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Summer Rumble Invades
Columbus 151
By Andrew
Schaller |
June 20, 2008; Columbus, WI. - As
lightning flashed in the distant sky, the thunder rolled onto the
speedway as the 2008 Summer Rumble got underway at Columbus 151
Speedway. Jerry Auby of Sun Prairie claimed his second feature win
in a row by winning the 35 lap Late Model main event and taking the
early lead in the Rumble points. Tim Sargent and Jerry Eckhart lead
the field of 18 competitors to the green with Sargent taking the
early lead entering turn one.
Sargent drifted high exiting turn two, allowing Auby to peek to
the inside. Sargent slammed the door shut as they charged into turn
three, but again Sargent drifted as they hit the front stretch. Auby
looked to the inside just to have the door slammed a second time
entering turn one. The only caution of the race flew a lap later as
the officials were unhappy with the rough driving up front. Sargent
was forced to restart in the rear, handing the lead to Auby. Aaron
Wilke lined up behind Auby as the green returned and he went right
to work on the leader. Wilke made several attempts at a
winning pass, but Auby managed to fend off every challenge. The two
raced to the checkers with Auby out front and Wilke right behind.
Rounding out the top five were Don Gaserude, Steve Dobbratz and
Eckhart.
Jason Erickson owned fast time with a 13.405 second tour of the
quarter mile. In earlier action Mike Taylor won the semi feature
while Luke Westenberg, Taylor and Eckhart claimed heat race wins.
Waunakee's Scott Riedner laid early claim to the Summer Rumble
point lead by winning the 30 lap Sportsman feature event. Kyle
Watters owned the slight advantage on the opening lap with Gerry
Junget right beside for second. Three caution flags marred the next
two laps, setting up Riedner in the top three for the restart. On
lap three, Riedner pulled even with Watters for the top spot. The
two battled side by side until Riedner gained the position on lap
six. The final caution of the race flew on lap nine, but Riedner
maintained his advantage on the restart as he pulled away from the
field. At the
stripe, it was Riedner way out front followed by Watters, Dennis
Schwark, Brandon Riedner and Jake Wasserburger. Schwark set the pace
in qualifying with a lap of 14.055 while heat winners included Nick
Balis and Chris Ehrhart.
Sun Prairie's Joe Cross lead every lap on his way to the win in
the 20 lap International feature. Cross took the lead through turns
one and two as fellow front row starter Ashley Smith began to drop
into the pack. Matt McKinney followed into second with Sean Watters
a close third. Watters got inside McKinney on lap five, taking the
second spot away and setting his sights on Cross. Mark English
charged into the top five on lap eight, moving into fourth by lap
ten. After the first of two cautions, English and Gary Stark made
contact battling for third, allowing Rodney Mundt to slide by into
third. Stark recovered and tried to get back around Mundt, but the
two made contact sending Mundt spinning and bringing out the second
yellow. On the restart, English went around Watters to second and
began to look ahead to Cross for the lead. But Cross was too strong
as he cruised to the checkers with English, Watters, Chris
Gottschalk and Kenny Au rounding out the top five. Stark was fastest
in time trials with a lap of 15.481 while English and Stark took
heat race wins.
Jim Robinson of Orfordville cruised to the win in the 25 lap
Hobby Stock feature event. Dustin Ward took the initial lead on lap
two with Robinson falling in behind for second. Ward broke loose in
turn two and fought the car all the way down the backstretch until
finally spinning in turn four bringing out the caution. Ward was
forced to retire with a broken rear axle, while Robinson inherited
the top spot. Robinson slowly pulled out to a healthy advantage as
he breezed to the checkers for the comfortable win. Following him
across the line were Jim Tate, Andy Raley, Kyle Stark and Gary
Pashley. Steve Sauer set quick time with a lap of 15.204 while heat
winners were Ward and Raley.
Kyle Stark of Sun Prairie dominated the 18 lap Bandit feature on
his way to victory in the event. Jeff LeFave took the early lead
entering turn three of the first lap. Stark sliced his way into the
top five on lap five. Stark was into the third spot by lap ten,
using both lanes to make his way forward. A lap later, Stark blew by
Brandon Condroski and LeFave through turns one and two and into the
lead. Stark immediately pulled away from the pack as he drove away
to the win. Rounding out the top five were LeFave, Kyle Watters,
Kyle Padfield and Condroski. Stark also set fast time with a lap of
16.136.
Richie Henson claimed the semi feature with Chris Gottschalk taking
the consolation. Heat winners were Gottschalk, Henson, LeFave and
Jess Watters.
In wild and crazy back up action, Ryan Oetzel of Brodhead
dominated the 8 lap feature taking the win. Oetzel took the top spot
on the first lap and never looked back as he cruised to the win.
Following Oetzel across the stripe were Jug Her and Andy Ward.
The Formula Indy Racing Association joined the packed pit area
with Grant Greenfield taking the win in the 10 lap feature race.
Greenfield shot into the lead on the first lap with Vern Brown
following into second. Brown dogged the leader for the entire event,
but Greenfield proved to be strong enough to fend him off, taking
the win with Brown in second and Tim Roach third.
Next Friday, June 27 is full program in all divisions with the
addition of the Midwest Stock Car Classics. Time trials begin at
6:30 with racing at 8 pm. Please visit
www.racingonline.com/columbus151 for more information.
For complete results from the RACESTAT computer click here
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#26 Chico Reidner holds back #7 Kyle Watters during the
Sportsman Feature.
