Jumbeck and Hanson Seal Championships With Feature Wins at Tri-Oval Speedway By Tracy Hager
FOUNTAIN CITY, WI Sep 02, 2008 - Spirits were high, fans were on the edges of their seats, and drivers nervously wafted through the pits anticipating their heat line-up as the season championships arrived at Tri-Oval Speedway. While some classes appeared pretty much wrapped up, the WISSOTA Super Stock class championship truly was left for the last night.
For those sitting comfortably at the top of the point standings, smooth sailing was the key. Kyle Jumbeck had his first WISSOTA Midwest Modified Championship virtually locked up going into the night as he was 86 points ahead of last year's champion Josh Angst. And the two finished their feature in just that order. A noticeable absence was Brad Waits. Waits also had secured his first track championship at Tri-Oval Speedway, however, he was not in attendance as he sold his car and called it a season. And it was Angst again who was second in line for the throne in the USRA Modifieds.
The point championship was relatively locked up in the WISSOTA Street Stocks as
point leader Danny Hanson had a 33-point edge over three-time track champion Kevin Hager. But last year's champion Brad Dennis was a mere two points behind Hager going into the night. Hanson put an exclamation on his first track championship at the speedway with a feature win. And once again, the second place finisher in track points chased the champion across the line in the feature; that being Hager.
WISSOTA Super Stock driver Troy Langowski headed into Friday night with the
possibility to set a tie in Tri-Oval history for the most track titles. John Rogge of Winona held the record for most track championships with six; divided amongst the Street Stock, Hobby Stock, and Late Model divisions spanning 1975 to 1984. Langowski captured his fifth WISSOTA Super Stock title (add one for his 1996 WISSOTA Modified championship) to tie Rogge at six championships spanning 1990 to present. Bob Fort may have come in second in track points, but he made a clean sweep on the night.
Michael Hofer won his first track championship in the Hornets while his twin brother Lance finished second.
The WISSOTA Street Stocks started off the evening's features with fire hot, intense racing. From the start, they raced three- and four-wide through turn one and into five-wide, yes, five-wide racing through the tri-oval turn two in just the first lap. Quinn Arnoldy and Kevin Hager were fast to charge for first place when Hager's car pushed going into turn one allowing Jimmy Patzner into second place. Hager regrouped to go three-wide with Danny Hanson and Arnoldy down the front stretch as they vied for the lead just ahead of Patzner. Brad Dennis and Patzner soon were battling for fourth place when Dan Bork joined them for three-wide racing around turn two. Patzner got back into the battle for the lead with Hanson as Hager waited it out right behind the two. Bork maneuvered around Dennis for fourth place as Hager made a move between Patzner and Hanson as they headed into turn two to take over second place. Hanson moved into the lead, but Hager was close behind as they
closed in on the lap traffic obstacle course. Hanson ended the track point season in victory lane as the WISSOTA Street Stock Champion. Hager finished second to Hanson in the race just as he did in the point standings. Patzner finished a strong third followed by Bork and Dennis.
WISSOTA Midwest Modified feature action saw Brandon Larson and Erik Kanz lead the cars to the green as they raced very close up front. Jared Happel and Travis Krause ran side by side when Kyle Jumbeck dove under Krause in turn three to take fourth place and kept going past third and into second place by the end of lap one. Jumbeck took over the lead as Josh Angst followed through to second over Happel, Kanz, and Krause. As the cars began to spread out, Jumbeck and Angst tried to thread their way through lap traffic. Krause slipped into fourth place over Kanz, and Chris Creeley took over fifth. The solo caution of the race restarted the field with Jumbeck on the point followed by Angst, Happel, Krause, and Kanz. Angst furiously chased down Jumbeck but was not able to catch him. Jumbeck sealed up his 12th feature win at the track this season and also his first track championship. Angst, Happel, Krause, and Kanz finished second through fifth respectively, nearly how they finished in track points.
The track championship was on the line in the WISSOTA Super Stocks going into the final points' night, and more intense racing was yet to be had at the three-cornered track. Jon Duffy and Gary Wiersgalla led a charging pack to a fast start when Adam Stockhausen joined in for three-wide racing in turn two. Kevin Hager moved inside Stockhausen for a look at third, and Langowski and Bob Fort ran side by side for fourth place. Langowski took the high line down the front stretch to take over fourth place when a caution for Wiersgalla's downed machine slowed the pack. Duffy took the point on the restart, and Langowski moved inside Stockhausen for second place. Fort took the upper line around Hager for fourth place as the top cars ran close. Tim Williamson darted into side-by-side action with Hager for fifth place when Fort found his way around Langowski into third. Duffy maintained his lead followed by Stockhausen, Fort, Langowski, Williamson, and Hager as the top six put some distance on the rest of the field. Once Fort got around Stockhausen for second, he tried to steal the lead from Duffy, but Duffy muscled his way back. Fort took the low groove to finally take the lead with only a couple laps to go. Fort grabbed the win ahead of Duffy, Langowski, Williamson, and Stockhausen.
Paul Hamernik and Bob Bautch slowly took the USRA Modified field to the green in a near perfect start. Tyler Clark torpedoed into third place and soon into the lead over Hamernik. John Doelle dove inside Clark in turn three for close side-by-side racing in a fast and furious race for the lead. Josh Angst became a force in the top spots as did Bob Timm. Timm crept closer and closer to Doelle once he got around Clark. At the white flag lap, Timm and Doelle were side by side to intensify the finish. As the two entered turn three to the final stretch, Timm dipped under Doelle to steal the win. Clark, Angst, and Hamernik finished out the top five.
Friday, September 5th will be a regular race program, and Kids' Night has been
added. At intermission, the kids will get a chance to go to the cars in the infield to get pictures and autographs. Friday, September 26th will be a regular racing program as well. October 10-11 will mark the return of the Great Pumpkin Races which will include kids dressing up in their Halloween costumes and trick-or-treating their way through the pits after the races on Friday night. There is more fun to be had at Tri-Oval Speedway yet in 2008.
