Schmitt snags 6th Annual Great American Stock Car Challenge

  • July 16, 2009

CRESCO, Iowa - A stout field of competitors were on hand Thursday night as the Cresco Speedway hosted the 6th Annual Great American Stock Car Challenge presented by Kabrick Distributing with big money on the line in all four American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series divisions.

While the spotlight was on the USRA Karl Chevrolet Stock Cars as they battled for a $2,000 top prize, both the USRA Modifieds and USRA Karl Chevrolet B-Mods were also running $1,000 to win in each class while the USRA Hobby Stock main event carried a $700 winner's share of the purse.

In USRA Hobby Stock action, defending track champion Brandon Hare of Elma extended his current points lead with a victory in Thursday night's main event. After starting 16th, Ridgeway's Scott Spilde gave the fans a show, but had to settle for the runner-up paycheck at the finish. Nathan Wood of Keswick, Mark Lewis of Riceville and Adam Cline of Decorah rounded out the top-5 finishers.

Former Stock Car track champion Scott Bauer used his pole position to take a wire-to-wire win in the USRA Karl Chevrolet B-Mod feaure race. The "Riceville Rocket" held off Ben Moudry of Protivin for the victory, with Decorah's Brian Freilinger traking third. Current points leader Matt Jones of Waukon was fourth and last week's winner, Tyler Droste of Waterloo, hung on for fifth.

Jason Krohn made a rare appearance at the Mighty Howard County Fairgrounds pay off with a victory in the USRA Modified main event. The 2007 USMTS National Champion from Slayton, Minn., out-dueled Delhi's Mark Schulte for the win while third through fifth went to Doug Hillson of Blooming Prairie, Minn., Zack VanderBeek of New Sharon and eight-time USMTS National Champion Kelly Shryock of Fertile.

Ron Konkel of Caledonia, Minn., and Darrin Walch of Postville struggled to eighth- and ninth-place finishes, respectively, and are now separated by just one point in the USRA Modified points standings with Konkel leading the defending track champ.

Although he won't claim a sixth consecutive track championship this season, Tom Schmitt of Independence continues to rewrite the Cresco Speedway record books as he led from start to finish to claim the $2,000 top prize in Thursday night's USRA Karl Chevrolet Stock feature race. Tory Reicks of Waucoma finished second in the 32-car starting field, with current points leader Brian Gjere of Mabel, Minn., coming from the 11th starting spot to finish third. Decorah's Dan Christopher grabbed fourth and Shane Weller of Agency completed the first five across the finish line.

There's no racing at the Cresco Speedway this weekend, but action returns next Sunday, July 26, with another "License to Thrill" night. Race fans from the town of New Hampton simply need to show their driver's license or i.d. card to get FREE admission to the grandstands and enjoy a full night of racing action on the house! On tap will be the American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series featuring USRA Modifieds, USRA Karl Chevrolet Stock Cars, USRA Karl Chevrolet B-Mods and USRA Hobby Stocks.

Pit gates open at 4:00, grandstands open at 5:00, hot laps are slated for 6:15 and the first heat race takes to the track at 6:30.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Some big shows are on the schedule at the Cresco Speedway during the month of August, so mark your calendars now. On August 4, it's the return of the mud-slinging Modifieds of the USMTS Casey's General Stores National Tour with former NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Bobby Labonte and NASCAR fan favorite Kenny Wallace (and another driver TBA) on hand to sign autographs and race with the USMTS Modifieds. Then, on August 25, Subway presents the Deery Brothers Summer Series for IMCA Late Models.

The Cresco Speedway is a 4/10-mile semi-banked clay oval located 0.2 miles north of SR 9 on SW 7th (at the Howard County Fairgrounds). For more information, contact the RL Promotions offices at (515) 832-6000 or visit www.rlpromotions.com online. Race day info is available by calling the track hotline at (563) 547-3400.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series
6th Annual Great American Stock Car Challenge presented by Kabrick Distributing
Cresco Speedway, Cresco, Iowa
Thursday, July 16, 2009

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver and hometown.

