Race Reports
and Photos of the Season 2006
August 20, 2006
By Corey Butler Jr.
Shakopee, Minn. – Donny Reuvers won his 10th feature of the year Sunday night at Raceway Park, claiming the top spot in the special 50-lap WSI Memorial race in the Country Joe Homes Late Models. Starting fifth, Donny Reuvers inherited the lead on lap 11 when Gary Petrash and Jason Schneider were racing hard for the lead and made contact, causing both to spin in turn two, bringing out one of many cautions. Schneider and Petrash were both regulated to the back, therefore handing the lead to third place running Reuvers. Reuvers persevered through many cautions and Matt Goede’s orange and white No. 27 in his mirror the entire race. Although Goede never seriously challenged Reuvers, he stayed within three car lengths throughout the race, ready to pounce if Reuvers made a rare mistake. The race to watch was for third, as Harm Alken tried his best to hold off the rallying Schneider. However, Schneider could only pull even with Alken and never moved ahead of him. Schneider eventually faded, allowing Alken to hold onto third. Goede had one last chance to catch and get by Reuvers, when the two cars caught lapped traffic in the final circuits. However, Reuvers was able to hold on to the lead with Goede a car length back. Alken rounded out the top three.
Jeremy Wolff was the benefactor of someone else’s misfortune and that is what allowed him to win the 25-lap Turtle’s Bar & Grill Hobby Stock main event. Running third with a lap and a half to go, Wolff paced behind Tim Lewis and Steve Marschall. Marschall exited turn two phenomenally and moved under Lewis down the back straight to challenge for the lead. As they entered turn three, both drivers fought for the same real estate and made contact, sending them both for a spin into the infield. The green stayed out and Jeremy Wolff squeaked by to take the lead and eventual win. Mark Hawes moved into second with Lucas Grosinger in third.
Dave Jones figured there was only one way to top his first career heat win – by winning the 20-lap Coca-Cola Short Tracker feature. That’s exactly what he did. Starting from the pole, Jones battled many laps with Dan Dimmick, both early in the race and late. After a short battle in the beginning, Charlie Pehrson was able to get by Dimmick and moved into second. However, Pehrson had a little help around and brought the caution out on the seventh circuit. That put Dimmick back into second and he followed Jones around until the final lap. However, the caution flew and set the race up for a green-white-checkered finish. As the green dropped for the two-lap dash, restarting in fifth, Paul Haeg quickly moved to the outside and miraculously passed three cars in front of him in two laps, moving him to second to follow Jones across the line. Dimmick settled for third.
Steve Dehler moved through the field to win the first Miller Lite Figure 8 feature of the evening. Starting fifth, Dehler dodged allies and foes alike through the “Crossroads of Doom,” all while passing cars to get to the front. Following a restart on the lap four, Dehler jumped to the side of Fred Radiske and challenged for the lead. He was able to clinch the lead before the red flag flew on lap eight for a fire underneath Bob Hasert’s hood. When racing resumed, Dehler showed the way as Ricky Martin settled into second. Dan McCarthy made some late race passes to move into third at the drop of the checkered flag.
In the second Miller Lite Figure 8 feature, Kevin Rutten was advantageous of his front row starting spot as he quickly jumped to the point at the drop of the green flag. One yellow flag flew on lap three, but that couldn’t deter Rutten from winning the race. Late in the race, Rutten received a lot of pressure from former champion Todd Wilson, but was able to hold off Wilson for the win. Adam Radiske rounded out the top three.
Jason Michaud took top honors in the Lupient Chevrolet of Belle Plaine Bombers with John Zumberge and Chevy Miller finishing second and third, respectively.
Tim Brockhouse was victorious in the Great North Legends main event with Scott Petty and Tracy Olene in second and third, respectively.
Make sure to join us Sunday, September 3, as we celebrate Waste Management Night. Joining the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Racing Series will be the School Bus Figure 8 race! Then on Monday, September 4, the Miller Lite Enduro Series will take the ¼-mile for 4-cylinder and 8-cylinder action. Spectator drags will also be on the hand.
Coca-Cola Short Trackers
Heats: Dave Jones; Mike Dimmick
Feature: 1. Dave Jones 2. Paul Haeg 3. Dan Dimmick
Turtle’s Bar & Grill Hobby Stocks
Heats: Steve Marschall; Jeremy Wolff
Feature: 1. Jeremy Wolff 2. Mark Hawes 3. Lucas Grosinger
Country Joe Home Late Models
Heats: Gary Petrash; Donny Reuvers
Feature: 1. Donny Reuvers 2. Matt Goede 3. Harm Alken
Lupient Chevrolet of Belle Plaine Bombers
Heats: Zack Kersting; Allen Eldred
Feature: 1. Jason Michaud 2.John Zumberge 3. Chevy Miller
Miller Lite Figure 8’s
Feature #1: 1. Steve Dehler 2. Ricky Martin 3. Dan McCarthy
Feature #2: 1. Kevin Rutten 2. Todd Wilson 3. Adam Radiske
Heats: Kim Krause; Jim Kulseth
Feature: 1. Tim Brockhouse 2. Scott Petty 3. Tracy Olene