Rubeck Tops Super Late Model Thriller Stevens, Kalbus, Ace, and Arelano Also Win

Oregon, WI (Friday, May 9, 2008)

Five racing divisions greeted fans on this cool evening that featured the much anticipated return of the Super Late Models as a weekly division on Wisconsin’s Fastest Half-Mile.  Steve Rubeck would take home top honors in the Super Lates with Chad Stevens in the Limited Late Models, Jay Kalbus in the Area Sportsman, Chester Ace in the Bandits, and Alex Arelano in the Legends also claiming feature victories.

Rubeck Tops Super Lates

“I’ve been waiting seven years for this,” said a jubilant Steve Rubeck after he won his first-ever feature at Madison International Speedway as the Super Late Models returned as a weekly division.

The field of twelve cars was led to the green flag by Shane Morrissey and Kyle Kinder with the latter taking the early advantage which he would maintain for the first three circuits before being passed on the front stretch by Scott Ollerman.  The 1997 MIS Super Late Model champion who hails from Sun Prairie wasted no time in getting out ahead of the field.

The first caution of the forty lap event came out on lap 7 for a spin.  After the restart Andrew Morrissey moved up to second followed by Rubeck and Nathan Haseleu.  Rubeck would pull alongside Morrissey for second on lap 15 and four laps later moved into second place before the caution came out on lap 20.

On lap 22 Rubeck was ready to challenge Ollerman for the lead as he pulled to the inside.  Meanwhile Haseleu got by Morrissey for third and was up to challenge the leaders before the yellow flag was displayed once again for a spin on lap 23.  When the green flag waved again it would be Haseleu getting by Rubeck for second place on lap 31 and three laps later Haseleu had pulled down to the inside to challenge Ollerman for the lead.

Rubeck was not about to be denied as he moved up to challenge for the lead and the three battle it out before Rubeck vaulted by on the front stretch to take over the top spot on lap 35.  The caution would come out for the final time one lap later when Ollerman spun coming out of turn four.

This set up a classic finish between Rubeck and Haseleu with the Monroe Center, Illinois, driver holding off the defending WCS and ASAMT champion at the stripe by 0.358 seconds.

“Oh that’s Madison racing,” said Rubeck for victory lane who hasn’t been racing at Madison full time for two years.  “These guys race really, really hard.  It’s tough racing against these guys and I’m glad it worked out in the end.”  When asked about his pursuit of a track championship he added, “That’s what we’re going for.  We aren’t going to run any real specials and we’re going to be here full-time.

Zack Riddle set fast time with Kinder and Ollerman winning the heat races.

Stevens Wins in Limited Late Models

Chad Stevens of Orfordville was victorious in the 30 lap feature for the Rockweiler Insulation Limited Late Models.

Former Super Late Model driver Jason Hicks and Kevin Knuese paced the field of 22 cars to the green flag for the evening’s final event.  After a few attempts at taking the green flag this group of talented drivers finally got things going with Hicks taking the early advantage.

It quickly became a three car breakout with Stevens up to second from his outside second row starting position.  On lap 11 Stevens was putting heavy pressure on Hicks for the top spot and powered by on the inside coming out of turn two.  A couple of laps later the caution flag came out and while the field was being reset Hicks stalled on the frontstretch thus ending his night.

Stevens would maintain his lead after the restart with fourteen year old Ross Kenseth up to third place from his seventh starting position.  On lap 23 Kenseth would pass Knuese for second place and set his sights on the leader but Stevens proved to be just too strong tonight as he went on to pick up his second-ever feature win at MIS.  Kenseth would finish second as he would be able to hold off a hard-charging John Baumeister Jr.  Rounding out the top five were Knuese and defending track champion Bobby Wilberg.

“We’ve got more work to do,” said Stevens in a post race interview.  “We’ve run horrible the past two weeks and have done a lot of work.”

Fast time was set by Wilberg with heat race wins going to Brady Liddle, Hicks, and Kenseth.

Kalbus King of the Area Sportsman

Tonight also marked the return of the Bryden Motors Area Sportsman with twelve cars taking on Wisconsin’s Fastest Half-Mile and when it was all said and done it would be Jay Kalbus of Watertown taking home the checkered flag.

Brent Gergen and former Bandit track champion Steve Dickson comprised the front row for the 20 lap feature event.  Dickson would lead the first lap before surrendering the top position to Darrell Garman following a caution on lap 2.

Garman looked like the car to beat with Doug Bennett moving up to challenge followed by fast qualifier Mike Heelein, Scott Lawver and Kalbus.  A lap 13 caution would tighten up the field after the restart and that is exactly what happened.  Now it was Kalbus’ turn to make his move as he dropped to the inside of Garman coming down the front stretch to go side by side for the lead with Heelein and Bennett fighting it out for third.  By lap 16 Kalbus would extend his lead and it appeared he was ready to check away from the field.

A late race caution bunched the field up once again but Kalbus would be able to hold off the field for the win.  Following the winner were Garman, Heelein, Bennett, and Lawver.

“There was a lot of stuff going on out there.  I just tried to stay out it.  It was a lot of fun,” said Kalbus from victory lane who won the MIS Fall Classic in 2007 and picked up a season high five features back when the division last raced on the half-mile.

Heelein set fast time with victories in the heats going to Garman and Bennett.

Ace Best of the Bandits

Chester Ace won the 15 lap feature for the Roto Rooter Bandits by topping the eight car field on the quarter mile.