USRA HOBBY STOCKS

Heat #1:
1. (1) 9 Mark Lewis, Riceville
2. (8) 52 Nathan Wood, Keswick
3. (6) 56h Brandon Hare, Elma
4. (3) 7k Andy Stinson, Ridgeway
5. (7) 51 Stac Schroeder, Clear Lake
6. (9) 98 Kyle Anderson, Decorah
7. (4) 88 Robert Anderson, Decorah
8. (5) 6 Dan Sacquitne, Decorah
9. (2) 33 Tye Moellers, Ridgeway

Heat #2:
1. (1) 24 Randy Banks, Cresco
2. (2) 71 Adam Cline, Decorah
3. (9) 16 Dan Hovden, Decorah
4. (5) 101 Bernie Adams, Stacyville
5. (6) 70 Chris Hovden, Cresco
6. (7) 84 Danny Thrasher, Agency
7. (4) 1 Kory Adams, Stacyville
8. (3) 18 Scott Spilde, Ridgeway
9. (8) 14 David Kjome, Decorah

Feature:
1. (4) 56h Brandon Hare, Elma
2. (16) 18 Scott Spilde, Ridgeway
3. (2) 52 Nathan Wood, Keswick
4. (5) 9 Mark Lewis, Riceville
5. (12) 71 Adam Cline, Decorah
6. (6) 24 Randy Banks, Cresco
7. (10) 51 Stac Schroeder, Clear Lake
8. (9) 84 Danny Thrasher, Agency
9. (1) 101 Bernie Adams, Stacyville
10. (14) 1 Kory Adams, Stacyville
11. (8) 7k Andy Stinson, Ridgeway
12. (11) 98 Kyle Anderson, Decorah
13. (17) 33 Tye Moellers, Ridgeway
14. (18) 14 David Kjome, Decorah
15. (7) 70 Chris Hovden, Cresco
16. (15) 6 Dan Sacquitne, Decorah
17. (3) 16 Dan Hovden, Decorah
18. (13) 88 Robert Anderson, Decorah

USRA KARL CVHEVROLET B-MODS

Heat #1:
1. (4) 23 Matt Jones, Waukon
2. (6) 29rr Scott Bauer, Riceville
3. (2) 92 Tyler Droste, Waterloo
4. (5) 85 Ben Moudry, Protivin
5. (9) 14 Brian Schrage, Cresco
6. (8) 88x Jimmy Broszeit, Postville
7. (3) 95 Josh Gesell, Ridgeway
8. (1) 4L Mike Ludemann, Ionia
9. (7) 22b Taylor Bass, New Hampton

Heat #2:
1. (2) 10 Caden Carter, Oskaloosa
2. (4) 7 Brian Freilinger, Decorah
3. (6) 7x Carter VanDenBerg, Oskaloosa
4. (7) 76j Joshua Wedo, Elgin
5. (3) 86 Dan Tenold, Northwood
6. (5) 14m Brian Mahlstadt, Ionia
7. (8) 82 Chris Fretheim, Decorah
8. (1) 34 Jeremy Schaufenbuel, New Hampton

Feature:
1. (1) 29rr Scott Bauer, Riceville
2. (3) 85 Ben Moudry, Protivin
3. (5) 7 Brian Freilinger, Decorah
4. (6) 23 Matt Jones, Waukon
5. (2) 92 Tyler Droste, Waterloo
6. (11) 88x Jimmy Broszeit, Postville
7. (9) 76j Joshua Wedo, Elgin
8. (7) 14 Brian Schrage, Cresco
9. (4) 10 Caden Carter, Oskaloosa
10. (10) 86 Dan Tenold, Northwood
11. (14) 82 Chris Fretheim, Decorah
12. (16) 34 Jeremy Schaufenbuel, New Hampton
13. (13) 95 Josh Gesell, Ridgeway
14. (17) 22b Taylor Bass, New Hampton
15. (12) 14m Brian Mahlstadt, Ionia
16. (8) 7x Carter VanDenBerg, Oskaloosa
17. (15) 4L Mike Ludemann, Ionia

USRA KARL CHEVROLET STOCK CARS

Heat #1:
1. (1) 42 Dan Christopher, Decorah
2. (3) 60 Kurt Krauskopf, Decorah
3. (4) 23 Brian Gjere, Mabel, Minn.
4. (7) 97 Lynn Panos, Protivin
5. (6) 15 Mitch Hovden, Decorah
6. (2) 23x Rich Gregoire, Russell, Minn.
7. (5) 62 Kevin Bidne, Decorah
8. (8) 0 Danny Cole Jr., Lansing

Heat #2:
1. (4) 18 Tom Schmitt, Independence
2. (2) 37x Mike Jergens, Plover
3. (7) 27t Tory Reicks, Waucoma
4. (6) 121g Arlen Hoy, Marble Rock
5. (8) 37 Loren Kuennen, Ossion
6. (3) 12m Brian Mitrisin, Oskaloosa
7. (5) 20r Gary Rotenberger, Calmar
8. (1) 40 Austin Curtin, Waukon

