A very strong and talented field of 40 Midwest Modifieds signed into the pits at the Cedar Lake Speedway on Saturday evening July 29 for the running of the 4th Annual Eric Herbison Memorial.  Following a caution-plagued 30 lap feature race, Jason Vandekamp of Scandia joined Michael Truscott as a two-time winner of this event in memory of a friend and former track champion.  Despite the seemingly marathon pace of the race over the course of the first thirteen laps, there was some very good racing taking place near the front of the field.  The final seventeen laps clicked off caution-free, as Vandekamp had taken the lead from fellow Scandia racer Mitch Weiss on lap sixteen and sped to the $2,000 victory and his 47th career Midwest Mod win at the popular western Wisconsin dirt oval.

Also on the racing program, which featured a Meet the Drivers autograph session during intermission for the many young race fans on hand, were the Pro Stocks, UMSS Traditional Sprint Cars, and the USRA Limited Late Models.  Brian VanMeveren passed race leader Denny Stordahl on lap 8 of the 20 lap Traditional sprint car feature and went on to pick up his first-ever Cedar Lake Speedway win and second UMSS Traditional sprint car victory of his career.  Dan Gullikson has been dominant in the Pro Stock class at CLS this season, and he continued the mastery of that division with his fourth win of the season and eleventh over all in his racing career at CLS in the pro stocks.  Gullikson took command of the top spot on lap 5 from Mike Loomis and was never seriously challenged after that.  In the USRA limited late models, once again for the fourth time this season Lance Hofer showed the way to Victory Lane.  Justin Sass led just past the halfway mark before Hofer made the winning pass.  Sass ended up in second, a fair distance behind Hofer at the checkers.

The Eric Herbison Memorial is of course for the Midwest Modified division and typically draws a large field of cars.  Four heat races were run using passing and finishing points to determine the top 18 cars locking into the feature with the top six point earners redrawing for the first three rows.  Two B Mains were necessary, advancing the top three finishers to the back of the A Main in order to round out the 24 cars that qualified.  One provisional starter was added to the back of the field to make up the 25 cars that would take the green flag for the 30 lap 4th Annual Eric Herbison Memorial.  Heat race winners included Grant Southworth, Todd Kluever, Jake Smith and Michael Truscott.  Shaun Kelley and Justin Froemming topped the B Mains.  Brock Gronwald took the provisional starting spot.

Weiss and Truscott led the field to the green, as Weiss grabbed the early lead.  A series of seven cautions flew between laps three to thirteen which really slowed the pace of the race.  The racing action up near the front was entertaining despite the numerous stoppages.  Weiss continued to lead throughout the mayhem, as seventh starter Vandekamp slowly made his way forward.  With the race finally clicking off a series of green flag laps, Vandekamp made the winning pass on lap 16 and led to the checkers.  Michael Truscott also got by Weiss and closed in on Vandekamp in the waning laps.  A last ditch effort off of turn four to the checkers came up short, as Vandekamp tied Truscott with two wins in this event.  Weiss held on to third ahead of David Swearingen and Jake Smith.  Rounding out the top ten finishers was Jason Schill, Cody Lee, Skyler Smith, Southworth and Brandon Dollman.  Swearingen earned the $100 Hard Charger Award coming from his 24th starting spot to fourth at the finish.  Random draws in Victory Lane by race winner Jason Vandekamp saw Southworth and Gronwald pick up $100 bonuses.

Thanks to all of the drivers, race fans and sponsors who helped make the 4th Annual Eric Herbison Memorial a tremendous event.  The focus now turns to the 30th Annual USA Nationals on Thursday August 3 through Saturday August 5.  The World of Outlaws Late Models will run a full race program on Thursday evening along with the USRA Limted Late Models.  On Friday the WoO Late Models will have qualifying, heat races and a dash while the NASCAR Late Models will run a full program.  The 30th Annual USA Nationals will conclude on Saturday night August 5 with consolation races and the big 100 lap $50,000-to-win main event.  The NASCAR Late Models will run another full race program.  See you at CLS August 3-5 for the hugely popular USA Nationals.  Check out our website at www.cedarlakespeedway.com to get information on upcoming races, results, photos, news and much more.  You can call us toll free at 1-866-4-CLS-FUN or find us on the social media outlets of Facebook and Twitter.

Midwest Modified Results:

4th Annual Eric Herbison Memorial Feature (30 laps): Jason Vandekamp, Michael Truscott, Mitch Weiss, David Swearingen, Jake Smith, Jason Schill, Cody Lee, Skyler Smith, Grant Southworth, Brandon Dollman, Mason McEvers, Alex Williamson, Kyle Matuska, Zach Benson, Kevin Monteith, Kyle Hallin, Shaun Kelley, Cody Borgeson, Justin Froemming, Cole Chernosky, Todd Kluever, Scott Splittstoesser, Brock Gronwald, Karl Kolek, Tyler Werner.

Lap Leaders: Weiss 1-15, Vandekmap 16-30.
Cautions: (7)

Eric Memorial Feature Winners:
2014 - Michael Truscott
2015 - Michael Truscott
2016 - Jason Vandekamp
2017 - Jason Vandekamp