Gibson, Schreiner, Mahder and Kobs Are Winners at CLS Firecracker Special!

By Greg Parent

NEW RICHMOND, WI (July 10) - On a warm summer evening, a large crowd filed into the Cedar Lake Speedway for the annual Firecracker Spectacular on Saturday July 10. With the NASCAR Pro Stocks having the night off, a full program of racing action was still in store for the fans in three NASCAR divisions including the makeup modified feature from a rain out at the Masters a few weeks earlier. The fast-paced program was capped off by what has become a CLS tradition on this night, a spectacular and fantastic fireworks display.

Earning his first CLS career feature victory, Mike Gibson raced ahead of a full field of NASCAR Midwest Modifieds. In the regular NASCAR Modified main event, Ron Schreiner worked his way past Brandon Jensen 12 laps into the 20 lap run and then held off Rick Kobs to post his third win in the division this season. Also recording his third CLS feature victory of the season, Chad Mahder led all 30 laps but narrowly held on to defeat Jake Redetzke by less than a car length in a thrilling finish in the nonstop NASCAR Late Model main. The June 17 makeup feature for the NASCAR Modifieds also went nonstop, as Rick Kobs got by Ron Schreiner at the halfway mark to grab his first modified feature win of the season at CLS. Kobs also became the first driver at CLS to win features in more than one division this year, as the veteran racer has two pro stock wins to his credit so far.

The NASCAR Midwest Modified feature was the first main event of the evening, and a full 24 car starting grid rolled trackside paced by Mike Gibson and Mike Mueller. Gibson grabbed the early lead over third starter Eric Herbison. The first of two cautions waved when Jason Meyer got into Craig Rabenberg. Meyer restarted tail-end, and the race was quickly back under green flag racing. Ninth starter Jason Vandenkamp was steadily working his way forward with the laps clicking off. Vandkamp moved under Mueller for third on lap six and finally got by Herbison for second on lap 10.

Current CLS Midwest Modified point leader Bob Smith started way back in 22nd position, but by the midway mark he had already cracked the top ten. The final caution flew for a spin by Jason Meyer with 10 laps in, closing the field up for the restart. Vandekamp slipped by Gibson for the lead on lap 11, but Gibson roared back to retake the top spot the following lap. Herbison got around Vandekamp on lap 13 for second only to see the positions switch back the next lap. Mike Gibson went on to record his first-ever CLS feature win in the competitive event over Jason Vandekamp. Mark Thomas got by Eric Herbison for third on the final lap with Robbie Franklin completing the top five. Rounding out the top ten finishers were Vince Corbin, Mike Mueller, Bob Smith, Steve Houle and Thunder Bay driver Kevin Monteith. Heat race winners included Gibson, Thomas and Bryan Siercks.

Next up was the regular NASCAR Modified feature race. Another full field of 25 starters saw pole sitter Brandon Jensen bring the field down for starter Jeff Stacken's green flag. The race was immediately under caution when outside front row starter Tim Van Meter got together with Mike Kelley Jr on the back stretch. Thanks to a quick call on the Raceceiver by Brad Both and some evasive maneuvers by several drivers, all cars were able to restart with Van Meter tagging the tail. Jensen jumped out to an early lead over Craig Brightbill. Just three laps into the race, the yellow blinked on again when Jason Miller was unable to get slowed up in time and got into Ted Marrs in turn three. Miller restarted 25th and would put on an incredible charge through the field during the remainder of the race.

As Jensen continued to show the way up front, a third caution came out when Don Brightbill broke a driveshaft and coasted into the pits six laps into the race. Jensen once again set sail on the cushion, but a great battle for second amongst four cars saw 10th starter Ron Schreiner move to the runnerup position on lap eight. Ninth starter Rick Kobs got by Brightbill the following lap for third. Schreiner closed in on Jensen with Kobs in tow. On lap 12, Schreiner got under Jensen exiting turn four for the lead. Jensen's great run came to an end the following lap when the right front brake locked up in turn two and he slapped the concrete wall to bring out the fourth and final caution. In an eight lap run to the checkers, Kobs tried unsuccessfully on a couple of occasions to gain the lead from Schreiner. Ron Schreiner was able to stretch his lead out a bit in the closing laps, as the veteran racer earned his third feature win of the season at CLS. Rick Kobs had to battle back to finish second, as Jeremy Gross slipped under him on lap 19 for the runnerup spot. Many fans were focused on the charge through the field that eventual third place finisher Jason Miller accomplished. Miller was able to move by Gross on the final circuit for third. Gross finished fourth with Craig Brightbill rounding out the top five. Completing the top ten were 15th starter Jason Gross, Jeremy Houle, Kevin Viebrock, Terry Hanson, and Scott Splittstoesser in what was a very entertaining feature race. Marrs, Houle and Miller topped the heats.

With rookie late model driver Greg Nippoldt unable to start the 30 lap NASCAR Late Model feature race due to a hole in the oil pan of his car, a strong field of 21 cars rumbled to the green flag with Rick Hanestad and Jim Carlson on the front row. Third starter Chad Mahder wasted little time in moving forward, as he just edged by Hanestad to lead the opening lap. Hanestad hustled back past Mahder on lap two, but Mahder maneuvered back by on lap three. Hanestad regained the lead on lap four only to see Mahder once again slip by on lap five, as the two drivers kept the crowd's attention focused up front. Mahder settled into the lead while positions changed hands behind.

