Doar, Nelson and Borgeson top second night features at the Legendary 100 at CLS
09/13/07
By Greg Parent
The second night of the Legendary 100 proved to be an entertaining yet somewhat bizarre evening of racing at the Cedar Lake Speedway on Thursday September 13. A full qualifying program with heats, B Main and feature races were held for the DTRA late model, modified and super stock divisions. A field of 167 cars was on hand including 65 super stocks, 65 modifieds and 37 late models. Once again, clear skies and breezy conditions made another cool late summer evening feel much more like fall weather. When the 22 event race program concluded, fans had witnessed some great racing action, a big wreck in the super stock feature, and a total power blackout while the late models were under green flag racing in their feature. Through it all, Tim Borgeson bested a very good race for the top positions in the super stock feature, Darrell Nelson raced to a win in a very competitive modified main event, and Pat Doar was victorious in the late model qualifying feature.
Six heat races for the DTRA super stock division began the racing program. Passing points would be utilized in the heat races in all divisions with the top 18 cars locked into the qualifying feature race later in the evening. Cars finishing in point positions 19-42 would run a B Main. Those who finished outside the top 42 in points would have to wait for Friday night to race again.
Tim Borgeson raced ahead of the field for 12 laps to win the first super stock heat race, but Dale Gangl made it close in the end to settle for second place ahead of Kurt Kromschroeder in a nonstop run to the checkers. Larry Boumeester, tied for second in the national DTRA point standings coming in to the night, wasted no time in charging into the lead from his pole starting position in the second heat. Boumeester won by a comfortable margin over Marcel Hoaglan and Gary Wiersgalla. Rod Dregney also used his pole starting position to blast into the lead in the third heat and 12 laps later was first across the finish line. Jason Gabrielson started ninth and gained seven spots to finish second ahead of rookie Mike Bruggeman. Ted Marrs led all the way in a quick 12 lap race to win the fourth heat with Ryan Olson and Winnipeg driver Scott Brown trailing. The fifth super stock heat race saw three different leaders. Josh Bartell led the opening lap before 2006 DTRA Rookie of the Year Jim Gullikson drove by on the high side. Gullikson led the next eight laps, but it was sixth starter Rick Kobs with a pass exiting turn two on lap 10 taking the lead and the eventual win. Gullikson was a close second in front of rookie Justin Stahl. The final heat race was another nonstop affair, as Rich Bishop planted his car against the cushion on the high side and set sail. Charlie Weber stayed closed behind but could never mount a serious bid for the lead. Ben Hillman finished a short distance behind Weber.
The race program kept rolling along with six heats for the DTRA modified division. A very competitive battle for the lead in the first heat saw the spot change hands a couple of different times. Jamie Lemke led the opening lap until Luke Schilling snuck underneath. Schilling proceeded to lead the next eight laps, but Lemke was persistent in applying the pressure and eventually regained the lead on lap 10 for the win in a nonstop 12 lap race. The first red flag of the night flew in the second modified heat race when Justin Schill rolled his modified entering turn one on lap 4. Justin was okay, but the car was done for the night. Surviving two other cautions, veteran driver Les Duellman led all the way over Mike Goodremote for the win with another veteran driver, Steve Wik, returning to racing in third. Pat Zdroik led the first 10 laps in the third modified heat, but seventh starter Darrell Nelson drove past on lap 11 for the lead and the win a lap later. Late model driver Terry Casey, racing an RJR Loose Gruff chassis car, came from 8th to finish second ahead of Jim Chyba. Joey Jensen, one of three drivers battling for the DTRA national point championship, swept past the front row starters in the fourth heat and went from fourth to first. Jensen led all 12 laps. Doug Gustafson raced his way forward from 10th to finish second in front of 8th starter Scott Hudack. Rob Fenske held off Mike Anderson and Larry Zeller to run up front in a quick 12 lap fifth heat race. The final heat for the modifieds had plenty of top cars and drivers, as both Dave Cain and Jason Miller were in this race. Both of these drivers are also racing for the DTRA national point title. However, it was Kasson driver Brad Waits moving from fourth to first on the opening lap and then holding off Dave Cain and Paul Knauf for the win. Jason Miller came from 10th to finish fourth.
