Gress Takes Checkered Flag At Dells Raceway Park
Wednesday, May 29th, 2019 -- 8:05 AM
Darek Gress of Neillsville in the 107.5 Asphalt Rocket won one of the 55 lap Features in the CWRA Stars to Legends Tour, Lyle Nabbefeldt Memorial race Saturday night at Dells Raceway Park, Wis. Dells.Thayran Rezin, Tomah was the winner in the other 55 lap Feature, a win in his first ever start on the CWRA Tour.
The first 55 started with Putch Bentley, Iron River, MI., and Monty Gress, Neillsville, WI., setting the pace. Before a lap could even be completed, however, it was Mike Lichtfeld, Portage, WI., spinning in turn one. With the green flag waving, action resumed with Pete Moore, Columbus, WI., shooting by several cars to take the lead. A fluke accident with a lapped car on the front stretch unfortunately ended Moore’s day and with racing resuming it was Nick Roehl, Fond du Lac, WI., inheriting the lead. Roehl stayed in front with side by side battles going on behind him throughout the 18 car field, but Rezin from 7th starting spot was already in 2nd position, taking the number one spot from Roehl on lap 15. Rezin’s car was on rails around the 1/3 mile paved oval track, and although there were caution slowing incidents tightening up the field, he would lead the rest of the way. Racing brothers Mike and Steve Lichtfeld moved into 2nd and 3rd at Roehl’s expense, remaining there to the checkered flag. Roehl’s good run ended with a right front tire issue as he was forced to the pit area with 10 laps to go. Rezin had no trouble holding his lead the rest of the way finishing 10 car lengths in front of Mike Lichtfeld, Steve Lichtfeld, Rookie contender, Dillon Mackesy, Wausau, WI., defending Nabbefeldt race champion, Mark Mackesy, Wausau, WI., and Travis Volm, Mosinee, WI., the top six.
The 2nd 55 lap Feature was shortened to a 30 lap affair due to area curfew and time constraints with Mike Reichenberger, Appleton, WI., setting the early pace. His lead was short lived however, as by lap two, Mitch Stankowski, Wausau, WI., another Rookie of the Year candidate, took the lead. Rapidly moving from his 6th starting spot, was Darek Gress, though moving in front by the 3rd go round. Chad Butz, Green Bay, WI., was right behind Gress and looking to challenge for the lead. The two raced nose to tail and side by side for a number of laps before Gress secured the position for good. St. Paul, MN., driver, Paul Paine in his first Tour race, grabbed the 3rd position from Reichenberger on the 27th lap, and although fast, was no match for the two front runners settling into that position. Jesse Bernhagen, Neillsville, WI., started all the way back in 12th position, but was steadily moving toward the front. Moving into the second spot, it appeared Bernhagen had a chance to catch Gress for the win. A spin all by himself in turn three however ended those chances. Rounding out the top finishers in the race was Gress in first, followed by Butz, Paine, Reichenberger, Jeff Weinfurter, Wis. Rapids, WI., and Darren Jackson, Wis. Rapids, WI., the top six finishers.
In qualifying Feature action it was Joey Pontbriand, Norway, MI., and Bernhagen, the two 15 lap winners.
A new car count high, 36 cars turned out to compete on the day, and it was Pete Moore on the comeback trail, pacing Group qualifying.
SUMMARY
55 lap Feature one 1. Thayran, Rezin, Tomah, WI., 2.Mike Lichtfeld, Portage, WI., 3. Steve Lichtfeld, Pardeeville, WI., 4. Dillon Mackesy, Wausau, WI., 5. Mark Mackesy, Wausau, WI., 6. Travis Volm, Mosinee, WI., 7. Hunter Stenson, Wis. Dells, WI., 8. Frank Nitzke, Berlin, WI., 9. Monte Gress, Neillsville, WI., 10. Derrick Van Dreel, Kellner, WI., 11. Mike De Angelo, Wis. Dells, WI., 12. Nick Roehl, Fond du lac, WI., 13. Daron Fish, Lyndon Station, WI., 14. Greg Matthews, Wis. Rapids, WI., 15. Putch Bentley, Iron River, MI., 16. Ted Griffin, Wis. Dells, WI., 17. Pete Moore, Columbus, WI., 18. Alyssa Larson, Green Bay, WI.
55 Lap (30 laps) Feature two 1.Darek Gress, Neillsville, WI., 2. Chad Butz, Green Bay, WI., 3. Paul Paine, St. Paul, MN., 4. Mike Reichenberger, Appleton, WI., 5. Jeff Weinfurter, Wis. Rapids, WI., 6. Darren Jackson, Wis. Rapids, WI., 7. Mitch Stankowski, Wausau, WI., 8. Harley Jankowski, Sparta, WI., 9. Joey Pontbriand, Norway, MI., 10. Rachel Kallas, Winneconne, WI., 11. Tod Stenson, Wis. Dells, WI., 12. Jesse Bernhagen, Neillsville, WI., 13. Chad Devine, Appleton, WI., 14. Dakota Blakeslee, Rudolph, WI., 15. Jay Potter, Rome, WI., 16. Brett Breitenfeldt, Wausau, WI., 17. Dave Neitzke, Eureka, WI., DNS. 18. Mike Sievers, Wis. Rapids, WI., DNS.
15 lap Qualifier 1. Pontbriand, 2. D. Mackesy, 3. Paine, 4. M. Lichtfeld, 5. Jankowski, 6. Rezin, 7. Butz, 8. Roehl, 9. Reichenberger, 10. Moore, 11. Neitzke, 12. Bentley, 13. T. Stenson, 14. Nitzke, 15. Blakeslee, 16. Larson, 17. Breitenfeldt, 18. H. Stenson.
15 lap Qualifier 1. Bernhagen, 2. Fish, 3. Weinfurter, 4. D Angelo, 5. Jackson, 6. Van Dreel, 7. D. Gress, 8. Volm, 9. Stankowski, 10. S. Lichtfeld, 11. Potter, 12. M. Gress, 13. Kallas, 14. M. Mackesy, 15. Devine, 16. Matthews, 17. Sievers, 18. Griffin.
Group Qualifying 1. Moore.
A great Memorial Day weekend crowd was on hand for the show, and all are looking forward to the next CWRA Stars to Legends Tour action, on Saturday, June 1st, at Marshfield Motor Speedway, Marshfield, WI., where the Salute to America, twin 30 lap Features will be held.
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