by Andrew Schaller
COLUMBUS, WI (Friday, July 31, 2009) Point leader Randy Breunig of Columbus extended his advantage in the standings by capturing the 35 lap Late Model feature event. Lincoln Keeser along with Steve Schlosser paced the field to green with Keeser taking the early lead. Rob Myers followed under Schlosser for the runner up spot as the inside lane moved forward. ON lap four, Bill Retallick drove to the outside of Myers for second, bringing Dean Schultz along. Retallick gained the spot with Schultz still in tow. ON lap seven, Myers lost control and spun to the infield. Meanwhile, Retallick shot to the outside of Keeser to battle for the top spot with Schultz and Breunig lining up behind them. Keeser and Retallick fought door to door until Retallick gained the advantage on lap on lap 13. As the leaders exited turn four, Retallick got loose and spun into Keeser, sending both drivers into the front chute wall and bringing out the caution. Both competitors were okay but forced to retire for the evening. Breunig restarted as the new leader with Schultz right behind. The leaders lined up nose to tail by the midway point of the race with Breunig showing the way. Breunig cruised to the stripe for the win with Schultz, Gaserude, Andy Wendt and Jerry Auby rounding out the top five.

Dale Weatherwax of Cambria laid claim to the 30 lap Sportsman main event. Ron Nelson and Tiffany Desjarles led the field to green with Nelson taking the initial lead. Desjarles battled back to the outside of Nelson. But Desjarles got loose allowing Nelson to shoot back out the point. Dan Schmidt took advantage to pull into second and look to challenge for the lead. On lap 12, Weatherwax moved to the high side of Schmidt to battle for second. Weatherwax made the pass and pulled alongside Nelson for the top spot. Weather wax and Nelson fought side by side until Nelson broke loose on lap 21, giving Weatherwax the lead with Brandon Riedner in tow for second. Riedner began to put heavy pressure on the new leader as the laps ticked away. But Weatherwax managed to hold him off for the win. Riedner was second followed by Schmidt, Jake Wasserburger and Alex Lee.

Waterloo's Steven Sauer won his second feature in a row by claiming the 25 lap Hobby Stock feature event. Ben Monday grabbed the early lead on lap one with Dustin Ward in second. ON lap five, Sauer motored to the outside of Ward for second and battled side by side while Monday watched in his rearview mirror. On lap 13, Sauer got a good run to pull even with Monday for the top spot. Sauer nosed out to the lead on lap 16 for good and pulled away for the win. Ward was second followed by Monday, Kyle Riedner and Larry Moen.

Andy Raley of Fall River won the 25 lap Thunder Stocks feature event. DL Hatton and Reiny Scherbarth battled battle side by side at the drop of the green until Scherbarth gained the position on lap two. Raley followed him into second and immediately went to work on the new leader. Raley fired into the lead a lap later and began to stretch his advantage. Kale Peterman tried to close the gap over the remaining laps, but Raley crossed the stripe out front. Peterman, Dale Warthan, Billy Robinson and Scherbarth rounded out the top five. Will Rece of Stoughton captured the 18 lap Bandit feature. Melissa Moen and Mike Held paced the field to green with Held taking the early lead. Held immediately opened up a large advantage over the pack as Jameson Kohn battled with Will Rece for second. Rece claimed the spot on lap three and started to run down Held for the top spot. Dave Schmidt motored his way to third and joined Rece trying to catch the leader. Caution waved on lap seven, erasing Held's advantage. After the restart, Held and Rece returned to a healthy lead as Ed Klug made his way to third with Birkett in tow. Birkett moved to third as the second caution waved on lap 12, setting up a six lap shootout to the finish. As they resumed racing, Rece powered to the outside of Held for the lead while Birkett and Klug lined up right behind them for third. The leaders raced side by side until Rece gained control on lap 16. Rece cruised to the checkers for the win followed by Schmidt, Birkett, Klug and Held.

Brooklyn's George Wachuta won the crazy Backup 8 lap feature event. Dustin Von Allmen took the early lead from fellow front row starter Wayne Hook at the drop of the green. Andy Ward followed into second and began to hound the leader. Meanwhile, George Wachuta used the high groove to move up and challenge as well. Wachuta motored around Von Allmen to take the lead for himself with Matt Wachuta in tow for second. George Wachuta flew to the checkers for the win followed by Matt Wachuta and Ward.

Next Friday, August 7, is Kids Bike Night along with a full program in all divisions. Also, residents of Rio, Reeseville and Lowell receive $2 off general admission. Time trials begin at 6:30pm with racing at 8pm. Please visit www.columbus151.com for more information.