LANSING, Minn. - Despite the threat of rain, a good field of cars was on hand Friday night at the Chateau Raceway powered by Miner's Outdoor Power & Rec. There was plenty of excitement to go around. Along with some exciting racing action there was the special appearance of the Budweiser clydesdales full hitch team sponsored by Schott Distributing. The team did a parade lap before the national anthem to give the crowd a good luck at the team in action. There was also the special "Christmas in July" night for the kids with Santa Claus making a visit to the track to pass out some goodies for the youngsters.

In the French's Repair & Fabrication USRA Modified feature, the caution flag came out just one time. Doug Hillson of Blooming Prairie led the field around on lap 1 in a very tight side-by-side battle three rows deep.

On lap 2, Ben Mattick of Hayfield, who was running fourth in the battle, ended up sideways in the middle of turn 2. Three cars ended up getting collected in the mess with Mattick and Joel Alberts of Kasson getting the worse of it as their night was ended in the incident.

On the restart, Todd Scharkey of Kasson, who was running fifth after the first lap, got a great jump and moved all the way to second behind Hillson. Scharkey didn't stay behind him long as he pulled Hillson him a lap later and the two crossed the stripe side by side with Scharkey ahead by a nose.

He completed the pass on the next lap and proceeded to walk away from the field and score his first feature win of the season.

Scharkey just moved into his new Hughes Chassis three weeks ago, and after a rough first night in the car he has now posted a second- and first-place finish in the car in the past two weeks at Lansing.

Josh Mattick of Austin, who started in row 5 of the feature, put on a nice show as he picked his way up through the field, catching Hillson just before the halfway mark of the race. The two put on a good show as they battled for second and swapped the spot a few times before Mattick took control of it.

Hillson held on for third ahead of Tyler Clark of Rochester and Josh Reisch of Luverne.

The classes heat winnners were Josh Mattick and Shawn Peterson of Cottage Grove.

Hillson's third place run and the tough night for Ben Mattick has Hillson sitting good in the USRA Modified points race.

Next Friday night the track will have a special treat for the youngsters who get out there early. Shortly after 7 p.m., the drivers will bring there cars out onto the track and take turns giving the kids rides around the track. It should be an exciting time for the kids. Parents are encouraged to get the children out there early so they can participate in the fun. Race time will follow at 7:30.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series
Chateau Raceway, Lansing, Minn.
Friday, July 24, 2009

USRA MODIFIEDS

Feature: 1. Todd Scharkey, Kasson; 2. Josh Mattick, Austin; 3. Doug Hillson, Blooming Prairie; 4. Tyler Clark, Rochester; 5. Josh Reisch, Luverne; 6. Shawn Peterson, Cottage Grove; 7. Greg Jensen, Albert Lea; 8. Dustin Steinbrink, Austin; 9. Darwyn Karau, Kasson; 10. Adam Martinson, Richfield; 11. Jeremy Misgen, Ellendale; 12. Wally Bustad, Austin; 13. Matt Olson, Albert Lea; 14. Joel Alberts, Mantorville; 15. Ben Mattick, Hayfield.

Heat #1: 1. J. Mattick; 2. Hillson; 3. Alberts; 4. B. Mattick; 5. Karau; 6. Reisch; 7. Martinson; 8. Olson.

Heat #2: 1. Peterson; 2. Jensen; 3. Clark; 4. Schakrey; 5. Steinbrink; 6. Bustad; 7. Misgen.