Sauter, Wood and Moyer Take Home the Checkered Flags at MIS
For the ninth straight time he’s visited Madison International Speedway, Travis Sauter picked up another checkered flag by winning the 100 lap Triple Crown Challenge. John Wood won the feature for the Club La Mark Midwest Trucks while Aaron Moyer won again in the Pellitteri Waste Systems Legends.
Sauter Takes the Checkered Flag Once Again
Travis Sauter worked his way through the field from his fourteenth starting position to pick up his ninth straight win at Madison.
Casey Johnson and Thor Anderson brought the field of twenty cars to the green flag with Johnson taking the top spot from the start. He led the first four laps before the caution flag was displayed on lap four when Gary Lamonte spun in turn four.
Johnson continued to lead after the restart despite heavy pressure from Blake Brown. Dale Nottestad took second away from Brown on lap 7 when he worked his way to the inside coming out of turn three. Nottestad wasted no time hunting down the leader and quickly closed the gap with Anderson, Travis Sauter, and Steve Rubeck completing the top five. On lap 12 Sauter powered his way to the inside of Anderson to take fourth and set his sights on Brown. Two laps later he found himself in third place some fifteen cars lengths behind the top two.
On lap 27 Sauter had caught Nottestad to take over second place just before the caution flag came out on lap 28 when Kelsey Bauer and Gary Lamonte spun in turn four.
Sauter lined up on the outside of Johnson on the restart and on lap 30 was able to take the top spot. The caution flag came out on lap 35 when Mikie Breiner spun coming out of turn two.
This restart found Johnson lining up on the outside of Sauter, but unable to get the grip to take back the lead. Behind the top two, Brown was in third followed by Rich Bickle Jr. and Nick Murgic, but once again the caution flag came out when Dale Nottestad’s car had issues coming out of turn four.
Sauter maintained his lead when the race went green again followed by Johnson, Bickle Jr., Murgic, and Brown. On lap 50 Rubeck overpowered Brown for the fifth position just before mechanical issues would end his day after fifty-three laps.
But out front Sauter had it in cruise control building up a fifteen car length lead over Johnson and the rest of the field. Only a caution flag could slow down the leader and it did on lap 55 when Breiner spun on the front stretch.
Bickle Jr. elected to start on the outside of Sauter with Johnson choosing the inside on the restart. Sauter continued to lead while Bickle Jr. and Johnson were door to door for second place with Murgic in fourth and Bobby Wilberg closing quickly in fifth. Johnson was able to maintain his second spot while Bickle Jr. and Murgic raced side by side for third.
The competition break came at lap 75 with Sauter leading followed by Johnson, Bickle Jr., Murgic, and Wilberg. Completing the top ten were Austin Luedtke, Anderson, Lamonte, Jeremy Spoonmore, and Jeff Way. Only twelve cars remained on the track at this time thanks to a variety of mechanical issues sending eight cars to the pits early.
Now it was time for the twenty-five lap shootout and another exciting restart. Both Johnson and Bickle Jr. elected to restart on the outside so Murgic moved up behind the leader. Sauter and Johnson raced side by side for three laps with Sauter regaining the lead before the yellow flag came out for a spin on the backstretch.
Once again Sauter and Johnson raced side by side followed by Murgic, Bickle Jr., and Wilberg. Sauter sprinted back to the lead on lap 17 and began checking away from the field. Both Wilberg and Lamonte were able to overtake Bickle Jr. for positions in the top five.
Just when it looked like Sauter was on his way to victory lane another caution flag came out when Bobby Kendall’s car stopped alongside the wall in turn four.
Another restart with Sauter on the inside and Johnson on the outside followed by Murgic and Wilberg in row two. There would be no stopping Sauter today as he sailed out the lead again while Murgic and Johnson battled it out for second with Wilberg close behind.
