WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. (June 18, 2011) - With one top five finish in his first three tries, Davey Pennel felt he hadn't quite been up to his standards yet in 2011. He shouldn't feel like that after Saturday Night's Budweiser feature event at Dells Raceway Park.

Pennel wrestled the lead away from Bobby Kendall 11 laps into the 40-lap main event and cruised to dominating victory.

"It was a good night," the 17-year-old Sparta, Wis., driver said. "It was nice to get a win under us; hopefully the momentum is turning our way."

Although the second half of the race was a regular Saturday night cruise, the first portions of the race were anything but easy for Pennel.

Kendall jumped to an early lead after starting alongside Brian Hakala. Pennel followed the inside groove of Kendall and jumped around Hakala. Behind the top three, yet another powder keg was about to erupt.

Entering turn one on the first lap a large pileup occurred for the second consecutive week. Steve Lichtfeld, Jimmy Ganski, Shayne Poehnelt, Kelsey Bauer, Mike Beyer and last week's feature winner Corey Jankowski were all involved. Lensing and Bauer absorbed the brunt of the accident and neither continued. Jankowski made some repairs, recorded another lap but was forced to retire with a broken steering rack.

As the field went back to green, Pennel and Hakala locked into battle for the runner up spot behind Kendall. The duo raced for every inch of real estate around Wisconsin's Showcase Short Track, making contacts on several occasions. For almost five laps the battle raged, with Pennel securing the spot.

After making contact last week in the feature event, Pennel felt there was some carry over.

"Last week we got together," Pennel said. "I kind of moved him out of the way and drove on through the race."

Hakala said he had no hard feelings after the race and pointed out that both cars completed the main event.

Another restart on lap eight pitted the two young guns of the Late Models head-to-head. Pennel restarted on the back bumper of Kendall. Just three laps later, they broke away, and Pennel began to challenge for the top spot. After sliding to the inside, Pennel made the pass on lap 11.

"The car was good, but getting by those guys was hard," Pennel said. "Kendall was just fast enough where he was tough to get by."

As Pennel built on his lead after a lap 14 caution, Derek Childs started to advance through the field. Childs stole the third spot from John DeAngelis Jr. with nine laps to go, bringing along Jesse Bernhagen. As the laps clicked off, Childs approached Kendall for the runner up spot. Childs was unable to make the pass as a yellow flag brought an end to the race on the white-flag lap.

With the lineup reverting to the last completed lap Kendall was credited with second, Childs was third, Bernhagen was fourth and DeAngelis finished fifth.

Gone 'Fish'in'

A title is never an easy thing to defend - and with some new faces in the RacingOnline.com Sportsman division - Daron Fish can attest to that statement. However, Fish was back in Championship form as he swiped the 25-lap feature event Saturday.

Fish grabbed the lead after a restart with just five circuits remaining and held off a hard-charging Scott Luck to grab his first win and first top five of his title defense.

An early lead was secured by Sandy Cook from her outside-row-one starting position over fellow Sportsman rookie Kelsey Schultz. Utilizing the outside line behind Cook, Denny Schott slid into the second spot and began to pressure for the lead.

By lap 9 the top three had broken away from Fish who had just secured the fourth spot. One lap after Fish took the position, Schott swung to the outside to challenge Cook. The two raced side-by-side for two laps until Schott secured the lead.

His lead was short-lived, however, as something went awry on his machine. With Schott pulling to the infield, Ron Grabarski inherited the lead with Fish hot on his trail. A Bob Coppernoll spin brought out the caution with five laps to go.

After the restart Fish and Grabarski jousted until Fish secured the spot. Luck made an attempt to steal Fish's win, but could not make a run on the final lap. Grabarski finished third, Mike Winters was fourth and Clifton Sauey finished fifth.

Rookie Lange Holds Off Teammates for First Win

Had Nick Lange known those two cars chasing him at the end of the Pure Stock feature would turn out so fast - maybe he wouldn't have worked so hard on them.

