 BALDRY DOMINATES WCS SEASON FINALE,
ESWEIN CAPTURES SECOND CAREER WCS CHAMPIONSHIP!
MARSHFIELD, WI. (September 11, 2004) - In an
event which was slowed just one time for a brief red flag, early in the contest. The
80 lap season championship feature for the Wisconsin Challenge Series, was one which saw
almost complete domination of the contest by 11-time Wisconsin International Raceway
champion Terry Baldry of Omro, Wisconsin. Baldry, who has been a regular competitor
in WCS competition behind the wheel of Maynard Motorsports owned machines, slipped past
local Marhsfield Speedway hotshoe Ben Pettis for the lead and then proceeded to dominate
the final half of the contest. His margin of victory over Adam Royle of Farmington,
MN, was nearly a half-lap. While Baldry was celebrating his first career WCS
victory, Mark Eswein of Wisconsin Rapids, was able to lay claim to his second career
Wisconsin Challenge Series championship. Eswein, won the title during the inaugural
season of the series in 2001, and was able to repeat this season, becoming the first
driver to have won more than a single title since the series inception. Eswein would
finish a conservative 14th during the program, but it was more than enough to edge point
runner-up Royle, for the title.
A huge field of 47 cars would turn out to attempt to
qualify for the season's final event for the series, and in doing so it established a
record for the series at Marshfield Speedway. Previously the WCS competitor
participation mark was established at 39 cars. On the year the series averaged over
40 cars per show, three times exceeding over 45 entries.
Overall it was the fifth highest number of participants at a WCS
race. The all-time mark was established this season at Dells Motor Speedway during
the opening show when 54 cars appeared.
After qualifications had concluded, and the invert determined by
random draw, the 2004 Marshfield Super Speedway champion, Jeff Weinfurter sat on the pole.
To his outside younger charge Ben Pettis, another Marshfield Speedway regular who
was making his first career Wisconsin Challenge Series start. At the drop of the green
flag Weinfurter shot into the initial lead, but Pettis who preferred the outside line
began to pressure Weinfurter for the top spot, following closely behind.
On several occasions during the opening rounds Pettis would draw
alongside Weinfurter, only to have Weinfurter pull ahead in the turns, using the low
groove. Jason Weinkauf would establish himself in the third slot and
Baldry would secure fourth. Chris Weinkauf, Jason's older brother found himself in
the fifth slot after five laps were in the books.
While many side by side battles were taking place throughout the
field as everyone jockeyed for position, much of the attention focused on the battle for
the lead as Weinfurter and Pettis continued to run wheel to wheel, debating the lead
position.
Weinfurter officially pace the first eight laps, with Pettis
edging ahead to lead the next three circuits. The top spot switched hands again with
Weinfurter getting the advantage on lap 13, when Pettis went wide in turn four.
Weinfurter would pace the next five circuits before Pettis would rally back on the
outside and retake the top spot on lap 19. This time Pettis was able to position
himself firmly in the top sot, while Weinfurter now had to fend off the challenges of
Jason Weinkauf.
On the next lap the only slowdown of the contest took place after
contact between Elliott Weiler, and former Marshfield Super Speedway champion Judd Brandl
made contact. Weiler would good off course on the backstretch and climb the
embankment. A red flag was thrown as Weiler was a bit dazed and needed some
assistance from his machine.
Once it was confirmed Weiler was okay the track was cleared and
racing resumed after a 8 minute delay. Pettis again took command of the contest with
Weinfurter resuming his challenge for the top spot. Baldry meanwhile began to show
the speed of his machine as he worked under Jason Weinkauf for the third spot on lap 24.
Six laps later Baldry was able to maneuver by Weinfurter for the second position and he
then began to close on Pettis who still set the pace of the event.
Pettis continued to work the outside line, but Baldry found the
speed he needed to work by on the inside on lap 37. At the halfway point it was Baldry,
Pettis, Weinfurter, Jason Weinkauf, Adam Royle, Chris Weinkauf, fast qualifier Charlie
Menard and Ryan Mathews holding down the top eight positions.
On the very next lap, Weinfurter began to slow, and after losing
positions very quickly, headed to the pit area. His car, developed ignition trouble
dropping him from the contest while running third. This elevated Jason Weinkauf to
the position.
As Baldry pulled away, the battle for second began to heat up as
Pettis, Jason Weinkauf and Royle began to contest the position. Weinkauf worked
under Pettis for the spot on lap 55, with Royle dropping Pettis another position three
laps later. Over the closing stages of the race Pettis would slow lose momentum with
handling problems after a strong showing throughout much of the early portions of the
contest, but would still finish a solid 10th in his first WCS effort.
