 MENARD EDGES ROYLE TO CLAIM NEW BEGINNINGS 100 AS 2005 WISCONSIN
CHALLENGE SERIES SEASON BEGINS!
WISCONSIN DELLS, WI. (April 9, 2005) - The 2005
season began at Dells Motor Speedway hosting the Wisconsin Challenge Series season opener.
Charlie Menard would edge out Adam Royle to claim his third career Wisconsin
Challenge Series victory as the 2005 season began on a fantastic spring afternoon in
Wisconsin's tourist area Wisconsin Dells as the New Beginnings 100 presented by Pickett
Septic opened the year for both the series and the racetrack. For the Wisconsin
Challenge Series, the 2005 season began as the 2004 season ended, with a huge field of
cars on hand to vie for victory in the season opening contest.
47 drivers presented their
machine for qualifying attempts on the semi-banked third-mile
paved oval. It was newcomer Blake Horstman of Rockland, WI driving a Wehr's Chevrolet prepared entry that
stunned those on hand with a blistering 13.310 second lap. Horstman a regular in the
NASCAR Late Model division last season at the LaCrosse Fairgrounds was making his first
WCS start. Local favorite and former WCS event winner Jeff Kendall of Montello would
turn in the second fastest lap of the day with the two-time Dells Motor Speedway champ
missing the top qualifying spot by .004 seconds. Defending series champion Mark
Eswein of Wisconsin Rapids opened his 2005 title defense with a third fast qualifying
effort. The feature field was separated by less than .2 of a second after qualification
attempts.
A field of 23 cars were presented for the green flag, but
mechanical ills dropped 2003 series champion Erik Darnell of Beach Park, IL to the infield
before the initial green flag. When the green flag was displayed Chris Weinkauf of
Merrill grabbed the initial lead over long time Dells Motor Speedway regular Jim Carlson
of LaCrosse. Behind the lead duo Menard and Royle engaged in a side by side battle
for the third spot. The first of only two cautions appeared on lap five when Rick
Corso of McHenry, Illinois, a standout performer at Lake Geneva Raceway and winner of the
second qualifying race looped his ride in turn one on lap five.
Underway again Weinkauf continued to set the pace, with Carlson
staying close to his rear bumper. Menard managed to gain the upper hand on Royle for
third, as Royle, Rory Melbinger, Jeremy Lepak and Ryan Mathews gave chase.
Carlson working the low groove began to apply the pressure to
Weinkauf, working his way to Weinkauf's inside at the pair worked lap 15. Carlson
would work past to become the second leader of the contest beginning his reign on lap 16.
Menard would also work the low groove dropping Weinkauf back to the third spot on
the next lap. Moments later Royle worked into the third position as Weinkauf began
to fade.
Further back Mathews was inching forward reaching the top five at
Melbinger's expense on lap 20.
Out front Carlson, a cagey veteran with many laps laps under his
belt kept Menard in his tire tracks, while Menard sought a way to the top spot. On
lap 25, Menard managed to work under Carlson heading into turn one, and would win the drag
race down the backstretch taking over the lead and pacing the event beginning at lap 26.
Royle meanwhile also began to close on Carlson.
By lap 30 Menard began to start working lapped traffic, while
Carlson fought to hold off Royle. Mathews had moved into the fourth slot, while
Andrew Morrisey worked his way into the top five positions.
Royle would spend several laps working Carlson in effort to
obtain the second position, finally making a break to his inside on lap 37 to garner the
position. Menard meanwhile had built up a ten car length lead.
Carlson began to slow slightly on lap 40 and began to fall back
allowing Mathews to reach third.
The second and final caution of the contest appeared on lap 53,
when NASCAR Midwest Elite Division competitor Dexter Bean who made his first WCS
feature start tangled with former WCS event winner Kelly Bires coming off turn two. Bean
was able to continue, while Bires began to have ignition problems forcing him from the
contest.
With the green flag returning Menard shot back into the lead with
Royle hanging on his read bumper. The battle for the third spot began to heat up at
Morrisey began to pressure Mathews for the position, while Carlson hung tenaciously to the
fifth position keeping Melbinger at bay until Melbinger's pressure finally allowed him to
work into fifth on lap 63.
With no cautions to slow the pace attention focused on the lead
duo who again began to encounter lapped traffic with 20 laps to go. Once free of
lapped cars Royle, closed to Menard's rear bumper with 15 laps remaining looking to his
inside on several occasions especially coming off turn four. Royle got a solid run
coming off the fourth turn with 13 laps remaining but was unable to secure the inside line
allowing Menard to retain the lead position.
