EILEN EDGES SCHULTZ IN MID-AM THRILLER AT ELKO

Elko, MN (May 28, 2005)  Look through the Elko Speedway record books for the past 40 years and you'll probably find a fair selection of down-to-the-wire, stand-up-in-your-seats finishes.  Thanks to the combined efforts of the traveling Mid-American Series and the hometown GhostRiders Sportsmen division, you can add another chapter to the book.

In a battle of hometown heroes, Jonathon Eilen edged Steve Schultz at the wire to win his second Mid-American series feature of the season Saturday night.  The 50 lap victory came right down to the final checker, with Eilen clinging to lead by a matter of feet as the checkers flew.

Threatening skies had cleared as pole-sitter Josh Larsen led the field to green, with Eilen gaining command from the outside of the first row. With Eilen in charge at the point, focus centered on Schultz starting from the ninth spot on the grid.  Schultz, a two time Elko champ and current point leader, was 2/3 out of three in looking for clean sweep after setting quick time and winning one of the two positioning heats.

By the 15th lap, he was already to 4th, challenging series rookie Jason Taghkahani for third.  At that point in time, Eilen was thinking of Schultz at all as he had his hands full trying to fend off Paul Neisius. About the time Schultz was moving into fourth, Neisius was circling Andy Jirik for second.  It took him 14 more laps to mount a series challenge on Eilen, and when he did it was a solid one.  Gaining, the outside edge on the 29th lap, Neisius was able to edge slightly ahead of the leader. 

Eilen fought back from the inside, and was able to pull just enough ahead to slide back up to the faster line.  Before Neisius could attack again, caution flew on the 34th lap.  The ensuing restart proved to be Neisius' undoing as Schultz had moved to third and was now in position to strike.  The duo battled for the second spot with Schultz winning out with 11 to go.  He quickly moved in on Eilen, gaining the inside line. That set the stage for 11 straight laps of side by side racing.  Schultz
would edge ahead through the corners, with Eilen pressing forward on the straights thanks to the momentum of the higher line.

Each lap, Eilen was scored as the leader, but each lap looked closer than the previous right down to the final circuit.  The win for Eilen not only prevented Schultz clean sweep on the night, but also prevented him from going two for two in visits to Elko this season.  The win also staked Eilen to a top spot in the "series with-in a series" as Saturday's event was the first of the three Daytona 500 Challenge contests.

Just behind the lead duo, another side by side affair developed as Neisius had to fend off a late charge from 2003 Elko champion Mike Skaja.  Skaja registered perhaps the run of the night.  Forced to start in the 19th position after struggling in qualifying and his heat, Skaja ascended to fourth, and with more time could have seriously contended for the win.

The night was also a memorable one for Taghkahani.  After challenged for the lead early, he registered his first career top five in the Mid-Am series, holding off series point leader and two-time champ Bill Prietzel for the position.

The series returns to Elko on July 2nd for round two of the Daytona 500 Challenge, with the winner receiving a trip to the 2006 Daytona 500. The Mid-American series moves on to Wisconsin International Speedway in Kaukauna, WI on June 11.  The Mid-Ams will be part of the racing card that also features the first round of the prestigious Red, White and Blue championship series for MARS Super Late Models.


Results from Elko Speedway 5-28-05

50 Lap feature (1-10):  Jonathon Eilen, Hampton, MN;  Steve Schultz, New Market, MN;  Paul Neisius, Hastings, MN;  Mike Skaja, New Prague, MN;  Jason Taghkahani, Milwaukee, WI;  Bill Prietzel, Franklin, WI: Greg Bieber, Lakeville, MN;  Adam Bendzick, New Prague, MN;  Andy Jirik, Lonsdale, MN;  Josh Larsen, Glencoe, MN

(11-20):  Mike Felixberger, Hastings, MN;  Ron Weyer, Richfield, WI; Tom Kamish, Prior Lake, MN;  Kevin Lutz, Lakeville, MN;  Lyle Nowak, Wausau, WI;  Scott Null, Lake Mills, WI;  Andrew Ruthenbeck, Virginia, MN;  Cliff Adee, Lakeville, MN;  Doug Brown, Savage, MN;  Dan Whitehead, Farmington, MN

(21-25):  Elliot Marquardt, Merrill, WI;  Terry Moore, St Paul, MN; Chad Olafson, Prior Lake, MN;  Justin Neisius, Eagan, MN (DNS);   Rob Hazelton, Apple Valley, MN (DNS)

15 Lap Last Chance (1-5):  Nowak;  Moore; Ruthenbeck;  Shannon Ericksen, Lakeville, MN;  Amy Woodward, Mason City, IA

Heat 1:  Schultz;  Brown;  Felixberger;  Jirik
Heat 2:  Paul Neisius;  Justin Neisius;  Taghkahani;  Eilen

Fast Qualifier:  Schultz (14.701)