Local Talent Shines during USA Nationals!

On a warm summer evening, a fine field of 50 WDRL late models and 18 NASCAR super stocks opened three straight nights of racing for the 21st Annual USA Nationals held at the Cedar Lake Speedway. A complete program for the WDRL late models and NASCAR super stocks meant the large crowd would see plenty of action on the 3/8 mile high-banked oval. The drivers did not disappoint, as Mike Weber captured his second A Main win of the season in the super stock division while Elk Mound, Wisconsin driver John Kaanta earned a very popular victory in the WDRL 50 lap late model feature race.

Two heat races for the NASCAR super stocks found Mike Weber leading all ten laps to win the opening heat. Rich Bishop led the first eight laps in the second heat, but it was defending track champion Larry Boumeester making a late race pass for the win following a caution. After the heat races, B Mains and pole dash for the WDRL late models were completed, the NASCAR super stocks lined up for their feature.

Steve Thomas and Rich Bishop brought the field down for the 20 green flag racing laps. A ragged start on the first attempt saw the yellow wave immediately. The second try was much better with Steve Thomas grabbing the early lead. It did not take fourth starter Mike Weber long to move into the runnerup position. Weber soon began to put the pressure on Thomas for the lead. The yellow blinked on for the second time with three laps in for a spin in turn 4. On the restart, Weber moved past Thomas for the lead. A good battle for the 4-7 positions developed, as the race ran green until lap 18. With debris in turn three, the final caution set up a two lap dash to the checkers and erased the comfortable margin that Weber had built. Mike Weber held strong up front and went on to record his second A Main win of the season in addition to a preliminary feature win earlier this year. Steve Thomas drove a solid race and came home in the runnerup position ahead of Rich Bishop, Larry Boumeester and Greg Nippoldt. Completing the top ten finishers were 14th starter Mike Loomis, Jim Gullikson, Dan Carlson, Jeff Lien and Justin Stahl in a race that saw only one car unable to finish.

Racing action continues with the open late models taking to the track on Friday night August 1 for qualifying and heat race action at the 21st Annual USA Nationals. The NASCAR late models will run a complete program for $2,000 to win their feature race. The evening will conclude with the makeup 50 lap WDRL feature race that was rained out back in June at the Masters. Race fans will once again have a full night of activity to enjoy on Friday before the big $50,000 to win USA National 100 lap feature race takes place on Saturday August 2. The NASCAR late models will once again run a full show on Saturday night with their feature race paying $3,000 to win. The Legendary Cedar Lake Speedway continues to bring fans a great program of top-quality late model racing at the prestigious 21st Annual USA Nationals.

Race Results:

NASCAR Sunoco Super Stocks

Heat 1- Mike Weber, Jim Gullikson, Greg Nippoldt, Jeff Lein, Justin Stahl, Dan Carlson, Brian Lick, Kevin Ayotte, Marcel Hoaglan

Heat 2- Larry Boumeester, Rich Bishop, Steve Thomas, Frank Fabio, Chad Dawson, Cody Campeau, Mike Reineke, Mike Loomis, Dan DeSmith

A Main- Weber, Thomas, Bishop, Boumeester, Nippoldt, Loomis, Gullikson, Carlson, Lein, Stahl, Ayotte, Hoaglan, Lick, Campeau, DeSmith, Fabio, Dawson

Hanestad Tops Doar in NASCAR Late Model Thriller at Cedar Lake Speedway

8-1-08 New Richmond, WI

By Greg Parent

A great evening for racing brought out a large crowd for the Friday night show at the 21st Annual Young Oil USA Nationals at the Cedar Lake Speedway on August 1. Time trials, heat races and a pole dash for the open late models would begin their attempt to qualify for the $50,000 to win 100 lap USA Nationals feature race on Saturday night. A complete program for the local area NASCAR late models saw Rick Hanestad defeat Pat Doar in a superb 30 lap race. The action concluded with a spectacular 50 lap WDRL late model makeup feature race for their event that was rained out at the Masters back in June. Brady Smith held off Ashley Anderson by a matter of a few feet to earn a thrilling victory in the WDRL makeup event.

