Kloos Wins on Last Lap Pass
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 misfortunes (he broke leading the feature). Voigt immediately jumped to the high side while last year’s track Champion Chad Zobrist decided to work the low groove and by lap six Zobrist took the 78 machine to the point clearing Voigt by several car lengths.
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.
Kleine and former Factory Stock stand out Brad Venhaus also won heats.
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 week’s winner, Kenny Elliott , Jordan Suhre in the 26 and Zach Schantz in the 128 .
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.
UMP Becker Jewlers Late Model – Heat 1
Finish Car No Driver
1 78 Chad Zobrist
2 1S Rick Salter
3 6K Michael Kloos
4 27S Mike Schulte
5 71 Louie Baker, Jr
6 11K Shannon Kuhn
7 37 Brian Wolfmeier
(Late-UMP Becker Jewlers Late Model – Heat 2
Finish Car No Driver
1 10S Scott Schmitt
2 30V Mark Voigt
3 CRCL7 Matt Weidner
4 87 Jason Zobrist
5 25 Frankie Martin
6 21 Kerry Gaultney
7 76 Kellen Conover
(Late-UMP Becker Jewlers Late Model – Dash)
Finish Car No Driver
1 10S Scott Schmitt
2 30V Mark Voigt
3 78 Chad Zobrist
4 6K Michael Kloos
5 CRCL7 Matt Weidner
6 1S Rick Salter
(Late-UMP Becker Jewlers Late Model – Feature)
Finish Car No Driver
1 6K Michael Kloos
2 78 Chad Zobrist
3 CRCL7 Matt Weidner
4 1S Rick Salter
5 10S Scott Schmitt
6 25 Frankie Martin
7 22 Dan Jacober
8 37 Brian Wolfmeier
9 27S Mike Schulte
10 21 Kerry Gaultney
11 30V Mark Voigt
12 71 Louie Baker, Jr
13 11K Shannon Kuhn
14 87 Jason Zobrist
15 76 Kellen Conover
Modified-UMP Steve Schmitt Modified – Heat 1
Finish Car No Driver
1 13 Aaron Kleine
2 42 Steve Lach
3 45 Trista Stevenson
4 24J Jacob Steinkoenig
5 81 Paul Bailey
6 101 Jeff Buss
7 25 Brett Korves
Modified-UMP Steve Schmitt Modified – Heat 2
Finish Car No Driver
1 24H Mike Harrison
2 40 Steven Ellison
3 75 Darrell Hewlett
4 11 Chad Sellers
5 24 Kyle Steffens
6 56 Dane Gundaker
Modified-UMP Steve Schmitt Modified – Heat 3
Finish Car No Driver
1 55V Brad Venhaus
2 99K Dustin Knerrer
3 15 Chris Smith
4 84 Tyler Deibert
5 1Z Zach Hoffman
6 1D Dean Hoffman DNS
Modified-UMP Steve Schmitt Modified – Feature
Finish Car No Driver
1 24H Mike Harrison
2 13 Aaron Kleine
3 75 Darrell Hewlett
4 55V Brad Venhaus
5 1D Dean Hoffman
6 84 Tyler Deibert
7 45 Trista Stevenson
8 42 Steve Lach
9 15 Chris Smith
10 81 Paul Bailey
11 11 Chad Sellers
12 56 Dane Gundaker
13 1Z Zach Hoffman
14 99K Dustin Knerrer
15 24J Jacob Steinkoenig
16 24 Kyle Steffens
17 101 Jeff Buss
18 40 Steven Ellison
19 70 Brian Bielong DNS
20 25 Brett Korves DNS
Crates-UMP Miller Lite Pro Late Model – Heat 1
Finish Car No Driver
1 18 Bobby Dauderman
2 20 John Cory
3 52 Billy Knebel, Jr
4 4 Jason Suhre
5 9T Travis Horner
