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GREGORICH STUNS
WCS REGULARS WITH HOMETRACK WIN,
HASELEU CROWNED 2005 WCS CHAMPION!
MARSHFIELD, WI. (September 10,
2005) - Having worked his way
up the racing ranks from short track
dirt ovals and quarter-mile paved tracks
in Northeastern Wisconsin, young Eugene
Gregorich Jr., stunned the Wisconsin
Challenge Series regulars as he
tenaciously held onto the lead through
much of the 80 lap season championship
feature, scoring what could easily be
called an upset victory at Marshfield
Super Speedway. Gregorich who has spent
the past several seasons behind the
wheel of a Super Late Model had
previously been a title contender at
Marshfield Speedway a couple seasons
ago, but in his limited Wisconsin
Challenge Series appearances this was by
far his best effort. In a very popular
win Gregorich would sprint to the finish
line with a two car length advantage on
newly crowned 2005 champion Nathan
Haseleu.
Haseleu would chase Gregorich throughout
much of the event and though he closed
quickly over the final laps his charge
would fall short preventing Haseleu from
earning his third straight WCS victory.
The second place performance was more
than enough however to secure the series
title by 170 points over two-time series
champion Mark Eswein who finished fifth
in today's race.
Earlier in the day 41 cars attempted to
make the starting gird for the season
finale feature contest. Thoughout the
2005 season, the Wisconsin Challenge
Series had over 40 participants at every
event, making it the most competitive
regional asphalt racing series in the
United States.
It would be Frank Kreyer claiming quick
time on the day with just he and
Charlie Menard cracking the 18 second
barrier. Kreyer would draw the highest
possible invert, putting the 14th
fastest qualifier on the pole and
placing himself in the 14th spot.
A field of 23 rolled to the green flag
with Kenny Richards and rookie Super
Late Model competitor Brad Wildes making
up the front row. Both drivers are
regulars at the Dells Motor Speedway, as
was Todd Stapleman who found himself
third on the grid.
As the race began Richards darted out
front, but the big move over the opening
laps was made by Gregorich who shot past
Stapleman and Wildes to run second as
lap three began. On the very next laps
contact between Stapleman and Wildes
resulted in Wildes spinning in turn
four. Both drivers were able to return
to the race from the tail of the field.
Wildes stalled machine was missed by
much of the field as cars darted every
direction. The most serious contact in
the scramble was made between Adam Royle
and Steve Holzhausen. Holzhausen would
need to head to the pit area for quick
repairs. Royle would resume the race,
but due to his car sparking in each turn
he was sent to the pits for additional
repairs.
The remaining 76 laps would be run
without an additional caution.
As the green flag waved again Richards
held the point with Gregorich giving
chase. Gregorich would work the high
line past Richards for the top spot on
lap seven, with Haseleu following into
the second position.
Jeremy Miller and Mark Eswein would find
themselves in fourth and fifth
respectively by lap ten, and for much of
the race the battle between Miller and
Eswein proved to be an entertaining one
as both driver sought to improve their
positions.
Further back in the field big moves were
being made by Menard and 2004 Marshfield
Speedway champion Jeff Weinfurter.
Earlier in the day Weinfurter dominated
his 25 lap qualifying race starting back
in the 20th position. He had already
worked past ten cars by lap 15 cracking
the top ten. His impressive performance
however came to and end with mechanical
difficulties moments later as he dropped
from the contest being the first driver
out of the event.
Out front
both Miller and Eswein worked their way
past Richards to reach third and fourth
respectively and before lap 20 was
complete Ryan Mathews, who finished
runner-up in the last WCS contest at
Marshfield, would comprise the top five.
Out front
Gregorich has build a ten car length
lead on Haseleu, who found himself in a
battle with Miller and Eswein for the
second spot. This allowed Gregorich
even more breathing room as the race
approached the halfway point.
The
battle for third spot between Miller and
Eswein allowed Haseleu some time to make
a charge at Gregorich as the race would
down to the final 30 laps. On several
occasions Eswein managed to get to
Miller's inside but a combination of
lapped traffic and heads up driving by
Miller allowed Miller to retain the
third spot.
Closing
in on the action however was Menard who
had climbed into the top five.
Menard's machine was obviously quick
closing in on the battle between Miller
and Eswein as he joined the tussle for
the second spot.
Out front
Gregorich still commanded a comfortable
dozen car length lead with 20 laps to
go. Haseleu however began to close the
gap slightly with each passing lap.
Haseleu's efforts were helped along when
Gregorich bobbled coming off turn two on
the next lap. Though Gregorich
regrouped quickly his lead had
diminished to a couple car lengths.
