by Greg Parent (6-27-09)
As rainy weather in the morning gave way to clearing skies in the late afternoon, Cedar Lake Speedway attempted to complete their thirteenth racing program of the season. With the NASCAR Midwest Modifed feature completed and the
NASCAR Pro Stock feature on the track, a heavy rain shower hit the speedway forcing officials to postpone the remaining two feature races. Jason Vandekamp earned his second NASCAR Midwest Modified feature victory of the season, as he passed early leader Shawn Phillips and assumed control of the top spot. With rain quickly approaching the track from the northwest, the NASCAR Pro Stock feature got underway. Greg Nippoldt became the fourth leader of the race just past the halfway point, and when the caution waved with 12 laps in the books for a stalled car, the rain began falling. Since the race was past the halfway mark, track officials called it a completed race and Nippoldt earned his first win of the season. The NASCAR Modified and Late Model features were rained out and will be rescheduled for Saturday July 11 as part of the Firecracker Special with a huge fireworks display slated for that night.
Following heat race action for all classes, a strong field of 26 NASCAR Midwest Modifieds lined up for their 20 lap feature race. The race was under caution immediately when Patrick McCarthy slid into the turn three wall on the opening lap. Defending track champion Shawn Phillips grabbed the early lead when the race restarted with Kyle Steffen and Alex Gerlach battling for second. Jason Vandekamp went from fourth to second on the third lap. The second caution of the race flew a short time later when Jake Miller, Jeremy Houle and Tony Schill got together in turn four. Miller tagged the tail, Schill exited to the pits, and Houle changed a flat tire and returned at the rear of the field as well. Phillips held off Vandekamp for another lap, but on lap 6 Vandekamp moved ahead and into the lead while 9th starter Andy Jones advanced to fourth. At the halfway point, Jones got by Gerlach for third as the leaders encountered lapped traffic. A spin by Jake Miller with 14 laps in brought out another caution. On the restart, E J Heitala got into Alex Gerlach while racing for fourth. Gerlach's car spun around and sustained enough damage to put him out of the race. Heitala earned a trip to the tail of the field. The race then went the remaining six laps caution-free. Vandekamp was in control up front, but the race for second place heated up. Jones was finally able to move past Phillips for second on lap 18, but Vandekamp had a comfortable lead with just two laps to go. Jason Vandekamp raced to his second NASCAR Midwest Modified win of the season. Andy Jones, Shawn Phillips, Bob Smith and Kyle Steffen completed the top five. Rounding out the top ten were Mike Gibson, Vince Corbin, A J Roschen, Josh Bazey, and Jeremy Houle. Jones, Smith and Clark Perry claimed heat race wins.
With dark skies and rain quickly approaching, the NASCAR Pro Stock feature race got underway with 19 of the scheduled 20 starters able to make the call. Rich Bishop blasted into the lead on the opening lap from his pole starting spot with Mike Loomis a close second. Loomis got by Bishop on the second lap to take the lead. Bishop and Tim Borgeson had a good battle for the runnerup spot right behind Loomis. The race was under caution with four laps in for debris in turn four just as the leader looped around in turn two. A huge break for Loomis, as he was able to retain his top running position. On the restart, Borgeson got by Bishop for second. A tremendous battle for the top four spots developed over the next several laps, as Greg Nippoldt was on the move forward. Borgeson slipped past Loomis to lead lap six, but Loomis returned the favor to retake the top spot a lap later. Nippoldt continued his march forward, moving to third on lap six. As Borgeson retook the top spot on lap 8, Nippoldt also moved past Loomis for second. Borgeson held a narrow lead over Nippoldt while Loomis and Bishop raced for the third spot with Shawn Kammerud just behind them in fifth. With rain imminent and light sprinkles falling, Nippoldt got under Borgeson for the lead on lap 11 while Bishop drove past Loomis for third. Loomis got back around Bishop for third on lap 12. The race was under caution with 12 laps completed when fifth place runner Shawn Kammerud stopped in turn two with a breakdown. The skies opened up and the remainder of the program was rained out. Since the race was past the halfway point, track officials called it a completed event. Greg Nippoldt turned in a strong performance to earn his first win of the 2009 season. Tim Borgeson, Mike Loomis, Rich Bishop and Dan Carlson completed the top five. Rounding out the top ten were Jason Schill, Chad Johnson, Ryan Wiome, Lyle Archambeau, and Justin Stahl. Although it was rain-shortened, the NASCAR Pro Stock feature event was a very competitive and entertaining race. Heat race wins went to Kammerud and Nippoldt.
