Schulte Holds Off Korte For First Victory in 2011
(April 10, 2011) Highland IL – This past Saturday evening was a solemn occasion for many of us that have called the Highland Speedway home for over the last 50 years. One of the last active Racing Legends of The Speedway, Chris Bargetzi, driver and of recent years owner of the 441 Late Model succumbed to injuries he 
received on Friday while working on his property in rural Madison County. A tribute was held before the races which included his grandson driving the 441 around the speedway plus being the only car on the track for the playing of the National Anthem. Chris’s family was on the front straight away joined by all the Highland Officials.
Mike Schulte proved determination is what it takes to winning in racing as he came from a second row starting position to catch and pass for UMP and Highland Champion Randy “King Kong” Korte for his first win the Becker Jewelers Late Model Division. Dan Jacober in Chris Bargetzi’s 441 was third, heat winner Paul Bailey was fourth and Daniel Ripperda in the 51R rounded out the top five.
In the Steve Schmitt UMP Modifieds it was a battle of nutrition, as several of the front runners fell out of contention through the course of the race. Dean Hoffman back behind the wheel of his own 1D Modified spun on lap 2. Restarting on the tail of the field he slowly moved the yellow racer up towards the front of the line. With 2 laps to go he caught and passed leader, Chad Sellers in the E55.Sellers had been control of the lead for almost half of the 20 lap feature. Just as Hoffman made his 
move around Sellers the yellow flag came out and the lineup was reverted back to the last completed lap. This put the Racing Realtor on the point with Hoffman at his rear spoiler. The final two laps Sellers hit the after burners and held on for the victory. Hoffman was second, Heat winner Jeremy Thole, was third, Tyler Diebert followed in fourth and Darrell Hewlett rounded out the top five. Scott Weber was the other heat winner.
In one of the closest races of the evening, Daniel Heck ran down the winner of the second heat, the 36 of 
Dustin Korte and held off a hard charging Mark Oller, the winner of the first heat, to win his first UMP Pro Late Models Feature of 2011.. In a race won by inches, Heck had just enough as the 67 of Oller fell short, Korte ran third, The Italian Stallion Bobby Martintoni was 4th and Jason Zobrist finished in 5th.
In a last lap pass Jeff Buss won the UMP Street Stocks, Rob Lee took home the honors in the UMP Sportsmen division and Trevor Isaak grabbed the trophy in the Sport Compacts.
Next up at the Highland Speedway is the Larry Tires/WRP Speed Shop night. To keep up with all the action of the Highland Speedway visit the tracks website at Highlandspeedway.com or on Face Book at Facebook.com/HighlandSpeedway
Highland Speedway April 9th Top Ten
UMP Becker Jewelers Late Models – Feature
Finish Car No Driver
1 27 Mike Schulte
2 00K Randy Korte
3 441 Dan Jacober
4 81 Paul Bailey
5 51R Danny Ripperda
6 23B Mark Bohnenstiehl
7 1S Rick Salter
8 92K Brant Kehrer
9 78 Chad Zobrist
UMP Steve Schmitt Modified – Feature
Finish Car No Driver
1 E55 Chad Sellers
2 1D Dean Hoffman
3 14 Jeremy Thoele
4 84 Tyler Deibert
5 75 Darrell Hewlett
6 68 Andy Oswald
7 19 Jimmy Cummins
8 808 Kelby Simmons
9 38 Stephen Flannery, Jr
10 76 Eric Goetter
UMP Pro Late Model – Feature
Finish Car No Driver
1 55 Daniel Heck
2 67 Mark Oller
3 36 Dustin Korte
4 48 Bobby Martintoni
5 87 Jason Zobrist
6 59R Aaron Heck
7 18 Randy Myers
8 10C DJ Cygan
9 17X Matt Santel
10 30 Ryan Seger
UMP Sportsman – Feature
Finish Car No Driver
1 88 Rob Lee
2 3 Ryan Eilers
3 8E Russell Eilers
4 92J Rick Johnson
5 115 Aaron Melton
6 19S Nathan Schmitt
7 79 Jon Huegen
8 6 Justin Ketrow
9 1S Steve Stevenson
10 1G Len Garson
UMP Factory Stock – Feature
Finish Car No Driver
1 101 Jeff Buss
2 8T T J Eilers
3 6 Jake Hewitt
4 54 Shaun Hortsmann
5 6I Austin Isaak
6 15 Michael Ripperda, Jr
7 29 Stephen Fohne
8 9X Trevor Isaak
9 53 Justin Leichsenring
10 64 Brian Crawford
UMP Sport Compact – Feature
Finish Car No Driver
1 9X Trevor Isaak
2 45 Kyle McMahon
3 97 Bobby Funderburk
4 63 Brett Eilerman
5 11 Kyle Swip
6 47 Christian Lee
7 48 Joe Wagner
8 121V Rick Viviano
9 00 Ryan Emig
10 249X Justin Suhre