A fine field of 34 NASCAR late models provided fans with some great racing action throughout the night. Ashley Anderson led all ten laps enroute to the win in the first heat race. Each heat would transfer the top five finishers to the feature event with the top three cars eligible for the all-important redraw. Celebrating his 50th season of racing, veteran Canadian driver Tom Nesbitt led the opening three laps in the second heat before pole starter Rick Hanestad blasted by for the win. Fans cheered as underdog and underfunded local driver Jeff Keeney led the first six laps of the third heat race prior to giving way to eventual winner Adam Hensel. The first and only red flag of the evening flew in the fourth heat race for a crash involving five cars just one lap into the race. None of the cars were able to continue. Making his first CLS appearance of the season, Steve Laursen raced to a dominating win.

NASCAR late model B Main action would see twelve cars line up for 12 laps with the top four finishers earning the final transfer spots into their 30 lap main event. After an opening lap incident in turn four required a complete restart, the race clicked off 12 straight green flag laps. Pole sitter Jim Carlson took the early lead with Mike Nutzmann and Keith Foss trailing. Foss moved to second a few laps into the race and soon was challenging Carlson for the lead. On lap 6, Foss made the winning pass. Nutzmann took second a lap later while 8th starter Eric Breeschoten rode past Carlson for third on the next lap. Carlson was able to hold on to the last transfer spot ahead of Mike Hesselink.

Following the pole dash for the open late models and prior to the WDRL makeup feature, the NASCAR late models lined up 24 cars strong for 30 racing laps. The large crowd was in store for some great racing on the finely prepared 3/8 mile high-banked dirt oval. Marshall Fegers and Pat Doar brought the field around for the green with Doar immediately driving to the top side to take the lead. With Doar showing the way up front, Adam Hensel moved past Fegers for second on lap five. Sixth starter Rick Hanestad was hooked up on the bottom and moving forward. Hanestad got by Hensel for second on lap 7 and set his sights on the leader. With Hanestad reeling in Doar, the lone caution of the race tightened the field up with 13 laps in the books when Eric Breeschoten stopped at the end of the front stretch and required wrecker assistance to the pits. This would set the stage for a very entertaining 17 lap run to the finish. With Doar running high and Hanestad running low on the track, the race resumed as a great battle for the top spot developed. Hanestad got by Doar on lap 16 for the lead, but two laps later Doar moved back by at the same time Brent Larson drove past Hensel for third. Doar narrowly led three laps before Hanestad came back to the front on lap 21. Two laps later Doar resumed the lead in lapped traffic with Hanestad applying the pressure. Hanestad was not to be denied, and he once again got underneath Doar on lap 26 for the lead. Hanestad was able to hold off Doar over the remaining four laps enroute to a thrilling victory. Doar finished second ahead of Larson, Hensel and 12th starter Ashley Anderson. Rounding out the top ten finishers were Dave Cain, Cory Mahder, Steve Laursen, 16th starter Joey Jensen, and Kelly Anderson. Although fans had just watched a superb NASCAR late model feature, they were in store for a spectacular WDRL Masters makeup race as well.

Race Results:

NASCAR Impact Printing Late Models

Heat 1- Ashley Anderson, Marshall Fegers, Pat Doar, Kelly Anderson, Jake Redetzke, Lance Mathees, Keith Foss, AJ Diemel, Bryan Wennen

Heat 2- Rick Hanestad, Tom Nesbitt, Cory Mahder, Pete Parker, Joey Jensen, Chuckie DeSmith, Jeff Martire, Dave Friendt, Brent Laursen

Heat 3- Adam Hensel, Brent Larson, Jeff Keeney, Ron Schreiner, Toby Patchen, Jim Carlson, Mike Bear, Mike Hesselink

Heat 4- Steve Laursen, Dave Cain, Rick Egersdorf, Gregg Hill, Caley Emerson, Mike Nutzmann, Eric Breeschoten, Jeff Provinzino

B Main- Foss, Nutzmann, Breeschoten, Carlson, Hesselink, Martire, Wennen, Friendt, DeSmith, Laursen, Bear, Diemel

A Main- Hanestad, Doar, Larson, Hensel, Anderson, Cain, Mahder, Laursen, Jensen, Anderson, Egersdorf, Nutzmann, Fegers, Keeney, Foss, Nesbitt, Schreiner, Hill, Emerson, Patchen, Redetzke, Parker, Breeschoten, Carlson, Bear

Larson Defeats Mathees in Exciting NASCAR Late Model Main at Cedar Lake Speedway

8-2-08 New Richmond, WI

By Greg Parent

Another fantastic evening for racing saw the largest crowd of the season and likely the largest in USA Nationals history on hand for the 21st Annual Young Oil USA Nationals at the Cedar Lake Speedway on Saturday August 2. Racing action tonight was spectacular in both the NASCAR and USA open late model programs. Brent Larson narrowly edged past Lance Mathees on the final lap to earn his sixth win of the season in NASCAR late model action while Scott Bloomquist held off Shannon Babb by about a half a car length for an exciting victory in the 100 lap $50,000 to win USA Nationals feature race.

