A spectacular fireworks display and a 50 lap Late Model Feature headlined Saturday, July 3rds North American Cup 50 at Dells Raceway Park. With point’s battles heating up in all divisions, Late Model, Sportsman, Pure Stock, and Bandit racing entertained the huge crowd. 

Rich Schumann Jr set fast qualifying time with a time of 14.347 seconds. Then it was time for the Assembly Products Fast Dash. New to the dash this week Mike Ehde gained the coveted pole position. Cardell Potter, who has one win already in the four week series, quickly took over second place but with only 10 laps, Potter couldn’t get by, and Ehde won the trophy and a potential spot in the 20 lap shootout taking place on July 17th.

With the invert calculated in the feature event, young guns Jesse Bernhagen and Davey Pennel lead the field to green. Sixteen-year-old Pennel quickly jumped to the front, with veteran drivers Dave Feiler and Rich Schumann Jr right behind him. Pennel held his ground through 50 laps and three cautions that brought the field together, and claimed his first ever feature win in the Late Model Division. Ed Jackson and Bobby Kendall won their heat races.

In the Sportsman division the competition is getting tough, with just one point separating Daron Fish and Rick Coppernoll. Fish qualified at the top with a time of 15.573 seconds. Both Coppernoll and Fish would start the feature from the back of the pack, and work their way towards the front. Fish moved past Ron Grabarski to take over the lead with Coppernoll right behind him. Coppernoll tried to get past Fish but when the checkered flag flew it was Daron Fish that took the win. Rick Coppernoll won the heat race.

Defending Pure Stock Champion, Brad Luck, set fast time with a time of 15.921 seconds. In the feature, Luck started the race deep in the field, but didn’t stay there for long. With just seven laps left in the race Luck had moved into second behind Dave Trute. Trute is having a great season and currently is ahead of Luck by two points. Luck attempted to get past Trute for the win, but Trute had Victory Lane in his sights and won his fourth feature of the year. Trute assured the crowd “this car is clean, it has been teched more than any other this year!” Heat race winners were Dan Clemenz and Dave Trute.
Mark Johler returned to the Bandit division and was fastest during qualifying with a time of 17.346 seconds. The Jungets are at the top of the leader board for points with Brandon in first and James in second. In the feature, James Junget took the lead immediately and cruised through the race, despite pressure from Kory Childs and Mark Johler. James Junget claimed his second feature win of the season. Kory Childs and James Junget won their heat races. 12-year-old Haley Kapp got her first ever win during her heat race.