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Madison International Speedway | |||||||||
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Super Racing on Super Friday at MIS by John Wells Friday, August 3, 2007 (Oregon, WI) It was a big night of racing on Super Friday at Madison International with action in four divisions on Laborer's Union Local 464 Night. With perfect weather and a large crowd all of the ingredients were in place for a truly "Super" Friday of racing. Four drivers would go home with checkered flags when the night came to a close: Nathan Haseleu in the Super Late Models, Zack Riddle in the Weaver Auto Parts Madison Late Models, Bobby Wilberg in the Rockweiler Insulation Limited Late Models, and Bobby Selsing Jr. in the Roto Rooter Bandits. Patience Pays Off Big for Nathan Haseleu Nathan Haseleu powered by Brian Hoppe on lap 99 to win the Bob Schmelzer 100 for the Super Late Models. "Patience is very important in racing. You just have know the right time," commented Nathan Haseleu after winning the Bob Schmelzer 100 and taking home a first place check worth $3000. Nick Hammer and Dale Nottestad led the field of fourteen cars to the green flag with Nottestad, a past track champion, taking the early lead. On lap 6, Dan "The Rocketman" Lensing took over the top spot after getting by Nottestad on the inside coming out of turn three. With Lensing showing the way out front, it would be Hoppe making the most progress through the field. The former NASCAR ReMax Challenge Series champion was up to fifth on lap 7, fourth on lap 10, third on lap 14, and up to second on lap 17. By lap 30, Hoppe had significantly cut into Lensing's lead and by the time the caution flag came out on lap 38 for a spin the lead was down to just a half car length. On lap 41 Hoppe was down to the inside of Lensing and the two were side by side until Hoppe cleared Lensing for the lead coming out of turn two one lap later. Hoppe quickly put some room between himself and Lensing. However, the car on the move at this point now appeared to be Haseleu. On lap 51 Lensing could no longer hold off Haseleu who motored by him and into second place. Eleven laps later it would be Hoppe and Haseleu checking away from the field with Hoppe still clearly in control. As the race progressed it was evident to the fans that Haseleu was slowly cutting into Hoppe's advantage. By lap 94 the gap had closed and with lapped traffic ahead of Hoppe, Haseleu was just waiting for the right time. That opportunity came on lap 99 when Haseleu pulled alongside Hoppe and made the pass for the lead just in time to see the white flag wave. From there on it was all Haseleu who cruised to the checkered flag. Following Haseleu and Hoppe were Andrew Morrissey, Dan Lensing, and Brian Johnson Jr. Morrissey set fast time with a lap of 17.737. The event was named in honor of Bob Schmelzer who has been involved in local racing for fifty year. Schmelzer has been working at Madison since 1963 and continues to head up pit security each week. "This is a very important night for my family," said Schmelzer who sporting a jacket similar to those worn by legendary Madison promoter Sam Bartus. Schmelzer was joined trackside by his family and along with his wife of 58 years, Darlene, took a few laps of Wisconsin's Fastest Half-Mile in a 1966 Lincoln driven by current track owner Terry Kunes. Riddle Wins a Wild One in Madison Late Models Zack Riddle won his first feature of the 2007 season by topping a field of fifteen Weaver Auto Parts Madison Late Models. From the start it appeared that this race belonged to seventeen year old Shane Morrissey. After winning his heat race and starting on the pole, Morrissey wasted no time setting the pace for the 40 lap feature. After battling Nathan Oppliger the first four laps, Morrissey quickly checked away from the field and by lap 16 had built a ten car length lead over Oppliger. Even after the caution flag took away his sizeable lead on lap 21, Morrissey looked great on the restart. However, in racing things can change very quickly...and for Morrissey that's exactly what happened. Coming out of turn four Morrissey got loose and it appeared was going to be able to get the car back under control. Unfortunately that would not be the case as Morrissey slid across the front stretch and made heavy contact with the front stretch wall. Also caught up in the incident was John Wood whose car also suffered major damage. Both Morrissey and Wood would be ok, but their cars would come off the track compliments of Seitz Towing. This marked the second week in a row where the leader of the Madison Late Model feature saw their night end in a crash. Inheriting the lead would be Bobby Wilberg followed by Zack Riddle, Dan Lensing, Andrew Morrissey, and Tom Gille. Wilberg would lead for two circuits following the restart before Riddle was able to get down to the inside coming out of turn two and on lap 28 would become the new leader. Just when it appeared that things were going smoothly for the Madison Late Models and mini-pile up occurred coming out of turn four on lap 34. Nathan Oppliger could not avoid the sideways car of Jeremy Miller and made contact. With the safety crew on hand and both drivers clear of their cars, Oppliger's car suddenly burst into flames...some flames reaching as high as twenty feet. The safety crew