 LOCAL FAVORITE JEFF VAN OUDENHOVEN CAPTURES ALL-STAR CHALLENGE FEATURING
MATT KENSETH, CARL EDWARDS AND RANDY LAJOIE!
KAUKAUNA, WI. (June 21, 2005) - Another record
setter! The joint effort between RK Racing Promotions and the Wisconsin Challenge
Series would turn in a record setting night at Wisconsin International Raceway.
Before a crowd of 6,800 , local favorite Jeff Van Oudenhoven would work past NASCAR Nextel
Campaigner Carl Edwards just after the halfway point in the race, to score his first
career Wisconsin Challenge Series feature win. The evening would also feature the
return of 2003 NASCAR Nextel Cup champion Matt Kenseth to Wisconsin International
Raceway. The former two-time track champion then would overcome mechanical
difficulties early in the program to put on a brilliant charge through the field netting a
sixth place finish in a program featuring a stellar field of cars.
A record 65 cars attempted to participate during the
evenings program, with 63 cars turning in qualifying efforts. The number of entries
eclipsed the mark of 59 set during the inaugural appearance of the Wisconsin Challenge
Series at the track in May.
The entire evening would see an amazing display of driving
ability, as only a single caution period was shown during the entire program.
The fierce competition for the evening began early, as the honor
of the fastest lap in qualifying would end in a tie for the fastest lap between multi-time
track champion Terry Baldry, and raceway regular Mark Schroeder who earned the honors at
the first ever WCS race at the track in May. As a result of Baldry turning in the
qualifying mark first, we was awarded quick time honors, his first in WCS competition.
Three very important qualifying races would set the field for the
100 lap main event. Ryan Mathews would edge out Andrew Morrisey in the first contest
with both drivers advancing to the main event. The second race was captured by
NASCAR Midwest Series competitor Tim Schendel. The runner-up spot was hotly
contested between raceway regulars Bob Danes and Andy Monday, but a tangle on the final
lap would put Adam Royle into the main event. Due to the extreme number of cars a
third qualifier was needed. The race would be captured by another raceway regular
Mike Gardner, with Kelly Biers taking the final transfer spot into the show. Those
not making the main event would run a "B-Feature" later in the evening.
When the field was set polesitter Steve Holzhausen and Jim Duchow
would bring the field of 28 cars to the green flag. Duchow would use his familiarity
of his home track to hid advantage and would dominate the opening 50 laps. With
Duchow long gone much of the contest would center around who would finish in the runner-up
spot.
Of the three NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers competing in the race, it
was Carl Edwards spending the majority of the time near the front of the pack taking
second from Holzhausen on lap two. Matt Kenseth, would start the event in 17th place
but would display his passing ability picking cars off quickly early in the contest.
Duchow's display of speed left his competitors in the dust
opening up a 15 car length advantage on Edwards by lap 25. Edwards positions was
more precarious however as Tim Rothe, Holzhausen and winner of the last WCS event at
Wisconsin International Raceway, Nathan Haseleu all seeking the position.
On lap 27, Van Oudenhoven began to creep into the picture working
by Haseleu for the fourth spot. The pair had fought for the win in the May event,
this time with Van Oudenhoven getting the upper hand. Kenseth meanwhile had already
cracked the top ten and continued his forward progress. Van Oudenhoven would make
his first of two passes on Edwards during the evening when he climbed into the third slot
on lap 34.
Out front Duchow continued to stretch his leads would would
increase to nearly a full straight over Rothe. At the 50 lap point the caution flag
would fly for a mandatory pit stop. At the same moment the flag would fly,
Holzhausen's night would come to an end as he slowed with a puff of smoke on the
backstretch.
As the cars entered the pit area Duchow was at the head of the
pack followed by Rothe, Van Oudenhoven, Edwards and Haseleu. Current weekly track
point lead headed up the balance of the top ten in sixth with multi-time track champion
Terry Baldry seventh and Kenseth eighth.
During the pit stop intermission a random draw would invert the
front of the field. It would place Edwards into the lead on the restart with Van
Oudenhoven, Rothe and Duchow following as the top four inverted.
When the green flag returned Edwards would jump into the initial
lead, but Van Oudenhoven would began to pressure him for the top spot. On lap 54,
Van Oudenhoven would work the low groove to scoot past Edwards for the top spot.
Just three laps later, Duchow, who dominated the opening 50 laps, burst by Rothe to grab
second and moments later slipped past Edwards for the runner-up spot.
Rothe's fine run would come to and end before the 60 lap mark
when he retired to the pits while running in the top five. Mechanical difficulties would
also end two-time NASCAR Busch Series champion on lap 64 was he retired to the pit area.
Wheeler meanwhile was also on the move having worked past Edwards
for the third spot. With two wins to his credit this season at Wisconsin
International Raceway, Wheeler was hoping to add this event to his win column. He
would close in to pressure Duchow for second, and with 25 laps to go in the contest we
would squirt past for the runner-up spot.
Van Oudenhoven however was comfortable out front in spite of some
lapped traffic. Wheeler would manage to get as close as five car lengths with a
dozen laps to go in the contest, but Van Oudenhoven would increase his lead over the
finals laps. At the wire, it was Van Oudenhoven with the victory. Wheeler
would lay claim to second.
