 POINT LEADER HASELEU EDGES MATHEWS FOR MARSHFIELD CHECKERED!
WISCONSIN DELLS, WI. (July 16, 2005) - An
exceptionally warm night was what awaited fans and drivers at Marshfield Super Speedway,
but a packed grandstand, full pit area and an exceptionally exciting finish will be what
is remembered when people recall the Thomas Electric / Earth Inc. Marshfield 80.
For much of the contest it appeared the race would come down to a
battle of champions as 2003 series titilist Erik Darnell of Beach Park, IL who had been
running a comfortable distance ahead of 2004 title holder Mark Eswein a resident of nearby
Wisconsin Rapids. However a late race caution and an engine going sour in Eswein's
machine would change the outcome considerably.
A late race yellow setup a showdown between Darnell,
Haseleu and Mathews and the trio would provide s how for the fans to be remembered for
some time. Haseleu would take the top spot with a handful of laps to go in the
contest and then was able to fend off a passing attempt by Mathews with two laps to go in
scoring his second Wisconsin Challenge Series victory of the 2005 season and further
strengthening his point lead.
The field of 23 would accept the green flag for the 80 lap main
event on the half-mile semi-baked oval with 2004 Wisconsin International Raceway rookie of
the year Andy Monday of Appleton and former WCS Hard Charger Award winner M.G. Gajewski of
Wausau comprising the front row. The youthful Monday would surge ahead of Gajewski
for the opening lead while Eswein began to move forward in the outer groove, bringing
Darnell with him
Monday would hold the top spot for the first five circuits before
Eswein would power ahead working the high line with Darnell in tow.
Eswein's reign at the front of the pack was short lived however
as Darnell would work into the top spot on lap eight dropping Eswein to the runner-up
spot. Monday continued his pursuit in third while fending off the challenges of
Gajewski who began to reassert himself. Gajewski, also preferring the high line
around the raceway would claim third at Monday's expense on lap 12, just prior to the
event's first slowdown.
Adam Royle and Jason Weinkauf has been contesting the fifth
position when the pair made contact in turn four resulting in a spin by Royle. Both
drivers would be forced to restart the contest from the tail of the field. Haseleu
who had started in the 12th spot had already reached the 5th position and when the green
flag returned he began to march forward.
Underway again Darnell and Eswein began to break from the pack as
Haseleu worked into the third spot at the 20 lap mark. Further back in the field
Mathews was patiently working back toward the front of the pack climbing back into the top
ten after falling back in the field at the drop of the green flag.
Darnell and Eswein would make their home in the first two slots
working ahead to a comfortable margin over Haseleu, while Gajewski and Jeremy Lepak, who
had lead the point standings earlier in the season held down the top five positions as the
first half of the race was reached.
With 30 laps to go subtle changes were beginning to occur as the
tone of Eswein's engine began to change signaling mechanical gremlins beginning to come
into play. Though unhampered had first the sound became more obvious with each
passing lap and Darnell began to stretch his lead as Eswein began to fall into the
clutches of Haseleu.
Over the next ten laps Darnell stretched his lead to nearly a
full straightaway, while Eswein did everything possible to keep Haseleu in his tire
tracks. Further back Gajewski, Charlie Menard and Mathews joined the line of cars
catching Eswein.
While Eswein fought tenaciously to remain among the leaders, an
ever lengenthing line began to form behind him with Haseleu now seeking a way to the
runner-up spot. It would be Mathews however who would be first to make his move.
Jumping to the outside line, Mathews quickly shot by several cars as Eswein held
fast to the lower groove. Mathews move to the outside proved fruitful moving
alongside Eswein and on lap 69 he would take control of second. Haseleu followed
suit on the next lap, bringing Menard with him as Eswein began to fade. Eswein would
eventually fall from the contest with only two laps to go, a disappointing end to a strong
performance.
The race continued with ten laps to go and Darnell's lead would
be insurmountable as long as he could avoid any mechanical ills or caution flags.
Fate however had other plans.
Coming off turn four with nine laps to go Royle spun into the
grass which would setup a nine lap dash to the checkered.
The field came back to the green flag with Darnell in the lead,
but Haseleu and Mathews were able to keep pace and both drivers began to seek a way by
Darnell for the top spot. This time it was Haseleu who would make the right moves as
he worked by both Mathews and Darnell for the lead with seven laps to go. Darnell's
car which now appeared loose in the corners gave the young Illinois racer all he could
handle and Mathews took advantage reaching second with five laps to go.