But for the ninth straight time that he’s raced at MIS, Sauter picked up the win and a trip to victory lane. Johnson had to settle for second followed by Murgic, Wilberg, and Lamonte.
“With all of the restarts you never know what is going to happen,” said Sauter. “It’s been pretty impressive just to be able to be running at the end of the race because we’ve had times here where that wasn’t the case. I’m looking forward to the Border Wars race in August.
Johnson added, “It’s hard to be Sauter. Our car was as good as it’s been so we’re still searching for a way to beat Sauter.”
“Not too bad, I’m pretty happy with my finish,” said third place finisher Nick Murgic.
Casey Johnson worked his way through the field and passed Steve Rubeck on lap 11 to pick up the win in the first twelve lap qualifying race for the Super Late Models. Rubeck finished in second place followed by Dale Nottestad, Kelsey Bauer, and Rick Corso.
Thor Anderson took the early lead in the second qualifying race for the super late models and ran away from the field to pick up the victory. Behind the leader Blake Brown and Jeff Way were fighting it out for second with Brown getting the advantage on lap 11. Rich Bickle Jr. was fourth with Matt Kocourek in fifth place.
Travis Sauter was quickest in qualifying with a lap of 17.413. Bobby Kendall was second with a circuit of 17.495 followed by Bobby Wilberg (17.507), Casey Johnson (17.518), and Austin “Ace” Luedtke (17.573).
100 Lap Feature:1. Travis Sauter (Prairie du Sac, WI), 2. Casey Johnson (Stoughton, WI), 3. Nick Murgic (Rosemount, MN), 4. Bobby Wilberg (Beloit, WI), 5. Gary LaMonte (West Allis, WI), 6. Rich Bickle (Janesville, WI), 7. Austin Luedtke (Adell, WI), 8. Jeff Way (Honey Creek, WI), 9. Jeremy Spoonmore (Somonauk, IL), 10. Thor Anderson (Bondurant, IA), 11. Mikie Breiner (Johnsburg, IL), 12. Bobby Kendall (Montello, WI), 13. Landry Potter (Genoa City, WI), 14. Blake Brown (Franksville, WI), 15. Steve Rubeck (Monroe Center, IL), 16. Matt Kocourek (Franklin, WI), 17. Dale Nottestad (Cambridge, WI), 18. Kelsey Bauer (Random Lake, WI), 19. Jim Olson (Harvard, IL), 20. Rick Corso (McHenry, IL),
Qualifying:1. Travis Sauter (Prairie du Sac, WI), 2. Bobby Kendall (Montello, WI), 3. Bobby Wilberg (Beloit, WI), 4. Casey Johnson (Stoughton, WI), 5. Austin Luedtke (Adell, WI), 6. Gary LaMonte (West Allis, WI), 7. Nick Murgic (Rosemount, MN), 8. Dale Nottestad (Cambridge, WI), 9. Blake Brown (Franksville, WI), 10. Landry Potter (Genoa City, WI), 11. Matt Kocourek (Franklin, WI), 12. Kelsey Bauer (Random Lake, WI), 13. Rich Bickle (Janesville, WI), 14. Jeremy Spoonmore (Somonauk, IL), 15. Jim Olson (Harvard, IL), 16. Rick Corso (McHenry, IL), 17. Jeff Way (Honey Creek, WI), 18. Steve Rubeck (Monroe Center, IL), 19. Thor Anderson (Bondurant, IA), 20. Mikie Breiner (Johnsburg, IL),
Qualifying Race 1: 1. Casey Johnson (Stoughton, WI), 2. Steve Rubeck (Monroe Center, IL), 3. Dale Nottestad (Cambridge, WI), 4. Kelsey Bauer (Random Lake, WI), 5. Rick Corso (McHenry, IL), 6. Bobby Kendall (Montello, WI), 7. Mikie Breiner (Johnsburg, IL), 8. Gary LaMonte (West Allis, WI), 9. Jeremy Spoonmore (Somonauk, IL), 10. Landry Potter (Genoa City, WI),
Qualifying Race 2:1. Thor Anderson (Bondurant, IA), 2. Blake Brown (Franksville, WI), 3. Jeff Way (Honey Creek, WI), 4. Rich Bickle (Janesville, WI), 5. Matt Kocourek (Franklin, WI), 6. Austin Luedtke (Adell, WI), 7. Travis Sauter (Prairie du Sac, WI), 8. Nick Murgic (Rosemount, MN), 9. Bobby Wilberg (Beloit, WI), 10. Jim Olson (Harvard, IL),
John Wood Back in Victory Lane at MIS
John Wood topped a field of nine Club La Mark Midwest Trucks to pick up his first feature win at MIS this season.
