GERKE TOPS WILD 141 MIDAM FINAL
by Tom Wagner
(Francis Creek, WI - July 12, 2008) - Daryl Gerke survived some late-race dramatics to win his first Mid-American feature of the season Saturday night at the 141 Speedway in Francis Creek.
Also taking home trophies on the night were Josh Sand in the Super Stocks, Alex Stumpf in the Mini-Stocks, Parker May in the Sport 4s and Andy Casavant in the Hobby Stocks.
Like a good mystery novel, the night's finale, the Mid-American feature, kept fans guessing until the 35th lap was finally in the books. With just a handful of laps remaining, it appeared like the eventual winner would be headed to perhaps a solid finish, but certainly not a visit to victory lane.
The bulk of the laps were led by either Don Wood or Mike Oswald. Wood paced the first ten, only to have Oswald slip to the inside and take over on the 11th lap. Fifth place running Andy Casavant lost power, stacking the pack behind him one lap later, bringing out the event's first caution.
Wood used the restart to shoot to the outside of Oswald and regain control. Without incident, the laps clicked away as Wood continued to keep Oswald in his rear view mirror. A new challenge came with four laps to go as former champ Greg Haese secured second with an outside pass of Oswald and moved in on the leader.
That led to a series of twists and turns as the field tried to register the final two laps. Contact between Oswald and points leader Brett Piontek as they battled for third sent Oswald sliding down the back stretch. Both were relagated to the end of the line for the upcoming two-lap dash.
Wood and Haese were side by side in the first row, with Gerke and Travis Groelle advancing into the second row. Back to racing, and heading for the white flag out of the fourth turn, Wood lost traction on the high line and skidded into uncoming traffic. The ensuing melee collected several cars near the front of the pack, including Haese and Jimbo Schleis, as well as Oswald again.
After repairs, Haese and Oswald came back to the track but Wood was done for the night. As crews worked to clean up the track, Groelle and Monte Strouf dropped from top five spots in the line-up for pit visits, reshuffling the starting grid again.
After the dust settled, Gerke and Schleis found themselves in the front row, with Tom Melchar and Dennis Rabas behind them. Gerke got the jump from his inside spot, and held off Schleis to the checker to take the win.
Melichar carded a third place finish ahead of rookie Mark VanRite, who placed a career best fourth. Piontek rebounded for a fifth place finish ahead of Rabas.
A late twist made things interesting in the Super Stock final as well. Sand appeared headed to a safe win, taking the lead from Nathan Wegner on the 11th circuit after the duo had raced side by side for three laps.
As Sand pulled away, Tim Conard caught Wegner and was attempting to grab the runner-up spot when Kraig Koehler looped in the fourth turn with six laps left. Sand's lead was erased, and Conard was in position to make a play for it from outside the first row.
Conard had several runs from the outside, but Sand refused to budge as he held off the defending champ to win his second feature of the season.
In the Mini-Stocks, Kevin Peroutka was leading the way with Stumpf and Jim Meissner a close second and third. Contact sent Peroutka sliding high through three and four on the 11th lap. He made the save, but not before both Stumpf and Meissner slipped by.
From there, Stumpf coasted away to his second win of the season with Meissner posting a season best second. Former champ Kurt Naidl passed Peroutka late in the event for a third place finish.
Like the Minis, the Sport 4 feature was a complete green to checker event, with the 12 year old May showing the way for the duration.
Mike Dolphin worked into second early, but was unable to catch the rookie as he drove away to his second win of the season.
Casavant raced outside of Jared Anderson on the 5th lap of the Hobby Stock feature, then built a bit of a cushion over the rest of the field. Mark Christensen took second on the 8th lap and steadily chipped away at Casavant's lead, catching him with two laps to go.
But once he got there, he couldn't find a groove to mount a pass attempt, as it was Casavant to the line with Christensen tight on his back bumper.
Racing continues next Saturday night at the quarter mile paved oval. It will be the track's second installment on the Gandrud Super Stock series, featuring the match-up of 141 regulars against their counterparts from Wisconsin International Raceway. The United States Super Truck Series will also be on hand. Qualifying for all five divisions starts at 5:30 p.m. with racing beginning at 7 p.m. For more information and directions, visit the track's website at www.141speedway.com.
141 Speedway results 7/12/08
Mid-American 35 Lap Feature: Daryl Gerke, Whitelaw; Jimbo Schleis, Francis Creek; Tom Melichar, Mishicot; Mark VanRite, DePere; Brett Piontek, Green Bay; Dennis Rabas, Maribel
Heat 1: Mike Oswald, Manitowoc; Schleis
Heat 2: Travis Groelle, Two Rivers; Greg Haese, Manitowoc
Fast Qualifier: Piontek
Super Stock 25 Lap Feature: Josh Sand, Mishicot; Tim Conard, Manitowoc; Nathen Wegner, Maribel; Dave Gauger, Jr, Two Rivers; Lee Kielpikowski, Green Bay; Denny Crass, Maribel
Heat 1: Conard; Wegner
Heat 2: Greg Thompson, Denmark; Gauger
Fast Qualifier: Conard
Mini-Stock 25 Lap Feature: Alex Stumpf, Brillion; Jim Meissner, Two Rivers; Kurt Naidl, Denmark; Kevin Peroutka, Mishicot; Jason Novak, Cato: Eric Turner, Mishicot
Heat 1: Naidl; Matt Cherney, Mishicot
Heat 2: Peroutka; Allen Dillon, Two Rivers
Fast Qualifier: Todd Hebel, Green Bay
Sport 4 20 Lap Feature: Parker May, DePere; Mike Dolphin, Whitelaw; Jake Fuller, Cato; Bruce Sand, Mishicot; Jeremy Hebel, Two Rivers; Mike Blashka, Reedsville
Heat 1: Ed Klug, Oregon; Ian Fogeltanz, Manitowoc
Heat 2: Hebel; Dalton Cherney, Mishicot
Heat 3: May; Fuller
Fast Qualifier: Fuller
Hobby Stock 20 Lap Feature: Andy Casavant, Two Rivers; Mark Christensen, Mishicot; Jason Rabas, Denmark; Ray Fuller, Manitowoc; Jon Hanson, Whitelaw; Kris Conard, Manitowoc
Heat: Casavant; Christensen
Fast Qualifier: Christensen