By Terry Lehnertz
© 2007 All The Dirt! Racing News, Inc.

ST. CROIX FALLS, WI (July 6) - Jason Schill, Tim Baxter, Bryce Johnson and Jeff Heintz recorded feature wins during WISSOTA AMSOIL Dirt Track Series racing action Friday at Kopellah Speedway. With less than 48 hours to recover from hosting a track record 115 cars on July 4, track crew members and drivers fought fatigue and high temperatures when the speedway’s regular race schedule resumed. With rapidly run heat races and just two cautions total in the night’s six feature races, the holiday week-ending show was wrapped up in just over two and a half hours.

The WISSOTA Modifieds capped off the evening with yet another one of their breathtaking feature races. Only seven cars answered the bell for feature time, but the quality of the competitors in the field far outweighed the shortage in quantity. Mike Kelley, Jr. started outside his younger brother, Shawn Kelley, on the front row and the brothers completed the entire first lap essentially tied for first. Behind the Kelley brothers were Jason Schill, track point leader Scott Splittstoesser, rookie sensation Andy Miskowic and Wednesday night’s feature winner, Dave Siercks. That competitive quad twice ran four-wide on the opening lap.

Schill slipped by the younger Kelley on lap two, and while Schill fought to stay in second, Mike Kelley, Jr. began to stretch his lead. Things were going well for the elder Kelley brother ahead of the five car battle for second until a lap 10 caution. The stop in action brought Schill up to Kelley’s rear bumper for the restart and, in short order, it became a two car battle for the win and a four car battle for third.

On the restart, the field once again fanned out four-wide, but Schill and Mike Kelley, Jr. were able to put a few car lengths on the rest of the field. After trying both high and low, Schill eventually was able to slide up in front of Kelley for the lead with just three laps remaining. From there the top two cruised out ahead of the continuing wild four car battle for third.

At the checkers, Schill picked up his second win of the season with Mike Kelley, Jr. second. Heat race winner Splittstoesser moved from fifth to third in the final two laps to finish ahead of Shawn Kelley and Siercks.

Brent Prochnow Wins Modified Thriller At Rice Lake

By Ed Reichert

Rice Lake WI, May 5 – Brent Prochnow was one of three drivers to earn their first ever feature win in racing action Saturday night at the Rice Lake Speedway. While Prochnow’s win was a nail biter as he edged defending national champion Craig Thatcher by less than a car length, Jeff Tardy and Jamie Fisher also visited victory lane for the first time here. Other winners included Chad Mahder, Mark Hanson and Scott Clark.

One hundred and forty one drivers signed in to race on a cold, windy and rain threatening night but the hardy fans on hand saw an action packed program topped by six good main events.

The Modified feature was likely the best race of the night as Prochnow and Thatcher battled it out amidst lapped traffic that made an exciting event ever wilder. Rookie Andy Miskowic drew the pole position along side veteran Buddy Mayala but Prochnow made a great move on the opening lap to duck under Miskowic from the second row and take the early lead. One lap was completed before a spin halted the action, with the rest of the contest running nonstop. Prochnow continued to lead under the green but Thatcher quickly moved up from the fourth row to challenge and then drive by Miskowic for second. Dale Mathison and Scott Duval were both on the move and they moved into the third and fourth spots as Thatcher began to reel in Prochnow. Thatcher was quick in the high side and he pulled up beside Prochnow and with a power move down the front chute, edged into the lead. However, Prochnow was not about to give up easily, and he picked up the pace and once again edged past Thatcher back into the lead. Prochnow actually then began to draw away from Thatcher by several car lengths until the leaders caught the back of the pack.

With six cars racing side by side for position, starter Scott Sirek did everything he could to alert the back markers that the leaders were coming up on them. Prochnow tried the low side but got slowed and Thatcher quickly caught him and they raced side by side once again. It looked like Thatcher would pull ahead on the top side but Prochnow made a great move to find a hole on the bottom in turn one and he was able to get by two of the slower cars and put a little distance on Thatcher.

Just as the leaders were ready to take the white flag, Rich Lofthus lost a wheel in turn four but he got his car out of the way and everyone avoided him and the race continued. Thatcher tried to get to the outside of  Prochnow and coming off the last corner they split another lapped car with Prochnow edged out Thatcher at the line by less than a car length. Mathison lost power off the last corner and gave up two positions with Duval and Shane Sabraski edging past him at the line.