Haseleu would advance to third during the closing laps working
past Duchow for the spot with five laps to go. Duchow would complete the evening
with a solid fourth place run, just ahead of Edwards who finished fifth in a team car to
Duchow under the Lamer's Motorsports banner.
Kenseth would settle for a sixth place finish in the contest
edging out Baldry for the position. Schroeder, Steve Carlson and current Wisconsin
Challenge Series point leader Jeremy Lepak would complete the top ten finishers.
The evening would conclude with a 40 lap "B-Feature"
contest which saw local drivers sweep the podium positions. John Meidam would
capture the win over Super Late Model rookie racer Nate Van Wychen. Gregg Haese would
finish third ahead of John Zimmermann and Jason Weinkauf.
The series will now travel to Dells Motor Speedway for the
running of the North American Cup on Saturday Night, July 2nd. A traditional stop on
the series schedule, the North American Cup race is one of the season highlights at the
third-mile paved oval. In addition to a 100 lap Wisconsin Challenge Series contest,
a pair of qualifying races will be held along with the popular "B-Feature" race
to conclude the evening. The winged open-wheeled Rascal Outlaws will also be on hand
for a full program which will conclude with a special flaming leap of death performed by
daredevil Denny Bandt, followed by a Fireworks display.
Pit gates will open at 1:00 p.m., with practice at 3:00 p.m.
Qualifying for the evening's program will began at 5:00 p.m. and the first green
flag of the night will flay at 6:30 p.m.
Dells Motor Speedway is located just five minutes from the famous downtown Wisconsin
Dells tourist area, three miles West of I-90/94, Exit 85, on Highway 12/16 toward Lyndon
Station. You can contact the track by phone at 608-356-8708 or reach them online at
www.dellsmotorspeedway.com
Additional Wisconsin Challenge Series information can be found by calling (920) 731-6804
or by logging onto the series website at www.wisconsinchallenge.com
For
complete RACESTAT Computer Results Click Here
Factory Motor Parts -
All-Star Challenge - Wisconsin International Raceway - June 21, 2005
100 Lap Feature: 1.)
Jeff Van Oudenhoven, Kimberly; 2.) Rod Wheeler, Hortonville; 3.) Nathan Haseleu, Marshall;
4.) Jim Duchow, Appleton; 5.) Carl Edwards, Mooresville, NC.; 6.) Matt Kenseth, Cambridge;
7.) Terry Baldry, Omro; 8.) Mark Schroeder, Green Bay; 9.) Steve Carlson, West Salem; 10.)
Jeremy Lepak, Wausau; 11.) Jeff Kendall, Montello; 12.) Mark Eswein, Wisconsin Rapids;
13.) Mike Gardner, Gladstone, MI; 14.) Frank Kreyer, Pardeeville; 15.) Ryan Mathews, Lake
Geneva; 16.) Jamie Iverson, Escanaba, MI; 17.) Adam Royle, Farmington, MN; 18.) Kelly
Biers, Mauston; 19.) Tim Schendel, LaCrosse; 20.) Jim Sauter Jr., Necedah; 21.) Andrew
Morrisey, Deforest; 22.) Randy LaJoie, Kannapolis, NC.; 23.) Tim Rothe, Appleton;
24.) Brad Mueller, Random Lake; 25.) M.G. Gajewski, Wausau; 26.) Charlie Menard. Eau
Claire; 27.) Lowell Bennett, Neenah; 28.) Steve Holzhausen, Bangor
First 25 Lap Qualifier: 1.)
Mathews; 2.) Morrisey; 3.) Gregg Haese, Two Rivers; 4.) Jason Weinkauf, Merrill; 5.) Brent
Strelka, Freedom; 6.) Rich Loch, Muskego; 7.) Todd Stapleman, Wautoma; 8.) Dexter Bean,
Westby; 9.) Tom Gee Jr., Sobieski; 10.) Chris Weinkauf, Merrill
Second 25 Lap Qualifier: 1.)
Schendel; 2.) Royle; 3.) Nate Van Wychen, Kaukauna; 4.) John Zimmermann, Markesan; 5.)
Robb Vanderloop, Kaukauna; 6.) Nick Schumacher, Hartford; 7.) Blake Horstman, Bangor; 8.)
Kurt Guralski, Wausau; 9.) Frank Nitzke, Berlin; 10.) Brandon Selle, Dale
Third 25 Lap Qualifier: 1.)
Gardner; 2.) Bires; 3.) Pete Vandermolen, Oshkosh; 4.) John Meidam, Appleton; 5.) Don
Turner, LaCrosse; 6.) Tom Hockers, DePere; 7.) Jason Vandenberg, Appleton; 8.) Terry
Patnode, South Milwaukee; 9.) Greg Back, Vesper; 10.) Eric Wisz, Mosinee
40 Lap "B-Feature: 1.)
Meidam; 2.) Van Wychen; 3.) Haese; 4.) Zimmermann; 5.) J. Weinkauf; 6.) Schumacher; 7.)
Hockers; 8.) Gee Jr., 9.) Patnode; 10.) Loch; 11.) Back; 12.) Callin Harrell, Harrison;
13.) Wisz; 14.) Strelka; 15.) Vanderloop |
