Highland Speedway was one of the only tracks racing on Saturday, April 18. Mother Nature held off until the races were over and 114 drivers were thankful. The Steve Schmitt Modified division of 20 cars started off the evening. It was Michael VandeRiet, Jr of Mexico City who took the first checkered flag of the night. He was chased by Steve Ellison, Paul Becker, and Tyler Deibert. Second heat saw Highland’s own Mike Harrison lead Marty Smith, Jr, Dean Hoffman, and Robbie Eilers. Third heat went to Aaron Kleine over Jim Werner, Jr, Eric Goetter, and Chad Sellers. Jim Werner, Jr took the win in the dash leading Harrison, Ellison, and Kleine. However, the checkered flag in the Feature went to Mike Harrison. He was chased by Werner, Jr, Hoffman, Kleine, Ellison, Eilers, Goetter, Ron Hartnagel, Sellers, Deibert, Matt Acord, Andy Oswald, Roger Fohne, Steve Lach, Aaron Muller, Chris Smith, Paul Becker, Aaron Marquardt, and VandeRiet, Jr.
The UMP Late Model division had 22 race cars who wanted to take the checkered flag. It was Marine’s Mark Voigt who took the first heat. He beat out Paul Bailey, Tim Manville, and Bobby Martintoni. Second heat top dog was Michael Kloos over Mark Faust, Bobby Dauderman, and Bob Geaschel. Third heat winner Rick Salter won over Chad Zobrist, John Beck, and Ryan Driemeyer. The dash belonged to Chad Zobrist. He was followed by Kloos, Bailey, and Faust. Michael Kloos took first place in the Feature by leading Faust, Salter, Zobrist, Voigt, Manville, and Frankie Martin, Kerry Gaultney, John Beck, Mike Schulte, Brent Helmkamp, Dave Thornton, Michael Jacober, Steve Leach, Brant Kehrer, Bob Geaschel, Dauderman, Bailey, Driemeyer, Shannon Kuhn, Martintoni, and John Corey.
The UMP Sportsman division had 20 cars who wanted to take home the Feature trophy. It was Andy Casper who took the checkered flag in the first heat then Greg Spencer, Jimmy Cummins, and Nathan Schmitt. Ryan Eilers crossed the finish line first then Russell Eilers, Aaron Melton, and Tory Ernst in the second heat. Third heat winner was Jim Lafferty, Allan Geiseking, Justin Durbin, and Mark Bohnenstiehl. Dash order of finish was Andy Casper, Ryan Eilers, Geiseking, and Russell Eilers. The Feature winner for the third week in a row was Russell Eilers. He led Casper, Geiseking, Ryan Eilers, Spencer, Nathan Schmitt, Melton, Cummins, Bryan Slover, Tory Ernst, Rob Lee, Rick Johnson, Lafferty, Jon Ripperda, Bohnenstiehl, Bobby Silkwood, Danny Beard, Jon Huegen, Dan Ricklefs, Jr, and Justin Durbin.
The UMP Factory Stock had 31 drivers who hoped to be taking home a trophy. This week the division started by having two Features. There will be an A Feature and a B Feature. The first heat winner was last year’s rookie of the year – Sean Denison. He led Trevor Isaak, Justin Shaw, and Jason Suhre. Seond heat saw Charlie Durbin beat out Jordan Suhre, Aaron Wood, and Tracy VonRohr. Third heat had Bob Zbinden take his first win over Josh James, Joe Swip, and Joe Joyce. Zbinden took his second flag of the evening by winning the A Feature. He was followed by Denison, Durbin, Trevor Isaak, Wood, Shaw, James, Matt Hamblin, Joe Swip, Jordan Suhre, VonRohr, Justin Suhre, Jason Suhre, Joyce, and Eddie Sterns. The B Feature was won by Jeremy Izard. He was chased by Nick Knebel, Jon Easley, Scott Egbert, Tom Eilers, Travis Horner, Dan Dodson, Willy Myers, Justin Hall, Rick Vivano, Ryan Timmons, Ed Martiszus, Austin Isaak, Tony Stinde, and Kyle Swip.
The Street Stock division had 21 cars. It was Bobby Dees, Jr who took the first checkered flag in the first heat. He beat out Steve Lech, Jake Hewitt, and Billy Kruep. Second heat went to TJ Eilers, Terry McCann, Brad Venhaus, and Stephen Fohne. Third heat top dog Dennis Ponder won over Michael Ripperda, Jr, Jeff Buss, and Jordan Bauer. It was Michael Ripperda, Jr who took the checkered flag for the second time this season. He was chased by Ponder, TJ Eilers, McCann, Kruep, Dees, Jr, Bauer, AJ Clline, Venhaus, Fohne, Buss, Shaun Hortsmann, Vince Pratt, Stephen Flannery, Jr, Kory Riegel, Justin Leischsenring, Hewitt, James Rhoades, Jr, Larry Smith, Jr, Steve Leach, and Dusty Sampson.
Next Saurday, April 25, will be Daum Insurance night. For more information please check out our website, www.highlandspeedway.com.