WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. (June 11, 2011) - There is an old cliché that to finish first, one must first finish. In Corey Jankowski's case at Dells Raceway Park on Saturday night, sometimes one only has to hope to start the race.

After missing the cut from the last chance race last Saturday, Jankowski made a return to the feature worth while by capturing the 40-lap main event in the Budweiser Late Models.

"It's fun to be in the feature," Jankowski said. "I had a bad start to the season."

Jankowski and several others also experienced a bad start to the race with a major melee just two laps into the feature. Up front, outside pole-sitter Brian Hakala and Davey Pennel were jockeying for position behind early-race leader Shane Morrissey. As the two dove for the same plot of real estate entering turn one, the frenzy broke out.

Hakala and Pennel made contact, sending Hakala spinning into the upper groove and sending cars dodging the stopped machine left and right. Although a host of cars, including Jankowski, sustained damage, all but Mike Beyer were able to continue.

"I saw the inside coming back and I had a choice," Jankowski said of the prelude to the wreck. "Right then I went high and I saw sparks up ahead and cars sideways."

Jankowski thought he had avoided the carnage until he pushed in his clutch and began to roll. "I backed into someone. It was a mess." However, the damage was minimal and Jankowski soldiered on.

On the restart Morrissey was followed by Robert Kendall, Mike Ehde, Mike Lichtfeld and Jankowski. Lichtfeld utilized the restart to slide into second and began to put the pressure on Morrissey with Jankowski hot on his trail.

Lichtfeld swiped the lead from Morrissey on lap six and was pressured by Jankowski just three laps later. As Lichtfeld tried to protect the bottom line, Jankowski muscled to the inside groove and stole the lead entering turn one.

"This is a racetrack, not somewhere to follow the other person. There are grooves out there and the track shows it," Jankowski said.

As Jankowski started to pull away from Lichtfeld, Michael Bilderback started his ascent through the field. Bilderback rose to fifth by lap 24, before a yellow bunched the field. Bilderback chose the outside and rocketed to second just two laps after the restart and set his sights on Jankowski.

Although Bilderback's machine was strong, he was unable to reel in the defending Late Model Champion. Lichtfeld held on for another top five by finishing third, Jesse Bernhagen was fourth and Dan Lensing rounded out the top five.

As for finding victory lane again, Jankowsi thinks this will be just to boost to break the hex of the first two weeks and move back into Championship form.

"Yes, more wins...I'm pretty confident."

Trute Triumphs Again

A skirmish in the heat race couldn't slow Dave Trute. With a damaged front end, Trute was still able to race to the front of the 25-lap Schultz Small Engine Pure Stock feature event and capture his second straight win.

Starting deep in the field, Trute had plenty of chances to test the durability of his racer. Just three laps into the feature event Trute had already jumped to the fouth spot behind Mark Hohl, Adam Johnson and Derek Childs.

Trute negotiated an inside pass on Derek Childs on lap five and slid into second five laps later. After maneuvering around Johnson, Trute slowly reeled in Hohl. The duo was forced to weave in and out of lapped traffic as they raced for the top spot.

With seven laps remaining Trute went toe-to-toe with Hohl after muscling to the inside lane. Trute grabbed the lead and built his advantage over the rest of the field while cruising to the win.

Hohl held on for second, Johnson finished third, Bill Zeman was fourth and Childs rounded out the top five.

Rozek Goes Three Wide

A second place finish to Arch Preston gave Steven Rozek plenty to think about for a week. With the leader and heavy lapped traffic in front, there was no time to think - just react.

Rozek jousted with Gene Bialozor over the second half of the 18-lap Fire Rescue Supply Bandit feature event and made a daring three-wide pass to grab the win over Bialozor.

Just five laps in, last week's feature winner Preston spun to bring out a caution. The caution allowed Bialozor to slide to third and Rozek to fifth. Bialozor made his own three-wide move to take the lead on the restart.

Rozek slowly picked his way to second, and with eight laps to go to two began their battle. As the field approached lapped traffic Rozek dove to the inside exiting turn four and won a drag race to the line.

Making his season debut, Pete Carlson finished third, Andrew Portzen was fourth, and Preston raced his way back to fifth.

Up Next...
The Late Models, Sportsman, Pure Stock and Bandits all return to action next Saturday, June 18 with qualifying at 4:30 and Racing beginning at 6:30 on Scout Night. All uniformed Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts receive free admission - and so do their dads.

Dells Raceway Park is located at N1070 Smith Road, five minutes north of downtown Wisconsin Dells, Wis., off highway 12-16. For more information including the latest news, the 2011 schedule and more visit www.dellsracewaypark.com.

QUICK RESULTS (full results available at dellsracewaypark.com Monday, June 13)

40-lap Budweiser Late Model Feature
1. Corey Jankowski, Tomah, Wis.; 2. Michael Bilderback, Roscoe, Ill.; 3. Mike Lichtfeld, Pardeeville, Wis.; 4. Jesse Bernhagen, Markesan, Wis.; 5. Dan Lensing, Poplar Grove, Ill.; 6. Rich Schumann Jr., Portage, Wis.; 7. Shane Morrissey, Cuba City, Wis.; 8. Davey Pennel, Sparta, Wis.; 9. Robert Kendall, Montello, Wis.; 10. Andrew Kulka, Deefield, Wis.

Fast Qualifier: Schumann - 14.234 seconds

25-lap Schultz Small Engine Pure Stock Feature
1. Dave Trute, New Lisbon, Wis.; 2. Mark Hohl, Baraboo, Wis.; 3. Adam Johnson, Grand Marsh, Wis.; 4. Bill Zeman, Baraboo, Wis.; 5. Derek Childs, Portage, Wis.

Fast Qualifier: Trute: 15.839 seconds

18-lap Fire Rescue Supply Bandit Feature

1. Steven Rozek, Tomah, Wis.; 2. Gene Bialozor, Waterloo, Wis.; 3. Pete Carlson, LaCrosse, Wis.; 4. Andrew Portzen, Wonewoc, Wis.; 5. Arnold Preston, Pardeeville, Wis.;
Fast Qualifier: Preston - 17.673 seconds