Central Wisconsin's Home Dirt
Track
By Gene Harmelink
June 13th, 2012
Unity, WI–Changing up their race schedule a bit, Central Wisconsin Speedway hosted a night of racing on Wednesday, June 13, featuring six divisions. Aaron Dunbar of Spencer, WI, picked up his first feature win ever, and a sweep, in his WISSOTA/Amsoil Midwest Modified, while Randy Spacek picked up another WISSOTA/Amsoil Super Stock sweep and Cody Kummer continued his winning ways, with a sweep in his WISSOTA/Amsoil Street Stock. In the Central Wisconsin divisions, the winners were Chris Oertel in his CWR Modified, Gunard Hoogland in his CWR Pure Stock and Jennifer Nitzsche in her CWR Four-cylinder Hornet.
The CWR Pure Stocks were up first with Rod Ryba and Kurt Komarek on the front row. Ryba was quick to take the lead as the cars rounded turn four and passed under the flag stand for the first time. It was Gunard Hoogland, though, who, after not finishing in his heat, turned up the wick to take the lead as the cars came to the finish line for the second time. Hoogland then proceeded to pull away as the race progressed, leading by as much as a full front stretch to win the feature in his Rueben’s Sales and Service sponsored car.
Up next, the WISSOTA Street Stocks with Cody Kummer
and Jared Linder leading the way. Kummer wasted no time getting to the
front as Linder ran second with Ralph Stark and Derek Eberl battling for
third. Carolyn Nosser made an obligatory start with a wounded race car
and pulled off after accepting the green. The cars ran just a few car
lengths apart for the first five laps and then the race halted as
Stark’s car came to a screeching halt with a broken right front ball
joint.
When racing resumed, Linder put the pressure on Kummer once again, but
Kummer proved to be too strong going on for yet another feature win in
his Vince’s Speed Shop sponsored car.
The WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds came to the starter’s flag for their feature with Nick Linder and Aaron Dunbar setting the pace. Dunbar shot to an early lead as Linder did his best to hang on to the second spot with track point’s leaders Andy Karl and Alex VanNatta sparing for third along with C J Hedges, Jr. with five laps in the books, Dunbar continued to lead, but VanNatta was now in second and putting on the pressure as Linder dropped to third, Karl ran fourth and Hedges, Jr. continued to run fifth. As the cars completed lap eight, VanNatta completed his quest for the first spot sending Dunbar to second. Unfortunately for VanNatta, his moment of glory was just that, a moment, as his car lurched up the track in turn two sending him to third with Dunbar once again back in control with Karl hot on his tail. With five to go, Travis Friske was on the move from his seventh starting spot as he now ran fifth with Lance Leu also on the move from eleventh and running on Friske’s bumper. As the checkered flew, Dunbar had picked up his first ever feature win in his First Choice Recycling sponsored car followed by Karl, VanNatta, Friske and Leu. After having won the heat race, Randy Spacek, did his best to hold off all comers. Well, there was just one challenger and that was Scott Geiger. Now, you may think that a two-car feature wouldn’t be much of a race, but Spacek and Geiger ran nose to tail for the first half of the race, keeping it interesting. Spacek then slowly pulled away to an eventual four or five car lengths to take the win in his Jeff Simek Construction sponsored WISSOTA Super Stock.
The CWR Modifieds were up next with their trifecta race. One of these three cars was about to win a feature as Kevin Rogers and Chris Oertel showed the way with Mickey Nosser rounding out the field. With just one lap in, it was evident that Oertel’s car would be the car to beat as he showed early dominance with Rogers and Nosser left to fight it out for second. Oertel had established a full turn lead by the midway point of the race and try as hard as he could, Nosser couldn’t make the pass on Rogers. In the end, it was Oertel with a half-track lead to take the win in his Wisconsin Homes sponsored car.
The final feature of the night saw Michael Ecker, in a loaner from Paul Socwell, and track point’s leader, Jennifer Nitzsche, leading the way as the Hornets began their feature. Ecker was the early leader with Nitzsche running second and applying pressure for the first two laps. As the cars rounded turn four for the third lap, Nitzsche grabbed the lead as Ecker’s car slowed and pulled into the pits. From that point on, Nitzsche did a stellar job of holding off all challengers to take the win in her Hill Top Auto Wrecking sponsored car. Alex Drexler, Cory Rueth, and Cal Maule were the only other cars to finish of the nine Hornets who had started the night.
Racing resumes on Wednesday, June 20, with a Late Model Special sponsored By Siebert Calf Ranches. Joining the Late Models will be the WISSOTA/Amsoil Supers, Midwest Modifieds, and Street Stocks, plus the CWR Hornets and Pure Stocks. Hot laps are at 6:30 with racing at 7:30. Admission for June 20 race will be $13.00 for adults (16 and over) $10.00 for seniors (60 and over), $7.00 for Students (12-15) and Kids (11 and under are FREE). Come join the fun!