With $3,000 to win the NASCAR late model feature race tonight, a very strong field of 37 cars signed into the pits. A. J. Diemel led the first six laps in the opening heat before seeing his bid for a win go up in smoke on lap 7. With Diemel's blown engine, veteran competitor Rick Egersdorf assumed the lead and raced to the win just ahead of another veteran driver Lance Mathees. Racing for only the second time this season at CLS and only his fourth time overall, Kerry Hanson drove to a convincing win in the second heat. A nonstop run in the third heat saw three different leaders. Mike Nutzmann led the opening lap before Barry Underdahl got by. Steve Laursen got the win with a lap 8 pass of Underdahl. The fourth and final heat race saw Joey Jensen lead all the way. The top five finishers from each heat transferred to the feature race while the other finishers would find themselves in the B Main.

The final four transfer spots were up for grabs in the 15 lap NACAR late model B Main. With two cars scratched, 15 drivers took the green in a race that was only slowed once under caution at the halfway mark. Keith Foss led all the way for the win. Adam Hensel came from sixth to finish second in front of pole sitter Mike Goodremote. Making the drive over from Shawano, Tom Naeyaert made the trip worthwhile when he earned the final transfer position into the A Main.

With the NASCAR late models putting on a tremendous feature race the night before; fans were once again looking forward to their 30 lap A Main. Just like the previous night, the local area NASCAR drivers put on another fantastic show. Barry Underdahl and Kerry Hanson brought the 24 car field to the green. Hanson quickly blasted into the lead running the high side. Several drivers who started a bit further back in the field were on the move early. Current CLS track points leader Brent Larson moved to second on lap 3, but Hanson had already built up a sizeable margin. Two laps later Lance Mathees moved past Underdahl for third. The first of just two cautions slowed the pace 12 laps into the race when Tom Nesbitt slowed on the track. Hanson's lead was now erased with Larson, Mathees, Pat Doar and Steve Laursen running in the top five. On the restart, Larson began working on the leader while Doar and Larson battled for the fourth spot. Larson got by Hanson on lap 17 for the lead, but Hanson battled right back to the front to lead laps 18-19. Lap 20 mixed things up with Larson regaining the lead and Mathees moving into the runnerup spot. A lap later the final caution waved when Chuck DeSmith stalled in turn 4. It was now Larson, Mathees, Hanson, Doar and Laursen in the top five. When the green replaced the yellow, Mathees immediately used his familiar bottom line to apply the pressure on Larson in what would be an outstanding battle for the lead over the final nine laps. Lap after lap the two leaders raced side-by-side with Mathees actually gaining the top spot on lap 25 only to have Larson come back to lead laps 26-28. Once again Mathees was the leader at the white flag. With the entire crowd on their feet cheering wildly, the two raced hard through the final corner. At the finish it was Brent Larson topping Lance Mathees by about a half a car length to earn his sixth CLS feature win of the season. Pat Doar, Steve Laursen and Friday night winner Rick Hanestad completed the top five. Rounding out the top ten were Joey Jensen, Rick Egersdorf, early leader Kerry Hanson, 18th starter Jake Redetzke, and Mike Nutzmann.

The huge crowd was still buzzing from an incredible NASCAR late model main event, but they were soon in store for yet another entertaining and spectacular grand finale. The 100 lap $50,000 to win USA Nationals was about to get underway.

