken Reiser, Waukon, IA; 12.) Dave Lawrence, Baraboo; 13.) Ryan Mathews, Lake Geneva; 14.) Travis Dassow, West Bend; 15.) Dan Mills, Menomonee Falls; 16.) Joe Krzykowski, Junction City; 17.) Jeff VanOudenhoven, Kimberly; 18.) Kelly Bires, Mauston; 19.) Tony Strupp, Slinger; 20.) Jerry Gille, Loves Park, IL; 21.) Rory Melbinger, Marshfield; 22.) Jeff Kendall, Monetllo First 30 Lap Qualifier: 1.) Gille; 2.) Loch; 3.) Melbinger; 4.) Don Turner, LaCrosse; 5.) Matt Kocourek, Racine; 6.) Jason Weinkauf, Merrill; 7.) Jeff Watters, Mineral Point; 8.) Judd Brandl, Rudolph, 9.) Jeff Weinfurter, Wisconsin Rapids; 10.) Clint Sillars, Schofield. Second 30 Lap Qualifier: 1.) C. Weinkauf; 2.) Reiser; 3.) Lawrence; 4.) Jeff Richards, Montello; 5.) Chad Holm, Mauston; 6.) Todd Stapleman, Wautoma; 7.) Scott Broughton, Stoughton; 8.) M.G. Gajewski, Wausau; 9.) Jim Carlson, LaCrosse; 10.) John Hornby, Lake Mills |
|||||||