Chad Knaus took the early lead from the outside of row one followed by Andy Jones, John Wood, and Camden Murphy. The first caution of the race came out on lap 5 when the trucks of Justin Oertel and Natalie Decker got together on the backstretch. Both would be able to continue.
John Wood took over the lead after the restart with Knaus and Murphy side by side for second. Murphy would gain the position with Jones pulling up to the inside of Knaus. Jones picked up the position on lap 11 with Jerry Wood getting by Knaus as well.
On lap 18 Jerry Wood moved to the inside of Jones to take the third position and start hunting down the second place truck of Murphy. On lap 21 Wood and Murphy were side by side for second while John Wood continued to build up his lead over the field.
Jerry Wood gained the second spot while the action behind him was wild as Murphy and Jones got together on the final lap allowing Justin Oertel to take the third position.
But there was no denying John Wood who cruised to victory lane.
“It’s been awhile since I’ve won so I was starting to doubt myself,” said Wood from victory lane. “Winning never gets old, but I was wondering when and if I would get another one.”
Jerry Wood leads his brother John in the points race by a thirty point margin (448-418). Chad Knaus is in third place.
Andy Jones won the first eight lap heat race. Mike Corvo took the early lead and held it for four laps before drifting up the track coming out of turn two and giving the lead to Jones who cruised to the checkered flag. John Wood picked up the win in the second heat race leading wire to wire.
Camden Murphy set fast time with a lap of 18.972, the only truck to go below the nineteen second mark. Jerry Wood was second at 19.039 followed by John Wood (19.053), Joshua James (19.093), and Chad Knaus (19.144).
30 Lap Feature:1. John Wood (Sun Prairie, WI), 2. Jerry Wood (Madison, WI), 3. Justin Oertel (Lincolnshire, IL), 4. Natalie Decker (Eagle River, WI), 5. Joshua James (Saukville, WI), 6. Mike Corvo (Park Ridge, IL), 7. Camden Murphy (Itasca, IL), 8. Andy Jones (Gurnee, IL), 9. Chad Knaus (Sun Prairie, WI),
Heat 1:1. Andy Jones (Gurnee, IL), 2. Natalie Decker (Eagle River, WI), 3. Justin Oertel (Lincolnshire, IL), 4. Chad Knaus (Sun Prairie, WI), 5. Mike Corvo (Park Ridge, IL),
Heat 2:1. John Wood (Sun Prairie, WI), 2. Camden Murphy (Itasca, IL), 3. Jerry Wood (Madison, WI), 4. Joshua James (Saukville, WI),
Qualifying:1. Camden Murphy (Itasca, IL), 2. Jerry Wood (Madison, WI), 3. John Wood (Sun Prairie, WI), 4. Joshua James (Saukville, WI), 5. Chad Knaus (Sun Prairie, WI), 6. Andy Jones (Gurnee, IL), 7. Justin Oertel (Lincolnshire, IL), 8. Natalie Decker (Eagle River, WI), 9. Mike Corvo (Park Ridge, IL),
Moyer Masters the Legends
Aaron Moyer won the twenty-five lap feature for the Pellitteri Waste Systems Legends.