Meanwhile
Menard has passed Eswein for fourth and
began seeking a way past Miller.
The top
five cars would filter into single file
formation with a car length between them
as the final ten laps began. Over the
final circuits Haseleu would close on
Gregorich, especially on the final trip
around the half-mile oval. Gregorich
however would not falter and would
streak to the finish less than a car
length ahead of Haseleu. Miller would
manage to fend off a final lap passing
attempt by Menard to claim third.
Menard would settle for fourth and
Eswein reach the strip in fifth, as the
top five were separated only by a
handful of car lengths at the wire.
Mathews
would claim the sixth spot followed by
multi-time Dells Motor Speedway champion
Jeff Kendall who earned seventh.
Richards, the event's polesitter
completed the contest in eighth followed
by Blake Horstman and Kreyer.
20 of the
23 starters were running at the finish.
Earlier
in the day the two qualifying races
proved to be very competitive.
Unfortunately for defending event
winner, Terry Baldry, he would not get a
shot at the main event as his ride was
damaged while avoiding a tangle between
two other cars in the first qualifying
race. John Zimmerman would lead much of
that contest before being passed by Doug
Drost who was debuting a new race car.
Drost took that car to victory lane on
it's maiden voyage. The battle for
second would wage between Zimmerman,
Frank Nitzke and Brian Back over the
final five laps. Zimmerman was able to
hold onto second with Back edging Nitzke
by inches for the final transfer spot.
Nitzke would settle for fourth and Adam
Degenhardt would comprise the top five
finishers.
The
second qualifier saw Jeff Weinfurter and
Jeremy Lepak race side by side for the
top spot throughout much of the race
before Weinfurter surged ahead in the
closing laps for the win. Lepak would
settle into second with Jamie Iverson
the Norway Speedway champion making his
third WCS start of the season claiming
the final transfer spot. Tim Rothe and
Elliott Weiler would complete the top
five runners.
The
Wisconsin Challenge Series will begin
it's sixth season of action in 2006 in
April. An exciting season schedule
along with other important announcements
will be made throughout the off-season
at a pair of informational meetings and
through news releases on the series
website at
www.wisconsinchallenge.com
The 2005
season awards banquet will be held on
Saturday Night November 12th at the
Tornado's Supper Club and Banquet Hall
in Appleton,WI. Details on that event
will be announced shortly.
For complete RACESTAT Computer Results
Click Here
WCS Championship 80 -
September 10, 2005
80 Lap Feature:
1.) Eugene Gregorich Jr., Kewaunee; 2.)
Nathan Haseleu, Marshall; 3.) Jeremy
Miller, Loves Park, IL; 4.) Charlie
Menard, Eau Claire; 5.) Mark Eswein,
Wisconsin Rapids; 6.) Ryan Mathews, Lake
Geneva; 7.) Jeff Kendall, Montello; 8.)
Kenny Richards, Montello; 9.) Blake
Horstman, Pardeeville; 10.) Frank Kreyer,
Pardeeville; 11.) Jason Weinkauf,
Merrill; 12.) M.G. Gajewski, Wausau;
13.) Ben Pettis, Eau Claire; 14. ) John
Zimmerman, Markesan; 15.) Todd
Stapleman, Wautoma; 16.) Jamie Iverson,
Escanaba, MI; 17.) Jeremy Lepak, Wausau;
18.) Brad Wildes, Tomah; 19.) Doug Drost,
Merrill; 20.) Adam Royle, Farmington,
MN; 21.) Brian Back, Vesper; 22.) Steve
Holzhausen, Bangor; 23.) Jeff
Weinfurter, Wisconsin Rapids
First 25 Lap Qualifier:
1.) Drost; 2.) Zimmerman; 3.)
Back; 4.) Frank Nitzke, Berlin; 5.) Adam
Degenhardt, Coon Valley; 6.) Andy
Monday, Appleton; 7.) Kyle Davis,
Marshfield; 8.) Terry Baldry, Omro; 9.)
Pete Kempf, Nekoosa; 10.) Dean Lapointe,
Marshfield
Second 30 Lap Qualifier:
1.) Weinfurter; 2.) Lepak; 3.)
Iverson; 4.) Tim Rothe, Appleton; 5.)
Elliott Weiler, Marshfield; 6.) Ken
Reiser, Waukon, IA; 7.) Tim Hintz,
Nekoosa; 8.) Jim Duchow, Appleton; 9.)
Chris Weinkauf, Merrill; 10.) Greg
Ruffalo, Wautoma
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