As cloudy skies gave way to bright sunshine during the afternoon hours, a cool but dry evening set the stage for the running of the fourth Triple Crown event at the Cedar Lake Speedway on May 30.  With all three divisions racing for $3,000 to win, it was a night of seconds at the popular western Wisconsin dirt oval.  Brent Larson earned his second Triple Crown title and became the first driver to win in two divisions, as he led the final 38 circuits in the 40 lap Late Model main event.  Larson had won a modified Triple Crown back in 2012.  Bill Balog became the first driver to double up in one division, as he raced past Ben Schmidt on lap 21 of the 30 lap IRA Outlaw sprint car feature for the victory.  Balog won this event in 2013.  The first feature of the night saw a first-time Triple Crown winner with Andy Jones leading all 35 laps of the Modified feature, most of them with a broken left front ball joint.

With over two inches of rain during the week and a wet day on Friday, the high-banked 3/8th mile track was heavy and rough, as the track required work throughout the evening.  A large crowd was on hand and a strong field of cars set the stage for an evening of high-powered racing with 38 Modifieds, 26 IRA sprint cars and 22 Late Models signed into the pits for what would be 105 laps of feature race action later on in the evening.

The strongest field yet for the Modified division at the Triple Crown was loaded with talent.  Four heats won by Jesse Glenz, Matt Leer, Darrell Nelson and Andy Jones along with two B Mains topped by Mike Anderson and Les Duellman determined the 24 car starting grid for their 35 lap feature.  With passing and finishing points locking in the top 18 cars from the heats, Andy Jones and five-time modified track champion Craig Thatcher earned front row starting spots.  Jones jumped out to the early lead and just a few laps into the race had the problem on the left front.  Two cautions slowed the pace.  The first yellow flew with 10 laps in the books when a couple of cars tangled in turn four.  Jones stopped in turn two under the caution to have track officials look at his car, and they gave him a thumbs-up to continue.  A run of 18 green flag laps saw the leaders right behind a group of cars at the tail end of the lead lap when the final yellow light blinked on.  Jones was able to hold on for his fifth CLS modified win over 9th starter Matt Leer.  Thatcher, Cory Mahder and Nelson completed the top five.  Eric Pember, 23rd starter Jake Timm, 21st starter Brandon Davis, Dan Ebert and 24th starter Jason Miller rounded out the top ten finishers.

Although the numbers were down a little bit, a talented field of 22 Late Models saw Brent Larson, Steve Laursen and Jimmy Mars take heat race wins.  Mars was driving Scott Gilberts car.  Laursen and Larson earned front row starting spots for the 40 lap main event.  Following a quick caution on the opening lap, Steve Laursen led the first two tours before Brent Larson blasted by him.  Larson survived three more caution periods to lead the remaining 38 laps.  The final caution blinked on with seven laps to go when Darrell Nelson and Mars had contact in turn four while battling for second.  Brent Larson picked up his 20th career CLS late model victory as the four-time late model track champion became the first driver to win Triple Crown honors in two divisions.  Mars rode home in second with John Kaanta, 21st starter AJ Diemel and Eric Breeschoten completing the top five.  Jake Redetzke, Rick Hanestad, Laursen, Ben Hanke and Dave Fieber rounded out the top ten.

Concluding the Triple Crown features was the IRA 410 Outlaw Sprint Car 30 lap finale.  Local area driver Travis Whitney set fast time with heat race wins for the 26 cars on hand going to Bill Rose, Ben Schmidt and Scotty Neitzel.  Engine woes sidelined two cars following the heats, so the remaining 24 cars lined up for the feature with no B Main necessary.  The top six cars from qualifying were inverted putting Schmidt and Rick Kelsey on the front row.  Schmidt swept into the early lead and soon Scotty Thiel was in second and tracking down the leader.  The race was stopped twice with 11 laps scored, first when Jordan Goldesberry flipped in turn two and then on the restart when Scotty Biertzer rolled over in turn four.  Thiel and Schmidt swapped the lead once but Schmidt continued to lead.  Seven-time IRA Champion Bill Balog began applying pressure on Thiel for second.  Balog moved to second and closed in on Schmidt following a caution with 17 laps in for a spin.  On lap 21, Balog made the winning pass.  A lap later, the final yellow waved for another spin with scoring reverting back to lap 21.  Balog led the final nine laps uncontested for his second Triple Crown title and his third 2015 IRA win.  Schmidt, Whitney, Thiel and Rose completed the top five.  Eighteen of the 24 starters were still running at the finish.

