Riddle, Snyder and Stark Show the Way
The 2024 weekly racing season got underway on Friday night at Madison with double features in four divisions. Three drivers doubled up by winning both features in their respective divisions with Zack Riddle (Late Models), Dan Snyder (Dave’s White Rock MISfitz), and Karter Stark (Midwest Dash Series) earning bragging rights while Josh Morris and Dylan Klinger each won a Roto Rooter 6Shooters main event.
Fans also celebrated the 100th birthday weekend of Hall of Famer Evie Handeland who received a special ride around Wisconsin’s Fastest Half-Mile during intermission. Her family sold Sam Bartus part of the land which allowed the installation of the half-mile back in 1969.
Zack Riddle Wins Two in Late Models
Defending champion Zack Riddle started off the season strong by winning both 30 lap feature events. Riddle now has 35 career Late Model wins at Madison to go along with his five track championships.
The Late Model field was brought to the green flag by Landry Potter and Stephen Scheel. Stephen Scheel jumped out to the early lead followed by Potter, Shaun Scheel, and Jake Gille. Scheel and Potter raced side by side with Scheel holding the lead from the outside. A spin on lap 8 brought out the first caution.
Scheel brought the field back to the green followed by Potter, Gille, Shaun Scheel, and Zack Riddle. On lap 11 Riddle moved past Shaun Scheel for fourth and chased down Gille to take third on lap 12. Riddle was up to join the leaders and at the half-way mark moved by Potter for second. Meanwhile, Michael Bilderback and Jesse Bernhagen joined the top five.
Stephen Scheel continued to lead by a single car length over Riddle. On lap 20 as the pair were battling for the lead, they made contact coming out of turn three which allowed Bilderback to sneak by and take the lead and quickly build up a three car length advantage.
Just as it looked like Bilderback would sail to victory lane, a stalled car brought out the caution flag on lap 27.
This set up a double file restart with Bilderback on the inside and Riddle on the outside. Bilderback took the lead but Riddle fought back and dove to the iniside going into turn three with one lap to go to hold off Bilderback for the win. Bernhagen, Stephen Scheel, and Will Rece rounded out the top five.
In the second feature, Landry Potter and Bobby Wilberg were the pace setters in the second feature with Wilberg getting out to the early lead with Potter and Shaun Scheel battling it out for second. A spin on lap 4 brought out the first caution flag and negated Wilberg’s lead.
Wilberg brought the field back to green closely followed by Shaun Scheel. A spin on lap 6 brought out the second caution flag. Wilberg continued to lead after the restart and opened up by six car lengths. On lap 10 Randy Sargent moved into second place with Zack Riddle moving into fourth ahead of Gille one lap later. On lap 12 Riddle moved to the inside of Shaun Scheel to take the third spot.
Out front Sargent was closing in on Wilberg and with 12 laps to go the advantage was down to a car length. On lap 20 Sargent and Wilberg made contact coming out of turn two bringing out the caution flag and sending both to the tail of the field.
This allowed Riddle to inherit the lead. For the restart he would line up on the inside while Michael Bilderback chose the outside. Riddle wasted no time getting out front followed by Bilderback and Jesse Bernhagen. Riddle built his lead to five car lengths with five laps to go and never looked back on his way to victory lane. Bilderback, Bernhagen, Shaun Scheel, and Jake Gille rounded out the top five.
Will Rece set the pace in qualifying with a lap of 18.757 (95.964 mph).
Dan Snyder Wins Two in the MISfitz
Dan Snyder got his season off to a solid start by winning both 20 lap features for the Dave’s White Rock MISfitz.
The first feature found Kenny Storkson and Mike Taylor paced the field to the green flag. Storkson jumped out to the lead followed by Brian Ulrich and Dan Snyder. Snyder pulled alongside Ulrich on lap 3 to battle for third and captured the spot two laps later. On lap 7 Snyder and Storkson were racing side by side with Snyder gaining a slight advantage.