Fellow fourth row starters Jake Redetzke and John Kaanta were on the move forward quickly racing to third and fourth. Eleventh starter and 13 time track champion Rick Egersdorf cracked the top five just five laps into the race. Redetzke got by Hanestead on lap 11 for second and began to slowly reel in Mahder who had built up a comfortable lead. The race continued under the green flag, as the leaders began to work lapped traffic in the middle stages of the event. Egersdorf got under Kaanta for fourth on lap 16, as the two veteran drivers had a very good race going on between themselves. Mahder continued to work lapped traffic with Jake Redetzke slowly gaining. In the closing laps, Redetzke made his presence felt and Mahder knew he was under attack for the lead. Redetzke closed right up behind Mahder with a couple to go, took a look underneath in turn one, but Mahder held strong. Redetzke was close behind at the white flag. Jake Redetzke's bid for the win coming off turn four on the final lap came up several feet short at the line, as Chad Mahder went on to record his third triumph of the season in a thrilling finish to a race that went 30 laps nonstop. Rick Hanestad finished about a car length in front of John Kaanta, who had gotten back around Rick Egersdorf for fourth with one lap to go. Egersdorf was right behind Kaanta at the checkers. Brent Larson, Mike Nutzmann, 16th starter Randy Gullixson, Mike Bear and Jesse Redetzke completed the top ten. Heat race victors included Kaanta, Hanestad and Mahder.

The final racing event of the evening before the big fireworks display was the June 17 NASCAR Modified makeup feature race. A fine field of 20 of the original 23 starters were on hand to due battle for 20 racing laps. Mike Kelley Jr and Ron Schreiner brought the field to the green. Schreiner immediately blasted into the lead with fourth starter Kevin Viebrock following him. Fifth starter Rick Kobs wasted little time in moving to third on the opening lap, and then racing past Viebrock for second on lap three. In another crowd pleasing run forward, 12th starter Jason Miller was quickly a player up front when he got by Viebrock for third on lap seven. Kobs closed in on Schreiner, and a spirited battle for the top spot got underway. Kobs got around Schreiner for the lead at the halfway mark on lap ten, as the race continued under the green.

Miller moved past Schreiner for second on lap 13 and set his sights on Kobs. With Kobs diamonding the corners except when lapped traffic prevented it, the Deer Park driver was not to be denied his first modified feature win of the season. At the checkers, Rick Kobs had one lapped car between himself and Jason Miller. Ron Schreiner settled for third ahead of Kevin Viebrock and Jason Gross in a very competitive 20 lap caution-free run. Jeremy Houle raced from his 16th starting spot to finish sixth with Terry Hanson, Jeremy Gross, Brandon Jensen and Craig Brightbill completing the top ten. Jason Gross and Rick Kobs had won the heats back on June 17 when the original program had started.

Following a great night of racing, the large crowd enjoyed the usual outstanding CLS fireworks presentation to finish out a very entertaining evening spent at western Wisconsin's premier dirt racing facility. As the crowd exited the track around 10:00 PM, Mother Nature began lighting up the western sky with a lightning display that lasted for a couple of hours. Racing action continues at the Cedar Lake Speedway on Sunday night July 11 for the annual appearance by the World of Outlaws sprint cars. The midwest modifieds and winged outlaw modifieds will also be part of the program.

SUMMARY

NASCAR Impact Printing Late Models
Feature - Chad Mahder, Jake Redetzke, Rich Hanestad, John Kaanta, Rick Egersdorf, Brent Larson, Mike Nutzmann, Randy Gullixson, Mike Bear, Jesse Redetzke, Jeff Patchen, Jim Carlson, Jeff Keeney, Mike Raboin, Bryan Wennen, Dennis Larson, Steve Hucovski, Scott Meeds, Kenny Mann, Jim Bruggeman, Toby Patchen, Greg Nippoldt

NASCAR Amsoil Modifieds
Feature - Ron Schreiner, Rick Kobs, Jason Miller, Jeremy Gross, Craig Brightbill, Jason Gross, Jeremy Houle, Kevin Viebrock, Terry Hanson, Scott Splittstoesser, Jason Schill, Dave Siercks, Tim VanMeter, Ted Marrs, Justin Schill, Jason Vandekamp, Lonnie Louschke, Jeff Doriott, Scott Pomeroy, Vince Corbin, Ryan Johnson, Shawn Phillips, Mike Kelley, Brandon Jensen, Don Brightbill

NASCAR Pepsi Modifieds
Feature - Mike Gibson, Jason Vandekamp, Mark Thomas, Eric Herbison, Robbie Franklin, Vince Corbin, Mike Mueller, Bob Smith, Steve Houle, Kevin Montieth, Bill Stettner, AJ Roschen, Jake Miller, Cooper Dohms, Tony Schill, Craig Rabenberg, Nate Fisk, Jason Haugerud, Adam Ayotte, Tom Smart, Jason Meyer, Bryan Siercks, Jared Gorka, Alex Gerlach, Todd Steffen

Items for sale:

• Two used Winters rear ends (32,36) axles, with or without Mars birdcages.
• Two used Appleton steering racks (3.4 ratio) and (3.9 ratio).
• Two used complete sets of Penske racing shocks from Chris Mars.
• Two used Bert transmissions (Ball splines).
• Dry Sump four stage oil pump.
• Three used Dry sump oil tanks (two used & one new).
• 362 Chevrolet (Wegner Automotive Research).

Call for more information and pricing call Jerry Redetzke at (715) 828-2700