Madison International Speedway
Official Press Release
Contact John Wells 608.225.1913
Oregon, WI- Friday, July 22, 2011- Ross Kenseth made a triumphant return to Madison International Speedway by picking up the victory in the Colony Brands 85 for the Super Late Models. Zack Riddle won the Bob Schmelzer 50 for the Rockweiler Insulation Late Models while Shaun Scheel (Ho Chunk Gaming Area Sportsman), Andy Jones (Pellitteri Waste Systems Legends), and Kyle Stark (Roto Rooter Bandits) also drove their way to victory lane.
Ross Kenseth Races to Victory Lane
Ross Kenseth took the lead following the restart on lap 28 and never looked back as he picked up the checkered flag in the Colony Brands 85.
Jonathan Eilen and Mike Meyerhofer brought the field of eighteen cars to the green flag in the Colony Brands 85. Eilen would take the early lead with Jamie Wallace and Meyerhofer side by side for third.
Michael Bilderback would move to third on lap five followed by Jeff Storm and Ross Kenseth. Storm and Kenseth would race side by side for fourth before Kenseth took the spot on lap 10. Travis Sauter would move into the top five on lap 11.
On lap 18, Bilderback would move to the inside of Wallace for second coming down the front shoot. Kenseth and Sauter would get by Wallace one lap later for third and fourth place.
Lap 21 would find Kenseth dropping to the inside of Bilderback fighting it out for second. Both Kenseth and Sauter would pass Bilderback on lap 24, but would still trail Eilen by ten car lengths. A spinning car on lap 28 would bring out the first caution and take away Eilen’s advantage.
Kenseth would choose to restart on the outside of Eilen and would take the lead coming out of turn two. Eilen would try to regain the lead one lap later, but would be unable to do so. A spin on lap 31 would bring out the race’s second caution flag.
After the restart Kenseth would continue to lead with Sauter taking over second on lap 32 followed by Eilen, Bilderback, and Storm.
On lap 44, Nathan Haseleu would move into the top five and join in the pursuit of Kenseth. But out front Kenseth had built a six car length over Sauter who was fifteen car lengths ahead of Eilen as the field began to stretch out.
On lap 66 the leaders had caught the tail end of the field, but Kenseth would have no problem maneuvering his way around the slower traffic although it got a bit challenging at times.
Kenseth would have little problem staying out front as he cruised to victory lane. Sauter would finish second followed by Eilen, Haseleu, and Chris Weinkauf.
Kenseth, who started seventh, was quick to give credit to his crew when interviewed in victory lane by Matt Panure. “Chris Purdy and the guys do a great job getting this car prepared. We had a pretty good baseline coming here. The guys gave me a good car and it was a pleasure to drive.”
The 8 lap qualifying race was won by Chris Wimmer while Travis Sauter set fast time with a mark of 17.652.
Colony Brands 85
Feature Results: 1) Ross Kenseth- Spring Valley, IL, 2)- Travis Sauter- Prairie du Sac, 3) Jonathan Eilen- Hampton, MN, 4) Nathan Haseleu- Marshall, 5) Chris Weinkauf- Merrill, 6) Bryan Reffner- Rudolph, 7) Michael Bilderback- South Beloit, IL, 8) Jeff Storm- Waterford, 9) Jason Tyler- Stoughton, 10)- Bobby Wilberg- Beloit, 11) Jamie Wallace- Pell Lake, 12) Mike Meyerhofer- Burlington, 13) Russ Blakely- Whitewater, 14) Griffin McGrath- Cedar Rapids, IA, 15) Chris Wimmer- Wausau, 16) Landry Potter- Genoa City, 17) Jim Olson- Harvard, IL, 18) Andrew Morrissey- DeForest
Zack Riddle Wins Bob Schmelzer 50
Zack Riddle took the lead on lap 24 and held off a strong field of cars enroute to win the Bob Schmelzer 50 for the Rockweiler Insulation Late Models.
John Baumeister Jr. and Kevin Knuese paced the field of eighteen Rockweiler Insulation Late Models to the green flag. Baumeister Jr. would show the early speed taking the early lead followed by Scott Broughton and Ryan Goldade. On lap 10 Zack Riddle would sneak his way past Kevin Knuese for fourth while Jeremy Miller, Dale Nottestad, and Bobby Wilberg were battling it our for sixth.
On lap 17 Broughton had closed the gap out front to less than one car length. One lap later Broughton would find the room he needed coming out of turn two to take over the lead from Baumeister Jr. On lap 20 both Goldade and Riddle would move past Baumeister Jr. with Broughton opening up a ten car length lead out front.