Racing action continues next Saturday night June 5 at the Cedar Lake Speedway when the first NASCAR Dash Series event for Late Models, Modifieds, Pro Stocks, and Midwest Modifieds kicks off.  Hornets are also part of the show.  Then on Thursday night June 11 to open the 17th Annual Masters weekend, the 2nd Annual Eric Herbison Memorial for Midwest Mods paying $2,000 to win takes place with Pro Stocks also on the program.  Full shows for the USMTS modifieds and UMP Summernationals late models on Friday and Saturday June 12-13 highlight the final two nights of the Masters.  Race results, points, ticket information, the 2015 schedule and much more can be found on the Cedar Lake Speedway website at www.cedarlakespeedway.com or by calling 1-866-CLS-4FUN.  Fans can also follow Cedar Lake Speedway on Facebook.

Cedar Lake Speedway

Late Models 5/30/2015
A Mains:
1. Brent Larson (Lake Elmo, MN), 2. Jimmy Mars (Elk Mound, WI), 3. John Kaanta (Elk Mound, WI), 4. AJ Diemel (Elk Mound, WI), 5. Eric Breeschoten (Buffalo, MN), 6. Jake Redetzke (Eau Claire, WI), 7. Rick Hanestad (Boyceville, wi), 8. Steve Laursen (Cumberland, WI), 9. Ben Hanke (Hudson, WI), 10. Dave Fieber (Chippewa Falls, WI), 11. Chris Olson (Hibbing, MN), 12. Jim Carlson (St. Paul, mn), 13. Joel Collins (Cambridge, MN), 14. Cale Berry (Carver, MN), 15. Darrell Nelson (Hermantown, MN), 16. Lance Matthees (Winona, MN), 17. Greg Nippoldt (Roberts, WI), 18. Adam Hensel (Baldwin, WI), 19. Jeff Massingill (Keewatin, MN), 20. Brandon Jensen (Hammond, WI), 21. Kevin Rogers (Unity, WI), 22. Chad Mahder (Eau Claire, WI),

Heat 1:
1. Brent Larson (Lake Elmo, MN), 2. John Kaanta (Elk Mound, WI), 3. Jim Carlson (St. Paul, mn), 4. Greg Nippoldt (Roberts, WI), 5. Dave Fieber (Chippewa Falls, WI), 6. Chris Olson (Hibbing, MN), 7. Adam Hensel (Baldwin, WI), 8. AJ Diemel (Elk Mound, WI),

Heat 2:
1. Steve Laursen (Cumberland, WI), 2. Eric Breeschoten (Buffalo, MN), 3. Rick Hanestad (Boyceville, wi), 4. Jeff Massingill (Keewatin, MN), 5. Kevin Rogers (Unity, WI), 6. Joel Collins (Cambridge, MN), 7. Lance Matthees (Winona, MN),

Heat 3:
1. Jimmy Mars (Elk Mound, WI), 2. Darrell Nelson (Hermantown, MN), 3. Jake Redetzke (Eau Claire, WI), 4. Brandon Jensen (Hammond, WI), 5. Ben Hanke (Hudson, WI), 6. Cale Berry (Carver, MN), 7. Chad Mahder (Eau Claire, WI),

