:: MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY News

06.23.17

CELEBRATIONS OF VICTORY AT MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY!

Doelle, Luhmann, Wasmund, Spilde, Bauer Amongst winners During Motor Parts & Equipment / WIX Filters / Schaeffer Oils Night

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By Dan Bailey
FOUNTAIN CITY, WI (Friday June 23, 2017) – Despite some showers that zipped through the area, creating an almost 40-minute rain delay at MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY Friday night, racers and fans alike all stuck around - and were rewarded with an exceptional night of action all the way through the final checkered flag! Motor Parts & Equipment / WIX Filters / Schaeffer Oils night proved to be an exciting event that entertained all on hand!

The crowd (who helped raise almost $1,000 for the Winona Figure Skating club) witnessed the first feature wins of the year at MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY for John Doelle, JT Wasmund, Scott Spilde, & Jason Bauer!

DOELLE DOESN'T GIVE UP - REWARDED WITH USRA MODIFIED FEATURE WIN!

For the second week in a row a hometown favorite rolled into MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY's Dahl Chevrolet, Buick, GMC Victory Lane for the first time in 2017 - much to the delight of local fans in the grand stands!

Last week it was Bruce Schmitt in his #80 600 Mod, this Friday it was 2009 MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY Track Champion John Doelle and his bright yellow and blue #94JR!

While Doelle jumped from the outside of the front row to lead the entire Rivercity Manufacturing USRA Modified feature, heat 3 winner Dustin Sorensen gave chase from his pole-position starting spot and followed Doelle through the first 9 laps.

On lap 10, Sorensen dropped to third behind the #99 of previous feature winner Josh Angst - who'd raced to the front from his 7th place starting spot.

Sorensen battled back to second for 3 laps before slipping to 5th as Angst, heat 2 winner Jason Cummins (#71) & the #49 Jake Timm raced past, into the top-4 positions behind Doelle.

The track was heavy and fast with the wide open speed of the cars all the way up at the very top of the extended MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY banking. Only a couple competitors dared trying the low or middle grooves in their efforts to work the fast "freight-train" up top.

A lap 19 caution saw both Timm and Cummins depart the track with mechanical issues - after which Sorensen and Angst pushed Doelle for the lead on the ensuing restart. But Doelle actually stretched the lead over the closing laps and grabbed his first feature win of 2017 by less than a 1 second advantage over Angst.

"This class is so fast and so competetive these days," explained Doelle in Victory Lane, "I mean, these are the best of the best!

"After the week I've had, tonight is a great result!" Doelle continued - in explanation, "I blew the motor last week up at Cedar Lake, then got some really bad hail damage at the home and farm this week, got the motor done just in time, and this win puts some smiles back on our faces!"

Doelle was joined in Victory Lane by his Mother and his sister to complete the celebration!

Angst finished second with Sorensen (who turned in the fastest lap of the feature - 15.425 second lap - avg speed almost 90 mph) third, Brad Waits (#24) fourth, & #95 Keith Foss fifth.

LUHMANN MUSCLES 'BROKEN' LATE MODEL TO VICTORY LANE!

Curt Luhmann raced to the front of the field to grab his first Centerville Welding & Repair USRA Late Model, presented by Big Toy Storage, feature win of 2017 with his #8.

The #01 of Shaun Mann was fast and raced from the third row up to second place by lap 4!

2015 MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY Track Champion Lance Hofer (#11) followed Mann to third, and then took over second on lap 14 beginning his charge to try reeling in the leader.

Hofer was closing the gap noticably as Luhmann's lap times dropped through the closing circuits!

"I have never had to work a car as hard as I did tonight," explained Luhmann, in Victory Lane, after holding off the charge mounted by Hofer, "Something broke on my right front suspension in the first couple laps and this thing was a handful!"

Hofer finished second with Mann following closely in third.

JT WASMUND JOINS THE 'YOUNG GUNS WINNERS CLUB' WITH FIRST B-MOD FEATURE WIN AT MTS

The Black Horse Bar & Grill USRA B-Mod division is THE DIVISION right now at MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY. Averaging around 28 cars per night, this class is the perfect mixture of Young & Old - Rookies & Veterans - Well-Funded & Frugal.

Friday night it was a member of the 'Youth Movement' who bested the field to grab Feature Victory #1 at MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY!

Kadden Kath jumped from the pole to lead the opening 9 laps of the 18-lap B-Mod feature; but there was a hunter following Kath's #83 . . . a hunter by the name of JT Wasmund!

After starting on the outside of the 3rd row, Wasmund's #51W began a march through the field towards the front. Along the way, the battles were many, the racing was tight, and the speeds were wicked fast!

On lap 7 Jackson Hale looped his #20 in turn 4 while running in a pack battling to be in the top-5! The field behind parted like the Red Sea as some darted high and others dove low to miss Hale sitting sideways right in the middle of the groove! Unfortunately for the #00R of Chad Rosendahl he had nowhere to go, slidding into Hale and flipping over onto his roof!

Thankfully, each driver was OK - but both cars were damaged behind repair and were out for the remainder of the race.

On the 10th circuit Wasmund (who started his career several years ago racing a 'slingshot' on The LIGHTNING SPEEDWAY) and Kath swapped places at the front of the field with Wasmund holding on for the win!

After starting inside the 6th row, Erik Kanz (#23K) raced through the 25-car field to a third place finish behind Kath.