At the half-way mark Snyder continued to have a slight lead over Storkson with Chris Wangrow a close third. With five laps to go Snyder was still holding off Storkson by half a car length shortly before the caution flag came out for a spin on the backstretch.
Snyder and Storkson brought the field back to the green with Snyder maintaining his lead on the inside with Storkson holding ground on the outside. Dave Edwards was up to join the front runners, but out front Snyder was not going to be denied and picked up the win with Storkson holding off Edwards for second.
Rick Coppernoll and Nick Schneider set the pace in the second feature. Schneider quickly pulled away from the field. On lap 4 Brian Ulrich moved into second but Schneider had built up a 3.5 second advantage. Dan Snyder worked his way up to second with Mason Hellenbrand up to third with ten laps to go. With five laps to go, Snyder had cut into Schneider’s lead but time was quickly running out.
Just when it looked like Schneider was unstoppable, his car slowed coming down the front stretch allowing Snyder to get by and lead the rest of the way to pick up the win. Hellenbrand, Dave Edwards, Kenny Storkson, and Ulrich completed the top five.
Snyder was fast qualifier with a lap of 20.038 (89.829 mph).
Karter Stark Powers His Way to Clean Sweep
Make it four in a row at Madison for Karter Stark who won both features for the Midwest Dash Series. Stark swept both Madison events last year.
After starting deep in the field, Karter Stark picked up the win by holding off Justin Pearson in the 20 lap feature.
The field was brought to the green flag by Shawn Grabinger and Joe Kuehn. The third time was the charm after the first two starts saw early caution flags. Grabinger sprinted out to the lead followed by Justin Pearson, Mark English, and Phil Malouf. On lap 5 Grabinger was off the pace allowing Pearson to take over the top spot.
Working their way up through the field were Karter and Kyle Stark. On lap 8 the Starks were up to second and third respectively. At the half-way point, Pearson had a solid lead over the field but the Starks were closing quickly. With six laps to go Karter Stark was within striking distance of the leader and with five to go was on Pearson’s rear bumper. With three laps to go they were side by side with Stark taking the lead coming out of turn four with two laps to go.
Stark led the rest of the way and picked up the win followed by Pearson, Kyle Stark, Kyle Riedner, and Phil Malouf.
Feature number two saw Tim Anderson jump out to the early lead with George Sparkman a distant second, but it didn’t take long for Kyle Riedner and Karter Stark to break into the top four. Riedner and Stark moved into the top third on lap 4. Anderson continued to lead while Riedner and Stark were racing hard for second. Stark won the race for second with ten laps to go but was still 1.5 seconds behind Anderson. Lapped traffic forced Anderson to slow allowing Stark to cut the advantage to two car lengths.
With five laps to go the two were side by side for the lead with Stark eventually getting the top spot. From there he opened up the lead and rolled his way into victory lane. Anderson finished second followed by Riedner, Pearson, and Dewey.
Josh Morris and Dylan Klinger Best of the 6Shooters
Josh Morris and Dylan Klinger each picked up a feature win in the 6Shooters.
Josh Morris led wire to wire to win the first 18 lap feature for the Roto Rooter 6Shooters. It was his third career feature win in the division.
Morris jumped out to the early lead followed by Jake Hillery and David Killerlain. Jason Van Hise moved up to third followed by Randy Grancorvitz and Jeremy Bingham. It was just a matter of time before lapped traffic would play a role.
Following a caution on lap seven Josh Morris continued to lead with Van Hise up to second. Morris was able to maintain a one car length lead over Van Hise with Bingham and Grancorvitz fighting it out for third. Out front Morris had his hands full with Van Hise as they maneuvered through lapped traffic. With two laps to go Van Hise tried to move to the outside of Morris to take the lead, but he wouldn’t have enough time as Morris held on for the win.
Captain Jason Morgan led the field to the green flag but it was Randy Grancorvitz who claimed the early lead. Jake Hillery was second followed by Jeremy Bingham and Trevor Chilson. A stalled vehicle brought out the caution on lap 6. Grancorvitz continued to lead but was under heavy pressure from Bingham who moved into the lead one lap later. Chilson moved up to second place followed by Dylan Klinger.
