Kisling, Kummer and Thums Win at Kampmeyer Memorial Race

Central Wisconsin Raceway, Unity, WI, July 11, 2012

By Gene Harmelink

(Unity, WI) It was another beautiful racing night at Central Wisconsin Raceway, honoring fallen fireman, Jamison Kampmeyer, which saw Shane Kisling, Cody Kummer and Nathan Thums pick up wins in the WISSOTA/Amsoil divisions. In the Central Wisconsin divisions the wins went to Chris Oertel, Duke Leu, and Jerome Kowalski.

The track owners would like to thank all the fans and racers who helped to make the night a success. All money received from fan admittance was donated to the Kampmeyer family to put toward an educational fund for the Kampmeyer children. The track would also like to extend a special thanks to the Vesely family for all the track work completed during the racing season.

Kurt Komarek and Duke Leu led the Central Wisconsin Raceway Pure Stocks to the green for the start of their feature with Leu taking an early lead. By the midway point of the race, Leu still led, but Jake Stowell was hanging right with him as they had an entertaining battle for the top spot. Meanwhile, Komarek was left with the crumbs as he alone was left due to the early retirement of Gunard Hoogland whose car had motor issues. In the end it was Leu, in his first appearance of the year, taking the win with Stowell in second and Komarek in third. Hoogland was credited with fourth.

The WISSOTA Street Stocks were up next with Ralph Stark and Jared Linder leading the way. Linder was the early leader, leading the first three laps of the feature with Cody Kummer hounding him all the way. By lap three it was Linder, Kummer, and Stark all running nearly side by side in a battle for the top spot with Kummer coming out the eventual leader. A the midway point of the race, Kummer had a comfortable lead as Linder and Stark continued to fight for second. When the checkered flag flew, it was Kummer with his fifteenth win followed by Linder and Stark. Al Beyer was credited with fourth.

Matt McEathron and Scott Geiger paced the WISSOTA Super Stocks as they approached flagman, Rueben’s, green flag. Geiger took the early lead with Randy Spacek, moving up from fourth, ran second as McEathron dropped to third. Meanwhile, Shane Kisling was patiently waiting his turn as he passed McEathron during lap two bringing Wayne Dean along as Dean ran
fourth. As Geiger’s lead dropped from one car length to one-half, lap three would see Geiger, Spacek and Kisling running side by side as they approached the flag stand with Kisling aggressively taking the lead. With five laps in, Kisling was in firm control as Spacek ran second, Dean ran third, Geiger ran fourth and McEathron ran fifth. With ten laps in the books, it was Kisling and Spacek out in front of the rest. Dean had dropped into the pits during lap eight and Geiger soon followed him into the pits as well. That left Kisling, Spacek, McEathron and Mark Ryskoski. Two laps later, McEathron would drop out. As the race near the end, it was Kisling, Spacek and a distant, rookie, Ryskoski, remaining on the track to share the spoils. In the end, it was Kisling in his Gordie’s Custom Golf Club sponsored car, taking the win followed by Spacek and Ryskoski. McEathron was credited with fourth and Geiger with fifth.

The Central Wisconsin Hornets were up next with Eric Klemetson and Abbie Knauf on the front row. Klemetson would be the early leader with Jennifer Nitzsche quickly moving up to the second spot followed by Jerome Kowalski and Josh Brugge. By the midway point it was Kowalski in the lead after making the pass during lap four. Kowalski was followed by Nitzsche, Klemetson, Brugge, and Knauf. Kowalski and Nitzsche ran bumper to bumper for three or four laps, but Kowalski just had momentum in his favor and took the win in his Socwell Sales and Service sponsored car. Rounding out the top five were Nitzsche, Christine Schmude, Brugge, and Knauf.

The Central Wisconsin Modifieds were up next with Kevin Rogers and Chris Oertel on leading the way. Oertel was off to a very quick start and early on showed why he had “cleaned up” in the heat race. By mid-race Oertel was leading by a full stretch as Rogers and Shawn Perkins were left fighting for whatever remained. Steve Bangart had dropped out of the feature early with mechanical problems. When the checkered flag flew, it was Oertel with the win followed by Rogers and Perkins. Bangart was credited with fourth.

The last feature of the night was the WISSOTA Midwest Modified special with Nathan Thums and Alex Van Natta sharing the front row. Lance Leu was scheduled to be on the inside of row one, but he failed to make the initial start. When Leu did come out, after a restart for a bad first start, he started at the rear, but as he made the pass going into turn two he ended up in the infield and his night was done. The field was aligned one more time and Thums shot to the lead with
VanNatta, Nick Linder, Andy Karl and Aaron Dunbar giving chase. With five laps in, Thums led by two or three car lengths, still followed by VanNatta and the rest who had remained in line. With ten laps in, Thums continued to lead comfortably by four car lengths. Thums had been challenged by VanNatta, who had reduced the lead to one car length at one time, but VanNatta couldn’t make the pass and continued to run second followed by Karl, Linder and Dunbar.

In the end, it was Thums picking up the win in his Brandt Photo and Graphics sponsored car. Rounding out the top five were Van Natta, with an injured motor, Karl, Linder and Rick Duerr who had replaced Dunbar, who dropped off the track with a few laps to go.

The next schedule race is for Wednesday, July 25 when Central Wisconsin Raceway will host the WISSOTA Race of Champions Qualifier Night sponsored by the Tavern League. It is also Biker Night (ride your motorcycle to the races and get in for $5.00). Running on the 25th will be the WISSOTA Super Stocks, Midwest Mods, and Streets. Also scheduled are the CWR Mods, Hornets and Pures.