Kevin Griffin took the early lead from his starting position on the outside of row one. Cory Talaska and Aaron Moyer were up to second and third by lap 8 with Moyer taking second on lap ten just before the caution flag came out for the spinning car of Austin Kunert.
Talaska made a bold move after the restart and it paid off as he took over the lead with Moyer, Vince Bartolotta, and Johnny Kringas in hot pursuit. On lap 15 Moyer moved to the inside of Talaska and the two raced side by side for the lead. With sixteen laps to go Moyer took over the top spot with Bartolotta and Kringas fighting it out for third.
The second caution of the race came out on lap 18 when Kevin Griffin went around in turn two. On the restart Moyer took the lead after lining up on the outside of Talaska and quickly built a three car length lead.
Moyer was just too tough today as he took home the checkered flag followed by Talaska and Johnny Kringas.
“He (Talaska) beat me last night and it bothered me. I knew I had to get him today,” said Moyer in a post race interview. “He and I are good friends and we’ve been racing together for a long time.” Moyer has a 445-435 lead over Talaska in the points race with the Jones / McNamara team in third with 418 points.
Kevin Griffin took the lead on the second lap after passing Jordan Wendt and easily outdistanced the rest of the field to win the first eight lap heat. Aaron Moyer and Cory Talaska raced side by side for six of the eight laps in the second heat race with Talaska picking up the win at the stripe.
Aaron Moyer set a new track record in qualifying with a lap of 13.807 with Cory Talaska (13.892), Max McNamara (13.977), Vince Bartolotta (14.077), and Johnny Kringas (14.189)rounding out the top five.
25 Lap Feature:1. Aaron Moyer (Malone, WI), 2. Cory Talaska (Campbellsport, WI), 3. Johnny Kringas (Homer Glen, IL), 4. Austin Kunert (Batavia, IL), 5. Max McNamara (Gurnee, IL), 6. Todd Schmitz (Verona, WI), 7. Kevin Griffin (Green Oaks, IL), 8. Kyle Vergata (New Berlin, WI), 9. Shelby Berlin (Mequon, WI), 10. Matt Berlin (Mequon, WI), 11. Jordan Wendt (Stoughton, WI), 12. Vince Bartolotta (West Allis, WI),
Heat 1:1. Kevin Griffin (Green Oaks, IL), 2. Todd Schmitz (Verona, WI), 3. Kyle Vergata (New Berlin, WI), 4. Shelby Berlin (Mequon, WI), 5. Jordan Wendt (Stoughton, WI), 6. Matt Berlin (Mequon, WI),
Heat 2:1. Cory Talaska (Campbellsport, WI), 2. Aaron Moyer (Malone, WI), 3. Max McNamara (Gurnee, IL), 4. Vince Bartolotta (West Allis, WI), 5. Johnny Kringas (Homer Glen, IL), 6. Austin Kunert (Batavia, IL),
Qualifying:1. Aaron Moyer (Malone, WI), 2. Cory Talaska (Campbellsport, WI), 3. Max McNamara (Gurnee, IL), 4. Vince Bartolotta (West Allis, WI), 5. Johnny Kringas (Homer Glen, IL), 6. Austin Kunert (Batavia, IL), 7. Todd Schmitz (Verona, WI), 8. Kevin Griffin (Green Oaks, IL), 9. Kyle Vergata (New Berlin, WI), 10. Matt Berlin (Mequon, WI), 11. Shelby Berlin (Mequon, WI), 12. Jordan Wendt (Stoughton, WI),
Racing goes under the lights at MIS on Friday, August 2nd for Salute to America Night featuring the Big 8 Late Models, Midwest Trucks, and IMCA Vintage Series plus a spectacular fireworks program. Gates open at 4:30 with qualifying set for 6:08 and racing at 7:30 with the fireworks to follow.
For more information checkout our website at madisoninternationalspeedway.com.