 BEAN BEST IN DELLS NORTH AMERICAN CUP TEST!
WISCONSIN DELLS, WI. (July 2, 2005) - A packed
grandstand and a full pit area could be found at Dells Motor Speedway, as the Wisconsin
Challenge Series presented the North American Cup event at the third-mile paved oval.
When the final checkered fell on the fast paced program, Dexter Bean of Westby,
Wisconsin scored his first career Wisconsin Challenge Series victory. It was also
his first behind the wheel of a Super Late Model machine.
A field of 47 cars checked into the pit area for
competition during the evening, and though qualifications and a pair of hotly contested
qualifying events the starting grid of 23 rolled out for the 100 lap main event.
John Zimmerman of Markesan a former champion at Dells Motor Speedway and Rich Loch a
regular at Slinger Super Speedway, brought the field to the green flag. The pair
would run side by side the opening two laps before Zimmerman gained the upper hand. Loch
would follow in second trailed by Dells Motor Speedway regulars Tom Litchfield and Jeff
Kendall.
Further back the field was still sorting itself out with Nathan
Haseleu, Ryan Mathews, Dexter Bean and Kelly Biers, the winner of this event two years ago
all making forward progress. The first caution of the event appeared on lap nine when Don
Turner looped his ride in turn four.
The machines of Kendall and Litchfield made contact briefly
coming off turn two on lap 11, Kendall was able to squeeze by Litchfield who slowed to
gather up his ride and in doing so lost several spots, elevating Haseleu to fourth and
Mathews to fifth.
The lead pair of Zimmerman and Loch began to separate from the
field, while Haseleu who already had captured a WCS event earlier this season at Kaukauna,
began to work on Kendall in attempting to gain the third spot. Haseleu would manage
to work by Kendall the current point leader at Dells Motor Speedway prior to the lap 20
mark.
A pair of Dells regulars would have their evenings go sour over
the course of the next several laps as Litchfield's strong showing came to the end as the
sheet metal on the side of his car came loose forcing him to pit while running in the top
ten.
Likewise Kendall's evening began to sour as his car began to give
up speed. He would be forced to drop from the race while running fifth on lap 32
with engine problems.
Zimmermann meanwhile had increased his advantage over Loch to
nearly a full straightaway. Loch's main concern however was a trio of fast cars
including Haseleu, Mathews and Bires who had reached his rear bumper and were pressuring
for second. Bean and the evening's fast qualifier Mark Eswein had followed each
other from deep in the field running just outside the top five.
A scramble among those doing battle for second would result in
Bires spinning in turn one on lap 36. Mathews was also relegated to the tail of the
field with Bires for the restart. Though Mathews would not content for the victory
he would spend the balance of the race putting on a solid charge back though the field
with some impressive passes using the challenging outside groove.
Zimmermann, Loch, Haseleu, Bean and Eswein would make up the top
five on the restart. Zimmerman shot back to the lead, while Haseleu went to work on
Loch for second. Haseleu would prove successful and working past Loch on lap 41,
prior to a second spin by Turner on lap 44.
The race restarted again with Zimmerman back out front but this
time Haseleu began to pressure for the lead position seeking a way to the top spot.
Bean meanwhile managed to find a way under Loch for the third
spot on lap 48, bringing Eswein with him, leaving Loch back in the fifth spot.
In the battle for the lead position Haseleu opted for the high
line trying to get next to Zimmerman. Though able to draw alongside on occasion
Haseleu was not able to complete the pass. Haseleu attempting to use the high line
on lap 52 to surpass Zimmerman, would allow Bean to use the low groove and Bean would make
his charge on the bottom of the track payoff with a surge into the second spot.
Bean would close on Zimmerman's rear deck and while contesting
the lead the pair would make contact coming off turn two on lap 56. Bean would dive
to the bottom of the track and win the drag race to the next corner to take over the top
spot.
After a brief caution on lap 64, the running order of the race
resumed with Bean, Haseleu, Eswein, Zimmerman and Loch holding the top five spots.
Behind the top five runners current Wisconsin Challenge Series points leader Jeremy Lepak
was doing battle with Charlie Menard who captured the WCS contest that opened the season
at Dells Motor Speedway back in April.
The laps past quickly with Bean, Haseleu and Eswein leading the
field at the front and quickly clicking off laps. Bean's lead remained slim but
steady as the race drew towards the closing stages.
The final slowdown of the contest appeared with 19 laps to go as
Menard and Lepak got together while doing battle for sixth, resulting in Lepak spinning
coming off turn two. This dropped both drivers to the tail of the field for the
restart and placed Rory Melbinger into the sixth spot
The final laps would go by without incident and Bean drove a
flawless race to maintain an advantage over Haseleu to the checkered taking the victory by
three car lengths. Haseleu would cross the finish line in second, but his
performance coupled with Lepak's late race spin would elevate Haseleu to the top of the
current standings, dropping Lepak to second.