With a surprising amount of speed Mathews then began to reel in
Haseleu, reaching his rear bumper as three laps remained. Looking to the outside
Mathews would attempt to make a pass with two laps to go in the contest, but wiggled
coming off of turn two as the pair were almost even. This allowed Haseleu to surge
out front while Mathews gathered up his ride without losing a spot.
Over the final laps Mathews was unable to reach Haseleu again and
Haseleu streaked past the checkered with a car length advantage on Mathews.
Meanwhile Darnell would engage in a side by side battle with Menard, who had been the
day's fastest qualifier. Both cars wiggled coming off turn four toward the checkered
with Darnell getting to the stripe in third by a half car length. Menard would
settle for fourth and Jeff Kendall would complete the top five.
Allen Check, who had started the race in the 18th spot, had
quietly worked forward thoughout the contest reaching sixth by the checkered.
Gajewski completed his strong run in seventh. Multi-time Marshfield Speedway
champion Rory Melbinger nabbed eighth followed by Lepak and Jason Weinkauf in the top ten.
18 of the 23 starters were still running at the finish.
Earlier in the day a pair of qualifying races would determine the
balance of the feature starting grid. In the first 25 lap contest, Blake Horstman
would outsprint regular Marshfield Speedway runner John Totzke Jr. for the win. Don
Turner would edge Waukon Iowa native Ken Reiser for the final transfer spot by taking
third.
The race was marred by a multi-car tangle early on which dashed
the hopes of Terry Baldry who had won the most recent WCS race at Marshfield last fall.
The accident also eliminated Pete Kempf and Keith Bohmsach whose car suffered
extensive damage in the shunt.
The second qualifying race as Check work to the front followed by
Dexter Bean who had captured the most recent WCS contest at Dells Motor Speedway two weeks
ago. Jeremy Miller of Roscoe, IL would claim the final transfer spot ahead of local
favorite Dean Lapointe.
The series will now head to Golden Sands Speedway for a Friday evening contest on July
29th. A soild turnout of cars are expected to be on hand as the point chase begins
to come into focus. The high-banked third mile oval is located between Wisconsin
Rapids and Plover, Wisconsin on Highway 54.
Pit gates will open one hour earlier than normal at 3:00 p.m. Qualifications will
take place at 6:30 p.m. and the first green flag of the evening will fly at 7:45 p.m.
The snowmobile engine powered Wisconsin Sport Trucks will also be on hand with a full
program, and 1-Man Cruiser racing action will conclude the evening's show.
Information is also posted on the track website at www.goldensandspeedway.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
Thomas Electric /
Earth Inc. Marshfield 80 - July 16, 2005
80 Lap Feature: 1.)
Nathan Haseleu, Marshall; 2.) Ryan Mathews, Lake Geneva; 3.) Erik Darnell, Beach Park, IL;
4.) Charlie Menard, Eau Claire; 5.) Jeff Kendall, Montello; 6.) Allen Check, Rosholt; 7.)
M.G. Gajewski, Wausau; 8.) Rory Melbinger, Marshfield; 9.) Jeremy Lepak, Wausau; 10.)
Jason Weinkauf, Merrill; 11.) Andy Monday, Appleton; 12.) Jeremy Miller, Loves Park, IL;
13.) Adam Royle, Farmington, MIN; 14.) Chris Weinkauf, Merrill; 15.) Blake Horstman,
Bangor; 16.) Frank Kreyer, Pardeeville; 17.) Dexter Bean, Westby; 18.) Don Turner,
LaCrosse; 19.) Mark Eswein, Wisconsin Rapids; 20.) John Zimmermann, Markesan; 21.) Jeff
Weinfurter, Wisconsin Rapids; 22.) John Totzke Jr., Wisconsin Rapids; 23.) Greg Back,
Vesper.
First 30 Lap Qualifier: 1.)
Horstman; 2.) Totzke; 3.) Turner; 4.) Ken Reiser, Waukon, IA; 5.) Burton Brown, Fremont;
6.) Tim Hintz, Nekoosa; 7.) Terry Baldry, Omro; 8.) Eric Wisz, Mosinee; 9.) Kurt Guralski,
Wausau; 10.) Kevin Tunks, Edgerton;
Second 30 Lap Qualifier: 1.)
Check; 2.) Bean; 3.) Miller; 4.) Dean Lapointe, Marshfield; 5.) Brad Wildes, Tomah; 6.)
Brandon Selle, Dale; 7.) Elliott Weiler, Marshfield; 8.) John Zimmerman, Markesan; 9.) Jim
Sauter Jr., Tomah; 10.) Cal Harrell, Harrison |
