Menomonie, Wisconsin (July 08, 2016) Friday, July 08, 2016, the Red Cedar Speedway presented the Hornet & Pure Stock Special featuring Kid's Club Night sponsored by Kyote's Den Bar & Grill and Lewis Bjork LLC. It was an entertaining night as once again, the greatest tradition in racing was realized as drivers took to the track and offered treats and autographs to the kids in the stands. Young and old got to meet the people behind the helmets and racecars. It is a definite way of keeping the sport alive. In addition, the challenge was held between the Pure Stocks and the Hornets as for the second in as many years the Pures won, but it wasn’t easy! The Late Models took the night off so there were six classes of cars were in attendance as the Hornets, Pure Stocks, and the WISSOTA Poly Dome Dirt Track Series sanctioned Street Stocks, Midwest Modifieds, Super Stocks, and Modifieds. Feature winners included Cory Mahder, Lucas Plank, Nick Koehler, Mike Knudtson, Kent Harmon, and Derrick Johnson. Dustin Doughty won the challenge.
The Pure Stock Hornet Challenge starting lineup was set by luck of the draw and Lucas Kallenbach and Kent Harmon represented the Pures from the front row. In the second row, Jess Seim and Jeremy Johnson trailed to the green in their Hornets. Kallenbach led lap one as Harmon used the higher line to overtake the lead on lap two. It was sixth starting Derrick Johnson who set up to give the crowd a thrill as he moved to the highline and closed into third. Johnson was able to dispatch of Kallenbach and pressure Harmon for the lead. With Harmon running low and Johnson high, Johnson inched to the point. Harmon wasn’t going to give it up though as he pressed harder and retook the position. Ninth starting Dustin Doughty was on rails as he moved in to tussle for the win. With two laps remaining, he pulled even with Harmon as Johnson shadowed closely in third. In a photo finish, Doughty won as Harmon came literally inches from sweeping the night. Johnson, who had brought the crowd to their feet earlier finished a very impressive third over the Pures of Kallenbach and Myers.
The Tim’s Automotive Modifieds were paced by Jay Richardson and Cory Mahder as Mahder took the initial lead and never looked back, leading the entire distance to the checkered flag. Fifth starting Ashley Anderson drove to second but was unable to run down the very fast leader. It was seventh and eighth starting Kevin Adams and Jake Hartung finishing third and fourth as Mark Gerth had a strong run in fifth. The only spin of the event occurred on the final lap as the lapped car of Jeremy Gibson spun collecting Mike Anderson as Anderson’s night ended on the back of a tow truck.
The Johnson Motors Super Stocks provided excellent racing action and an exciting finish which saw a Lucas Plank standing in victory lane. The Plank name has graced the winners circle multiple times throughout the years as Lucas sports the same number as the legend, Leon Plank. It was an exciting victory for him, his family, and the old school fans in the stands. It was the pole sitter, Rick Hallquist who led early but Plank drove to the point on lap two. Gunnar Watkins overtook second as seventh starting Curt Myers moved to third. Myers was able to get past Watkins as he set his sights on Plank. Methodically, he closed the gap and drove beside the leader to challenge for the win. The two raced side by side until Myers edged out front in the higher groove. Plank wouldn’t be rattled though as he fought back down low. Plank retook the lead and moved out to a slight advantage but in the waning laps, the leaders found heavy lapped traffic as Myers closed back in. It was Plank who was too fast tonight as he held his position and drove to the impressive victory. Myers was forced to settle for second as Watkins drove home in third. William Johnsen and Hallquist rounded out the top five.
The Southworth Chevrolet Midwest Modifieds were escorted by pole sitter Josh Hessler as outside front row starter Clark Swartz did all he could to make it two weeks in a row after a miserable start to the year in Menomonie. It was Swartz taking the early lead and looking strong when on lap three, a spinning Denny Cutsforth drew the caution. On the restart, Nick Koehler closed to challenge for the lead as he went side by side for first, and after a good battle, overtook the position. Koehler drove on to the win as Swartz ran a strong second. Shane Halopka came from eighth to third at the line as David Swearingen and Austin Ellis rounded out the top five.
The Conrad’s Auto Salvage Street Stock feature saw Jacob Hessler and Warren Hanson in the front row as Ron Hanestad pounced early for the lead. Michael Knudtson raced into second but was overtaken by Sam Fankhauser. The top three ran in a tight group but Hanestad looked stout in the lead. A spinning Hanson reset the field and on the restart, Fankhauser pushed up into Hanestad in turn three. Hanestad was physically forced out of his groove and Fankhauser overtook the point as Knudtson followed him through. Knutson was able to use an inside move on the leader and he began to lead the very tight top three parade to the checkers. It was Knudtson, Fankhauser, and Hanestad in a tight grouping at the finish.
The Kadinger Auto Salvage Pure Stocks saw Pat Smith and Cody Tisdale in the front row at the drop of the green but it was Kent Harmon who drove from fourth to the lead. Cars went three wide behind Harmon for second but two separate cautions set up a significant amount of passing for the remainder of the race. Both Lucas Kallenbach and Dustin Doughty found their way to the tail end of the field in separate incidents. It was Harmon stretching out his advantage as Brett Myers ran in second throughout the event; however, Doughty charged from the rear to overtake the runner up position late in the race. Myers held strong for third over the recovering Kallenbach who was followed to the finish by Dean Pronschinske.
The WAYY 790 Hornets were led to green by Derrick Johnson and Jess Seim as the two held a good race for the lead but a caution reset the field. On the second attempt, Johnson took the lead which he would never relinquish as he drove to the checkered flag undaunted. Jess Seim raced strong in second until he was overtaken by William Voeltz late in the event. A green, white, checkered finish set up by the breakdown of Leslie Jackson did little to upset Johnson’s dominance. Voeltz followed him home ahead of Seim, Armond Love, and Jeremy Johnson.
By Brad Erickson
http://redcedarspeedway.com/Results/2016/results070816.html