 | ||
 | | |
|  | ||||||||
 | |||||||||
HOME • NEWS & RESULTS • ASA NEWS • SCHEDULE • STANDINGS • SPONSORS • PHOTOS • RECORDS | |||||||||
| |||||||||
 | |||||||||
Madison International Speedway | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Wilberg and Dickson Win Track Championships at MIS By John Wells Friday, August 31, 2007 (Oregon, WI) Bobby Wilberg won two track championships in a single season for the second time in three years and Steve Dickson won his first track championship as part of First Supply Season Championship Night at Madison International Speedway. It was a great night for racing at Madison International Speedway as five divisions took to the track including three weekly divisions that would crown champions. Andrew Morrissey won the feature for the Weaver Auto Parts Madison Late Models, Scott Broughton won the Rockweiler Insulation Limited Late Models, Bobby Selsing Jr. captured the win in the Roto Rooter Bandits, Andy Jirik flew to victory in the USST Super Trucks, and Greg Pruitt powered his way to a win in the Hobby Stocks. Morrissey Masters Madison Late ModelsÉChampionship Goes to Wilberg The table was set for a spectacular finish in the Weaver Auto Parts Madison Late Models points race where Bobby Wilberg entered the night with a five point lead over Tom Gille and a twenty-seven point advantage over Andrew Morrissey. After qualifying Wilberg maintained his lead by just a single point over Gille with Morrissey twenty-nine points back. All of the drama was in place for the 50 lap feature. Sixteen cars took the green flag led by the front row of John Wood, back after a two week absence, and Nathan Oppliger. Wood would take the early lead, but the focus was on what was happening behind the leader. Coming into the race Tom Gille knew all he had to do was finish one spot ahead of Bobby Wilberg. By lap 5 Gille was already up to fourth when disaster struck two laps later when he and Jeremy Miller got together earning both drivers a trip to the rear of the field. Despite going to the back, Gille would not give up and would work his way back. On the restart Morrissey would power his way past Wood and quickly build up a sizeable lead over the field. Trying to keep pace with Morrissey were Dan Lensing and Scott Ollerman who were fighting it out for second. The red flag came out on lap 14 when Kevin Knuese, who earlier in the evening had won his first heat race of the season, made heavy contact with the front stretch wall and slid all the way up to the outside wall in turn one. Knuese would be ok, but his car would be done for the night. On the restart Morrissey would continue his lead until the caution came out one lap later for a spin in turn four. Wasting no time following the restart, Morrissey built a big lead as Lensing and Ollerman battled it out for second. Ollerman would finally get by Lensing on lap 20, but it appeared nobody would have enough to catch Morrissey. However, the big story of the race was back in the pack where Gille had worked his way up to seventh by lap 24. By lap 35 Gille was up to challenge Wilberg for sixth and two laps later made the pass coming out of turn two. On lap 42 a spin on the backstretch involving Scott Ollerman brought out the caution flag and negated Morrissey's huge lead. After the restart, Wilberg would get by Gille coming out of turn two on lap 43 for fifth place. Meanwhile out front Nathan Haseleu had begun to cut into Morrissey's lead. But the crowd's attention remained on the Gille-Wilberg race. On lap 45 Gille was able to pull to the inside of Wilberg on the backstretch and one lap later the two were side by side. Wilberg would be able to hold off Gille, but the caution flag would come out for a spin on lap 47. Wilberg would be able keep Gille at bay not only on this restart, but for two more as well as a series of late race cautions heightened the drama of the point race. Morrissey would be able to hold off Haseleu for the win followed by Lensing, Zack Riddle, and Wilberg. “This car's been great. I did everything I could do tonight,” said Morrissey from victory lane who was celebrating his fifth feature win of the season. “This was just great racing between Tom and me,” said Wilberg in a post race interview. “It's great to win the championship. I really have to thank my crew and sponsors for doing everything they do.” Wilberg has now won three straight Madison Late Model championships. Jeremy Miller set fast time with