CROSS COUNTRY TREK PAYS OFF WITH VICTORY FOR ERIK DARNELL AT "THE CREEK"! FRANCIS CREEK, WI. (July 27, 2003) -- Less than 24 hours before standing in victory lane at the 141 Speedway in Francis Creek, Wisconsin, 20 year old Erik Darnell was competing in a NASCAR ITEMS race in Colorado. After he and his crew packed up, they caught a flight which allowed Darnell to arrive at the track in time to practice with his short track car which was hauled by a separate vehicle to the 141 Speedway. The effort paid off with a victory has he fended off a late race challenge by local favorite and multi-time 141 Speedway champion Gregg Haese. That effort increased Darnell's point lead to 50 markers over Jeff Kendall of Montello with three races remaining in the 2003 season schedule.
In capturing the win, Darnell also became only the third driver in WCS history to have won more than a single race. Darnell captured the Spring Fling 100 at Columbus 151 Speedway earlier this season, a track very similar in size to 141 Speedway. Jeff Weinfurter and Kirby Kurth are the other drivers to have won more than two races. In both those cases, their victories have been won at Golden Sands Speedway. On a picture perfect day a field of 22 cars took the initial green flag at the quarter-mile bullring. Before the first lap was completed things got a little too exciting up front as front row drivers Jeff Weinfurter and Kurt Guralski made contact while dicing for the lead. As a result Weinfurter spun his mount in front of the full field. While a good number of cars managed to avoid heavy contact several cars needed to head to the pit area for repairs to their rides. This included Haese who had started in the third position. After effecting repairs he was able to return to the race, but at the back of the field. All the cars were able to return to action when the race began again. This time the field completed the opening laps cleanly with Weinfurter surging into the lead. Guralski, caught in the outside lane quickly faded as Chris Weinkauf and Frank Kreyer reached the second and third spot by lap three. Weinkauf began searching for a way past Weinfurter, looking to use the outside lane. On lap six he managed to sweep past on the high side and into the lead position. Just behind the lead battle Jeff Watters managed to wedge under Kreyer for the fourth spot. On lap 16 Guralski had his engine expire in an impressive cloud of smoke, just as he was pulling off the backstretch ending his day. This bunched the field with Weinkauf, Weinfurter, Watters, Jason Weinkauf and Darnell showing in the top five. A spin by Eugene Gregorich Jr. just five laps later caused the third caution of the event to fly. The top five remained the same as the green flag flew, with Chris Weinkauf getting a good jump on the field and pulling away from Weinfurter. The battle for third got physical as Jason Weinkauf maneuvered under Watters in turn three on lap 35. The resulting contact caused Jason Weinkauf's fender to become detached and flap in the breeze. Track officials deemed the loose sheet metal a hazard forcing the black flag to be shown. After several more laps of competition the yellow flag was drawn forcing him to the pits for the balance of the race. Back under green Chris Weinkauf, Weinfurter, Darnell, Watters and Kreyer in the top five. Haese who had started dead last after pitting during the opening lap incident was putting on a passing exhibition in the outside lane to run sixth. Also moving from deep in the field was Jeff Kendall who had climbed into the seventh spot, following Haese through traffic. Chris Weinkauf again held the point when the race resumed with Darnell using the outside to power past Weinfurter for third. A spin by Kreyer, who was running just outside the top five on lap 48 drew the next yellow. At the halfway point Darnell got under Chris Weinkauf and was challenging for the lead when a spin by Dean Schultz slowed the pace again, negating a pass Darnell had made for the top spot as the field reset to the lap prior to the caution flag. With 40 laps to go Haese again showed his