was able to extinguish the fire and a long clean up process took place. Once the race went green again it would be all Riddle who easily held off the field enroute to the win. Wilberg would finish second followed by Lensing, Gille, and Andrew Morrissey. Fast time was set by Gille with a lap of 18.364 with heat races wins going to Shane Morrissey and Jeremy Miller. Wilberg Back in Victory Lane for Limited Late Models Bobby Wilberg picked up his second win of the 2007 and increased his point lead in the Rockweiler Insulation Limited Late Models. Joel Soenksen and Matt Mylin brought the field of twelve cars to the green flag with Soenksen leading the first two laps before giving up the lead to Chad Stevens. Stevens would lead the next ten laps before Wilberg sprinted by on lap 12. Stevens could only keep it close for one more lap before Wilberg checked away from the field. Wilberg built up a huge lead and easily took his car to victory lane followed by Stevens, Scott Broughton, Sonny Schoffen, and Brady Liddle. Broughton raced hard to finish third making up a lot of ground late in the race and keeping Wilberg within sight in the point race. After being doused by water in victory lane, a tired Wilberg thanked his crew and sponsors. "This is exhausting," he said after completing 180 laps of racing tonight. Wilberg set fast time with a lap of 19.000 with heat wins going to Broughton and Stevens. Selsing Set the Pace in the Bandits Bobby Selsing Jr. won the twenty lap feature for the Roto Rooter Bandits by topping a twelve car field. The Brothers Skolaski, Cory and Brandon, led the field to the green flag with the caution flag coming out just one lap into the race for contact between two cars. When the field restarted it would be Brandon Skolaski taking the lead out front followed by Alex Lee. By lap 5 Chester Ace had worked his way up to second and pulled up on the outside of Skolaski. Ace was able to get Skolaski on the outside to take the lead with Selsing and point leader Steve Dickson up to second and third respectively by lap 10. Working his way to the inside of Ace, Selsing made the successful pass for the lead coming out of turn four. As has happened several times this season, Selsing Jr. flew away from the field with his biggest challenge going to be how to work through lapped traffic. On lap 17 as he approached turn three two lapped cars were racing side by side. Selsing didn't have room to go high or low...so he threaded the needle and somehow found room to get between the two slower cars. From there it was all Selsing Jr. who raced his way to the checkered flag. Ace would hold on for second followed by Dickson, Alex Jones, and Jody Schmidt. Heat race victories went to Lee and Selsing. Racing continues on Friday, August 10th with Swiss Colony Night featuring the Weaver Auto Parts Madison Late Models, Rockweiler Insulation Limited Late Models, Roto Rooter Bandits, Legends, and Bandoleros. Hot laps are at 4:45 followed by qualifying at 6:30 and racing at 7:30. Fans are reminded that the gigantic "Fireworks Extravaganza" presented by the Boucher Group is scheduled for Friday, August 17th. Madison International Speedway is located on Sunrise Road just south of Highway 138 between Stoughton and Oregon. For more information checkout the track website at madisoninternationalspeedway.com or call the track office at 608.835.9700. Official Results Super Late Models 100 Lap Feature (1-10) Nathan Haseleu- Pardeeville, Brian Hoppe- Madison, Andrew Morrissey- DeForest, Dan Lensing- Poplar Grove, IL, Brian Johnson Jr.- South Beloit, IL, Bobby Wilberg- Orfordville, Nick Hammer- Sun Prairie, Frank Kreyer- Pardeeville, Steve Rubeck- Kirkland, IL, Kyle Kinder- McFarland (11-14) Dale Nottestad- Cambridge, Jim Carlson- LaCrosse, Jacob Humphrey- Lake Geneva, Jim Schmittinger- West Bend Fast Qualifier: Andrew Morrissey- DeForest 17.737 Weaver Auto Parts Madison Late Models 40 Lap Feature (1-10) Zack Riddle- Cottage Grove, Bobby Wilberg- Orfordville, Dan Lensing- Poplar Grove, IL, Tom Gille- Winnebago, IL, Andrew Morrissey- DeForest, Jason Erickson- Cambridge, Nathan Haseleu- Pardeeville, Kevin Knuese- Waukesha, Scott McGettigan- Verona (11-15) Brent Brevak- Ashland, Jeremy Miller- Rockton, IL, Nathan Oppliger- Oregon, Shane Morrissey- Cuba City, John Wood- Sun Prairie, Jason Tyler- Stoughton, Paul Treuthardt- Monroe (DNS) Fast Qualifier: Tom Gille- Winnebago, IL 18.364 Heat One: Shane Morrissey Heat Two: Jeremy Miller Rockweiler Insulation Limited Late Models 30 Lap Feature (1-10) Bobby Wilberg- Orfordville, Chad Stevens- Orfordville, Scott Broughton- Stoughton, Sonny Schoffen- Island Lake, IL, Brady Liddle- Oregon, Michael Bachaus- Beloit, Matt Mylin- Rockton, IL, Ryan Goldade- Stoughton, Michael Bilderback- South Beloit, IL, Mark Miller- Columbus (11-12) Joel Soenksen- Baraboo, Todd Schmitz- Verona Fast Qualifier: Bobby Wilberg- Orfordville 19.000 Heat One: Chad Stevens Heat Two: Scott Broughton Roto Rooter Bandits 20 Lap Feature (1-10) Bobby Selsing Jr- Fort Atkinson, Chester Ace- Oregon, Steve Dickson- Rockton, IL, Alex Jones- Middleton, Jody Schmidt- Belleville, Brandon Skolaski- Fitchburg, Cory Skolaski- Fitchburg, Ryan Slater- Brooklyn, Unknown, Tyler Kelley- Oregon (11) Alex Lee- Madison Heat One: Alex Lee Heat Two: Bobby Selsing Jr.
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