ARCADIA, Wis. -- The United States Modified Touring Series made it’s second appearance of the season at Fox Ridge Speedway of Friday.

A quality group of 33 Modifieds was on hand including series regulars like Jason Hughes, Tommy Myer, Kelly Shryock, and Corey Dripps. When the USMTS visited FRS back in July, it was the local guys that dominated the feature with Knapp, WI’s Craig Thatcher taking the win followed by Winonan’s Bob Timm and Les Duellman.

This time however, it was the travelers that would prevail.

Thatcher, starting from the outside of row one of the 30 lap feature, got out to an early lead, but was followed closely by pole sitter Hughes. Garner, IA’s Dean Mahlstedt jumped into third with fellow Iowan Shryock in fourth. Mahlstedt, who appeared to be the among the favorites in the feature coming off a dominating performance while capturing his heat, vaulted from his sixth starting spot into third on the first lap. On lap two, Mahlstedt moved into position to challenge Hughes for second, when suddenly something went awry with his ride, forcing him to the pits and ending his promising night with disappointment.

Mahlstedt’s misfortune turned into opportunity for Shryock who then took over the third spot. On lap three, Hughes was battling Thatcher for the lead, allowing Shryock to close the gap on the two leaders.

By lap five, Hughes was able to get past Thatcher and the two ran that way, until a yellow on lap eight tightened up the field. On the restart, Hughes took the lead followed by Shryock, with Hudson’s Ron Schreiner moving past Thatcher into third. The front of the pack remained that way until Thatcher’s night ended on lap 14 due to mechanical failure.

On lap 16, the caution again dropped due to debris on the track in turn three. On the restart, Schreiner gained the lead from Hughes with Shryock in third and local drivers Karl Fenske and Timm moving into fourth and sixth respectively. Shryock, Hughes, and Schreiner fought for the lead until lap 20, when both Shryock and Hughes got past Schreiner. The lead group remained essentially the same while Tommy Myer and Corey Dripps moved into the fray for fourth on back stretch.

Schreiner got past Hughes and back into second but could not challenge Shryock who went on to take the checkered flag. Hughes finished third followed by Myer, Cedar Falls, IA’s Dripps, Fenske, and Timm.

Winners in the USMTS heats were Thatcher, Mahlstedt, Mark Noble, and Shryock while Les Duellman and Pea Ridge, Arkansas’ Johnny Bone, Jr. took the B Features.

In talking with Arcadia driver John Doelle, he stated that the track was in fairly good condition. Even with the somewhat slick surface, the track was still conducive to good racing. However, during the Modified feature, with several of the cars running the extreme bottom, they kept throwing loose marbles into the grooves, making for extremely difficult conditions. Doelle stated that it was somewhat similar to running up into the marbles on an asphalt track. The Arcadia driver who is in his second year in the WISSOTA modifieds class is currently second in track points and trails only Karl Fenske.

The night’s racing progressed at a good pace, without one caution during the entire heat portion of the program

The Midwest Modifieds took to the track for the first feature. Jeff Ringenberg, who is currently second in the Midwest Mods points race started from the pole, while current points leader, Dan Fagerlind did not have that fortune, starting well back in the pack. Ringenberg took the lead at the drop of the green and opened a comfortable early lead. Marshfield’s Jack Larson took off in hot pursuit and by lap five, had caught Ringenberg. On lap six, as Larson appeared ready to take the lead, his car suddenly slowed. The problem was terminal for the hard charger, ending his night prematurely. After Larson’s misfortune, the only other competitor to give Ringenberg a challenge was Bangor’s Dan Koziol. Koziol closed on Ringenberg, but was never able to seriously challenge for the lead, with Ringenberg taking the win followed by Koziol, Harlan Morehart, Fagerlind, Matt Durnen, and Bud Pehler.

Ringenberg took his heat also for a sweep of the Midwest Mods. Durnen won the other Midwest heat.

Current points leader, Travis Krause had the fortune of starting from the pole in the WISSOTA Street Stock feature. Krause jumped to a large early lead with Andy Bohnstengel and Dave Nastvold battling for second. By lap four, Shawn Wehlage had moved into second and begun chasing down Krause.