Bingham opened up a six car length lead with lapped traffic just ahead. With four laps to go Klinger was closing quickly and with two to go was on Bingham’s rear bumper. On the final lap Klinger somehow found the room around a lapped car and picked up the win.
Racing continues next Friday night (May 24th) when the Big 8 Late Models come to the speedway along with the Mid American Stock Cars, Legends, and Bandoleros plus there will be free checkered flags for the first 500 kids.
Results
Late Models
Qualifying
1. 15WR-William Rece, 18.7570; 2. 28JB-Jesse Bernhagen, 18.8510; 3. 11RS-Randy Sargent, 18.8550; 4. 28BW-Bobby Wilberg, 18.8560; 5. XJR-Jon Reynolds Jr, 18.8570; 6. 14ZR-Zack Riddle, 18.8640; 7. 50JG-Jacob Gille, 18.8650; 8. 36JD-Jayden Dahlberg, 18.9520; 9. 8SS-Shaun Scheel, 19.0180; 10. 4SS-Stephen Scheel, 19.1600; 11. 17LP-Landry Potter, 19.2370; 12. 214MF-Mathew Fairburn Jr, 19.3060; 13. 9MC-Mike Coleman, 19.4610; 14. 49MA-McKayla Adams, 19.4940; 15. 4CN-Carter Nilson, 19.5970; 16. 2MB-Michael Bilderback, 19.6830; 17. 14KT-Kyle Taylor, 19.7410; 18. 32PD-Paul Dygon, 20.5340; 19. 13JM-Josh McGrath, 20.5930; 20. 39RG-Ryan Goldade, 50.0000
Late Models – Feature 1 30 Laps
1. 14ZR-Zack Riddle, Brooklyn, WI [7], 2. 2MB-Michael Bilderback, South Beloit, IL [16], 3. 28JB-Jesse Bernhagen, Markesan, WI [11], 4. 4SS-Stephen Scheel, Lake Mills, WI [3], 5. 15WR-William Rece, Stoughton, WI [12], 6. 50JG-Jacob Gille, Winnebago, IL [6], 7. 11RS-Randy Sargent, South Beloit, IL [10], 8. 8SS-Shaun Scheel, Lake Mills, WI [4], 9. 28BW-Bobby Wilberg, Beloit, WI [9], 10. 17LP-Landry Potter, Twin Lakes, WI [2], 11. 214MF-Mathew Fairburn Jr, Roscoe, IL [1], 12. 14KT-Kyle Taylor, Stoughton, WI [17], 13. 49MA-McKayla Adams, Sun Prairie, WI [14], 14. 9MC-Mike Coleman, Rockford, IL [13], 15. 13JM-Josh McGrath, Rockford, IL [19], 16. 32PD-Paul Dygon, Wind Lake, WI [18], 17. 36JD-Jayden Dahlberg, South Beloit, IL [5], 18. XJR-Jon Reynolds Jr, Loves Park, IL [8], 19. 4CN-Carter Nilson, Rockford, IL [15] Late Models – Feature 2 30 Laps
1. 14ZR-Zack Riddle, Brooklyn, WI [10], 2. 2MB-Michael Bilderback, South Beloit, IL [9], 3. 28JB-Jesse Bernhagen, Markesan, WI [8], 4. 8SS-Shaun Scheel, Lake Mills, WI [3], 5. 50JG-Jacob Gille, Winnebago, IL [5], 6. 17LP-Landry Potter, Twin Lakes, WI [1], 7. 28BW-Bobby Wilberg, Beloit, WI [2], 8. 214MF-Mathew Fairburn Jr, Roscoe, IL [11], 9. 49MA-McKayla Adams, Sun Prairie, WI [13], 10. 14KT-Kyle Taylor, Stoughton, WI [12], 11. 13JM-Josh McGrath, Rockford, IL [15], 12. 15WR-William Rece, Stoughton, WI [6], 13. 11RS-Randy Sargent, South Beloit, IL [4], 14. 32PD-Paul Dygon, Wind Lake, WI [16], 15. XJR-Jon Reynolds Jr, Loves Park, IL [18], 16. 4SS-Stephen Scheel, Lake Mills, WI [7], 17. 4CN-Carter Nilson, Rockford, IL [19], 18. 9MC-Mike Coleman, Rockford, IL [14]
