WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. (July 16, 2011) - An overjoyed Corey Jankowski made a huge statement by dominating the Budweiser Late Model Feature at Dells Raceway Park on Saturday: the title defense is alive. Seemingly out of the running early in the season Jankowski climbed within 66 markers of the lead with his win.

Jankowski wasted no time by capturing the lead from Childs, the outside pole-sitter, on lap three of the 40-lap event. He won by a comfortable margin and was unchallenged over the final 37 trips around the third-mile.

On a night to honor the Kids at DRP, Jankowski credited a couple of youngsters on his team. Josh Bonick who assisted Jankowski on behalf of Ohio Tech last season returned to help wrench on the Toyota Camry. Jankowki also credited his daughter Kendra, who spots for him.

"She needs to change the way she spots a little bit," Jankowski joked. "It's weird to hear 'clear, daddy' over the radio."

Childs jumped to the lead over Kelsey Bauer at the outset of the feature and brought Jankowski for the ride. Jankowski surveyed Childs momentarily and made his pass diving to the inside line in turns one and two. A complimentary Jankowski was pleased with the room he was given by Childs.

"I told Derek that's how I wanted to race," Jankowski said in Victory Lane. "We talked about it before the race."

Childs said in a post-race interview that he was satisfied with second. "Corey had the better car," Childs said. "We're just happy to have another good night and gain some points."

Both Mike Lichtfeld and Rich Schumann Jr. faced catastrophe on the evening and lost some cushioning in the standings over Davey Pennel, Jankowski and Derek Childs.

The first blow to the points leaders came during the evenings first event - the Late Model Dash. Just four laps in a melee involving Jake Zellmer, Shayne Poehnelt, Pennel and Lichtfeld left cars scurrying down the front straight. Only Schumann and Jesse Bernhagen were untouched. Pennel and Zellmer made repairs to their machines but both Lichtfeld's and Poehnelt's rides were retired for the rest of the night.

To keep his title hopes alive, Lichtfeld borrowed Jerry Blystone's Late Model after the dash. Due to policy, Lichtfeld was placed in the back of the semi-feature, needing to secure a transfer spot. Lichtfeld secured the final transfer spot in the semi and raced to an eighth place finish in the feature.

With Lichtfeld scrambling to stay in the fight, Schumann looked to put a stranglehold on the Late Model standings. His opportunity to do that went up in smoke - literally - halfway through the feature event. As Schumann entered the turns a large plume of smoke rose from his right front - seemingly a modest tire rub. However, the smoking worsened from lap to lap indicating the problem was deeper, and Schumann was forced to retire.

Pennel, one week after a rough points night of his own, rebounded for a fifth place finish after a furious battle with the visiting Ryan Destefano.

Rounding out the top five were third-place Dan Lensing, who rose from the 11th position after winning last weeks feature, and Jesse Bernhagen, who secured yet another top five finish.

Another Defending Champion Wins

Defending Champion of the RacingOnline.Com Sportsman Daron Fish captured his second feature win of the season in dramatic fashion after a long side-by-side battle with Ron Grabarski.

Ron and his sister Becky led the field to the green flag for the 25-lap event. Looking for his second win of the season Ron built up a significant lead after a lap-one restart, leaving Becky to deal with the remainder of the pack.

For the first seven laps, she went mostly unchallenged, however, as Curtis Pfsiter and Tuffy Myer raced side-by-side in a pair of Sportsman prepared by Denny Schott.

Once the two sorted out the dispute for second Fish was more than prepared to challenge. Fish moved to third by lap ten when another caution resulted as Sandy Cook and Kelsey Schultz made contact. Off the restart Fish moved to second and brought last week's winner Mike Winters and point leader Scott Luck into the top four.

As the laps clicked off Fish challenged to the inside of Grabarski, who held his own on the top side. The top six were nose-to-tail and door-to-door over the final laps with Winters and Luck and Eric Melby and Clifton Sauey squaring up behind the leaders.

A dead heat at the white flag, Fish surged ahead on the final lap and sent his sponsor, AmericanWay, into celebration mode in the Dells Raceway Park VIP tower. Grabarski finished second, Mike Winters was third, Scott Luck was fourth and Eric Melby rounded out the top five.

Another Defending Champion...Comes Close

Driving the car that was driven to a Championship by Dave Trute in 2010, Bill Zeman captured his first win of the season in the 25-lap Schultz Small Engine Pure Stock Feature event.

Zeman carefully picked his way through traffic, took the lead from Mark Hohl on lap nine and held off several advances from Trute over the final two circuits.

Two early restarts positioned Mark Hohl to the outside of Ben Monday just three laps into the race. When the green flew, Hohl jumped into the lead past Doug Paul. Zeman was directly behind Hohl and followed him past Paul.

Meanwhile, Trute was forced to scramble for track position after the second caution in which he was involved. Trute raced to third by the halfway point and took second from Hohl after a restart with nine laps remaining.

Over the final five laps Trute haunted Zeman, and even momentarily took the lead from him, but was unable to secure the win. Hohl finished third, Nick Lange was fourth and Don Fassett was fifth.

Rozek Rises Again

A long day of heat at Dells Raceway Park caused the Fire Rescue Supply Bandits to sweat through their 18-lap feature. Despite the conditions, current point leader Steven Rozek took his place in victory lane for the fourth time this season.

At the start of the feature Rozek began halfway through the pack, but made his way into the top five by lap six. Leading the pack ahead of him were Kurt Kolden, Andrew Portzen, Arch Preston and Spencer Wilhelm.

Only a few laps later three cautions were called ina row, giving the pack a run for their positions. The cautions claimed Wilhelm, Michael Sherwood and Arch Preston as victims. After the final restart, Rozek made his way to the lead.

For the remainder of the race Rozek stretched his lead out. Behind him there was a battle between Portzen and Haley Kapp for second. Before the white flag waved, Portzen beat out Kapp for second.

As the checkered flag fell Rozek caught lapped traffic, but was able to keep clear of trouble. Rounding out the top five finishers were Portzen, Kapp, Kolden and Colton Morgan.

Moyer is Legendary

After racing in North Carolina, Aaron Moyer has learned a few tips and tricks to apply to his Legend Car racing in the Midwest. After setting fast time, Moyer worked his way through the 20-lap Legend Car field and won in the class' return to DRP.

The field was led to green by Steve Narr and Mark Ritger. The duo quickly was challenged by Corey Talaska and Ben Schaitel. Just three laps in Talaska, Schaitel, Moyer and Derrick Lemke were in the top four. By lap six the quartet was almost a half lap ahead.

Gator Trudell brought out the only caution of the race when a wheel came off his racer. After the restart Moyer challenged Talaska and swiped the top spot by lap eight. Lemke took second four laps later, but could not catch Moyer. Talaska held on to third, Schaitel was fourth and Vince Bartolotta rounded out the top five.

Up Next at DRP...

Saturday, July 23 brings Round Three of the Alive for Five Super Late Model Series presented by Advanced Engine Concepts. The Budweiser Late Models have the night off and the Super Late Models will serve as the headliner. Frank Kreyer leads the standings after two events. He and Dalton Zehr of Daytona Beach, Fla., have been victorious thus far in the AFF series.

The Sportsman, Pure Stocks and Bandits will join the Super Late Models. Qualifying is at 4:45 p.m. with racing scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m.

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.