A spin on lap 24 would bring out the first caution of the race and take away Broughton’s sizeable advantage.
Riddle would move to the outside on the restart and take the lead away from Broughton on the front stretch and would hold the lead for one lap before another caution would come out for a spin.
This time Baumeister Jr. would move to the outside on the restart with Broughton electing to stay on the inside behind Riddle. Unfortunately, a spin back in the pack would keep the race from going green on the restart.
The next time seemed to be the charm, but the green flag stayed out for one lap before debris was found on the track bringing out the flag of choice, the yellow.
When the cone came out again, it would be Broughton moving to the outside of Riddle. Would we see a repeat of an earlier restart when Riddle took the lead from the outside? Not this time as Riddle would keep the lead on the outside followed by Broughton, Baumeister Jr., Wilberg, and Goldade. On lap 34 an incident behind the leaders would bring out the caution flag once more.
The restart would find Nottestad moving to the outside of Riddle with Miller choosing to stay behind Riddle. Riddle would continue to lead with Miller up to second followed by Broughton. Riddle would build up a five car length lead over Miller with ten laps to go.
The race would stay green the rest of the way and Riddle couldn’t have been happier as he wheeled his way to the checkered flag to pick up his first win of the season at MIS. Miller would finish second followed by Broughton, Nottestad, and Goldade.
“We figured we’d move to the outside on the restart earlier in the race and we made it work,” said Riddle. “This win will make up for the DNF a couple of weeks ago.”
Brady Liddle won the 8 lap qualifying race while Miller set the pace in qualifying with a lap of 19.153.
Miller continues to lead the points chase with 681 followed by Broughton (618), Riddle (601), Nottestad (598), and Wilberg (594).
50 Lap Feature:1. Zack Riddle (Brooklyn, WI), 2. Jeremy Miller (Rockton, IL), 3. Scott Broughton (Stoughton, WI), 4. Dale Nottestad (Cambridge, WI), 5. Ryan Goldade (Edgerton, WI), 6. Bobby Wilberg (Beloit, WI), 7. John Baumeister Jr. (Lake Geneva, WI), 8. Nathan Oppliger (Oregon, WI), 9. Scott McGettigan (Verona, WI), 10. Chad Stevens (Orfordville, WI), 11. Kevin Knuese (Waukesha, WI), 12. Ed Szelagowski Jr (Westfield, WI), 13. Andy Evraets (Hartland, WI), 14. Mackenzie Piller (Amboy, IL), 15. Shane Morrissey (Cuba City, WI), 16. Ty Majeski (Seymour, WI), 17. Don Wickstrum (Monroe, WI),
Qualifying Race:1. Brady Liddle (Oregon, WI), 2. Chad Stevens (Orfordville, WI), 3. Andy Evraets (Hartland, WI), 4. Scott McGettigan (Verona, WI), 5. Don Wickstrum (Monroe, WI), 6. Mackenzie Piller (Amboy, IL),
Qualifying:1. Jeremy Miller (Rockton, IL), 2. Zack Riddle (Brooklyn, WI), 3. Ty Majeski (Seymour, WI), 4. Ryan Goldade (Edgerton, WI), 5. Nathan Oppliger (Oregon, WI), 6. Scott Broughton (Stoughton, WI), 7. Kevin Knuese (Waukesha, WI), 8. Bobby Wilberg (Beloit, WI), 9. John Baumeister Jr. (Lake Geneva, WI), 10. Shane Morrissey (Cuba City, WI), 11. Dale Nottestad (Cambridge, WI), 12. Ed Szelagowski Jr (Westfield, WI), 13. Chad Stevens (Orfordville, WI), 14. Brady Liddle (Oregon, WI), 15. Andy Evraets (Hartland, WI), 16. Scott McGettigan (Verona, WI), 17. Don Wickstrum (Monroe, WI), 18. Mackenzie Piller (Amboy, IL),
Shaun Scheel Picks Up First Area Sportsman Win
Shaun Scheel led wire to wire on his way to earning his first feature win of the season in the 20 lap main event for the Ho Chunk Gaming Area Sportsman.
Chester Ace and Shaun Scheel led the field of fourteen cars to the green flag. Scheel would take the early lead with Ace and Mike Heelein running second and third. Heelein would take over second on lap 2 with Austin Nason right behind in third place.
Showing a lot of speed, Nason would move up to second on lap 5 after getting past Heelein. TJ Goldade would move to fourth followed by Brad Luck.