In DTRA late model heat race action, Steve Laursen blasted into the lead at the drop of the green in the first heat and 12 laps later raced in front of Eric Breeschoten for the win. Rick Egersdorf held off 9th starter Terry Casey for third. Larry Stockwell led the first two laps in the second heat before 6th starter Ashley Anderson drove by. Anderson led the remaining ten laps, but 8th starter Pat Doar applied the pressure throughout a good share of the race. Brent Larson raced his way forward from 9th to finish 3rd. Doar and Larson were tied atop the DTRA national point standings coming into the evening. Jeff Keeney led the opening lap of the third heat, but Darrin Meierotto drove past him on the second lap and held the top spot the remaining 11 laps. Mike Nutzmann and Chuckie DeSmith moved forward to finish a close second and third behind the leader. The final heat race for the late models went nonstop with outside front row starter Mike Goodremote leading all the way. Joel Cryderman and Ron Schreiner stayed close.
With 16 heat races now in the books, the passing points had been determined and 18 cars in each division were locked into their feature. The next 24 cars in passing points in each class then ran a B Main with the top six finishers in each advancing to their qualifying feature race. A full 24 car field took the green in the 15 lap super stock B Main. Just two cautions slowed the pace, as the track was in very good condition and the super stocks ran well with 21 cars finishing the race. Rookie driver Mike Bruggeman led the first seven laps before Dan Carlson made the winning pass on lap 8. Eric Olson raced his way forward several positions to run second ahead of Bruggeman, Mark Stender, Brandon Jensen and Scott Brown. Another full 24 car starting grid roared to life in the 15 lap modified B Main. Like the super stocks, the modifieds ran well and their race was also was only slowed twice under caution with 21 cars finishing. Scot Danzeisen led the first nine laps before Larry Zeller got by. Zeller would lead the final six circuits for the win. Veteran racer Danzeisen held on to finish second with Paul Knauf, Wayne Troseth, Jim Chyba and Kelly Estey earning transfer positions to the feature race. Adam Hensel brought the 19 car field to the green for the late model B Main. Fifteen laps and two caution flags later, it was Hensel racing in front of the 17 finishers for the win. Mike Bear drove past several cars to finish second. Tom Nesbitt, Justin Hirt, Jeff Keeney and Larry Stockwell garnered the remaining feature race transfer positions. Stockwell narrowly held off Bryan Wennen for the sixth spot.
The 24 car super stock feature lined up for 20 racing laps. A spin on the opening lap required a complete restart. Rick Kobs led the first two laps, but while attempting to complete the third lap his car suddenly darted into the outside concrete wall on the frontstretch. A huge wreck resulted when cars under full throttle slammed into each other just past the start-finish line. The carnage was tremendous. A total of nine cars were damaged in the wreck with seven of them unable to continue. The cars of Dale Gangl and Rich Bishop appeared to be totally destroyed. Justin Stahl was momentarily knocked unconscious in the accident, and his damaged car veered into the infield and headed towards the pond. Stahl regained his senses just in time in order to stop his car before it went in. The front nose was actually just inches from the water. Also involved in the crash were the cars of Kobs, Ryan Olson, Gary Wiersgalla, Ted Marrs, Zach Wohlers and Scott Brown. Brown somehow managed to drive through the wreck while Wohlers went to the work area and returned to tag the tail of the race. Several other cars stopped to avoid the accident or took evasive action. It took several minutes to clean up the accident scene and remove the damaged cars.
When the race went green again, Jason Gabrielson had become the new leader. His reign on top was short-lived though, as Tim Borgeson moved by on the restart to grab the lead. From hereon out, a great battle for the top spots developed. A few laps later, the race was under caution when Larry Boumeester got into Gabrielson in turn two, causing Gabe’s car to spin. Boumeester was sent to the rear of the field. The battle up front continued to wage between Borgeson and Charlie Weber with Gabrielson also in the mix. Soon 10th starter Jim Gullikson was in the picture and took second on lap 7. 23rd starter Brandon Jensen moved to fourth on lap 9 while Weber took second back on lap 10. The stage was set for some great racing in the top four spots amongst Borgeson, Weber, Gullikson and Jensen. Lap after lap these cars raced hard. Borgeson narrowly held the lead for several laps before Weber took over on lap 14. The race stayed green with Weber leading Borgeson. Gullikson and Jensen were close behind. 19th starter Dan Carlson closed in on the leaders to make it a five car race up front over the last few laps. On lap 19, Borgeson regained the top spot from Weber. Borgeson was running high and Weber low. On the final lap, Gullikson got by Weber to finish a close second behind race winner Tim Borgeson. Weber held on to third ahead of Jensen and Carlson. Mike Weber, Mike Bruggeman and Jason Gabrielson completed the top eight finishing positions, as the top eight cars locked themselves into the inside eight rows for the big championship feature on Saturday night. Despite a nasty wreck, the super stock feature race proved to be very entertaining.
