Doar Closes on Red
Cedar Speedway
Competitors
By Ed Reichert
Menomonie WI,
Menomonie WI, May 14
– Pat Doar slammed
the door on the
competition early in
the Late Model
feature Friday night
at the Red Cedar
Speedway as he ran
off with his first
win of the season to
highlight the racing
action Friday. In
other action, Robby
Bunkelman continued
his domination of
the Modified
division with his
second straight win
at Red Cedar while
the other three
divisions all had
bizarre finishes in
that none of the
three cars that
crossed the line
first were declared
race winners.
Jake Hartung got the
jump on the Late
Model field but
before one lap could
be completed, Doar
had powered by him
on the high side to
take the lead. Pat
was running the
middle lane on the
track, and was one
of the few to make
that line work.
Hartung remained
close in second with
Cory Mahder moving
into third. Chad
Mahder was on the
move while all eyes
were on Jimmy Mars
as he charged up
from the thirteenth
starting position on
the grid.
Doar continued to
maintain his
advantage but
Hartung refused to
allow Pat to get
away. The Mahder
cousins tried to get
into a contest for
third but Cory was
just a bit too
strong for Chad to
challenge. The race
continued nonstop to
the checkered and
Doar continued his
smooth line to the
finish for the win.
Second year driver
Hartung had an
outstanding run as
he brought home the
runner up honors
with the Mahders
finishing behind him
and Ashley Anderson
holding off Mars for
fifth.
Bunkelman was
outstanding as he
came from the third
row to overtake
Kevin Adams with
just two laps to go
for the open wheel
win. Steve Hallquist
took the early lead
over Don Brightbill
with Adams quickly
moving into the
second spot. Luke
Schilling and Ron
Schreiner fought
behind him with
Bunkelman looking
for an opening to
move up. Adams moved
by Hallquist to take
over the lead while
Bunkelman started to
charge as he was
able to move up to
third before the
lone yellow flew for
a spin with six laps
complete.
Adams maintained his
lead on the green
but Bunkelman was
able to drive around
Hallquist for second
and then set his
sites on Adams.
Behind them there
was a gaggle of cars
battling as
Schilling,
Schreiner, Scott
Duval and Craig
Thatcher argued for
positions.
Bunkelman caught
Adams and then the
battle intensified.
Robby tried several
times to ease past
Kevin but each time
Adams was able to
fight him off.
Bunkelman then
moved into the
middle line again
and was able to
drive a little
deeper into the
corners than Adams.
With just two laps
left to go, Robby
was able to clear
Adams and take over
the lead. Adams
stayed tucked on
Bunkelman’s rear
bumper to the
finish, but he
couldn’t execute a
pass of his own and
had to settle for
second. Thatcher was
able to scoot by a
three car battle on
the last lap to take
third ahead of
Hallquist and
Schilling.
The Super Stock
feature had the best
battle of the night
but ended up with a
scrambled finish
because of a
disqualification.
Rookie Luke Plank
started on the pole
and took the early
lead, with Ben
Hillman and Mike
Anderson
challenging.
Anderson was able to
move into the second
spot and close on
Plank, while Shane
Kisling, Steve
Thomas and Tom Karis
all moved in to
challenge. Plank
continued to work
the low line while
Anderson was up the
track where he is
most comfortable.
Anderson pulled up
beside Plank and
they raced side by
side for a number of
laps, with no
contact and great
racing taking place
while Kisling and
Thomas were wheel to
wheel for third.
Anderson edged ahead
momentarily but the
rookie fought back
up beside him and
they continued to
battle. With only
two laps to go,
Kisling and Thomas
got together in turn
three and Karis
piled into them,
triggering the
yellow flag. Thomas
was eliminated but
Kisling and Karis,
despite damage ,
were both able to
resume the race.
On the green, Plank
bobbled and Anderson
was able to drive
around him to take
over the lead. On
the final lap,
Kisling was also
able to slide under
Plank , and as they
crossed the line
under a blanket, it
was Anderson the
winner by a car
length. However, at
post race
inspection, Anderson
was disqualified for
a safety violation
and Kisling was
awarded the win, his
first of the year
here. Plank received
second ahead of
Karis, Hillman and
Lance Schilling.