6 13R Dustin Reese
Crates-UMP Miller Lite Pro Late Model – Heat 2
Finish Car No Driver
1 67 Mark Oller
2 9* Jordan Bauer
3 48 Bobby Martintoni
4 6E Ray Emling
5 24 Dick Taylor
6 96 Matt Koch
Crates-UMP Miller Lite Pro Late Model – Feature
Finish Car No Driver
1 67 Mark Oller
2 48 Bobby Martintoni
3 18 Bobby Dauderman
4 9* Jordan Bauer
5 20 John Cory
6 52 Billy Knebel, Jr
7 4 Jason Suhre
8 24 Dick Taylor
9 96 Matt Koch
10 6E Ray Emling
11 9T Travis Horner
12 13R Dustin Reese
SportMod-UMP Limited Modified – Heat 1
Finish Car No Driver
1 92J Rick Johnson
2 88 Rob Lee
3 84 Tyler Deibert
4 18 Jerry Thompson
5 65 Brad Crawford
6 21 Dan DuBree
7 17 Mike Jones
SportMod-UMP Limited Modified – Heat 2
Finish Car No Driver
1 55 Marty Smith, Jr
2 1S Steve Stevenson
3 11L Curt Loddeke
4 1G Len Garson
5 33L Caleb Lintezenich
6 15B Terry Bolin
SportMod-UMP Limited Modified – Feature
Finish Car No Driver
1 55 Marty Smith, Jr
2 92J Rick Johnson
3 84 Tyler Deibert
4 1S Steve Stevenson
5 18 Jerry Thompson
6 1G Len Garson
7 65 Brad Crawford
8 21 Dan DuBree
9 11L Curt Loddeke
10 88 Rob Lee
11 33L Caleb Lintezenich
12 15B Terry Bolin
13 17 Mike Jones DNS
Bomber-UMP Factory Stock – Heat 1
Finish Car No Driver
1 53 Justin Leichsenring
2 6I Austin Isaak
3 36 Eric Harris
4 441 Cody Ventimiglia
5 9X Trevor Isaak
6 54 Shaun Hortsmann
Bomber-UMP Factory Stock – Heat 2
Finish Car No Driver
1 0 Ryan Emig
2 8T T J Eilers
3 32T Jacob Tompkins
4 29H Cale Hartnagel
5 15 Michael Ripperda, Jr
Bomber-UMP Factory Stock – Feature
Finish Car No Driver
1 6I Austin Isaak
2 8T T J Eilers
3 0 Ryan Emig
4 15 Michael Ripperda, Jr
5 54 Shaun Hortsmann
6 36 Eric Harris
7 9X Trevor Isaak
8 29H Cale Hartnagel
9 441 Cody Ventimiglia
10 53 Justin Leichsenring
11 32T Jacob Tompkins
Hornet-UMP Sport Compact – Heat 1
Finish Car No Driver
1 63 Brett Eilerman
2 26 Jordan Suhre
3 21J Kerry Kehrer
4 89 Alex Heine
5 48 Joe Wagner
6 83K Nolan Kaufman
7 91 Matthew Dunaway
Hornet-UMP Sport Compact – Heat 2
Finish Car No Driver
1 97 Bobby Funderburk
2 128 Zach Schantz
3 7S Kate Smith
4 14 Gary Jones
5 55J James Southers
6 1B Robbie Bindrim
7 81LE Lacey Egbert
Hornet-UMP Sport Compact – Heat 3
Finish Car No Driver
1 18 Kenny Elliott
2 47L Christian Lee
3 WHO2 Eldon Hemken
4 19* Josh Bauer
5 21M Willy Myers
6 121V Rick Viviano
7 22 Duane Dubree
Hornet-UMP Sport Compact – Feature
Finish Car No Driver
1 97 Bobby Funderburk
2 47L Christian Lee
3 18 Kenny Elliott
4 26 Jordan Suhre
5 128 Zach Schantz
6 21M Willy Myers
7 WHO2 Eldon Hemken
8 7S Kate Smith
9 55J James Southers
10 89 Alex Heine
11 21J Kerry Kehrer
12 121V Rick Viviano
13 19* Josh Bauer
14 83K Nolan Kaufman
15 81LE Lacey Egbert
16 48 Joe Wagner
17 22 Duane Dubree
18 1B Robbie Bindrim
19 63 Brett Eilerman
20 14 Gary Jones
21 91 Matthew Dunaway