With race fans still talking about the action in the super stock main, the 24 car starting field for the modifieds rolled trackside for their 20 lap qualifying feature. Doug Gustafson led the field down for the green and immediately took the lead. The first of three cautions flew with two laps in when Larry Zeller contacted the turn three wall and was unable to continue. Gustafson paced the field for one more lap until Darrell Nelson drove by on lap 4. Brad Waits, Joey Jensen, Dave Cain and Jason Miller were close behind the lead duo. The yellow waved again with seven laps in when Terry Casey got into Les Duellman in turn three. Casey was sent to the rear. On the restart, Waits got by Gustafson for second. At the halfway mark, it was Nelson, Waits, Gustafson, Jensen, Cain and Miller having a good race in the top six spots. The final caution blinked on with 13 laps in when Tyler Keyser got into Rob Fenske in turn four. Shaun Kelley spun to avoid Fenske. Fenske’s car ended up with a flat tire and he retired from the race. Keyser was sent to the tail for causing the caution but drove off the track instead. The final seven laps featured some very good racing up front, as Waits put the pressure on Nelson. DTRA national point leader Dave Cain was slowly working his way forward. Cain moved past Gustafson on lap 18 for third. Nelson and Waits were just a few car lengths ahead. Jason Miller took fourth at the white flag. Darrell Nelson was able to hold back Brad Waits for the win. Dave Cain was a close third with Jason Miller right behind him. Doug Gustafson held on for fifth in front of Joey Jensen. Les Duellman and Scott Hudack completed the top eight finishers and earned starting berths on the inside eight rows for the championship feature on Saturday night.
What would end up being the final race of the night, the late model feature cars lined up 23 strong for 25 laps of racing. Kelly Estey was unable to start. This race would have a bizarre event take place. With four laps in the books and Pat Doar leading, suddenly the entire facility went dark. Pitch black dark for a few seconds until the backup power kicked in for the scoring tower, PA, flag stand and a couple of other areas. The entire race track was cast in blackness with 23 cars under full throttle. What transpired next was just short of a miracle. All 23 cars managed to get slowed down and stopped without any cars wrecking or sustaining any damage. Truly an amazing job by 23 talented drivers, as some drivers reported afterwards that they simply looked ahead at either the gauges or brake rotors of the cars in front of them to judge where they were. The power outage encompassed several homes around the area, so it was more than just a track issue. The power was restored in short order and the big track lights needed to cool off a bit before they could be relit. Track officials decided to postpone the Race of Champions scheduled for the super stock and modified divisions, as the curfew loomed. The late model race would be completed though. This was the first time in a long time that anyone could recall the track being cast in total darkness due to a power outage. Reminiscent of the very early days 50 years ago, the motor homes and vehicles in the turn 3-4 tier parking turned on their headlights immediately after the track went dark in order to cast some light on the track and help officials and drivers to see where the race cars were located.
With power and lights restored, the late model feature race restarted. The race then ran 21 laps nonstop to the finish. Mike Nutzmann drove past Ashley Anderson on the restart for second with Steve Laursen, Brent Larson and Joel Cryderman soon battling for positions 4-6. These three drivers swapped those spots several times. As Doar continued to lead and work lapped traffic, the race for third heated up when this group caught up to Ashley Anderson. Suddenly Mike Nutzmann was just in front and the race was now for second from lap 20 to the finish. Pat Doar maintained a comfortable lead as the laps clicked off. As flagman Jeff Stacken’s waved the checkered flags, Pat Doar drove under for the win. Mike Nutzmann finished second with Joel Cryderman just barely edging past Ashley Anderson for third at the finish line. Brent Larson placed fifth with Steve Laursen sixth, Terry Casey seventh and Ron Schreiner eighth. The top eight drivers earned the right to start on the inside eight rows in the championship feature on Saturday night.