Anderson’s brother
Travis very nearly
earned his first
Midwest Modified
feature win until he
was overtaken in the
late going. He had
led from the opening
lap with Kevin
Smeltzer also having
a great run as he
maintained second
for most of the
race. Justin Supri,
Mark Gerth and Shane
Halopka were all
making determined
marches to the front
of the field though.
Supri was working
the high side and
after gaining the
second spot, he
closed on Anderson
for the lead. Just
as he was ready to
make the pass for
the top spot, a ball
of flames and smoke
came from his car
and he was done for
the night.
Two laps later
Smeltzer’s great run
came to an end with
a spin and the front
of the pack was
shuffled. Anderson
continued to lead
but Gerth and
Halopka both blew by
him in the last four
laps. Halopka pushed
hard but Gerth was
able to hold on by a
car length for the
win. However, as
Gerth pulled into
victory lane it was
revealed that he had
been docked two
positions for
jumping on a restart
and Halopka was
awarded his first
win of the year with
Bob Wood, Gerth,
Anderson and Mark
Thomas the top five.
The same scenario
played out in the
Pure Stock feature.
After a grinding
crash slowed the
field two laps into
the main event,
Jeremy Dahl came up
from the third row
to take the lead.
Chaz Ducommun was
moving toward the
front but the driver
making the biggest
moves was Karl
Knopps. After
missing his heat,
Knopps started
thirteenth on the
grid but quickly
moved into
contention. His
aggressive style in
the corners was
exciting to watch as
he three wheeled his
car on the inside
line. With lots of
scrambling going on
through the pack,
Karl moved into
contention in the
late going.
Leader Dahl had his
car push out badly
in turn one and
Knopps dived past
and took over the
lead with Ducommun
right behind him.
Karl was able to
hold on to what
looked to be the
win. However, in
victory lane he also
received the bad
news that he had
been docked for a
jump start, and
Ducommun was awarded
the win, his second
of the season.
Behind him it was
officially Willy
Hughes, Knopps, Dahl
and Mike Liphardt.
Next Friday, May 21st
will be WQOW TV-18
Kid’s Night at the
Red Cedar Speedway.
All five classes
will be racing at
6:45 p.m. and it
will be Strum,
Cadott and Jim Falls
night to receive
discounted adult
admission tickets.
SUMMARY
Red Cedar Speedway
Menomonie WI
May 14, 2010
WISSOTA Late Models
20 lap Feature – Pat
Doar, New Richmond;
Jake Hartung,
Elmwood; Cory Mahder,
Elk Mound; Chad
Mahder, Eau Claire;
Ashley Anderson, Elk
Mound; Jimmy Mars,
Menomonie; Scott
Gilberts, Menomonie;
Tom Naeyaert,
Shawano; Mike
Prochnow, Menomonie;
Brent Larson, Lake
Elmo MN; Justin
Ritchie, New London;
Ronnie Rihn,
Bloomer; Joe
Cryderman, Thunder
Bay Ont; Eric
Breeschotten,
Buffalo MN; Joey
Ogston, Duluth MN;
Jesse Redetzke,
Altoona; Scott Meeds,
Spooner; Rick
Hanestad, Boyceville.
8 lap Heat 1 – Doar;
Anderson; Ritchie;
Gilberts; Larson;
Prochnow; Mars;
Hanestad;
Breeschotten.
Heat 2 – Naeyaert;
Hartung; Co. Mahder;
C. Mahder; Rihn;
Meeds; Ogston;
Cryderman; Redetzke.
WISSOTA Modifieds
15 lap Feature –
Robby Bunkelman,
Abbotsford; Kevin
Adams, Cameron;
Craig Thatcher,
Knapp; Steve
Hallquist, Eau
Claire; Luke
Schilling, Granton;
Scott Duval,
Bloomer; Ron
Schreiner, Hudson;
Brent Prochnow,
Colfax; Rich Lofthus,
Bloomer; Mark
Hessler, Menomonie;
Jay Richardson,
Spring Valley; Mike
Anderson, Colfax;
Cory Williams,
Spring Valley; Don
Brightbill, Hudson;
Kent Baxter, Elk
Mound; Brandon
Jensen, Hammond;
Jeremy Houle, Ham
Lake MN; Cory
Crapser, Chippewa
Falls; Shawn
Anderson, Chetek;
Steve Lavasseur,
River Falls.