With 20 laps to go Baldry began to encounter his first lapped
traffic, which he negotiated with ease, while continuing to build his lead which was now
at a full straight-away. Baldry's efforts to enhance that lead were further favored
when Jason Weinkauf and Royal began a duel for the second spot. Royle, who won at
Marshfield during the series' most recent appearance at the half-mile oval, worked under
Weinkauf for the runner-up spot with 13 laps to go in the contest.
By now however Baldry had established a lead which was nearing a
half-lap, and without any cautions to slow his pace Baldry would take the win comfortably.
Royle, would scoot acrossed the line in second with six car lengths on Jason
Weinkauf who earned the third position. Menard, who won a pair of WCS events this
season would move past Chris Weinkauf on the closing stages of the race to grab fourth,
while Chris would settle for fifth.
Mathews, Nathan Haseleu, Brian Back, Steve Holzhausen and Pettis
would complete the top ten.
Earlier in the day, both qualifying races were claimed by
competitors from the LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway. In the first contest Adam
Dengenhardt who was making his WCS debut was able to fend off the challenges of newly
crowned WCS champion Eswein for the victory. Keith Bohmsach would hold off
Marshfield Speedway 2004 point runner-up Dean LaPointe to claim the final transfer spot.
Ken Reiser, who had established a series record 28 consecutive feature stars would
finish fifth, missing the main event for the first time in WCS history. Reiser did
however make a strong comeback in the contest after having to go to the tail of the field
after and accident between he and M.G. Gajewski early in the race.
The second qualifying contest was won by standout performer Steve
Holzhausen, wheeling a car owned by Pete Kempf. Holzhausen would also advance the
most positions during the feature race eventually finishing ninth in the big show.
Elliott Weiler would finish second in the qualifier, with John Zimmerman edging
Kurt Guralski for the third and final transfer spot.
With the season now concluded plans for the Wisconsin Challenge
Series banquet are underway and will be announced in the next week. The 2005 series
opener, which will begin the fifth season for the series is set to take place on Saturday
Afternoon, April 9th, at Dells Motor Speedway.
The complete 2005 series schedule will be announced in November.
Information on the Wisconsin Challenge
Series can be found at www.wisconsinchallenge.com
For
complete RACESTAT Computer Results Click Here
The Rainbow Bingo
& Casino - Championship 80 - Results
Marshfield Speedway - September 11, 2004
100 Lap Feature: 1.)
Terry Baldry, Omro; 2.) Adam Royle, Farmington, MN; 3.) Jason Weinkauf, Merrill; 4.)
Charlie Menard, Eau Claire; 5.) Chris Weinkauf, Merrill; 6.) Ryan Mathews, Lake Geneva;
7.) Nathan Haseleu, Arlington; 8.) Brian Back, Vesper; 9.) Steve Holzhausen, Bangor; 10.)
Ben Pettis, Eau Claire; 11.) Gary Back, Vesper; 12.) Jeremy Lepak, Wausau; 13.) Keith
Bohmsach, Wisconsin Rapids; 14.) Mark Eswein, Wisconsin Rapids; 15.) Andy Monday,
Appleton; 16.) Eugene Gregorich Jr., Kewaunee; 17.) Judd Brandl, Rudolph; 18.) Adam
Dengenhardt, Coon Valley; 19.) Don Turner, LaCrosse; 20.) Jeff Weinfurter, Wisconsin
Rapids; 21. ) Mark Eswein, Wisconsin Rapids; 22.) John Zimmerman, Markesan; 23.) Elliott
Weiler, Marshfield
First 30 Lap Qualifier: 1.)
Dengenhardt; 2.) Eswein; 3.) Bohmsach; 4.) Dean Lapointe, Marshfield; 5.) Ken Reiser,
Waukon, IA; 6.) Mark Mackesy, Wausau; 7.) Burton Brown, Dale; 8.) Greg Back, Vesper; 9.)
M.G. Gajewski, Wausau; 10.) John Totzke Jr., Wisconsin Rapids
Second 30 Lap Qualifier: 1.)
Holzhausen; 2.) Weiler; 3.) Zimmerman; 4.) Kurt Guralski, Wausau; 5.) Jim Sauter Jr.,
Necedah; 6.) Turner; 7.) Brian Johnson Jr., Roscoe, IL; 8.) Brad Wildes, Tomah; 9.) Cal
Harrell, Harrison; 10.) Eric Wisz, Mosinee |
