HOLZHAUSEN HAULS IN FIRST CAREER WCS CHECKERED IN NON-STOP 100 LAPPER AT GOLDEN SANDS!
By Jeffrey Sachse

Friday, July 27, 2007 (PLOVER, WI) – In an evening of firsts, a large crowd was on hand for the McCain Foods Sands 100, to witness veteran racer Steve Holzhausen of Bangor, WI collect his first career Wisconsin Challenge Series victory.  Holzhausen who was won numerous races throughout his career has upped his best previous WCS performance, that a second place run in the series back in the series finale during the 2003 racing season.  The race also marked the first time in series history, spanning some 56 events, that a single event format feature had run from green to checkered.  The distance of 100 laps ran without interruption as 17 of the 23 starters will still on the track when the checkered flag flew.  Series point leader Kenny Richards would chase Holzhausen throughout much of the event, with his car visibly smoking from early on in the contest.  As the race continued track officials kept close eye on the machine to assure it didn't present a hazard.  Since not reports of fluid hitting the racing surface were reported by track officials Richards drive was allowed to continue.  Post race inspection of his engine revealed he was fortunate to have finish the race as his car has severe damage.  It had been amazing that the car finished let alone allowed Richards to take the checkered flag six car lengths behind Holzhausen.  Six-time track champion and two-time series title holder Mark Eswein of Wisconsin Rapids may have had the fastest car late in the contest, and though he closed the gap on the lead pair of Holzhausen and Richards he ran out of time to challenge for the victory. His third place car a dozen car lengths back from Holzhausen's winning machine.  Jeremy Lepak of Wausau who won his first career WCS contest at Golden Sands Speedway over Memorial Day weekend, finished the contest in fourth.  Local racer Keith Bohmsach driving a machine owned by Eswein claimed fifth in the contest.

After qualifying and an exciting last chance race where M.G. Gajewski made a late race pass of Josh Bauer for the victory, the feature field was set with 23 cars locked into the main event.  Rookie competitor Kyle Calmes would sit on the pole next to two-time Dells Motor Speedway champion Ken Reiser.  Though Calmes is competing in his first season of racing in a Super Late Model, the young gun has already chalked up a track champion at Wisconsin International Raceway in the Limited Late Model class.  Calmes and Reiser would run wheel to wheel for the first two laps, with Calmes hugging the low line and Reiser testing the high groove.  Both driver, determined to get the lead swapped the spot back and forth several times.  Calmes finally secured the position on lap ten after an entertaining side by side battle.  Bohmsach has filtered into the third position, with Holzhausen running fourth followed by Richards and Eswein. 

As Calmes slowly built a margin over Reiser, attention would focus deep in the field, where Lepak began to work forward from his 11th place starting spot.  He would reach sixth by lap 20.  Holzhausen meanwhile was continuing his march forward working past Bohmsach and then dispatching Reiser for second.   By lap 25 he had closed up on Calmes' rear bumper and with a quick move to the inside in turn one on lap 26, Holzhausen would snatch the lead.  Richards, whose car now showed signs of smoke was till running a rapid pace, mirroring Holzhausen's moves to reach second on lap 39.  Calmes would remain in third until lap 48, when Lepak roared past to grab the third spot.

At the halfway Holzhausen had eight car length advantage on Richards machine which continued to show signs of smoke every lap.  Lepak had closed within several car lengths of Richards, but his previous speed vegan to wane and his progress toward the front began to slow the the gap between he and Richards stabilizing at four car lengths.  Calmes continued in fourth followed by Reiser.

As the second half of the contest began the fates of two competitors began to change.  Calmes who had been strong throughout the first half of the contest began to fade falling quickly back into the field.  He would be out of the top ten by lap 65.    This left Reiser in the fourth spot followed by defending series champion Nathan Haseleu and Eswein.   It would be Eswein however who would show the greatest speed over the final 30 laps of the event.

Out front Holzhausen continued to show the way with Richards nursing his machine along in second unable to close the gap.  Lepak also was unable to make any headway toward the front never closing within four car lengths of Richards.  Eswein however began to march forward.  He would pick off Haseleu and Reiser placing himself into the fourth spot with 20 laps to go.  He then closed the gap on Lepak, reaching his rear bumper by lap 90.   After several laps of hard side by side racing Eswein was able to nose ahead of Lepak on lap 96 for third.  Richards, would be the next target of Eswein's charge, but the race was nearing it's conclusion with Holzhausen smoothly clicking away laps out front.

With no cautions to bunch the field Holzhausen would snare the victory, the first for the Pete Kempf team in WCS history.  Richards smoking machine reached the finish line in second ahead of a fast closing Eswein.

With eight races in the books, Richards was able to slightly increase is point lead over Haseleu.  Eswein remains in the third position.  Both Haseleu and Eswein are seeking their third series title, while Richards is looking to secure his first title.  Tim Rothe has climbed into fourth in the series standings, and the next event will be held at Wisconsin International Raceway where he is the defending track champion.  Fellow Wisconsin International Raceway competitor Andy Monday hold down the fifth spot.

The Wisconsin Challenge Series event at Wisconsin International Raceway will feature Twin 50 lap contests.  Known as the Blue Race, the show is also part of the Red, White and Blue State Championships, which should prove to be an exciting show as drivers from both the Wisconsin Challenge Series and the Red, White and Blue Series seek out their respective championships.

McCain Foods Sands 100 - Race Results July 27, 2007

100 Lap Feature Event

25 Lap Qualifier