Heat #3:
1. (3) 66 Jeff Joldersma, McClelland
2. (5) 6 Bryan Webb, Decorah
3. (4) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon
4. (2) 69 Jake Ludeking, Decorah
5. (8) 33 Kevin Donlan, Decorah
6. (7) 67 Kyle Falck, Decorah
7. (1) 12 Shawn Bangs, Canton, Minn.
8. (6) 29 Matt Greiner, Washington

Heat #4:
1. (3) 27p Shawn Peter, Mabel, Minn.
2. (4) 5 Mike Bergan, Ridgeway
3. (1) 20w Shane Weller, Agency
4. (5) 40x Shay Curtin, Cresco
5. (6) 37p Pete Solum, Spring Grove, Minn.
6. (7) 12x Nick Johansen, Russell, Minn.
7. (2) 48 Casey Sebastian, Cresco
8. (8) 57v Mike VanGenderen, Newton

Feature:
1. (2) 18 Tom Schmitt, Independence
2. (5) 27t Tory Reicks, Waucoma
3. (11) 23 Brian Gjere, Mabel, Minn.
4. (7) 42 Dan Christopher, Decorah
5. (1) 20w Shane Weller, Agency
6. (9) 27p Shawn Peter, Mabel, Minn.
7. (19) 33 Kevin Donlan, Decorah
8. (13) 97 Lynn Panos, Protivin
9. (17) 15 Mitch Hovden, Decorah
10. (4) 6 Bryan Webb, Decorah
11. (15) 69 Jake Ludeking, Decorah
12. (18) 37 Loren Kuennen, Ossion
13. (24) 12m Brian Mitrisin, Oskaloosa
14. (21) 62 Kevin Bidne, Decorah
15. (6) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon
16. (8) 5 Mike Bergan, Ridgeway
17. (20) 37p Pete Solum, Spring Grove, Minn.
18. (3) 66 Jeff Joldersma, McClelland
19. (23) 29 Matt Greiner, Washington
20. (22) 12 Shawn Bangs, Canton, Minn.
21. (10) 60 Kurt Krauskopf, Decorah
22. (14) 121g Arlen Hoy, Marble Rock
23. (12) 37x Mike Jergens, Plover
24. (16) 40x Shay Curtin, Cresco
25. (30) 0 Danny Cole Jr., Lansing
26. (27) 12x Nick Johansen, Russell, Minn.
27. (28) 20r Gary Rotenberger, Calmar
28. (25) 23x Rich Gregoire, Russell, Minn.
29. (31) 40 Austin Curtin, Waukon
30. (29) 48 Casey Sebastian, Cresco
31. (32) 57v Mike VanGenderen, Newton
32. (26) 67 Kyle Falck, Decorah

USRA MODIFIEDS

Heat #1:
1. (3) 7k Jason Krohn, Slayton, Minn.
2. (1) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon
3. (4) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile
4. (2) 61 Bruce Hanford, Davenport
5. (5) 35k Ron Konkel, Caledonia, Minn.
6. (6) 5w Darrin Walch, Postville
7. (7) 7a Mike Liddle, Plainfield

Heat #2:
1. (2) 27m Mark Schulte, Delhi
2. (5) 66 Dan Bohr, Decorah
3. (6) 35 Jeff Schluetter, New Hampton
4. (1) 72 Doug Hillson, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
5. (4) 75 Garry Hall, Rochester, Minn.
6. (7) 27s Jason Schlangen, Cresco
7. (3) 55 Larry Gene Hall, Rochester, Minn.

Feature:
1. (2) 7k Jason Krohn, Slayton, Minn.
2. (1) 27m Mark Schulte, Delhi
3. (6) 72 Doug Hillson, Blooming Prairie, Minn.
4. (7) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon
5. (8) 3 Kelly Shryock, Fertile
6. (5) 61 Bruce Hanford, Davenport
7. (4) 35 Jeff Schluetter, New Hampton
8. (9) 35k Ron Konkel, Caledonia, Minn.
9. (11) 5w Darrin Walch, Postville
10. (3) 66 Dan Bohr, Decorah
11. (13) 27s Jason Schlangen, Cresco
12. (14) 55 Larry Gene Hall, Rochester, Minn.
13. (10) 75 Garry Hall, Rochester, Minn.
14. (12) 7a Mike Liddle, Plainfield