Tomahawk Speedway Racing News As Of: August 19, 2011
A Race Night for Tori
By Gene Harmelink
The race night at Tomahawk Speedway began as it usually does with a rendition of the National Anthem, but this night with all cars lined up on the track.The race night then took a twist as the announcer asked everyone to be silent and offer up a prayer of healing for ten-year-old Tori Stevens, one of Tomahawk Speedways biggest fans, who is ill and in the Marshfield hospital.
The race night then began with the Tomahawk Pure Stocks going to the track first with Nate Langberg and Bill Follstad on the front row.Langberg was fast off the line, taking the lead with Follstad following in second, Steve Brown in third, and Randy Conner in fourth.
As the top four cars ran bumper-to-bumper, Langberg continued to lead, leading the first eleven laps of the 15-lap feature.Meanwhile, Follstad and Conner had a spirited battle for second with Conner getting the upper hand by the end of lap ten.
With four laps to go, Conner made his move to take the lead, sending Langberg to second.In the end it was Conner taking the win and completing a sweep to add to his track points lead in his Guy’s Restoration-sponsored car.Langberg, Follstad, Brown, and Keith Troutman rounded out the top five.
The WISSOTA/Amsoil Street Stocks were up next with Ron Van Dusen and Jeff Klopstein, Jr. sharing the front row.Klopstein was quick off the line to take the lead, as Van Dusen settled into second.
As lap three was in the process of being completed, John Kallas made the pass on Van Dusen and as Van Dusen fought to get his spot back, the cars of Van Dusen and Kallas made contact, sending Kallas into the infield.
Once racing resumed with Kallas getting his spot back and Van Dusen at the rear of the pack, Klopstein continued to lead with Adam Soltis moving up to take second and Kallas running third.For several laps, which followed, Soltis and Kallas ran side-by-side with Soltis hanging on to second.
As the race reached the midway point, Kallas passed Soltis for second, as Klopstein continued to lead.At the midpoint Kallas went on to take the lead, with Klopstein in second and Soltis in third.
Just three more laps into the race and with Kallas in the lead, Kallas suddenly pulled off the track on the front stretch with a blown power plant.As the cars continued to round the track, Soltis moved into the top spot, as Dennis La Crosse moved into second with Van Dusen running third and Heidi Karshbaum running fifth.Meanwhile, Klopstein was slowing.
With five laps to go, Klopstein’s car slowed even more and he exited to the pits with mechanical problems.The racing order at that point was Soltis, La Crosse, Van Dusen and Karshbaum.
With four laps to go, Soltis still led, but as he drove into turn four, his car erupted in smoke as he lost his motor and transmission, and then there were three cars remaining, with La Crosse now in the lead.
As the checkered flew, La Crosse came across the line first, with Van Dusen giving chase and Karshbaum not far behind.It looked like La Crosse was going to get his first win at Tomahawk Speedway, but he failed to scale and Van Dusen was awarded the win in his Super 8-sponsored car.The remaining four top spots went to Karshbaum, Soltis, Klopstein, and Kallas.
The Tomahawk Four Cylinder Bandits were up next, with Rory Radtke and Ryan Schuppler running side-by-side as the green flag flew.It was John Barlowski, though, who would come from fourth to take the lead by the end of lap one.
Barlowski on this race night proved to have the fastest car, as he not only led, but managed to stretch his lead to a full front stretch over the other ten cars in the feature.This race ran without caution and the best action was for second with Brandon Langbecker, Ryan Schuppler, and Adam Johnson contending for second.
In the end it was Barlowski with the win in his Shirts, Signs and Designs-sponsored car.Rounding out the top five were Langbecker, Schuppler, Johnson and Charlie Gross.
The final feature of the night saw the WISSOTA/Amsoil Midwest Modifieds on the track with Dennis Mikkelson and Chad Boettcher leading the way.Boettcher was the early leader, with Mikkelson and Eric Klafka fighting for second as Duane Dunbar maintained his fourth-place starting spot.
Four laps into the feature, Klafka shot to the lead, dropping Boettcher to second as Dunbar moved up to third and Mikkelson ran fourth with CJ Hedges in fifth.
With ten laps of the 20-lap feature complete, Klafka continued to lead, Dunbar ran second, with Bruce Belland moving up to third.Travis Friske ran fourth and Roger Walker ran fifth.
Just as lap eleven was about to be completed, Boettcher collected Mikkelson, spinning Mikkelson in turn one.Both Mikkelson and Boettcher went to the pits, with Mikkelson returning to go the back of the pack.
Another caution occurred one lap later when Friske spun coming out of turn one.When racing resumed, Dunbar saw his chance to go for the lead and he, Klafka and Belland ran three-wide down the backshoot with Dunbar eventually passing as the cars drove under the flag stand first.
Three more laps into the race, Belland’s car pulled up lame in turn three with a flat right front tire causing another caution.Belland rejoined the race after a tire change and racing resumed with Dunbar once again in the lead.
As this interesting and exciting feature came to an end, Dunbar came home with the win and completed a sweep in his Vince’s Speed Shop-sponsored car.Friske, Klafka, Walker and Belland rounded out the top five.
The race night was not over, as the Midwest Modifieds had to pass through tech inspection in the pit inspection area.Once tech inspection was completed a number of drivers, Follstad, Conner, Belland, Boettcher, La Crosse and Kallas returned to the front stretch to donate their night’s winnings to Tori’s mother to help her with her daughter’s medical expenses.A very nice gesture indeed!
Racing resumes on Friday, August 26, when Tomahawk Speedway presents the final track points night of the 2011 race season.
After that, two other nights of racing remain on the 2011 race schedule with racing on Friday, September 2 and Saturday, September 3.Although the track points will have come to an end, WISSOTA points will be awarded both nights.
