Highland Honors First Inductee into the Speedway’s Hall of Fame
Highland IL (April 7, 2012) Tradition has always been a mainstay at the Highland Speedway, and this past Saturday the Speedway honored the first inductee into the Highland Speedway Hall of Fame.
It was just one year ago we lost famed driver and car owner Chris Bargetzi, the first inductee into the Highland Speedway Hall of Fame.
The night was named in his honor. Bargetzi’s last race car, the yellow 441 Late Model, sat the entire evening in the Casey’s General Stores Victory Lane, reminding all of us that Chris is keeping a watchful eye on the Speedway.
Becker Jewelers Super Late Models
Making his way down from Northern Illinois, Scott Schmitt looked to be the favorite going into the Becker Jewelers Super Late Model feature, having won his heat race and the Quick Six Dash.
The race got off to a shaky start when a first lap caution led to a complete restart of the feature event. On the second attempt the 30V of Mark Voigt was looking to avenge his last week’s 
At lap ten, the 10 car of Schmitt spun as Voigt was overtaking him bringing out the yellow and sending Schmitt to the tail end of the field.
On the restart the top five cars were Zobrist, Voigt, the 6K of Michael Kloos, Matt Weidner in the famed Circle 7,(Both the 6K and The Circle 7 are cars prepared by Gerstner and Sons Racing out of Breese Illinois), and Rick “The Salty Dog” Salter in the 1S.
The race went green for five laps when the caution came out for the 27S of Mike Schulte, making a solo spin in turns 3 and 4.
The five cars at the front stayed in the previous running order.
On the restart Voigt again started working the high side against Zobrist. Voigt was slowing gaining ground and was charging hard towards the 78 when on lap 19, just as the two lead cars were racing out of turn four, two cars spun in turn 2, Zobrist lifted seeing the yellow flag in flagman Dan Donderos hand, but Voigt had a full head of steam coming out of turn 4 looking for the lead. Seeing the slowing 78 of Zobrist, Voigt tried to make a last minute attempt to avoid a collision, he swerved to the left but clipped the left rear of Zobrist, the resulting collision ended the night for Voigt, but luckily for Zobrist, he only encountered sheet metal damage.
With only 6 laps to go, Zobrist lead the field to the green flag, this time with Michael Kloos on his tail. Kloos, had been running on the bottom of the track up until this point, he then decided to move high in an attempt to run down the current Champion. As the laps ticked down Kloos was slowly edging his way to the front. With the double checker flags in sight coming out of turn four, Kloos was hammer down and the 6K made the pass on the 78 of Chad Zobrist right at the finish line. Kloos lead only part of one lap, but it was the most important part, winning the Becker Jewelers Late Models and sending him to his second appearance in the Casey’s General Stores Victory Lane in the very young 2012 point season. Zobrist was second, Weidner third; Salter fourth and coming from the tail end of the field after the lap 10 spin was Scott Schmitt to finish in fifth.
Steve Schmitt Modifieds
Mike Harrison proved again why he is a multi track Champion, a state Champion and is the current UMP National Champion, in dominating the Steve Schmitt Modified division this past Saturday evening at the Highland Speedway.
Harrison made a clean sweep of the night, by first winning his heat and then the dash, and finished the night by holding off a hard charging Aaron Klein, to make his first appearance to the Casey’s General Store’s Victory Lane in 2012.
In the night cap, Kleine was second, Darrell Hewlett finished third, Venhaus finished fourth, and last year’s track Champion Dean Hoffman, after having mechanical problems earlier in the night, and having to start last on the field, made his way all the way to the fifth finishing position.
In the Casey’s General Stores Victory Lane, Harrison dedicated the win to his Mother in-law who had passed away earlier in the day, to the memory of Chris Bargetzi and to all who have lost loved ones recently.
Miler Lite Pro Late Models
Mark Oller captured a heat win on his way to winning his first Miller Lite UMP Pro Late Model feature. He outlasted last week’s winner Bobby Martintoni, former UMP National champion and winner of the other heat race, Bobby Dauderman, the 9Star of Jordan Bauer and the 20 of Jon Cory
Factory Stocks; Austin Isaak made his second trip to the Casey’s General Stores Victory Lane in as many weeks finishing ahead of the 8T of T J Eilers, the 
00 of Ryan Emig , the 15 of Michael Ripperda, Jr and the 54 Shaun Hortsmann.
Sport Compacts: Bobby Funderburk made his first trip to the Casey’s General Stores Victory Lane in 2012 keeping ahead of the 47L Christian Lee, last
Sport Mods: Last week’s winner Rob Lee tangled with a lap car while leading the feature event, Lee setting his sights on back to back wins was relegated to 
the back of the field after the mishap. This handed the lead over to Marty Smith JR, giving him his first win in 2012. Rick Johnson finished second, Tyler Diebert third, Steve Stevenson fourth and Jerry Thompson rounded out the top five.
Coming Events:
April 10, 2012: Test & Tune from 5:00 – 8:00 pm. Pits open at 4:30 pm and pit passes are $15. Grandstands are free.
April 14 2012: Excel Bottling Night, from the makers of SKI Soda, give a ways and taste samples of all the fine sodas made by the Excel Bottling Company, plus action in all six Highland Speedway Divisions.
April 21 2012: Hall of Fame Night sponsored by Huddle House with give a ways.
New in 2012 during our Weekly Racing Series: “Pick 3” Contest
Beginning April 7th The Speedway is starting a new weekly contest for our fans.
When you buy your adult grandstand ticket, you will also get a “Pick 3” winner card.
To win you must pick the winner of the 3 Features designated for night.
Turn in your picks to the grandstand gate before the start of the dashes.
If correctly “Pick 3” winners, you will get $100. If there is more than one person who correctly “Picks 3” winners for that night, the money will then be split between all winners.
If no one wins, the money will roll over until someone correctly picks a winner in the three divisions for that night.
The divisions will be change every week. Cards are being provided by Tribout Carnival Supply. You must be over 18 to play.
For more information about the Highland Speedway visit the tracks web site at highlandspeedway.com or on Facebook. You can also get up to date race information on your phone by texting “highland” to 91011.
(Photo Credits; Photo Billy, Used by Permission)