Modifieds 5/30/2015
A Mains:
1. Andy Jones (Princeton, MN), 2. Matt Leer (Bruce, WI), 3. Craig Thatcher (Knapp, wi), 4. Cory Mahder (Eau Claire, WI), 5. Darrell Nelson (Hermantown, MN), 6. Eric Pember (Pittsville, WI), 7. Jake Timm (Winona, MN), 8. Brandon Davis (Medford, MN), 9. Dan Ebert (Lake Shore, MN), 10. Jason Miller (Osceola, wi), 11. Kelly Anderson (Hager City, WI), 12. Brent Larson (Lake Elmo, MN), 13. Jake Miller (New Richmond, WI), 14. Adam Ayotte (St Paul, MN), 15. Jesse Glenz (Cadott, WI), 16. Mark Hanson (Chippewa Falls, WI), 17. Brandon Jensen (Hammond, WI), 18. Bob Gierke (Westport, MN), 19. Les Duellman (Winona, MN), 20. Cody Wolkowski (Thunder Bay, ON), 21. Keith Foss (Winona, MN), 22. Mike Anderson (Colfax, WI), 23. Jason Gross (Cushing, wi), 24. Brad Waits (Zumbrota, MN),

B Mains 1:
1. Mike Anderson (Colfax, WI), 2. Brandon Davis (Medford, MN), 3. Jake Timm (Winona, MN), 4. Steve Lavasseur (River Falls, WI), 5. Robbie Johnson (Wilson, WI), 6. Owen Grube (Cambridge, MN), 7. Jake Hiatt (River Falls, WI), 8. Pat Hoffman (Rice Lake, WI), 9. Paul Niznik (Medford, WI), 10. Bobby Houston (Frederick, WI),

B Mains 2:
1. Les Duellman (Winona, MN), 2. Keith Foss (Winona, MN), 3. Jason Miller (Osceola, wi), 4. Bob Timm (Winona, MN), 5. Scott Heikkenen (Eveleth, MN), 6. Cory Crasper (Eau Claire, WI), 7. Ted Marrs (East Bethel, MN), 8. Troy Girolamo (Strum, WI), 9. Nate Wasmund (Rochester, MN), 10. Ashley Anderson (Elk MOund, WI),

Heat 1:
1. Jesse Glenz (Cadott, WI), 2. Craig Thatcher (Knapp, wi), 3. Mark Hanson (Chippewa Falls, WI), 4. Kelly Anderson (Hager City, WI), 5. Mike Anderson (Colfax, WI), 6. Brandon Jensen (Hammond, WI), 7. Owen Grube (Cambridge, MN), 8. Pat Hoffman (Rice Lake, WI), 9. Brandon Davis (Medford, MN), 10. Steve Lavasseur (River Falls, WI),

Heat 2:
1. Matt Leer (Bruce, WI), 2. Dan Ebert (Lake Shore, MN), 3. Eric Pember (Pittsville, WI), 4. Cody Wolkowski (Thunder Bay, ON), 5. Les Duellman (Winona, MN), 6. Jake Timm (Winona, MN), 7. Scott Heikkenen (Eveleth, MN), 8. Bob Timm (Winona, MN), 9. Troy Girolamo (Strum, WI), 10. Jason Miller (Osceola, wi),

Heat 3:
1. Darrell Nelson (Hermantown, MN), 2. Cory Mahder (Eau Claire, WI), 3. Jason Gross (Cushing, wi), 4. Bob Gierke (Westport, MN), 5. Paul Niznik (Medford, WI), 6. Adam Ayotte (St Paul, MN), 7. Jake Hiatt (River Falls, WI), 8. Robbie Johnson (Wilson, WI), 9. Bobby Houston (Frederick, WI),

Heat 4:
1. Andy Jones (Princeton, MN), 2. Brad Waits (Zumbrota, MN), 3. Brent Larson (Lake Elmo, MN), 4. Jake Miller (New Richmond, WI), 5. Keith Foss (Winona, MN), 6. Ashley Anderson (Elk MOund, WI), 7. Ted Marrs (East Bethel, MN), 8. Nate Wasmund (Rochester, MN), 9. Cory Crasper (Eau Claire, WI),