WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. (August 27, 2011) - Thank goodness for transponder scoring systems. In a finish almost too close to be determined by the naked eye, Zach Reining claimed his first ever Budweiser Late Model win at Dells Raceway Park Saturday night by a mere 0.010 seconds over Rich Schumann Jr.

One lone caution slowed the frantic 40-lap main event in the Late Models when Derek Childs and Jesse Bernhagen made contact in turn one, sending Bernhagen spinning. It was that very caution which set up the most dramatic finish of the season for DRP's headlining class. With Schumann already pressuring Reining, a three-lap shootout dazzled DRP fans.

After the green was tossed on the single-file restart Schumann immediately picked up where he left off before the amber was displayed, testing the inside line on Reining. Although the inside line is preferred, Reining gave Schumann room to operate on the bottom.

With two laps to go the duo raced door-to-door. Neither gave an inch. Schumann utilized the low lane while Reining held on up top. It was a virtual tie as the two raced to the white. The two banged doors ever so slightly as they exited turn four on the final circuit and Reining was declared the winner by mere centimeters over Schumann.

"It was a hard fought battle. He drove me hard," Reining said. "I just had to drive it in harder and hope it stuck. I had to lean on him, but we ended up with the win."

As for electing to hold the outside line, Reining said he found the line worked during the heat race, and was not afraid to employ it again in the main event.

"Rich was good," Reining said. "He was driving in really deep, but I was able to get through the center a little better than he could and just hold him down a little bit. That helped us."

A side-by-side display to end the race was not the first test Reining had of racing in close quarters during the feature. For the first 13 laps Reining and Steve Lichtfeld exchanged the lead while racing side-by-side up front. On lap 13 Lichtfeld took the top spot away, and Reining tucked back into second.

With Lichtfeld riding out front Childs, Bernhagen, Corey Jankowski and Schumann were on the move. The quartet exchanged spots over a ten lap period until Schumann slid to third with 18 laps to go. He then set his sights on Lichtfeld and Reining.

As the laps progressed Reining continued to stay with Lichtfeld, and eventually got around him as Lichtfeld's brakes began to fade. Reining secured the lead again with four to go with Schumann following. After slipping into first and second, the caution flew setting up the epic battle for the win.

After sustaining damage in his heat race Corey Jankowski was a man on a mission. He finished third with Lichtfeld and Dan Lensing rounding out the top five.

Reining's win came through the many ebbs and flows of a 2011 campaign. His best finish came on July 30 when he secured fourth. Just last week Reining missed the cut for the feature event by finishing third in the B Feature.

"It means a lot to get a win," Reining said. "It helps boost your confidence and helps you progress as a driver."

ANOTHER CLOSE CALL IN THE SPORTSMAN

Earlier this season Mike Winters had been on the wrong end of several close one-two finishes. On Saturday, with Randy Breunig breathing down his neck over the final circuit, Winters emerged victorious for the second time in 2011 in the RacingOnline.Com Sportsman.

From her front-row starting spot Sandy Cook paced the field for the first 12 circuits with pressure from a host of her fellow Sportsman drivers. After leading the first half of the race Cook relinquished the lead to Kameron Lee.

Lee jumped to the high side of Cook on lap 13 and brought Winters along into second. After they cleared Cook, Winters and Lee began to battle for the top spot. Lee held off Winters for two laps, until Winters was able to power past.

As Winters cruised out front, Breunig and Jason Thoma slipped into second and third with under five laps to go. Breunig closed in on Winters lap after lap and got to his back bumper by the time the white flag was thrown. As the two dashed into turns three and four on the final circuit, Breunig got to the bottom and tested the low line. However, Winters carried his momentum on the high groove to hold off Breunig.

Thoma finished third in his second visit to DRP in 2011, Lee held on for fourth and Kody Hubred picked up his best finish this season at DRP by rounding out the top five.

ROOSTER CROWS IN PURE STOCKS

Carey John, nicknamed The Rooster, may have had a damaged racer, but he proved Saturday that aerodynamics and aesthetics play no factor when it comes to the Schultz Small Engine Pure Stocks.

John grabbed the lead from Jeff Templin on lap six of the 25-lap main event and walked away from the rest of the field over the final 19 circuits.

Starting in the second row, John quickly stole second and set his sights on Templin. Meanwhile the point leaders, Dave Trute and Bill Zeman were marred in traffic and waiting for the right spots to open.

After John grabbed the lead from Templin, Zeman slipped into third. By lap 15 Zeman had taken second away from Templin. However, John had built a significant lead. Trute soon followed into third and pressured his car owner.

Trute methodically chased down Zeman and made the pass for second with one circuit remaining. Mark Hohl slid into fourth with a pass of Templin, who held on to finish fifth.

PRESTON BOUNCES BACK

Having gone nearly a month without a top five finish Arch Preston jumped back into victory lane with a commanding win in the Fire Rescue Supply Bandits Saturday. Preston grabbed the lead near the halfway point of the feature event and never looked back.

The win was Preston's third of the 2011 campaign and was coupled with a win in the fast heat earlier in the evening.

A visiting Brittiny Helmers led the field to green and took an early lead in her first ever appearance at DRP. Helmers seemed in control and led until Preston chased her down and made a pass for the top spot. Preston's first taste of the lead was taken away, however, as a caution was thrown for a stalled Gene Bialozor.

When the green flag fell on the restart Preston wasted no time in recapturing the top spot and setting sail. As Preston marched away from the pack a tandem of young standouts - Haley Kapp and Spencer Wilhelm - ascended through the field.

Kapp secured third by lap ten and took second four laps later with Wilhelm copying her every move. Although they had time, the duo could not chase down Preston and settled for second and third respectively. Helmers held out for fourth and Kory Childs rounded out the top five.

UP NEXT AT DRP...

Saturday, Sept. 3 is the Penultimate Labor Day Event presented by Beagle's Bar and Grill. The second-to-last point night of the season also brings the Wegner Automotive Research Fast Dash Clash. The top Budweiser Late Models will compete in a $2,000 to win, 20-lap dash to round out the night. Fans will have a chance to get involved with a pre-dash autograph session with those drivers and a post-race celebration in victory lane.

The RacingOnline.Com Sportsman, Schultz Small Engine Pure Stocks and Fire Rescue Supply Bandits will also be on hand. Qualifying is at 4:45. Racing is at 6:30.

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.