Terry Ciano Jr. and Brandon Skolaski led the field to the green flag.  However, in typical Bandit fashion things heated up quickly with Jody Schmidt making a dramatic three wide move for the lead coming out of turn three on the second lap.  On lap 3 Ace was up to second and tried to move to the outside to surpass Schmidt for the lead.  Unable to do so, Ace would have to wait until lap 6 when he dropped to the inside and moved past the leader going into turn one.

Ace would have no problem holding off the field with a spirited battle between Schmidt and Cory Skolaski taking place behind him.  Skolaski would be able to hold off Schmidt at the line followed in fourth by Stephen Scheel.  For Skolaski it would be his best finish in his three years at MIS.

When asked about his move past Schmidt for the lead, Ace said, “I just went for it and it paid off.  We’ve got a lot of competitive drivers here and I’m happy to get this win.”

Ace also set fast time with Cory Skolaski winning the heat race.

Arelano Notches First-Ever MIS Legends Win

Alex Arelano bested a field of seven Pellitteri Waste Systems Legends car by winning the 15 lap feature.

Rich Miller and Dave Wastak paced the field to the green flag with Aaron Moyer the leader before one lap was in the book.  By lap 2 Arelano powered his way past Moyer for the lead with Max McNamara up to second two laps later.

But this race was all about Arelano who cruised to victory after some maneuvering around lapped traffic on lap 9.  McNamara would finish second followed by Moyer, Tim Narr, and Eric Meyer.

“I’m really happy to get a win here.  We were really struggling last year so this is great,” said Arelano from victory lane.

Weekly racing continues at MIS on Friday, May 23 with action in all five weekly divisions plus the first round of the Wayne’s Custom DIECAST Dash Series.  Hot laps begin at 4:45, qualifying at 6:30 with racing at 7:30. The Badger State Tractor Pullers will be at MIS on Saturday, May 17th with both tractors and trucks pulling. For more information contact the track office at 608.835.9700 or checkout our website at madisoninternationalspeedway.com.



Results

Weaver Auto Parts Super Late Models
Feature (40 Laps)
(1-10) Steve Rubeck-Monroe Center, IL, Nathan Haseleu-Marshall, Andrew Morrissey-DeForest, Zack Riddle-Cottage Grove, Bobby Wilberg-Beloit, Shane Morrissey-Cuba City, John Wood-Sun Prairie, Frank Kreyer-Wisconsin Dells, Zach Reining-Forreston, IL, Scott Ollerman-Sun Prairie
(11-12) Kyle Kinder-McFarland, Dan Lensing-Poplar Grove, IL

Fast Time: Zack Riddle- Cottage Grove 17.729
Heat One: Kyle Kinder- McFarland
Heat Two: Scott Ollerman- Sun Prairie

Rockweiler Insulation Limited Late Models
Feature (30 Laps)
(1-10) Chad Stevens-Orfordville, Ross Kenseth-Spring Valley, IL, John Baumeister Jr.-Lake Geneva, Kevin Knuese-Waukesha, Bobby Wilberg-Beloit, Nathan Oppliger-Oregon, Ryan Goldade-Stoughton, Brady Liddle-Oregon, Mark Miller-Columbus, Todd Schmitz-Verona
(11-20) Andrew Kulka-Deerfield, Bill Hobson-Roscoe, IL, Cody Smith-LaVernia, TX, Tyler Kelley-Oregon, Rebecca Kasten-Mequon, Andy Evraets-Hartland, Ryan Miles-Crystal Lake, IL, Shaun Scheel-Lake Mills, Vern Fagerberg Jr.-Bloomingdale, IL, Mike Storkson-Brooklyn
(21-22) Jason Hicks-Elkhorn, Paul Treuthardt-Monroe

Fast Time: Bobby Wilberg- Beloit  18.834
Heat One: Brady Liddle- Oregon
Heat Two: Jason Hicks- Elkhorn
Heat Three: Ross Kenseth- Spring Valley, IL

Bryden Motors Area Sportsman
Feature (20 Laps)
(1-10) Jay Kalbus-Watertown, Darrell Garman-Loves Park, IL, Mike Heelein-Oregon, Doug Bennett-Brodhead, Scott Lawver- Roscoe, IL, Bob Hansberry-Beloit, TJ Goldade- Stoughton, Russ Nicholson-Stoughton, RC Van Ransull-Madison, Steve Dickson-Rockton, IL
(11-12) Duane Pernot-Evansville, Brent Gergen-Jefferson
Fast Time:  Mike Heelein- Oregon  20.682
Heat One: Darrell Garman- Loves Park, IL
Heat Two: Doug Bennett- Brodhead

Roto Rooter Bandits
Feature (15 Laps)
(1-8) Chester Ace-Oregon, Cory Skolaski-Fitchburg, Jody Schmidt-Belleville, Stephen Scheel-Lake Mills, Brandon Skolaski-Fitchburg, Ed Klug-Oregon, Ryan Slater-Brooklyn, Terry Ciano-Janesville
Fast Time: Chester Ace- Oregon 15.560
Heat One: Cory Skolaski- Fitchburg

Pellitteri Legends
Feature (15 Laps)
(1-7) Alex Arelano-Frankfort, IL, Max McNamara-Ingleside, IL, Aaron Moyer-Eden, Tim Narr-Caledonia, Eric Meyer-West Bend, Rich Miller-Mayville, Dave Wastak-Milwaukee
Fast Time: Max McNamara- Ingleside, IL 14.295
Heat One: Alex Arelano- Frankfort, IL