Any of the top eight finishers in the feature races tonight could elect to try to better their starting spot in the Saturday night championship feature race for the Legendary 100 title by running again in another full qualifying race program on Friday night September 14. The late model, modified and super stock divisions will be in action again along with three Race of Champions for these classes and heat races for the pure stocks. Several of the top eight finishers from the Thursday night qualifying features will likely elect to keep their spot and not race in the Friday night program. Racing action is slated to get underway with the first heat taking the green at 7:00PM on Friday, as the third night of racing at the Legendary 100 takes place at the Cedar Lake Speedway. On the heels of an entertaining and somewhat bizarre Thursday night program, who knows what kind of great racing and events may take place on Friday evening
Race Results:
Cars with * ran Goodyears
Winners Go Goodyear/Sunoco Super Stocks (65 Cars)
Heat 1- B37 Tim Borgeson*, 34 Dale Gangl*, 94 Kurt Kromschroeder, 26 Mike Weber*, 77L Scott Lawrence*, 20A Dan Arneson*, 21B Brandon Jensen, 14 Lance Leu*, 1J Justin Dodge*, 7K Mike Bear*, 24M Jim Martinson*
Heat 2- 4 Larry Boumeester*, 77 Marcel Hoaglan*, 52 Gary Wiersgalla, 17 Mike Loomis*, 47M Darrin Meierotto*, 1 Eric Olson, 21X Mike Bellefeuille*, 82 Bruce Schouveller, 34S Denny Stordahl*, SSR Greg Nippoldt
Heat 3- 88D Rod Dregney*, 05 Jason Gabrielson, 11 Mike Bruggeman, 04 Kevin Ayotte, 27 Mark Stender, 28 Jon Lemke, 29F David Flynn*, 46 Dustin Nelson, 48 Brian Lick*, 11S Kevin Salin, F13 Dan DeSmith*
Heat 4- 6M Ted Marrs, 18R Ryan Olson, 15X Scott Brown, 96 Chris Gorka*, 71 Zach Wohlers, 46H Cy Hoaglan, 3HF Dave Friendt*, 21XC Joel Collins, B1 Brian Youderin*, 17T Steve Thomas
Heat 5- 5 Rick Kobs*, 21G Jim Gullikson*, 47 Justin Stahl*, 8Me Dave Chambliss, 18 Josh Bartell, 99C Cody Campeau*, 99 Tony Gates, 97 Leo Feeleus, 9G Tom Gebauer*, 7* Matt Sinna, 26D Chad Dawson
Heat 6- 10B Rich Bishop*, 26W Charlie Weber*, 22Jr Ben Hillman, 22JB JB Stortz*, K1 Eric Youngmen, 17 Ryan Wiome*, 47C Charlie Obermeuller*, 27H Steve Hallquist, 22 Randy Spacek*, Rick Hallquist
B Main- Carlson, Olson, Bruggeman, Stender, Jensen, Brown, Gorka, Lawrence, Loomis, Merierotto, Kromschroeder, Youngmen, Flynn, Obermeuller, Bartell, Lemke, Chambliss, Wiome, Feeleus, Ayotte, Arneson, Emerfoll, Campeau, Gates
A Main- Borgeson*, Gullikson*, Charlie Weber*, Jensen, Carlson*, Mike Weber*, 11 Bruggeman, Gabrielson, Stortz*, Hillman, Wohlers, Olson, Hoaglan*, Dregney*, Boumeester*, Brown, Gangl*, Bishop*, Stahl*, Marrs, Olson, Wiersgalla*, Kobs*, Stender
Bernick's Pepsi/Amsoil Modifieds (65 Cars)
