LANSING, Minn. - It was a big night of racing action at Chateau Raceway powered by Miner's Outdoor Power & Rec as the speedway hosted the first night of the 4th Annual Fall Nationals on Friday.

In the USRA Modified main event it was Bob Timm of Rolling Stone who set the pace on lap 1 only to see Shawn Peterson of Cottage Grove go by him on lap 2. The lead changed hands four times in the race's first seven laps as Todd Scharkey of Kasson went to the point on lap 4 only to see Tommy Myer of Blooming Prairie use the high line to his advantage to take over the lead on lap 7.

Once Myer got to the front he streaked away from the field, leaving a wild scramble for positions behind him. Much of the field was two and three wide throughout the race.

Steve Wetzstein worked his way from his row 5 starting spot up to fifth by lap 5 and to fourth two laps after that. He followed Myer's line around the top of the track and swung around Timm for third on lap 11. He stayed on that top line and skirted by Scharkey for second a lap later.

He was having no luck reeling in Myer, but a late caution put him right on his back bumper. Despite the restart after that yellow with six laps to go, Wetzstein had nothing for Myer and simply chased him home for the runner-up finish.

For Myer it was his second feature win of the year at Lansing, and after also taking home a heat win gave him a sweep on the night at the track for the first time this season.

Scharkey held onto third, followed by Timm and Josh Angst of Winona.

Despite finishing second in the feature, Steve Wetzstein of West Concord added to his points lead in the race for the American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series national championship in the USRA Modified division. With a 19-car field and passing seven cars in the feature for bonus points, he certainly should have been able to eliminate a lower point total night from his top-20 shows of the year.

Peterson and Jay Ihrke of Dover claimed the other two heat wins.

Night two of the Fall Nationals will get underway Saturday night at 6 p.m.

The weekend's action is sponosred by L & D Ag and Manufacturing of Hartland, with Larry Nelson President. Associate sponsors for the weekend's racing are Tiny's Body Shop of Austin, Olympic Fire Protection and Yeager Machine.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series
Chateau Raceway, Lansing, Minn.
Friday, September 11, 2009

USRA MODIFIEDS

Feature: 1. Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie; 2. Steve Wetzstein, West Concord; 3. Todd Scharkey, Kasson; 4. Bob Timm, Rollingstone; 5. Josh Angst, Winona; 6. Jacob Dahle, Morristown; 7. Ben Mattick, Hayfield; 8. Tyler Clark, Rochester; 9. Joe Wernecke, Dodge Center; 10. Doug Hillson, Blooming Prairie; 11. Shawn Peterson, Cottage Grove; 12. Layne Meyer, West Union, Iowa; 13. Greg Jensen, Albert Lea; 14. Dustin Steinbrink, Austin; 15. Josh Mattick, Austin; 16. Wally Bustad, Austin; 17. Jim King, Hastings; 18. Jay Ihrke, Dover; 19. Brian Shaw, Brownsdale.

Heat #1: 1. Myer; 2. Wetzstein; 3. Scharkey; 4. Timm; 5. J. Mattick; 6. Meyer.

Heat #2: 1. Peterson; 2. Clark; 3. Wernecke; 4. Shaw; 5. Bustad; 6. Jensen.

Heat #3: 1. Ihkre; 2. Angst; 3. Dahle; 4. B. Mattick; 5. Hillson; 6. Steinbrink; 7. King.

Contingency Awards:
Power Werks - Myer.
Aero Wheels - Wetzstein.