skill in the challenging outside lane, maneuvering past Weinfurter for third. At the same time out front, Darnell was doing battle tooth and nail with Chris Weinkauf for the lead. Darnell, drove deep into the turns on the inside lane and as a result he was able to take the lead. It was Darnell, Chris Weinkauf, Haese, Kendall and Weinfurter atop the standings when the green flag flew again following a spin by Chad Devine late in the contest. An extended green flag period allowed Darnell to run and hide from the field, extending his lead to nearly a quarter-lap over Chris Weinkauf. The battle for the second spot became a three way tussle with Haese again working the high line in effort to get past Chris Weinkauf, while Kendall stayed in the low groove hoping to advance. This gave plenty of breathing room to Darnell. Darnell had built a quarter-lap lead before encountering very heavy lapped traffic. With seven laps remaining Darnell made contact with a lapped car which spun in turn four. Since the car, which was going down a lap had received the move over flag Darnell was allowed to retain his position. The caution however allowed the field to close up on Darnell's rear bumper, and since the yellow appeared in the final ten laps of the contest, all the lead lap cars filtered to the front of the pack. This placed Haese directly behind Darnell, with Weinkauf and Kendall following. Former multi-time Street Stock title holder, Terry Van Roy was showing his knowledge of the raceway as he smoothly worked into the fifth position. With the dash to the checkered beginning, Darnell got a solid start. Haese, attempted briefly to try the outside line but the pace of the leader didn't allow Haese to contest for the lead. Instead, he wound up having to defend the second spot, and Chris Weinkauf and Kendall squared off for the third slot. In the laps to the checkered Darnell sprinted ahead for the win by four car lengths. Hease would hold onto second, with Chris Weinkauf managing to edge out Kendall by a matter for feet for third. Kendall would settle for fourth, while Van Roy registered a career high in the series by netting a fifth place finish. Fast qualifier Mark Schroeder drove a steady race to score sixth in his first series start. Weinfurter was the final lead lap car finishing seventh. Charlie Menard, Ken Reiser and Rick Corso completed the top ten runners. In earlier competition a single qualifying race set the field with M.G. Gajewski capturing the win over Menard. Kendall claimed third with Corso, Devine and Gregorich Jr. earning the six transfer spots. The Wisconsin Challenge Series is now scheduled to return to the Marshfield Super Speedway on Saturday Night August 9th. The half-mile paved oval hosed an event back in June, which saw a field of nearly 40 cars participate in the Dairy Days 75. This coming event, labeled the Marshfield 75, will include the Wisconsin Challenge Series Late Models, along with Legends and Cruiser cars. Time Trials are set to take place at 6:00 p.m., with racing taking place at 7:30 p.m. The headlining event will be a 75 lap feature contest. For complete Computer Results Click Here The Creek Classic 100
- Results 100 Lap Feature: 1.) Erik Darnell, Beach Park, IL; 2.) Gregg Haese, Two Rivers; 3.) Chris Weinkauf, Merrill; 4.) Jeff Kendall, Montello; 5.) Terry Van Roy, Darboy; 6.) Mark Schroeder, Green Bay; 7.) Jeff Weinfurter, Wisconsin Rapids; 8.) Charlie Menard, Eau Claire; 9.) Ken Reiser, Waukon, IA; 10.) Rick Corso, McHenry, IL; 11.) M.G. Gajewski, Wausau; 12.) Dean Schultz, Juneau; 13.) Chad Devine, Mackville; 14.) Jim Carlson, LaCrosse; 15.) Jeff Watters, Mineral Point; 16.) Frank Kreyer, Cottage Grove; 17.) Eugene Gregorich Jr., Kewaunee; 18.) Rory Melbinger, Marshfield; 19.) Burton Brown, Freemont; 20.) Jason Weinkauf, Merrill; 21.) John Zimmerman, Markesan; 22.) Kurt Guralski, Wausau 25 Lap Qualifier: 1.) Gajewski; 2.) Menard; 3.) Kendall; 4.) Corso; 5.) Devine; 6.) Gregorich Jr.; 7.) Bruce Havel, Deerfield; 8.) Mike Witberler, Wausau; 9.) Jeff Falbe, Beaver Dam |
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