WISCONSIN CHALLENGE SERIES PUTS WRAPS ON RECORD YEAR AT BANQUET!

APPLETON, WI. (November 25, 2006) - The Wisconsin Challenge Series presented by Simply Wow, made it's formal conclusion to a very successful racing season as a record point fund was distributed to eligible teams.  Nathan Haseleu of Pardeeville was able to repeat as the series champion taking the title for the season straight year, based on the strength of a four race win streak in the middle of the season. 

The series, which completed it's six year of existence continued to provide one of the most competitive and cost effective Super Late Model series around. This past season nearly $250,000 worth of prize money was distributed including record banquet awards approaching $25,000.  During the year the series averaged 48 cars per event, a substantial increase over 2005.   At three events, the field swelled to over 60 competitors including a series record 71 entries at the Milwaukee Mile, when WCS made it's first appearance at the Legendary one-mile oval.  The 71 participants established an all time record for any class in the 100 plus year history of the raceway.

The competition on the track was fierce with six different drivers recording victories during the campaign.  Haseleu would snag the lions share of wins taking home four victories in a row establishing a new series record. Haseleu and his Swiss Colony sponsored machine has now upped his career win total in WCS competition to eight, pulling ahead of 2003 title winner Erik Darnell who had lead the victory total with five career checkered flags heading into this past racing season.

Haseleu would be pressured throughout the season by a hard charging Kenny Richards of Montello who would finish a mere 38 markers behind Haseleu.  Richard's performances throughout the season were extremely consistent behind the wheel of his Assembly Products sponsored machine, and he would grab his first career WCS win at Golden Sands Speedway on a hot Memorial Day afternoon.  While Richards would narrowly miss the 2006 WCS title, he did claim two track championships taking titles at both Golden Sands Speedway and Dells Motor Speedway.   Jeff Kendall, also of Montello, stayed in the thick of the title chase throughout the year, narrowly missing victory at Wisconsin International Raceway in May.  Kendall would spend the later portions of the season in a point battle with Mark Eswein of Wisconsin Rapids and Frank Kreyer of Pardeeville for the third spot.

When the season came to it's conclusion, Kendall would claim the position by seven points over Eswein.  Eswein, who owns a pair of WCS titles had several solid showings late in the season to climb to fourth in the standings.  Eswein, also became the first driver to reach the 4,000 point mark in all-time series standings late in the year.  Eswein had also lead the way to the 3,000 point threshold, a fete which he accomplished during the 2005 campaign.

Rounding out the top five was Kreyer, would earn his first WCS win at Dells Motor Speedway during the running of the North American Cup 100, and would stay in the top five in the season standings to it's conclusion.

Veteran WCS campaigner Adam Royle of Farmington, MN would climb to sixth in the season standings in spite of missing one of the shows, and Andy Monday of Appleton would establish himself among the front-runners in the series making the with several strong showings throughout the year and the establishment of an all-time track record at his home track Wisconsin International Raceway in May.

Dave Feiler of Sun Prairie driving for Maynard Motorsports, earned his first career WCS win in May at Madison International Speedway when he became the first driver in series history to have won a main event after qualifying into the feature contest through a qualifying race.  The victory was the second for Maynard Motorsports who also scored a win with Terry Baldry at the end of the 2004 season.  The combination of Feiler and Maynard would finished eighth in points.

Pete Kempf who owns Kempf racing of Nekoosa fielded cars for both himself and Wisconsin Short Track veteran Steve Holzhausen.  The pair would have a successful showing grabbing ninth in the seasons final standings.

Jason Weinkauf of Merrill would round out the top ten point finishers on the season a mere two markers behind the Kempf racing effort in the final standings.

Other drivers receiving awards during the ceremony included Chris Weinkauf of Merrill, John Zimmermann of Markesan, Blake Horstman of Rockland, Jacob Humphrey of Lake Geneva, Brandon Selle of Dale, Dennis Prunty of Lomira, Jeff Way of Burlington and Erik Klawitter of Montello.

All totaled some 135 drivers earned points during the year, establishing yet another series record.

The 7th season of Wisconsin Challenge Series action is set to begin on Sunday Afternoon, April 15th at the Rockford Speedway.  It will make the second straight year the high banked quarter-mile oval will play host to the season opening show for the series. 

Currently eleven events are planned with a pair of races being contested at Madison International Speedway, Wisconsin International Raceway, Marshfield Super Speedway and Golden Sands Speedway.  A second event is in the planning stages for Rockford which would bring the 2007 WCS season to a close.   The Milwaukee Mile is currently the only track scheduled to host a single contest.

Dates for all the shows will be announced shortly.

Fans and drivers can keep up with the off-season highlights of the Wisconsin Challenge Series by logging onto the series website at www.wisconsinchallenge.com