a lap of 18.152 with Kevin Knuese and Morrissey winning the heat races. Brougthon Best in Limited Late ModelsÉWilberg King of Points Scott Broughton won his third feature of the season in the Rockweiler Insulation Limited Late Models. Ten cars took the green flag in the thirty lap feature for the Limited Late Models with Cliff Rucks getting out to the early lead. Rucks would continue to lead until lap 7 when Broughton made an inside pass on the backstretch. One lap later Chad Stevens moved up to second followed by Ryan Carlson. A car up into the wall in turn three brought out the first caution of the race on lap 10, and the restart resulted in the leader, Broughton, spinning while coming out of turn four. It was determined that track conditions caused the spin and Broughton would retain his position. Broughton would continue to lead with Carlson getting by Stevens for second on lap 15. Carlson would work into Broughton's lead with each subsequent lap, but Broughton would not be denied as he held off Carlson for the win. Following Broughton and Carlson in the top five were Bobby Wilberg, Kevin Tunks, and Ryan Goldade. Wilberg set fast time with a lap of 18.835 and heat races were won by Rucks and Wilberg. Bobby Selsing Jr. Takes the Checkered FlagÉDickson Wins Championship The point race for the Roto Rooter Bandits was still up for grabs going into the night, but it would mean Bobby Selsing Jr. would need to finish several positions ahead of Steve Dickson in order for the Fort Atkinson driver to win the title. Selsing would win the feature, but Dickson's second place finish gave him the track championship. Brian Paulson and Brandon Skolaski led the field of thirteen cars to the line for the start of their feature event with Paulson getting out to the early lead. On lap 4 Dickson had worked himself up to second followed by Alex Jones and Selsing Jr. Selsing Jr.would overtake Jones on lap 5 and would surpass Dickson one lap later. He would take the lead on lap 7 and never look back as he cruised his way to victory in the caution free event. Dickson would finish second followed by Chester Ace, Paulson, and Jones. Chester Ace set fast time with a lap of 15.362 with Brandon Skolaski and Dickson winning heat races. “This is just wonderful,” said Dickson in a post race interview. “This is what we've wanted all season long.” Jirik Dominates USST Super Trucks Andy Jirik made the long trip from Lonsdale, Minnesota, well worth it and he picked up a clean sweep in the USST Super Trucks. The event was rescheduled from August 24th when all activities at MIS were rained out. Jeff Babb and Butch Mierendorf paced the field to the green flag in the 30 lap feature event. Babb would lead the first six circuits before surrendering the lead to Lucas Korish, who was making his MIS debut. Following his pass on the outside on the backstretch, Korish looked very strong and quickly put some distance between himself and Babb. By lap 10 Jirik was up to fourth and hunting down the three trucks ahead of him. On lap 11 he was up to second and now focused his attention on Korish. On lap 16 Jirik was on Korish's tailgate coming out of turn two and by turn four was able to get down to the inside of Korish and make the pass for the lead. Working up through the field was the veteran Fred Oswald who by lap 18 was up to third and passed Korish for second place two laps later. Bret Widdis would get by Korish on lap 23 for the third. But out front it was all Jirik who sprinted to victory followed by Oswald, Widdis, Korish, and Tom Roney. In a post race interview Jirik thanked the fans for supporting short track racing. “You're great fans and thanks for supporting us.” Jirik indicated he would be back for the USST event at the MIS Fall Classic on September 22nd. Jirik set fast time with a lap of 19.049 with heat race wins going to Jirik and Tom Roney. Pruitt Best in Hobby Stocks Greg Pruitt returned to MIS for the first time in 2007 and made the most of his visit by winning the twenty lap feature for the RX Automotive Hobby Stocks. Pruitt and Rodger Stephenson would fight it out for the top spot early on with Pruitt putting taking over on lap 4 just before Mike Storkson made contact with the wall and brought out the caution flag. It would be the only caution of the event. Pruitt was simply too strong for the field tonight as he led the rest of the way. Jim Robinson, who won a race earlier this season at MIS, worked his way past