Eswein the defending series champion reached the line in third
followed by Zimmermann and Loch who turned in his career best WCS finish reaching the top
five.
Melbinger, Jason Weinkauf, Mathews, Morrisey and Brad Wildes
completed the top ten finishers in the main event.
A 40 lap "B-Feature" was presented for drivers who
missed the feature race and that contest proved very successful. Brandon Selle would
pace much of the contest before Kyle Kind would close the gap making a pass for the win in
the final laps of the race. The victory for Kinder brought to an end a string of bad
luck which plagued him in recent WCS showings. Likewise Selle's second place finish put
and end to a string of mechanical failures giving the young driver momentum heading into
the next contest. M.G. Gajewski made the biggest move thoughout the contest coming
from deep in the field to reach the third spot. Chris Weinkauf and Frank Kreyer
completed the top five runners.
Earlier in the program a pair of qualifying races filled with
talented drivers were held to set the balance of the field.
In the first contest Don Turner gave the local fans something to
cheer about taking the victory over Travis Sauter and Terry Baldry who earned top three
finishes and positions in the main event. Jeremy Miller and Kinder would wind up
just short in fourth and fifth respectively.
The second qualifying race was captured by former track champion
Kirby Kurth over Andrew Morrisey. A side by side duel over the final laps waged
between Dean Lapointe and Andy Monday, with Lapointe getting the final transfer spot by a
matter of a couple feet. Kenny Richards would finish the race in fifth but had
earned the provisional starting spot into the main event.
The Wisconsin Challenge Series will now head to Marshfield
Speedway for the running of the Marshfield 80 presented by Thomas Electric / Earth Inc.
and 104.1fm The Blaze. The highlight of the program will be a 80 lap main
event for the Wisconsin Challenge Series Super Late Models. Twin 25 lap feature
races will also be on the program.
A full field of 4 cylinders will be on hand as the support class
for the show along with 1-Man Cruisers.
Pit gates will open at 2:00 p.m. Qualifying for the
evening's program will began at 6:00 p.m. and the first green flag of the night will fly
at 7:30 p.m.
Marshfield Super Speedway is located three miles west of Marshfield, Wisconsin on County
Highway H. Additional information about this event can be had by calling (715) 387-2717 or
(715) 384-8325.
Information is also posted on the track website at www.marshfieldspeedway.com or the
official Wisconsin Challenge Series website located at www.wisconsinchallenge.com additional
Wisconsin Challenge Series information can be found by calling (920) 731-6804.
For
complete RACESTAT Computer Results Click Here
North American Cup 100
- Dells Motor Speedway - July 2, 2005
100 Lap Feature: 1.)
Dexter Bean, Westby; 2.) Nathan Haseleu, Marshall; 3.) Mark Eswein, Wisconsin Rapids; 4.)
John Zimmermann, Markesan; 5.) Rich Loch, Muskego; 6.) Rory Melbinger, Marshfield; 7.)
Jason Weinkauf, Merrill; 8.) Ryan Mathews, Lake Geneva; 9.) Andrew Morrisey, Deforest;
10.) Brad Wildes, Tomah; 11.) Adam Royle, Farmington, MN; 12.) Travis Sauter, Necedah;
13.) Kelly Bires, Mauston; 14.) Kirby Kurth, Wisconsin Rapids; 15.) Blake Horstman,
Bangor; 16.) Don Turner, LaCrosse; 17.) Charlie Menard, Eau Claire; 18.) Terry Baldry,
Omro; 19.) Kenny Richards, Monetllo; 20.) Jeremy Lepak, Wausau; 21.) Dean Lapointe
Marshfield; 22.) Jeff Kendall, Montello; 23.) Tom Litchfield, Pardeeville
First 30 Lap Qualifier: 1.)
Turner; 2.) T. Sauter; 3.) Baldry; 4.) Jeremy Miller, Rockton, IL; 5.) Kyle Kinder,
McFarland; 6.) Chris Weinkauf, Merrill; 7.) Jim Carlson, LaCrosse; 8.) Ken Reiser, Waukon,
IA; 9.) Frank Kreyer, Pardeeville; 10.) Kyle Davis, Marshfield
Second 30 Lap Qualifier: 1.)
Kurth; 2.) Morrisey; 3.) LaPointe; 4.) Andy Monday, Appleton; 5.) Richards; 6.) Brandon
Selle, Dale; 7.) Rick Corso, McHenry; 8.) M.G. Gajewski, Wausau; 9.) Rod Brewe, Menominee;
10.) Eugene Gregorich Jr., Kewaunee
40 Lap "B-Feature: 1.)
Kinder; 2.) Selle; 3.) Gajewski; 4.) C. Weinkauf; 5.) Kreyer; 6.) Rocky Breezer, Portage;
7.) Reiser; 8.) Monday; 9.) Burton Brown, Fremont; 10.) Pete Vandermolen, Oshkosh; 11.)
Brewe; 12.) Cal Harrell, Harrison |