Scheel and Nason would check away from the field by ten car lengths before the caution flag came out on lap 16 for a spin in turn two.
And now it was time for the cone. Heelein would take a shot by moving to the outside of Scheel while Nason woud stay behind Scheel.
The race would not stay green for long as a melee on the backstretch would collect point leader Robert Hansberry Jr., TJ Goldade, and Brad Luck and send all three to the pits.
On the restart Nason would have a tire go down bringing out the caution flag.
When the race went green again, Heelein would try the outside. but wouldn’t have enough to catch Scheel who picked up his first win of the season.
Heelein would have his hands full keeping second place but was able to do it by holding off Stephen Scheel. Greg Baxter and Chad Knaus would round out the top five.
“That was probably one of the longest races of my life. I’m just glad it’s over,” said Scheel from victory lane.
In only his second night out in an Area Sportsman car at MIS, Brad Luck set fast time with a lap of 21.018.
Despite his DNF, Hansberry Jr. leads the points with 681 followed by Stephen Scheel at 632 and Shaun Scheel at 582.
20 Lap Feature:1. Shaun Scheel (Lake Mills, WI), 2. Mike Heelein (Evansville, WI), 3. Stephen Scheel (Lake Mills, WI), 4. Greg Baxter (Brodhead, WI), 5. Chad Knaus (Sun Prairie, WI), 6. Tommy Wutke (Stoughton, WI), 7. Brandon Skolaski (Fitchburg, WI), 8. Rodger Stephenson (Cambridge, WI), 9. Chester Ace (Oregon, WI), 10. Austin Nason (Roscoe, IL), 11. TJ Goldade (Stoughton, WI), 12. Robert Hansberry Jr. (Beloit, WI), 13. Brad Luck (Sauk City, WI), 14. Pat Richgels (Evansville, WI),
Qualifying:1. Brad Luck (Sauk City, WI), 2. Robert Hansberry Jr. (Beloit, WI), 3. Austin Nason (Roscoe, IL), 4. Stephen Scheel (Lake Mills, WI), 5. Greg Baxter (Brodhead, WI), 6. TJ Goldade (Stoughton, WI), 7. Tommy Wutke (Stoughton, WI), 8. Mike Heelein (Evansville, WI), 9. Shaun Scheel (Lake Mills, WI), 10. Chester Ace (Oregon, WI), 11. Chad Knaus (Sun Prairie, WI), 12. Pat Richgels (Evansville, WI), 13. Brandon Skolaski (Fitchburg, WI), 14. Rodger Stephenson (Cambridge, WI),
Number Five for Andy Jones
Andy Jones patiently worked his way to the front and cruised to his fifth win of the 2011 season in the 25 lapf feature for the Pellitteri Waste Systems Legends.
Tim Narr and Brandon Heisler brought the seventeen car field to the green flag. Narr would take the early lead with Rachael Pinkerman up to second and on lap 3 she would take the lead by getttng to the inside of Narr coming out of turn one.
On lap 5, Cory Talaska and Andy Jones would slide to the inside of Pinkerman to take over the top two spots.
Aaron Moyer would quickly move up to third. On lap 10, Jones would power to the inside of Talaska to take the lead with Moyer up to second one lap later. The leaders would work their way through lapped traffic.
Jones and Moyer would put on a great show weaving in and out of traffic. Moyer would make a last ditch effort on the final lap but would come up just short as Jones raced his way to victory lane for the fifth time this season. Cory Talaksa would finish in third followed by Kyle Vergata’s season high fourth place finish and Rachael Pinkerman.
“He chased me down and I’d pull away. We both got through lapped traffic and it was a good race,” said Jones.
Moyer set fast time with a lap of 14.069 while Kevin Griffin won the 8 lap qualifying race.
Andy Jones has a commanding lead in the race for the track championship with 724 points. Cory Talaska is second with 590 followed by Vince Bartolotta at 568.