The NASCAR Modified and Late Model feature races were rained out and rescheduled for July 11. Heat race winners in the NASCAR Modified division included Jason Miller, Andy Jones and Craig Brightbill for the 26 cars on hand. NASCAR Late Model heat wins for their 20 car field went to Brent Larson and Rick Egersdorf in an exciting finish. Racing action will continue at the Cedar Lake Speedway next Saturday night July 4 with the 2nd Annual Night of Destruction Thrill Show.
NASCAR Impact Printing Late Models (20 Cars)
Heat 1- Brent Larson, Pat Doar, Rick Hanestad, John Kaanta, Jim Carlson, Joel Cryderman, Mike Bear, Mike Raboin, Dave Friendt, Kelly Anderson
Heat 2- Rick Egersdorf, Jake Redetzke, Chuckie DeSmith, Mike Nutzmann, Adam Hensel, Dennis Larson, Bryan Wennen, Jeff Martire, Jim Bruggeman, Brent Mueller
A-Main Egersdorf, DeSmith, Redetzke, Hanestad, Larson, Nutzmann, Hensel, Carlson, Martire, Bear, D Larson, Mueller, Wennen, Anderson, Raboin, Friendt, Cryderman, Doar, Kaanta, Bruggeman
NASCAR Amsoil Modifieds (26 Cars)
Heat 1- Jason Miller, Terry Hanson, Scott Duvall, Jeremy Gross, Lonnie Louschke, Charlie Hillukka, Chris Gorka, Jason Schill, Jad Carlson
Heat 2- Andy Jones, Jason Gross, Tim Siercks, Justin Schill, Ron Schreiner, Don Brightbill, Keith Lepinski, Scott Splittstoesser, Scott Kobs
Heat 3- Craig Brightbill, Mike Kelley, Dave Siercks, Dave Friendt, Pat Hoffman, Jake Jay, Rick Kobs, Mike Wood
A Main- Jones, C Brightbill, Jeremy Gross, Gross, Kobs, Schill, Splittstoesser, Kelley, Hanson, Hoffman, Friendt, Siercks, Hillukka, Wood, Louschke, J Schill, S Kobs, Lepinski, Miller, Brightbill, D Siercks
NASCAR Goodyear Pro Stocks (20 Cars)
Heat 1- Shawn Kammerud, Mike Loomis, Dan Carlson, Justin Dodge, Joe Nelson, Mike Raboin, Ryan Gangl, Tom Gebauer, Justin Stahl, Tyler Boumeester
Heat 2- Greg Nippoldt, Rich Bishop, Tim Borgeson, Lyle Archambeau, Jason Schill, Chad Johnson, Ryan Wiome, Brian Lick, Cody Campeau, Marcel Hoaglan
A Main- Nippoldt, Borgeson, Loomis, Bishop, Carlson, Schill, Johnson, Wiome, Archambeau, Stahl, Dodge, Campeau, Hoaglan, Gebauer, Kammerud, Lick, Nelson, Gangl, Raboin, Boumeester
NASCAR Grand Casino Midwest Modifieds (27 Cars)
Heat 1- Andy Jones, Alex Gerlach, EJ Heitala, Kyle Steffen, Vince Corbin, Tony Schill, Robbie Franklin, Nick Frion, Ryan Nieters
Heat 2- Bob Smith, Jason Vandekamp, Jeremy Houle, Mike Gibson, AJ Roschen, Dave Swearingen, Patrick McCarthy, Brady Gerdes, Trevor Alms
A Main- Vandekamp, Jones, Phillips, Smith, Steffen, Gibson, Corbin, Roschen, Bazey, Houle, Swearingen, Heitala, Franklin, Siercks, Alms, Frion, T Steffen, Gerlach, Herbison, Miller, Perry, Peterson, Gerdes, Kobs, Schill, McCarthy, Nieters