MISfitz
Qualifying
1. 7DS-Dan Snyder, 20.0380; 2. 6NS-Nick Schneider, 20.0470; 3. 23BU-Brian Ulrich, 20.0500; 4. 5DE-Dave Edwards, 20.0680; 5. 54KS-Kenny Storkson, 20.1880; 6. 67MH-Mason Hellenbrand, 20.4330; 7. 42KA-Kevin Anderson, 20.5650; 8. 4MT-Mike Taylor, 20.9350; 9. 5RC-Rick Coppernoll, 22.2320; 10. 19CN-Curtis Nighswonger, 26.1390; 11. 31CW-Chris Wangrow, 50.0000
MISfitz – Feature 1 20 Laps
1. 7DS-Dan Snyder, Stoughton, WI [9], 2. 54KS-Kenny Storkson, Rockton, IL [5], 3. 5DE-Dave Edwards, Salem, WI [6], 4. 31CW-Chris Wangrow, Avalon, WI [11], 5. 67MH-Mason Hellenbrand, Verona, WI [4], 6. 42KA-Kevin Anderson, Cottage Grove, WI [3], 7. 4MT-Mike Taylor, Stoughton, WI [2], 8. 23BU-Brian Ulrich, Racine, WI [7], 9. 6NS-Nick Schneider, Roscoe, IL [8], 10. 5RC-Rick Coppernoll, Stoughton, WI [1], 11. 19CN-Curtis Nighswonger, Rockford, IL [10] MISfitz – Feature 2 20 Laps
1. 7DS-Dan Snyder, Stoughton, WI [10], 2. 67MH-Mason Hellenbrand, Verona, WI [6], 3. 5DE-Dave Edwards, Salem, WI [8], 4. 54KS-Kenny Storkson, Rockton, IL [9], 5. 23BU-Brian Ulrich, Racine, WI [3], 6. 31CW-Chris Wangrow, Avalon, WI [7], 7. 42KA-Kevin Anderson, Cottage Grove, WI [5], 8. 4MT-Mike Taylor, Stoughton, WI [4], 9. 6NS-Nick Schneider, Roscoe, IL [2], 10. 5RC-Rick Coppernoll, Stoughton, WI [1]
Roto Rooter 6Shooters
6Shooters – Feature 1 18 Laps
1. 3JM-Josh Morris, Stoughton, WI [2], 2. 71JVH-Jason VanHise, Roscoe, IL [8], 3. 6JB-Jeremy Bingham, Rockford, IL [10], 4. 1DK-Dylan Klinger, Albany, WI [14], 5. 101TC-Trevor Chilson, Middleton, WI [11], 6. 24KM-Kenny Morris, Windsor, WI [12], 7. 74DK-David Killerlain, Columbus, WI [1], 8. 10KT-Kevin Turner, Juda, WI [6], 9. 716CS-Charles Schork, Rockford, IL [16], 10. 12JB-Jacob Beard, Loves Park, IL [17], 11. 4GR-Gene Robbins, Evansville, WI [13], 12. 7RG-Randy Grancorvitz, Fort Atkinson, WI [5], 13. 76JM-Jason Morgan, Evansville, WI [15], 14. 8JBK-Jayda Bentzler Killerlain, Cottage Grove, WI [7], 15. 5TK-Todd Klinger, Madison, WI [9], 16. 10CS-Caleb Richards, South Beloit, IL [3], 17. 24NM-Nolan McNallie, Verona, WI [18], 18. 6JH-Jacob Hillery, Madison, WI [4] 6Shooters – Feature 2 18 Laps
