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  .: July 28, 2018 :.

Mars Tops Rice Lake Speedway Challenge Series Race

By Ed Reichert

Rice Lake WI, July 28 – Jimmy Mars passed Lance Matthees on lap six and led the remaining thirty four laps to win the Wollak Construction WISSOTA Challenge Series Late Model event Saturday night at the Rice Lake Speedway. For Mars, it was a weekend sweep as he won the Challenge Series race at Gondik Law Speedway in Superior on Friday night also to make it a perfect weekend for the Menomonie racer.

Matthees got the jump on Rick Hanestad to lead the first five laps of the race as he worked the high side of the track. Mars started fourth after the redraw and within a couple of laps was able to drive by Hanestad also and then close on Matthees.

With a strong move down the back chute, Mars dove low in turn three, slid up the track in front of Matthees and took over the lead. Behind them, Pat Doar was moving in to challenge Hanestad with James Giossi and Jake Redetzke also on the move.

As Mars started to stretch his lead, Doar and Giossi both were able to get past Hanestad and move up while Redetzke and a charging A. J. Diemel battled at length for a position. A quick yellow on lap sixteen for a Randy Gullixson stall bunched the field and then one lap later, a much lengthier yellow occurred.

Battling in the pack, Mark Hessler and Mike Prochnow made contact and they became locked together and the track crew had considerable difficulty dislodging the two cars from each other. It took several moments and three wreckers but finally they were pried apart with Hessler calling it a night and Prochnow heading to the work area for repairs.

Back on the green, Mars again resumed his strong lead which grew to nearly a straightaway as Matthees tried to stay with him. Doar and Giossi continued to follow them with Diemel moving into the top five as the race reached its halfway point.

Again Mars lost his big lead when a two car tangle occurred with twenty eight laps in the books and on the green, Matthees made a strong move in turn one and was able to nose under Mars, but Jimmy accelerated down the back chute and regained his edge. One more late yellow for a minor spin set up an eight lap race to the finish.

Mars pulled away once again as he was not to be challenged on this night and he raced under the checkered with a comfortable margin over second place Matthees. Doar maintained his third place most of the contest and fattened his point lead in the Challenge Series while Giossi slipped high in turn four with just a few laps remaining and Diemel ducked past him to finish fourth with Giossi rounding out the top five.

Sixth through tenth were Redetzke, Darrell Nelson, Hanestad, Jeff Massingill and Mike Nutzmann. Heat race winners for the twenty six car field were Mars, Redetzke and Hanestad. For Mars, the win was worth $2,000. Mars, who has raced sparingly at the Rice Lake Speedway in recent years, recorded his first win at the track since 2010.

The Wollak Construction Challenge Series now moves on the Red Cedar Speedway in Menomonie Wisconsin for the second annual Duane Mahder 55 Memorial race on Friday night, August 17th.

SUMMARY

Rice Lake Speedway

Rice Lake WI

July 28, 2018

Wollak Construction WISSOTA Challenge Series 40 lap Feature

Jimmy Mars(Menomonie), Lance Matthees(Winona MN), Pat Doar(New Richmond), A.J. Diemel(Elk Mound), James Giossi(New Richmond), Jake Redetzke(Eau Claire), Darrell Nelson(Hermantown MN), Rick Hanestad(Boyceville), Jeff Massingill(Keewatin MN), Mike Nutzmann(New Richmond), Dave Fieber, Greg Nippoldt, Buddy Hanestad, Marshall Fegers, Steve Laursen, Nate Beyenhof, Jim Carlson, Scott Meeds, Jordan Tollakson, Sam Motzer, Denny Cutsforth, Blake Swenson, Jesse Glenz, Mike Prochnow, Mark Hessler, Randy Gullixson

12 lap Heat winners: Mars, Redetzke, Hanestad

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