25 Lap Feature:1. Andy Jones (Gurnee, IL), 2. Aaron Moyer (Eden, WI), 3. Cory Talaska (Campbellsport, WI), 4. Kyle Vergata (New Berlin, WI), 5. Rachael Pinkerman (Barrington Hills, IL), 6. Vince Bartolotta (West Allis, WI), 7. Kyle Jusits (Kenosha, WI), 8. Tim Narr (Raymond, WI), 9. Kevin Griffin (Green Oaks, IL), 10. Brandon Heisler (Aurora, IL), 11. Anthony Metallo (South Elgin, IL), 12. Jeff Lechnir (Oshkosh, WI), 13. Jordan Wendt (Stoughton, WI), 14. Alyssa Metallo (South Elgin, IL), 15. Tony Moyer (Eden, WI), 16. Steve Narr (Slinger, WI), 17. Todd Schmitz (Verona, WI),
Qualifying Race:1. Kevin Griffin (Green Oaks, IL), 2. Todd Schmitz (Verona, WI), 3. Jeff Lechnir (Oshkosh, WI), 4. Jordan Wendt (Stoughton, WI), 5. Alyssa Metallo (South Elgin, IL),
Qualifying:1. Aaron Moyer (Eden, WI), 2. Andy Jones (Gurnee, IL), 3. Cory Talaska (Campbellsport, WI), 4. Anthony Metallo (South Elgin, IL), 5. Kyle Jusits (Kenosha, WI), 6. Vince Bartolotta (West Allis, WI), 7. Rachael Pinkerman (Barrington Hills, IL), 8. Brandon Heisler (Aurora, IL), 9. Tim Narr (Raymond, WI), 10. Kyle Vergata (New Berlin, WI), 11. Steve Narr (Slinger, WI), 12. Tony Moyer (Eden, WI), 13. Kevin Griffin (Green Oaks, IL), 14. Jeff Lechnir (Oshkosh, WI), 15. Todd Schmitz (Verona, WI), 16. Jordan Wendt (Stoughton, WI), 17. Alyssa Metallo (South Elgin, IL),
Stark Holds Off Ace for Bandit Checkers
Kyle Stark continued his mastery of the “Ring of Fire” by winning the 20 lap feature for the Roto Rooter Bandits.
Eleven Roto Rooter Bandits came to the green flag of their twenty lap feature paced by Mike Amador and Jonathon Coker. Unfortunately, the caution flag would come out for a disabled vehicle forcing a full restart.
This time, Coker would grab the early lead and by several car lengths. Tim Dixon moved into second before giving up the spot to Jason Coker on lap 4 as a pack of cars ran three wide fighting for that position.
Coker would continue to lead, but fast qualifier Stark was up to second on lap 6 and was looking to take the lead before the second caution came out on lap 9 for a spin.
After the restart Stark would work his way to the inside of Coker going into turn three to take the lead. Ace would move past Coker one lap later for second place.
Stark would try to pull away from Ace, but the three-time defending champion was not about to let him out of his sights. Time would eventually run out for Ace as Stark led the rest of the way to pick up his fifth feature win of the season. Jason Coker would finish in third followed by Lee Haag and Jonathon Coker.
“I really didn’t want to wait so I jumped to the outside to get around everyone,” said Stark from victory lane.
Fast time was set by Kyle Stark with a lap of 15.086.
It is a dead heat atop the point standings with the Lorang / Stark team and Ace both tied at 690. Lee Haag is in third place with 603.
20 Lap Feature:1. Kyle Stark (Waterloo, WI), 2. Chester Ace (Oregon, WI), 3. Jason Coker (Oregon, WI), 4. Lee Haag (Belleville, WI), 5. Jonathon Coker (Oregon, WI), 6. Gavin Klosterman (New Glarus, WI), 7. Tim Dickson (Rockton, IL), 8. Mike Amador (Oregon, WI), 9. Jasmine Runaas (Albany, WI), 10. Jim Lorang (Stoughton, WI), 11. Dan Snyder (Stoughton, WI), 12- James Younger (Oregon, WI)- DNF
Qualifying:1. Kyle Stark (Waterloo, WI), 2. Chester Ace (Oregon, WI), 3. Jason Coker (Oregon, WI), 4. Jim Lorang (Stoughton, WI), 5. Gavin Klosterman (New Glarus, WI), 6. Lee Haag (Belleville, WI), 7. Tim Dickson (Rockton, IL), 8. Jasmine Runaas (Albany, WI), 9. Dan Snyder (Stoughton, WI), 10. Jonathon Coker (Oregon, WI), 11. Mike Amador (Oregon, WI), 12. Jim Younger (Oregon, WI),
There will be no racing at MIS on Friday, July 29th as the night was set aside for a July rain date which will not be needed. The Rising Harvest Christian Festival featuring motivational speakers and four bands is scheduled to start at 5:00 PM on Saturday, July 30th.
The next racing action will be Friday, August 5th when all four weekly divisions return to the track. For more information check out our website at madisoninternationalspeedway.com.