Stephenson for second on lap 16 but would not have enough to catch Pruitt. Following Pruitt, Robinson, and Stephenson at the line would be Willy Schreiber and Brad Luck. Fast time was set by Luck with a lap of 15.033, a new track record for the Hobby Stocks. Robinson won the heat race. Racing continues next week at Madison International Speedway when the Wisconsin Challenge Series returns for their second visit of the 2007 season. See the best super late model drivers in the Midwest compete on Wisconsin's Fastest Half-Mile. Other divisions on the racing program include the Bandits, Hobby Stocks, INEX Legends, and INEX Bandoleros. To cap off a full night of racing will be a trailer race. Gates open at 4:30 with hot laps at 4:45, qualifying at 6:30 and racing at 7:30. A Big Boy Toy Show is scheduled for Madison International Speedway on September 15th and 16th that will include a car show and swap meet. For more information contact the track office at 608.835.9700. Madison International Speedway is also hosting the MIS Fall Classic on September 21-22 with fourteen divisions in action. On Friday night the Madison Late Models, Area Sportsman, Hobby Stocks, Bandits, INEX Bandoleros, and INEX Legends will all be in action. A crazy and wild “Double O” race is also on the schedule. On Saturday night it's the Super Late Models, Limited Late Models, USST Super Trucks, Modifieds, FIRA, American Short Trackers / International Four Cylinders, and a four cylinder enduro. For more information contact the track office at 608.835.9700 or checkout the MIS website at madisoninternationalspeedway.com. MIS is located on Sunrise Road just south of Highway 138 between Stoughton and Oregon. Official Results Weaver Auto Parts Madison Late Models 50 Lap Feature (1-10) Andrew Morrissey- DeForest, Nathan Haseleu- Pardeeville, Dan Lensing- Poplar Grove, IL, Zack Riddle- Cottage Grove, Bobby Wilberg- Orfordville, Tom Gille- Winnebago, IL, Jason Erickson- Cambridge, Scott McGettigan- Verona, Paul Treuthardt- Monroe, John Wood- Sun Prairie (11-16) Brent Brevak- Ashland, Zach Reining- Forreston, IL, Scott Ollerman- Sun Prairie, Jeremy Miller- Rockton, IL, Nathan Oppliger- Oregon, Kevin Knuese- Waukesha Fast Qualifier: Jeremy Miller- Rockton, IL 18.152 Heat One: Kevin Knuese- Waukesha Heat Two: Andrew Morrissey- DeForest 2007 Track Champion: Bobby Wilberg- Orfordville Rockweiler Insulation Limited Late Models 30 Lap Feature (1-10) Scott Broughton- Stoughton, Ryan Carlson- Loves Park, IL, Bobby Wilberg- Orfordville, Kevin Tunks- Indianford, Ryan Goldade- Stoughon, Chad Stevens- Orfordville, Cliff Rucks- Cottage Grove, Todd Schmitz- Verona, Kevin Seidler- Adams, Paul Edmundson- Whitewater Brady Liddle- Oregon (DNS) Fast Qualifier: Bobby Wilberg- Orfordville 18.835 Heat One: Cliff Rucks- Cottage Grove Heat Two: Bobby Wilberg- Orfordville 2007 Track Champion: Bobby Wilberg- Orfordville Roto Rooter Bandits 20 Lap Feature (1-10) Bobby Selsing Jr.- Fort Atkinson, Steve Dickson- Rockton, IL, Chester Ace- Oregon, Brian Paulson- Edgerton, Alex Jones- Middleton, Rory Padfield- Stoughton, Brandon Skolaski- Fitchburg, Kyle Padfield- Stoughton, Chad Olds- Whitewater, Cory Skolaski- Fitchburg (11-13) Tim Dickson- Rockton, IL, Ryan Slater- Brooklyn, Gary Krueger- Edgerton Fast Qualifier: Chester Ace- Oregon 15.362 Heat One: Brandon Skolaski- Fitchburg Heat Two: Steve Dickson- Rockton, IL 2007 Track Champion: Steve Dickson- Rockton, IL USST Super Trucks 30 Lap Feature (1-10) Andy Jirik- Lonsdale, MN, Fred Oswald- Lake Mills, Bret Widdis- Manistique, MI, Lucas Korish- LaCrosse, Tom Roney- Crystal Lake, IL, Cole Howland- LaCrosse, Bryan Pautsch- Sun Prairie, Scott Smith- East Troy, Butch Mierendorf- Waterloo, JC Stanelle- Milton (11-14) Jeff Babb- Elgin, IL, Steve Hillary- Machesney Park, IL, Gary Cerny- Janesville, Danielle Neary- Onalaska Fast Qualifier: Andy Jirik- Lonsdale, MN 19.049 Heat One: Andy Jirik- Lonsdale, MN Heat Two: Tom Roney- Crystal Lake, IL RX Automotive Hobby Stocks 20 Lap Feature (1-9) Greg Pruitt- Rockford, IL, Jim Robinson- Orfordville, Rodger Stephenson- Cambridge, Willy Schreiber- Baraboo, Brad Luck- Prairie du Sac, Nick Newton- Jefferson, Ben Barber- Evansville, Mike Storkson- Brooklyn, Joey Thomas- Rockford Fast Qualifier: Brad Luck- Prairie du Sac 15.033 (New Track Record) Heat One: Jim Robinson- Orfordville
| ||
| | |
| | |
© Copyright 2007-08 Madison International Speedway - All Rights Reserved | ||
| | |