8 lap Heat 1 –
Bunkelman; Duval; M.
Anderson; Lofthus;
Williams; Prochnow.
Heat 2 – Thatcher;
Adams; Brightbill;
Richardson; Hessler;
Jensen; S. Anderson
Heat 3 – Hallquist;
Schreiner;
Schilling; Lavasseur;
Baxter; Houle.
WISSOTA Super Stocks
15 lap Feature –
Shane Kisling,
Sarona; Luke Plank,
Eau Claire; Tom
Karis, Menomonie;
Ben Hillman,
Menomonie; Lance
Schilling, Chili;
Brad Johnson,
Wilson; Paul
Erikson, Abbotsford;
Charley Obermueller,
Menomonie; Mike
Keller, Menomonie;
Chad Johnson,
Colfax; Dan Arneson,
Eleva; Bernie
Christianson,
Menomonie; Bart
Steffen, Eau Claire;
Chad Tarvis, Chetek;
Mike Dyrdahl,
Cambridge MN; Cory
Davis, Turtle Lake;
Steve Thomas,
Menomonie; Wayne
Bignell, Menomone.
8 lap Heat 1 –
Kisling; Karis;
Thomas; B. Johnson;
C. Johnson;
Obermueller; Arneson.
Heat 2 – Keller;
Mike Anderson;
Plank; Erikson;
Steffen;
Christianson; Tarvis
Heat 3 – Hillman;
Davis; Schilling;
Dyrdahl; Bignell;
Rick Hallquist.
WISSOTA Midwest
Modifieds
15 lap Feature –
Shane Halopka,
Greenwood; Bob Wood,
Cadott; Mark Gerth,
Menomonie; Travis
Anderson, Colfax;
Mark Thomas,
Menomonie; Steve
Houle, Forrest Lake
MN; Matt Leer,
Bruce; Mike Hernke,
Cannon Falls MN;
Clark Swartz,
Bloomer; Randy
Smeltzer, Colfax;
Jake Smith, Eau
Claire; Josh Smith,
Chippewa Falls; Mark
Clements, Bloomer;
Bryce Johnson,
Barron; Jordan
Hessler, Elk Mound;
Kevin Smeltzer,
Menomonie; Cooper
Dohms, Menomonie;
Gary Sorenson, Eau
Claire; Cory
Jackson, Chippewa
Falls; Justin Supri,
Eau Claire; Jesse
Glenz, Cadott.
8 lap Heat 1 – Gerth;
Anderson; R.
Smeltzer; Jo. Smith;
Sorenson; Clements;
Jackson; Robbie
Johnson.
Heat 2 – Supri;
Wood; Hernke;
Hessler; Leer; Ja.
Smith; B. Johnson.
Heat 3 – Houle;
Halopka; Swartz;
Thomas; R. Smeltzer;
Glenz; Dohms.
Pure Stocks
10 lap Feature –
Chaz Ducommun,
Chetek; Willy
Hughes, Elmwood;
Karl Knopps,
Chippewa Falls;
Jeremy Dahl, Knapp;
Mike Liphardt,
Menomonie; Nate
Spence, Spring
Valley; Kory
Hathaway, Elmwood;
Chris Wert, Roberts;
Jake Smeltzer,
Menomonie; Brad
Spence, Spring
Valley; Jason Hoyt,
Menomonie; Ron Zurek,
Chippewa Falls;
Randy Burton,
Menomonie; Gunnar
Watkins, Elk Mound.
6 lap Heat 1 –
Liphardt; N. Spence;
Smeltzer; Zurek;
Hoyt; Scotty
Schoettle; Wert.
Heat 2 – Dahl;
Hathaway; Ducommun;
Hughes; Watkins;
Burton; B. Spence.