SPILDE SPRINTS TO USRA HOBBY STOCK FEATURE VICTORY

The #29 of Brady Link has dominated the Jailhouse Saloon USRA Hobby Stock class in 2017 - but prior commitments had him elsewhere Friday night!

That opened the door for Scott Spilde to take over as the 'leader of the pack' racing to the Hobby Stock feature win with his #18S.

"I finally found something in my setup that really brought this car to life tonight." smile Spilde in Victory Lane, "Link has been a great racer this year, and hat's off to him, but I think I might finally have something to challenge him with. Unfortunately, while Brady will be here next week - I can't make it next Friday night. I'll have to battle him a little later in the season."

GILBERTSON GRABS SECOND 600 MOD FEATURE AT MTS

The redbox+ 600 Mod feature presented the crowd with both action and speed.

Bryan Molitor lead the opening trio of laps before a broken rear suspension part caused his #27M to drop through the field with handling troubles.

As Molitor was fading, 2012 MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY Track Champion Greg Wohletz stepped into the lead for three laps while Chris Gilbertson battled just outside the lead with a handfull of his fellow competitors.

Gilbertson snuck past Wohletz near the half-way point of the feature and raced the extreme high groove all the way to the finish and his second 2017 feature win at MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY.

"I can't even begin to describe to the fans just how fast this track was tonight," said a breathless Gilbertson in Victory Lane, "I want to say thanks to the track crew for working it into shape after those rains came earlier; and thanks to the fans for sticking around for a great night!"

Cody Gardner's #1 was in speedy shape as he raced to a second place feature finish after a late-race pass on Wohletz. Wohlet's settled for third, just ahead of previous week's feature winner Bruce Schmitt (who'd raced all the way up from a starting spot dead-last in the field - getting as high as second at one point before slipping to fourth).

BAUERS BEST IN MTS HORNETS!

After winner the second heat race earlier in the evening, Jason Bauers' raced a large field of Harmston Trucking MTS Hornets en route to his first feature win of 2017. Third Heat race winner Hunter Miller lead the feature early with his #10M before relenquishing the lead to Bauers. Just behind Miller, current point leader Jason "Sarge" Schloegel (#77) and the #7M of Don Martens completed the top-5 in the 23-car field.

BOLAND AND KRAUSE CONTINUE SLINGSHOT DOMINANCE ON LIGHTNING SPEEDWAY

#88B Brady Boland won the Sunshine Refuse SR Slingshot feature, finishing ahead of heat race winners Jake James (#16) and the #22L of Hannah Lutz.

In the JR Slingshot division, Trevor Krause grabbed another feature win with his #01, with the #59 of Mason Stockhausen and Owen Rosendahl (#00) completing the top-3.

Next week enjoy 9th Annual RIVERCITY RUMBLE Presented by Rivercity Manufacturing & Machine Company and R & R Machining!

Up to $3100 to win (with bonus $$) for the River City Manufacturing USRA A Mods and $2600 to win (with bonus $$) for the Black Horse Bar & Grill USRA B-Mods. See both 30-lap USRA Modified features (A & B Mods) start 30 cars in 3-Wide formation as they take the green flag!!

Increased winnings include:

Extra $500 bonus for A and B-Mod Feature wins,
$100 bonus to win heat races,
$100 for leading Lap 15 (sponsored by Les Duellman Racing),
$250 for hard charger (sponsored by RiverCity MFG & Machining).

Plus 600 Mods will be racing for $500 to win!

Also, witness the huge fireworks display for the perfect start to the upcoming 4th of July celebrations!

We are also giving away (5) 32" flat screen TV's, (2) kids bikes and more! As always Kids 17 and under and College Students 23 and under (with current valid student ID) get in ABSOLUTELY free!

Green flag competition begins at 6 pm with the Sunshine Refuse Slingshots on the LIGHTNING SPEEDWAY.

Action on "The Big 1/3 Mile" resumes immediately following the 7 PM Opening Ceremonies with green flag laps provided by the Rivercity Manufacturing USRA Modifieds, Centerville Welding & Repair USRA Limited Late Models presented by Big Toy Storage, Black Horse Bar & Grill USRA B-Mods, Jailhouse Saloon USRA Hobby Stocks, REDBOX+ 600 Mods, & Harmston Trucking MTS Hornets!

Pit gate Opens at 4:00 PM
General Admission Grandstands Open at 5:00 PM
Family Friendly General Admission Prices continue with ALL Students - even college (23 yrs old and younger with current Valid Student ID) and Children 17 & Under are admitted ABSOLUTELY FREE!
Adult Grandstand admission just $15!
Senior Citizens (65 & Older) only $12!

MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY is located 3.0 miles north of Fountain City on Wisconsin Highway 35. For more information, call 608-687-3282 or visit www.MississippiThunder.com on the World Wide Web.

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MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY is presenting its 9th season of top-notch dirt track action in Fountain City, WI. The high-banked 1/3 mile dark-clay oval is quickly becoming known as one of the best speedways in the upper Midwest presenting dirt track racing in a fan and family friendly atmosphere every Friday night throughout the racing season.

For all details, continue visiting the MISSISSIPPI THUNDER SPEEDWAY web site: www.MississippiThunder.com

RESULTS - FRIDAY JUNE 23th - Motor Parts & Equipment / WIX Filters / Schaeffer Oils Night

full results

MTS results at MyLaps.com

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