Over the final dozen laps, Menard was able to pick up the pace
and would sprint to the finish with a two car length advantage over Royle, it was Royals
second straight runner-up finish. Mathews was able to secure the third position.
Morrisey, whose car still carried scars for a early race fender
rubbing accident, managed to drive his race worn machine home to a very impressive fourth
position after starting deep in the field. Melbinger, a multi-time champion from
Marshfield Speedway would round out the top five.
Completing the top ten were Lepak, defending series champion
Eswein, Kendall, Carlson and Minnesota native Dean Cornelius who was making his second
ever WCS appearance.
At the finish 18 cars were still in competition, with 11
competitors remaining on the lead lap.
Earlier in the day, Jeff Weinfurter of Wisconsin Rapids would
edge out Don "Thunder" Turner and Frank Kreyer in the first qualifying race,
with all three drivers making the big show. Former WCS event winner at Dells Kyle
Kinder would earn fourth just missing the show.
In the second contest Rick Corso edge out defending Dells Motor
Speedway Limited Late Model champion Kenny Richards and Kelly Biers for the victory.
With Burton Brown and M.G. Gajewski competing the top five and just missing the
show.
Of the drivers making the main event through the qualifying race,
it was Kreyer with a 12th place run having the best day. Jason Weinkauf, would use a
provisional to get into the event but was unable to make much headway finishing 19th.
The next event on the WCS schedule will mark the only appearance
of the series this season on a quarter-mile oval, as Jefferson Speedway will host the
Jefferson 100 on Saturday evening, April 23rd.
The main event for the WCS cars will be
a 100 lap feature contest, while
twin 30 lap qualifying races will prove critical in
setting the balance of the field.
Pit gates will open at Noon, with practice set to begin at 1:00
p.m. Qualifying will begin at 4:00 p.m., and the first green flag of the day will
fly at 7:00 p.m. All totaled fans can expect to witness nearly 300 laps of racing
throughout the course of the day, as Jefferson Speedway will also be hosting 4 support
divisions, including Sportsman, Internationals, Hobby Stocks and Bandits. Adult admission for the show is a fan friendly $12
amking the program an excpetional value.
Jefferson Speedway is located on halfway
between Cambridge and Jefferson Wisconsin on Highway 18. For additional information
on Jefferson Speedway the track has a website available at www.jeffersonspeedway.com
Information on the Wisconsin Challenge
Series can be found at www.wisconsinchallenge.com
For
complete RACESTAT Computer Results Click Here
The New Beginnings 100
- Presented by Pickett Septic - Results
Dells Motor Speedway - April 9, 2005
100 Lap Feature: 1.)
Charlie Menard, Eau Claire; 2.) Adam Royle, Farmington, MN; 3.) Ryan Mathews, Lake Geneva;
4.) Andrew Morrisey, Deforest; 5.) Rory Melbinger, Marshfield; 6.) Jeremy Lepak, Wausau;
7.) Mark Eswein, Wisconsin Rapids; 8.) Jeff Kendall, Montello; 9.) Jim Carlson, LaCrosse;
10.) Dean Cornelius, Chaska, MN; 11.) Terry Baldry, Omro; 12.) Frank Kreyer, Pardeeville;
13.) Dexter Bean, Westby; 14.) Chris Weinkauf, Merrill; 15.) Kenny Richards, Montello;
16.) Don Turner, LaCrosse; 17.) Blake Horstman, Rockland; 18.) Rick Corso, McHenry, IL;
19.) Jason Weinkauf, Merrill; 20.) Jeff Weinfurter, Wisconsin Rapids; 21.) Kelly Biers,
Mauston; 22.) Rod Brewe, Kaukauna; 23.) Erik Darnell, Beach Park, IL
First 30 Lap Qualifier: 1.)
Weinfurter; 2.) Turner; 3.) Kreyer; 4.) Kyle Kinder, McFarland; 5.) Jim Sauter Jr.,
Necedah; 6.) Brandon Selle, Dale; 7.) John Zimmerman, Markesan; 8.) Ken Reiser, Waukon;
9.) Tom Gee Jr., Sobieski; 10.) rich Loch, Muskego
Second 30 Lap Qualifier: 1.)
Corso; 2.) Richards; 3.) Biers; 4.) Burton Brown, Freemont; 5.) M.G. Gajewski, Wausau; 6.)
Rocky Breezer, Pardeeville; 7.) J. Weinkauf; 8.) Elliott Weiler, Marshfield; 9.) Tony
Strupp, West Bend; 10.) Keith Bohmsach, Wisconsin Rapids. |
