July 25, 2008; Columbus, WI. - Jerry Eckhart of Johnson Creek managed to fend off all challenges enroute to winning the 35 lap Late Model feature at Columbus 151Speedway last Friday night. Starting from the inside of row one,
Eckhart took command on the opening lap with Andy Wendt moving up to second. Wendt immediately began to look for an opening to get by the leader, trying the outside line.

Photo Highlights

Just because your a bit older doesn't mean you've lost the touch. Jerry Eckhardt proved that by winning the Late Model Feature. #18 Andy Wendt makes a bid for the lead from #61 Jerry Eckhardt during the Late Model Feature. Mike Winters picks up his first ever Sportsman Feature win. #77 Mike Winters stays ahead of #71 Gerry Junget during the Sportsman Feature. Dustin Ward makes it two in a row winning the Hobby Stock Feature last week and this. #9 Dustin Ward took the lead and never looked back, #20 Gary Pashley gives Dustin a good run. Willie Schade presents the trophy to Richie Hensen for the Bandti Feature win. A6 Mitch Fry and #31 Alex Lee, couldn't avoid #47 Kim Falk as she gets loose during the Bandit Feature. Jug Hur grabs another Back-Up Feature win. #03 Andy Ward chases #11 Jug Hur for the lead in the Back-Up Feature.

The first of two caution periods appeared on lap six when Tylor Schultz spun in turn three. After the restart, Wendt again tried the outside groove, but was unable to make it work. Andy Tomlinson joined the battle for the lead on lap 19 as he got to the inside of Wendt for second. Caution waved on lap 20 for a multiple car melee in turns three and four. When green flag racing resumed, Wendt drove to the outside of Eckhart once again, this time pulling even with the leader. The duo raced side by side over the next eight laps until Eckhart finally regained sole possession of the top spot with four laps to go. Wendt stayed in Eckhart's back pocket until they flew under the checkers with Eckhart out front followed by
Wendt, Tomlinson, Scott Patrick and Dean Schultz. Al Weishoff set the pace in time trials with a lap of 13.483. In earlier heat race action, winners were Terry Sauer and Andy Wendt.

Mike Winters of Sun Prairie led every lap of the 30 lap Sportsman feature as he went on to win the event. Winters, starting alongside Tiffany Desjarles, took the lead as they crossed the stripe to complete the first lap. The only caution of the race flew on lap eight slowing the field. On the restart, Gerry Junget slid into second behind Winters and started to look for a route around the leader. The two drivers moved out to a comfortable advantage with Winters staying in the top spot. Winters eventually pulled away from Junget as he cruised to the win. Rounding out the top five were Junget, Desjarles, Dan Gosda and Ed Jackson. Scott Riedner was fastest in qualifying with a time of 14.071 seconds. Heat winners included Junget and Riedner.

Waterloo's Dustin Ward claimed the 25 lap Hobby Stock feature event after a first lap mishap handed him the lead. Larry Moen and Lincoln Keeser lead the field to green but the two made contact on the front stretch, sending Moen into the outside wall and ending the evening for both competitors. Ward inherited the lead and never looked back as the remainder of the race ran caution free. Following Ward across the line were Gary Pashley, Steve Sauer, Ben Monday and Andy Raley. Steve Sauer took honors in qualifying with a lap of 15.240 while Moen won the heat race.

Richie Henson of Marshall claimed his first career feature win the Bandit 18 lap feature event. Starting from the inside of row one, Henson took the initial lead on the first lap with Jeff LeFave in second. LeFave made an attempt at a pass for the lead with Henson managing to hold him off. Ed Klug joined the fight for the lead as well as Michael Clapper. The only caution of the race flew on lap 14 for debris on the racing surface. When the race restarted, Klug split LeFave and Clapper to slide into the second spot with the laps winding down. Klug pulled up to the rear bumper of Henson as the white flag
flew. But Henson had just enough to hold Klug off and claim the win. Klug, LeFave, Jess Riedner and Clapper rounded out the top five. Travis Schneeberg was quickest in time trials with a lap of 16.155, while heat winners included Kim Falk and Jimmy Junget.

In wild and crazy back up action, Jug Her took over the lead late in the 8 lap feature to claim the win. Ryan Oetzel took the early lead as he shot into the top spot at the drop of the green. He remained out front until lap six when he lost control in turn two and spun to the infield. This handed the lead over to Her and he flew to the checkers with Andy Ward in tow for second. George Wachuta finished the event in third.

Next Friday, August 1, is a full program in all divisions with time trials at 6:30 and racing at 8 pm. In two weeks, August 8, is Kids Bike Night in addition to the Formula Indy Racing Association and a full program of events. For more information, please visit www.racingonline.com/columbus151.

For complete results from the RACESTAT computer click here