HIGHLAND IL (August 18, 2012) – The tops came off and the racing action was hot as Daum Crop Insurance of Greenville presents Topless night at the Highland Speedway. Drivers at the Speedway had the option to remove their roofs so the fans could get a better view of what’s it like to drive a around the Speedway. It definitely gives a different look to the cars.
Becker Jewelers Super Late Models
Mike Schulte by winning the dash, choose the high side for the start of the 25 lap main event. Michael Kloos in the Gerstner and Son’s number 6K, by being runner up in the dash was place on the proverbial pole, inside front row. The advantage Schulte hoped for by starting outside was short lived as by the time the pair rounded out of turn two Kloos was clearly in the lead.
Kloos quickly set the pace and by lap nine the leaders were in lapped traffic. At lap ten the first five were Kloos, Schulte in the 27S, Rick “The Salty Dog” Salter in his 1S, current points leader Chad Zobrist in the 78, and Matt Weidner driving the other Gerstner and Son’s Car, the 6X.
Kloos kept the pace fast was working every inch of the Speedway as he moved through the lap traffic. It stayed caution free until lap 18 when the 49 of Steve Leach spun coming out of turn four. By this time Zobrist had moved up to the second spot and needed the caution to catch the tail of the leader. The top five at this point was Kloos, Zobrist, Schulte, Salter and the 11K of Shannon Kuhn.
Just as quickly as the green came out Kloos was on the move, Zobrist gave a valiant effort but the 6K was just too much. The top five remained the same as on the restart. It was Michaels Kloos’s 6th visit this season to the Casey’s General Stores Victory Lane.
Steve Schmitt Modifieds
Robbie Eilers driving the 24 was the pole winner after winning the dash. Eilers picked the outside front row to start the 20 lap event putting the 70 of Brian Bielong on the inside. At the drop of the green Bielong wasted no time in jumping to the lead. One lap was completed and caution flew for debris. The lineup was Bielong, Eilers, Justin Ketrow in the 6, Marty Smith Jr driving the 55, and Aaron Kleine in his number 13.
By lap ten, the Speedway’s 2011 Steve Schmitt Modified Champion Dean Hoffman driving the 1D, had made his way to the second spot from his ninth place starting position in the field. The duo of Bielong and Hoffman worked their way through lap traffic with the 70 of Bielong staying out front. Caution on lap 18 set up a green-white-checker two lap sprint to the finish. Hoffman had sparks flying from the rear bumper of his racer as he went as high as possible to get a run on Bielong. But the 1D came up short as Brian Bielong took his number 70 into the Casey’s General Store’s Victory Lane for an unprecedented 8th time this season. Hoffman, Kleine, Ketrow and Smith Jr, rounded out the top five.
Miller Lite Pro Late Models
Bobby Dauderman found his way for the 4th time this season into the Casey’s General Stores Victory Lane. Other than a snafu on the start of the race it went the entire 20 laps caution free. Following Dauderman across the stripe were Rick Salter in the USA 1, Bobby Martintoni in the 48, Mark Oller in the 67 and John Cory in the 20
Sport Mods
Rob Lee was victorious for the 8th time this season in the new class at the Speedway, Jeremy Thoele, Rick Johnson, Jim Lafferty, Jr, and Brett Eilerman made up the top five.
Factory Stocks
In a bizarre finish to the factory stock division feature, Adam Koch, after taking a several year layoff, returned for the first time to the Casey’s General Stores Victory Lane.
The top four cars on the next to the last lap got tangled up at the bottom of turns three and four sending all four to the rear. Koch who had been running fifth became the new leader and held on for the victory. As he said in his post race interview “it wasn’t the way he’d like to win it but he’d take it” .Justin Leichsenring, Cale Hartnagel, Brian Crawford, and Cody Ventimiglia completed the top five.
Sport Compacts
Bobby Funderburk made his fourth trip to the Casey’s General Stores Victory Lane this season, Rob Shaw, Kenny Elliott, Christian Lee, and Josh Bauer were the top five.
Coming Events
August 25 -Family night at the Races Sponsored by Miller Lite (Giveaways by Miller Lite) -Double Features for SportMods, Bombers, and Hornets Micros also racing
September 1 Labor Day Weekend NO RACES
September 8 – Casey’s General Stores Night
September 11 – Test & Tune Tuesday 5:00 – 8:00pm
September 15 – Championship Night & Pick 3 Second Chance Night
September 22 – Championship Night & Pick 3 Second Chance Night