With Bill Zeman and Dave Trute breathing down his neck for the final 8 circuits, Lange held on to grab his first feature win in the 20-lap Schultz Small Engine Pure Stock feature. It was the perfect end to the day for Lange, who earlier in the evening had engine troubles on his machine.

Lange, who not only maintains his own ride, but also aids in maintenance of Zeman's and Trute's cars, secured the lead at the start of the race from pole-sitter Bic Arendsee. As Lange tried to break away the first caution was brought out by Derek Childs in turns three and four. Childs came in for repairs and reentered at the tail of the field.

When racing resumed Lange felt the heat from week one winner Mark Hohl. Hohl made several challenges, but was unable to shake the rookie. As Zeman closed in on the lead duo, fast qualifier Dave Trute worked his way through traffic - looking for his third straight win.

Zeman took second from Hohl on lap 12 and Trute followed four laps later. Zeman continued to peek to the high side and Trute worked down low on the concrete in three and four. As they raced side-by-side, Lange held his line and maintained his position until the drop of the checkered flag. Zeman nipped Trute at the line for second, Hohl was fourth and Doug Paul finished fifth.

Visiting Schmidt Bests Bandits

Cudahy's Dave Schmidt made the 127-mile trek to Wisconsin Dells well worth his while Saturday. After starting deep in the field of the Fire Rescue Supply Bandit main, Schmidt dodged an early accident and emerged victorious.

After a multi-car pileup on the first lap, Schmidt cruised to the second spot by lap two. Just one lap later Schmidt powered past fellow Milwaukee-area driver Dave Lembke for the top spot.

As Schmidt reeled off laps up front, the quartet of Andy Portzen, last week's feature winner Steven Rozek, Pete Carlson and Arch Preston worked their way into the top five. Portzen moved into second on lap six with Rozek in tow. Preston maneuvered around Carlson one lap later to take fourth.

As Portzen and Rozek tried to outhustle Schmidt, the two DRP regulars locked into battle for the runner up spot. Rozek made a challenge with five laps to go, but was unsuccessful. Portzen finished second, Rozek was third, Preston was fourth and rookie Allison Pennel made a late pass to slide into the top five.

Up Next at DRP...
June 25 at Dells Raceway Park is Second Chance Saurday. Young fans will have another chance to win a new bike donated by a Dells Raceway Park racer.

Also, the spectator drags return. A cash prize awaits the winner. Those who would like to sign up for Spectator Drags can register by calling the track office at 608-253-7223 or send an e-mail to info@dellsracewaypark.

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 and points available at www.dellsracewaypark.com Monday, June 20)

40-lap Budweiser Late Model Feature
1. Davey Pennel, Sparta, Wis.; 2. Robert Kendall, Montello, Wis.; 3. Derek Childs, Poynette, Wis.; 4. Jesse Bernhagen, Markesan, Wis.; 5. John DeAngelis Jr., Hubertus, Wis.

Fast Qualifier: Rich Schumann Jr., Portage, Wis. - 14.333 seconds

25-lap RacingOnline.Com Sportsman Feature
1. Daron Fish, Wisconsin Dells, Wis.; 2. Scott Luck, North Freedom, Wis.; 3. Ron Grabarski, Grand Marsh, Wis.; 4. Mike Winters, Sun Prairie, Wis.; 5. Clifton Sauey, LaValle, Wis.

Fast Qualifier: Luck - 15.423 seconds

20-lap Schultz Small Engine Pure Stock Feature
1. Nick Lange, Lyndon Station, Wis.; 2. Bill Zeman, Baraboo, Wis.; 3. Dave Trute, New Lisbon, Wis.; 4. Mark Hohl, Baraboo, Wis.; 5. Doug Paul, Montello, Wis.;

Fast Qualifier: Trute - 15.980 seconds

18-lap Fire Rescue Supply Bandit Feature
1. Dave Schmidt, Cudahy, Wis.; 2. Andy Portzen, Wonewoc, Wis.; 3. Steven Rozek, Tomah, Wis., 4. Arch Preston, Pardeeville, Wis.; 5. Allison Pennel, Sparta, Wis.

Fast Qualifier: David Treu Sr., Sparta, Wis. - 17.820 seconds