Heat 1- 17L Jamie Lemke, 43 Luke Schilling*, 50 Kevin Viebrock*, 1K Shaun Kelley*, 2 Scott Splittstoesser*, 23 Ryan Muzik, 21 Marc Johnson*, 72 Tim VanMeter*, 48 Don Brightbill*, 8 Rod Debernardeaux, 40XX Charlie Hilukka
Heat 2- 0D Les Duellman*, 89 Mike Goodremote, 11K Steve Wik, 5X Scott Danzeisen, R1 Jay Richardson, 22S Jeff Spacek, 12 Jason Gross*, 71B Dave Siercks*, 11N Roger Niederkorn*, 11X Jason Schill*, 4X Dan Hesch
Heat 3- 44 Darryl Nelson*, 67 Terry Casey, 11XC Jim Chyba, 54L Jayme Lautigar, 55 Alan Mondus*, Z1 pat Zdroik*, 11 Jody Bellefeuille*, 7C Chris Carlson*, 38 Rick Cannata, 44FX Mark Froehlich*, 01 Mike Kelly Jr*
Heat 4- V2 Joey Jensen*, 68 Doug Gustafson*, 00H Scott Hudack, 19 Wayne Troseth, 57H Terry Hanson*, 3K Jeremy Kerzman, 99 Stee Lavasseur, 29 AJ Heuer, 1G Dallas Gulbarnson, 13 Mike Wood*
Heat 5- 44F Rob Fenske, 57A Mike Anderson, 41 Larry Zeller*, 97 Ron Schreiner*, 7K Tyler Keyser*, 17 Erik Bjorklund*, 98 Al Uotinen*, F3 Rick Friendt*, 21 Brandon Lampert, 31 Bill Stettner*, 95 Rick Rivord
Heat 6- 24 Brad Waits*, 2C Dave Cain*, 40 Paul Knauf, 12M Jason Miller*, 37 Kelly Estey, 0 Joe Bean, 87 Mike Mueller, G1 Perry Giles*, 24R Kevin Rogers, 05 Jake Hartung
B Main- Zeller, Danzeisen, Knauf, Troseth, Chyba, Estey, Hanson, Spacek, Uotinen, Bellefeuille, Schreiner, Kerzman, Lavasseur, Splittstoesser, Muzik, Lautigar, Zdroik, Bean, Gross, Johnson, Bjorklund, Mueller, Viebrock, Richardson
A Main- Nelson*, Waits*, Cain*, Miller*, Gustafson*, Jensen*, Duellman*, Hudack, Lemke, Schilling*, Wick, Goodremote, Troseth, Danzeisen, Chyba, Kelley*, Knauf, Mondus*, Fenske, Keyser*, Casey, Estey, Anderson, Zeller*
Arnie's Sleds & Trailers/Impact Printing Late Models (37 Cars)
Heat 1- 19 Steve Laursen, 66 Eric Breeschoten, 17 Rick Egersdorf, 42 Terry Casey, 41 Kelly Estey, 1 Tom Nesbitt, 7C Jim Carlson, 54 Brent Mueller, 21 Scott Gilberts
Heat 2- 81 Ashley Anderson, 11 Pat Doar, B1 Brent Larson, 44 Darryl Nelson, 40 Bryan Wennen, 8 Larry Stockwell, 24 Mike Bear, 21E Caley Emerson, 10 Mike Balcaen
Heat 3- 36 Darrin Meiretto, 2 Mike Nutzmann, 05 Chuckie DeSmith, 55Jr Cory Mahder, 61 Jeff Keeney, AX Adam Hensel, 44H Paul Hipsag, 88 Steve Hucovski, 66X Ron Berna
Heat 4- 89 Mike Goodremote, 51 Joel Cryderman, 97 Ron Schreiner, 72 Justin Ritchie, 32 Shawn Peterson, 45X Jeff Martire, 27H Justin Hirt, 8 Kelly Anderson, 18H Mike Hesselink
B Main- Hensel, Bear, Nesbitt, Hirt, Keeney, Stockwell, Wennen, Anderson, Gilberts, Hipsag, Balcaen, Carlson, Emerson, Hucovski, Hesselink, Martire, Carlson, Berna, Mueller
A Main- Doar, Nutzmann, Cryderman, Anderson, Larson, Laursen, Casey, Schreiner, Breeschoten, Goodremote, Egersdorf, Mahder, DeSmith, Peterson, Nelson, Bear, Meiretto, Nesbitt, Ritchie, Hirt, Keeney, Stockwell, Hensel