1DK-Dylan Klinger, Albany, WI [11], 2. 6JB-Jeremy Bingham, Rockford, IL [12], 3. 101TC-Trevor Chilson, Middleton, WI [10], 4. 7RG-Randy Grancorvitz, Fort Atkinson, WI [2], 5. 71JVH-Jason VanHise, Roscoe, IL [13], 6. 24KM-Kenny Morris, Windsor, WI [9], 7. 74DK-David Killerlain, Columbus, WI [8], 8. 3JM-Josh Morris, Stoughton, WI [14], 9. 716CS-Charles Schork, Rockford, IL [6], 10. 10CS-Caleb Richards, South Beloit, IL [17], 11. 10KT-Kevin Turner, Juda, WI [7], 12. 4GR-Gene Robbins, Evansville, WI [4], 13. 12JB-Jacob Beard, Loves Park, IL [5], 14. 8JBK-Jayda Bentzler Killerlain, Cottage Grove, WI [15], 15. 76JM-Jason Morgan, Evansville, WI [1], 16. 5TK-Todd Klinger, Madison, WI [16], 17. 24NM-Nolan McNallie, Verona, WI [18], 18. 6JH-Jacob Hillery, Madison, WI [3]
Midwest Dash
Midwest Dash – Feature 1 20 Laps
1. 92KS-Karter Stark, Marshall, WI [12], 2. 19JP-Justin Pearson, Belvidere, IL [5], 3. 192KS-Kyle Stark, Marshall, WI [11], 4. 189KR-Kyle Riedner, Waunakee, WI [10], 5. 32PM-Phil Malouf, Manitowish Waters, WI [8], 6. 57ME-Mark English, Janesville, WI [9], 7. 5GS-George Sparkman, Oregon, WI [4], 8. 82MD-Mark Dewey, Janesville, WI [7], 9. 31JK-Joe Kuehn, Wausau, WI [2], 10. 33TF-Tim Finstad, Poynette, WI [17], 11. 27TA-Tim Anderson, Auburndale, WI [3], 12. 96TH-Travis Hill, Arpin, WI [13], 13. 54BP-Bob Peters, Janesville, WI [20], 14. 64AP-Anna Price, Oregon, WI [14], 15. 02PD-Pat Dickman, Marshfield, WI [15], 16. 111DD-Devon Dixon, Janesville, WI [6], 17. 22SG-Shawn Grabinger, Lakeville, MN [1], 18. 38CH-Cameron HILL, Oregon, WI [18], 19. 41AB-Ashley Bell, Lakeville, MN [22], 20. 21JI-Jacob Iverson, West Salem, WI [16], 21. 35LP-Lyle Phillips, Edgerton, WI [19], 22. 28MH-Mike Heidmann, Oregon, WI [21] Midwest Dash – Feature 2 20 Laps
1. 92KS-Karter Stark, Marshall, WI [10], 2. 27TA-Tim Anderson, Auburndale, WI [2], 3. 189KR-Kyle Riedner, Waunakee, WI [9], 4. 19JP-Justin Pearson, Belvidere, IL [11], 5. 82MD-Mark Dewey, Janesville, WI [5], 6. 5GS-George Sparkman, Oregon, WI [6], 7. 32PM-Phil Malouf, Manitowish Waters, WI [8], 8. 57ME-Mark English, Janesville, WI [7], 9. 31JK-Joe Kuehn, Wausau, WI [4], 10. 35LP-Lyle Phillips, Edgerton, WI [21], 11. 38CH-Cameron HILL, Oregon, WI [18], 12. 22SG-Shawn Grabinger, Lakeville, MN [17], 13. 64AP-Anna Price, Oregon, WI [14], 14. 33TF-Tim Finstad, Poynette, WI [3], 15. 54BP-Bob Peters, Janesville, WI [13], 16. 96TH-Travis Hill, Arpin, WI [1], 17. 41AB-Ashley Bell, Lakeville, MN [19], 18. 21JI-Jacob Iverson, West Salem, WI [20], 19. 192KS-Kyle Stark, Marshall, WI [12]