JANKOWSKI SHADES LICHTFELD FOR THIRD WIN OF 2011

WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. (August 6, 2011) - In any good short track racing rivalry, two drivers always seem to find each other. After an altercation while racing for second last week, Corey Jankowski and Mike Lichfeld found each other at the front of the pack again in the Budweiser Late Model main event Saturday at Dells Raceway Park.

Jankowski pulled away on several restarts to keep Lichtfeld at bay for his third win of the season and second in the last three Late Model 40-lap features.

From the outset Jankowski appeared to have the car to beat as grabbed the lead from outside polesitter Mike Ehde. A caution two laps in for an incident involving Kelsey Bauer, Brian Hakala, Troy Yohn and Dale Schultz handed sole possession of the lead to the defending Champ. Lichtfeld set up on the outside of Ehde and stormed to second at the drop of the green.

The restart was short-lived, however, as Dan Lensing and Jim Bates tangled. Both were sent to the tail end of the field.

After a second restart the field began to log laps with Lichtfeld keeping Jankowski in his sights, but not quite within striking distance. Derek Childs had moved to third as Bobby Kendall ran fourth and Davey Pennel fifth.

A red flag was displayed with 13 laps remaining as Bates, Hakala and Jake Zellmer were involved in the third caution. Hakala went hard into the outside retaining wall out of turn four as Bates slid to the inside retaining wall and was wedged on top of the barrier.

When the field restarted Lichtfeld had another chance to keep pace with Jankowski, but again saw his rival creep away. Behind them paint and positions were being swapped by Childs, Kendall, and Pennel.

With just two laps remaining Pennel and Kendall made contact in turns three and four which sent Kendall spinning. Pennel invoked the gentleman's agreement, taking fault for the incident and placing Kendall back in the fourth spot.

A final restart saw Jankowski walk away from Lichtfeld again. Childs held on for third, fast qualifier Jesse Bernhagen recorded another top five by driving to fourth and Kendall rounded out the top five. Championship leader Rich Schumann Jr. struggled through a tumultuous day after having tire problems in qualifying and his heat race. He finished eighth to salvage a minor loss in his points lead.

The win was just the latest example of Jankowski's late season surge. "We've got everything figured out finally," Jankowski said. "This is a race car and not a qualifying car. I can run long hauls."

After the checkered flag fell, Lichtfeld pulled up to the side of Jankowski to congratulate him. He also offered some congratulations later in the pit area.

"Last week Mike and I got into it. We're just two hard competitors," Jankowski said. "We're working things out. That's just how it is. You've got your highs, you've got your lows and you've just got to figure guys out. Last week we didn't get along very well and this week we're shaking hands. That's how competition affects people like us."

How competition will affect the rivals in the next installment will be determined when the Late Models return on August 20.

Sauey Scores Second

History has a way of repeating itself. Just as they did one month ago, Clifton Sauey and Becky Grabarski went door handle to door handle for the majority of the RacingOnline.Com Sportsman Feature. For the second time Sauey emerged victorious by holding his ground and exercising his patience.

Before she was left to fend off Sauey, Grabarski led the field to green alongside Sandy Cook. Grabarski jumped to the lead as Sauey trailed her to second. By lap two Sauey had grabbed the inside line and the two began exchanging the lead several times per lap.

With the lead duo unable to sort out the dispute for the top spot, the field became congested from third on back. By lap ten Mike Winters had moved to third, Jason Dunn to fourth and Chico Riedner to fifth. Winters waited patiently in third as he tried to decide which line was best to maneuver.

Although the lineup remained static over the next ten-plus circuits, the intensity was reaching a crescendo. Lap after lap Grabarski and Sauey continued to battle with the remainder of the top ten stacked double file and five deep.

The dispute ended between Grabarski and Sauey with just two circuits remaining as Grabarski began to fade on the high line. Winters slipped past into second with one to go and immediately surveyed the high side of Sauey. As they exited the fourth turn Winters jumped to the top, but had run out of time to make a run to victory lane.

Following Winters through in the final two laps were Rieder, Scott Luck and Eric Melby who finished third, fourth and fifth.

Trute Pays Tribute with Win
Portion by Amanda Peschek

For the second week in a row, Dave Trute claimed victory lane in the Schultz Small Engine Pure Stock Division feature. Within 20 laps, Trute was able to move his way to lead from the rear of the field, which is no easy task.

Before Trute made his way into victory lane, he took a victory lap waving a black flag, paying tribute to a crew member who lost his father this past week. It was truly an emotional and meaningful win for Trute once again.

The first five drivers to see the green flag wave were Carey John, Jeff Burrows, Mark Hohl, Mark Ailes and Nick Lange. As soon as two laps in, Trute made his way into the fifth position. Ahead him of were John, Hohl, Lange and Burrows. As more laps passed, the drivers were unable to hold their positions.

After ten laps of intense competition and steady racing, the top five changed into Hohl, Trute, Lange, Derek Childs and John. A few laps later, an altercation with Ailes and Paul caused the yellow flag to wave.

A restart with only six laps to go created an exciting shoot out to the finish.

As the green flag waved to restart the race, Hohl and Trute led their fellow Pure Stock drivers. Within the next lap, the two drivers battled side by side for the lead. It was only as the white flag waved that Trute made his way past Hohl and was the first to cross the finish line.

Following Trute at the finish were Hohl, Lange, Childs and Bill Zeman.

Haley 'Kapp'-itolizes

In the Fire Rescue Supply Bandit division feature race, Haley Kapp made her way into victory lane for the second time in 2011. With no yellows flags seen the entire 18 laps, it was a race to keep up within the pack.

As the green flag waved, it was Gene Bialozer who saw it first. Following him at the start were Terry LaFleur, Ed Klug, Arnold Preston and Colton Morgan. However, by the third lap, the line up was already changing.

Kapp was moved her way from tenth to fifth within the first few laps of the quickly moving feature. Lap by lap she was getting closer to that top position. At lap 7, she was in second behind Spencer Wilhelm. Then, rounding out the top five were Klug, LaFleur, and Kurt Kolden.
By the tenth lap, Wilhelm and Kapp made their way almost half a lap ahead of the rest of the drivers. It was a strong lead, but there was still a battle between the two Bandits. With less than five laps remaining, the top two were catching lap traffic, making a battle for the lead even more difficult.

The white flag waved and Wilhelm was still in the lead with Kapp close behind. As the pack came out of turn two, Wilhelm hit the wall, giving Kapp the opportunity to take the lead. As she pulled ahead, a surge of excitement went through the crowd. Throughout this season, young Kapp has won over the attendees of the Dells Raceway Park.

Behind Kapp, Wilhelm, Kolden, Steven Rozek and Klug rounded out the top five across the finish line.

Up Next at DRP...

August 13 brings the return of Super Late Model racing and the Alive For Five Super Late Model Series presented by Advanced Engine Concepts. After his wins in rounds two and three Dalton Zehr of Daytona Beach, Fla. will return in hopes of a third straight win in 2011. The Super Lates will be joined by the Sportsman, Pure Stocks and Bandits. Qualifying is at 4:45 p.m. with racing scheduled to begin at 6:30. Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $7 for students and seniors and 9 and under receive free admission.

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.