On lap six, the first yellow of the night came out when Randy Bradford and Matt Wolfe tangled in turn three. Officials were going to charge Bradford with the caution, sending him to the back of the pack, but it was here that Dennis Davis stepped up and admitted that Bradford’s spin was actually his fault. You have to give Davis credit for his honesty in doing the right thing. Good job Dennis!

Krause stayed in the lead on the restart, but Wehlage remained in close pursuit until lap ten, when Wehlage was able to pull along side Krause at the flag stand with Wehlage taking the lead. Krause was able to keep close but could never get by Wehlage. The racing was tight and furious behind the leaders, with the group that was fighting for fourth place coming out of turn four, five wide at one point. Tom Hund took third while Bohnstengel and Nastvold rounded out the top five.

Wehlage also had a sweep, having take the third heat earlier in the night. Krause and Hund were also winners in their heats.

In the WISSOTA Super Stocks, Dennis Earney was able to take advantage of his outside pole to grab the lead with Troy Langowski taking over second. On lap two, Langowski took the lead from Earney, but the Cochrane driver was not about to give in easily, regaining the lead from Langowski on the next lap. In the meantime, Bloomer’s Shawn Huse moved into contention, eventually capturing second from Langowski on lap eight. Huse’s pursuit of Earney was relentless, with the two pushing it to the limit for several laps. On lap 11, Earney went into turn three a little too hot, causing him to slide high. With Huse hugging the bottom of the track, he was able to gain the lead for good and with about five laps to go, checked out on the field. Huse took the checkered going away, followed by Earney, Langowski, Dan Nissalke, Kelly Anderson, Troy Brand, and Nick Herrick.

Brand, Langowski, and Huse took their heats respectively, but the “Rocket Rider of the Night” award had to go to Nissalke. It was Nissalke who, in the third heat started out in sixth place but by the middle of the back stretch on lap one, had moved into second place. The burst of speed that Nissalke showed caused many in the crowd to look in amazement asking “how did he do that?”.

Fox Ridge returns to it’s regular racing program next Friday Night, with Late Models, WISSOTA Modifieds, Midwest Modifieds, Super Stocks and Street Stocks. There is only one week remaining before the track championships on Friday Night of Labor Day weekend. Kids 12 and under will receive free admission.

<font size="4"><b>RESULTS</b></font>

<B>USMTS MODIFIEDS</B>

Feature – Shryock, Schreiner, Hughes, Myer, Dripps, Fenske, Timm, Steve Wetzstein, Bruce Hanford, Justin Boney

Heat 1 – Thatcher, Dripps, Doelle, Britian, Hesch

Heat 2 – Mahlstedt, Wetzstein, Schreiner, Duellman, Boney

Heat 3 – Mark Noble, Timm, Hughes, Craig Scott, Johnny Bone Jr.

<B>WISSOTA SUPER STOCKS</B>

Feature – Shawn Huse, Dennis Earney, Troy Langowski, Dan Nissalke, Kelly Anderson Troy Brand, Nick Herrick, Gary Wiersgalla, Dan Arneson, Adam Stockhausen

Heat 1 – Brand, Wiersgalla, Kevin Hager, Matt Durnen, Mark Peterson

Heat 2 – Langowski, Stockhausen, Herrick, Anderson, Luke Schultz

Heat 3 – Huse, Nissalke, Earney, Arneson, Jon Duffy

<B>WISSOTA STREET STOCKS</B>

Feature – Shaun Wehlage, Travis Krause, Tom Hund, Andy Bohnstengel, Dave Nastvold, Danny Hanson, Kylan Gamez, Mike Prochnow, Brad Dennis, Fred Prudoehl

Heat 1 – Hund, Bradford, Bohnstengel, Prudoehl, Matt Wolfe

Heat 2 – Krause, Dennis, Nastvold, Hanson, Lee Hager

Heat 3 – Wehlage, Gamez, Mike Prochnow, Dennis Davis, Loppnow

<B>WISSOTA MIDWEST MODIFIEDS</B>

Feature – Jeff Ringenberg, Dan Koziol, Harlan Morehart, Dan Fagerlind, Matt Durnen, James Pehler, Leigh Volkman, Lonnie Seipel, Dareck Volkman, Jack Larson

Heat 1 – Ringenberg, Larson, Dan Hesch, Morehart, Fagerlind

Heat 2 – Durnen