Hanson Tops Opening Night of “Punky”

By Ed Reichert

      Photos by Chris Burback

Menomonie WI, September 21 – One hundred, sixty six cars signed in for the opening night of the twenty eighth annual Punky Manor Challenge of Champions Friday night at the Red Cedar Speedway and Mark Hanson of Chippewa Falls was the winner during the opening night feature action.

Qualifying races were held for AMSOIL Dirt Track Series racing under the WISSOTA sanctioning banner for Late Models, Modifieds and Super Stocks while the Midwest Modifieds contested a complete racing program. The last chance races and feature races for the other three classes will be held on Saturday night.

Hanson led all the way in the Midwest Modified main event but he was pressured all the way by first Wayne Dean and then Shane Halopka. Hanson jumped into the initial lead with Dean right in his tire tracks on the opening rounds as Halopka and Bryan Hessler battled for third. Mark Gerth moved in to challenge also while Sketter Estey was making some strong advances from mispack.

A yellow for debris on the track bunched the field and Halopka got a good restart as he drove round Dean for second and closed in to challenge Hanson for the lead. Gerth and Dean then started to battle for the third position with Estey joining that fight.

Again the yellow flew at midpoint of the race for debris again and Halopka got beside Hanson racing into turn one. Shane nearly edged past Mark for the lead but Hanson got a good run down the back chute and held his position. Dean moved back up beside Gerth as they battled for third and Terry Sirek now began to challenge Estey for the fifth spot.

Hanson continued to run the low groove with Halopka right on his rear bumper looking for any opening. The battle for third was side by side as was the race for fifth. With the laps running down, Halopka made one last drive low in turn two, but Hanson out powered him down the back chute and held on for a two car length win. Gerth held off the charging Dean for third with Sirek completing the top five.
SUMMARY

Red Cedar Speedway

Menomonie WI

September 21, 2007

WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds

15 lap Feature – Mark Hanson, Shane Halopka, Mark Gerth, Wayne Dean, Terry Sirek, Sketter Estey, Andy Jones, Travis Hallquist, Justin Supri, Clayton Wagamon, Bryan Hessler, Greg Chesley, Jim Bourn, Ronnie Rihn, Mike Brennan, Jesse Ogston, Cory Williams, Scott Erickson, Reid Teigs, Nick Frion, Randy Bargender, Chris Bretting, Bryce Johnson, Ivan Simmerman (DQ).

6 lap B Feature 1 – B. Johnson, Bargender, A.J. Roschen, Tom Johnson, Robbie Johnson(DQ), Gary Sorenson(DQ).

B Feature 2 – Simmerman, Erickson, Nick Koehler, Kenny Jordan Jr, Brandon Larson, McAdam Kensmoe, Nate Szymoniak(DQ).

10 lap Heat 1 – Halopka, Bretting, Brennan, Supri, Chesley, B. Johnson, Justin Sass, Bargender, Brad Hudson.

Heat 2 – Hanson, Gerth, Estey, Frion, Rihn, Larson, Kensmoe, Erickson, Koehler.

Heat 3 – Dean, Jones, Hallquist, Bourn, Williams, R. Johnson, Sorenson, Roschen.

Heat 4 – Halopka, Sirek, Wagamon, Ogston, Teigs, Szymoniak, Jordan Jr, Simmerman, T. Johnson.

WISSOTA Late Models

10 lap Heat 1 – Mike Goodremote, Marshall Fegers, Keith Foss, Harry Hanson, Tom Nesbitt, Chris Oertel, John Meeds, David McDonald, Jeff Massingill.

Heat 2 – John Kaanta, Joel Cryderman, Gary Baxter, Randy Gullixson, Cory Mahder, Jeff Aikey, Mike Prochnow, Adam Hensel, Roger Paolo.

Heat 3 – Jake Redetzke, Chad Mahder, Brent Larson, Steve Isenberg, Steve Laursen, Duane Mahder, Nick Anvelink, Nick Herrick, Terry Anvelink.

Heat 4 - Pat Doar, Rick Egersdorf, A.J. Diemel, Darrell Nelson, Ron Schreiner, Rick Hanestad, Ron Berna, Gordie Seegert Jr.

Heat 5 – Jimmy Mars, Todd Flannery, Lance Matthees, Mark Mitchell, M.J. McBride, Scott Gilberts, John Massingill, Chuckie DeSmith.

WISSOTA Modifieds

10 lap Heat 1 – Brent Prochnow, Bryan Nayes, Jamie Lautigar, Steve Lavasseur, Don Brightbill, Adam Hensel, Jeff Netzer, Jake Hartung, Duane Dale, Todd Siddons.

Heat 2 – Craig Thatcher, Dave Cain, Mike Anderson, Kelly Estey, Mike Goodremote, Scott Hudack, Jay Richardson, Ross Prochnow, Bill Stettner.

Heat 3 – Robby Bunkelman, Darrell Nelson, Scott Duval, Steve Wik, Mark Baxter, Aric Lindberg, Kevin Rogers, Mark Hessler, Marc Johnson, Brian Crapser.

Heat 4 – Paul Knauf, Kent Baxter, Jerry Hartman, Al Uotinen, Rick Friendt, Aaron Wilson, Dean Yrjanainen, Tim Shackleton, Jerry Weigel, Darrel Hazelton.

WISSOTA Super Stocks

10 lap Heat 1 – Rick Przybylski, Scott Lawrence, Ben Hillman, Chad Johnson, Aaron Wilson, Ryan Olson, Joe Rhead, Rod Dregney, Greg Alling, Kenny Davis.

Heat 2 – Mike Anderson, Eric Olson, Jake Redetzke, Dave Emerfall, Steve Burns, Brian Mikkonen, Charley Obermueller, Donnie Talmage, Karl Dicks, Kori Richter.

Heat 3 – Cory Davis, Brad Banitt, Mike Keller, Rich Bishop, Jeff Bush, Kevin Eder, Greg Nippoldt, Mike Hince, Gary Wiersgalla.

Heat 4 – Steve Hallquist, Tom Karis, Wyatt Wolfe Jr., Steve Zurek, Mark Stender, John Hunker, Jim Harris, Pat Jungerberg.

Heat 5 – Steve Thomas, Destin Lorimor, Tony Gates, Bernie Christianson, Rick Hallquist, Paul Erikson, Kevin Salin, Brad Johnson, Tim Borgeson(DQ).