Race Results:

NASCAR Impact Printing Late Models-

Heat 1- Rick Egersdorf, Lance Mathees, Rick Hanestad, Cory Mahder, Jon, Chrest, Bryan Wennen, Mike Hesselink, Mike Bear, Brent Laursen, AJ Diemel

Heat 2- Kerry Hanson, Pete Parker, Pat Doar, Jeff Keeney, Jake Redetzke, Keith Foss, Adam Hensel, Jeff Provinzino, Kelly Anderson

Heat 3- Steve Laursen, Barry Underdahl, Mike Nutzmann, Caley Emerson, Bill Frye, Mike Goodremote, Dave Cain, Jim Carlson, Mike Raboin

Heat 4- Joey Jensen, Tom Nesbitt, Brent Larson, Chuckie DeSmith, Ashley Anderson, Tom Naeyaert, Marshall Fegers, Toby Patchen, Eric Breeschoten

B Main- Foss, Hensel, Goodremote, Naeyaert, Fegers, Hesselink, Anderson, Cain, Bear, Wennen, Carlson, Provinzeno, Laursen, Raboin, Patchen

A Main- Larson, Mathees, Doar, Laursen, Hanestad, Egersdorf, Hanson, Redetzke, Nutzmann, Anderson, Hensel, Underdahl, Foss, Frye, Goodremote, Naeyaert, Keeney, Emerson, Chrest, Mahder, Parker, DeSmith, Nesbitt

Cedar Lake Speedway Points as of 8-3-08

NASCAR Impact Printing Late Models

Pos.

Car #

Name

Points

1

B1

Brent Larson

604

2

17

Rick Egersdorf

496

3

71H

Rick Hanestad

483

4

81

Ashley Anderson

478

5

8

Kelly Anderson

398

6

2

Mike Nutzmann

356

7

05

Charles DeSmith

302

8

18

Mike Hesselink

276

9

66

Eric Breeschoten

268

10

25

Toby Patchen

264

11

11

Pat Doar

263

12

61

Jeff Keeney

254

13

7C

Jim Carlson

204

14

24

Mike Bear

202

15

44H

Paul Hipsag

192

NASCAR Amsoil Modifieds

Pos.

Car #

Name

Points

1

2C

Dave Cain

432

2

4

Craig Brightbill

372

3

57H

Terry Hanson

335

4

24

Jeremy Gross

304

5

12

Jason Gross

281

6

11X

Jason Schill

266

7

50

Kevin Viebrock

254

8

66

David Lear

232

9

71B

Dave Siercks

220

10

2

Scott Splittstoesser

212

11

12M

Jason Miller

205

12

96

Chris Gorka

190

13

1K

Shaun Kelley

186

14

7D1

Scott Pomeroy

178

15

92

Scott Duvall

168

NASCAR Sunoco Super Stocks

Pos.

Car #

Name

Points

1

24

Daniel Carlson

296

2

21G

Jim Gullikson

258

3

B37

Tim Borgeson

244

4

10B

Rich Bishop

230

5

26

Mike Weber

218

6

55

Greg Nippoldt

205

7

17

Mike Loomis

184

8

17W

Ryan Wiome

174

9

4

Larry Boumeester

173

10

34

Dale Gangl

160

11

87

Tom Chrest

98

12

20

Cory Davis

93

13

47

Justin Stahl

92

14

21B

Brandon Jensen

86

15

28

Justin Dodge

86

NASCAR 3M Midwest Modifieds

Pos.

Car #

Name

Points

1

55S

Shawn Phillips

341

2

39

Clark Perry

306

3

54

Jeremy Houle

285

4

16

Jason Vandekamp

269

5

78

Bryan Siercks

237

6

19

Bob Smith

210

7

S4

Sam Nelson

210

8

86

Mark Trog

210

9

K1

Kyle Steffen

206

10

19D

Dane Durbin

206

11

55

Josh Bazey

184

12

19M

Matt Durbin

155

13

RED1

Dan Wheeler

143

14

53V

Vince Corbin

142

15

15X

Chad Patterson

134

NASCAR Dodge Street Stocks

Pos.

Car #

Name

Points

1

67E

Devin Neske

205

2

99K

Shawn Kammerud

175

3

3G

Jared Gross

160

4

5

Chanda Fjorden-Nord

135

5

57

Jeff Heintz

104

6

21X

Chris Peterson

97

7

29S

Scott Splittstoesser

94

8

82

Derek Borchardt

66

9

32R

Corey Rosen

51

10

03

Ed Puariea

50

11

911

Kim Korstad

46

12

17

Ryan Kostreba

38

13

10R

Mike Raboin

38

14

21

Trisha Nyreen

38

15

3

Johnson Steven

36

A Special Thank You to the Following Sponsors

Lifetime Oil - Independent Amsoil Dealer