Racing is back at Madison International Speedway. After a season of silence, the sights and sounds of racing were alive and well tonight in the rural countryside of Dane County. When the night was over it would be Zack Riddle, Ray Hellenbrand, Jeremy Bredeson, and Jay Kincaid capturing the checkered flags.
Riddle Takes Home the Checkered Flag
Zack Riddle held off Bobby Wilberg to win the 30 lap feature for the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Late Models. It was Riddle’s eighteenth career feature win at Madison which now places him third on the all-time list.
A pair of brothers, Stephen and Shaun Scheel, led the field to the green flag with Stephen Scheel with Stephen taking the early lead. Up front his second row starting position, Zack Riddle worked past Shaun Scheel to take second. Stephen Scheel and Riddle wasted no time building up a multi-car length advantage over the rest of the field with Bobby Wilberg, Shaun Scheel, and Jon Reynolds Jr. trying to stay close.
Disaster nearly struck on lap 10 when the leaders made contact on the front stretch while trying to avoid lapped traffic. Scheel was able to maintain his lead before a spin back in the pack brought out the caution flag seconds later.
Scheel brought the single file field back to the green flag with Riddle quickly working to the inside of him to take the lead on lap 11 while Wilberg was up to battle Scheel for second before the caution flag waved a second time for a stalled car on the front shoot.
This time Riddle would set the pace on the restart followed by Scheel, Wilberg, Jon Reynolds Jr. and Ryan Goldade. On lap 15 Wilberg pulled to the inside of Scheel and took second one lap later. Out front Riddle was building up an eight car length advantage with Wilberg doing everything he could to keep the leader in his sights. A spin on the front stretch with seven laps to go took away Riddle’s advantage and setting up a double file restart.
Here comes the cone. Riddle chose the inside with Wilberg electing to do the same which allowed Scheel to move to the outside of the front row with Will Rece lining up behind Scheel. Riddle was able to clear Scheel to keep the lead and open up a four length advantage over Scheel and Wilberg who were battling for second. With five laps to go, the caution flag came out again for a spin setting up another restart and more opening night drama.
Once again it was choice time. Riddle again took the inside with Scheel lining up behind him and Wilberg taking the outside position next to Riddle. A spin brought out another caution before one lap could be completed.
Time for another restart. Riddle won the drag race with Wilberg to retain his lead and hold him off to pick up the victory. Scheel, Goldade, and Rece completed the top five.
“We had some mechanical issues last week and everyone pulled together to get us here. Our qualifying effort wasn’t very good, but we held them off on the restarts,” said Riddle.
Ryan Goldade set quick time with a lap of 18.531 (97.135 mph). Jacob Goede edged Goldade for the win in the RA Heating and Air Conditioning Dash. Heat races were won by Kyle Smith, Wil Rece, and Goldade.
Clean Sweep for Ray Hellenbrand
Ray Hellenbrand picked up the clean sweep in the Dave’s White Rock MISfitz.
Rick Coppernoll and Tim Wondrash led the field of MISfitz to the green flag. Coppernoll took the top spot with Chris Wangrow up to second. On lap 3 Wangrow powered by Coppernoll to take the lead. Tyler Hansen passed Coppernoll for second on lap 5 and quickly closed the gap on Wangrow with fast qualifier Ray Hellenbrand closing quickly. On lap 11 Hansen worked his way to the inside of Wangrow looking for the lead. Two laps later Hansen would take the lead, but Hellenbrand was up to challenge him. With five laps to go, Hellenbrand took the lead away from Hansen just before the caution flag came out for a spin.
Hellenbrand continued to lead after the restart but another caution flag would come out on lap 18 for a spin in turn two. On the restart, Wangrow got the early advantage, but Hellenbrand was able to pull to the inside to take the lead back and pick up the win.
“It feels pretty good to get this win,” said Hellenbrand who took home his first-ever clean sweep at Madison.
Hellenbrand was fastest in qualifying with a lap of 20.182 (89.188 mph). He also picked up the win in the RA Heating and Air Conditioning Dash. Heat races were won by Chris Wangrow and Hellenbrand.
Jeremy Bredeson Goes Wire to Wire
Jeremy Bredeson picked up the win in the 25 lap feature for the Pellitteri Waste Systems Bandits.
The field was brought to the green flag by Kevin Beyer and Jeremy Bredeson. Bredeson wasited no time in getting out the lead and opened up a five car length advantage after two laps. Behind Bredeson, Brandon Junget and Nick Schmidt were fighting it out for second which allowed Bredeson to increase his lead. On lap 11 Schmidt was finally able to clear Junget for second, but he had a long ways to go if he was going to catch the leader.
With eight laps to go Schmidt was closing the gap but running out of time. With two laps to go the lead was down to five car lengths, but the race stayed green and that’s as close as Schmidt could get as Bredeson picked up the checkered flag.
“I’m looking forward to being back here this year,” said Bredeson.
Fast qualifier was Nick Schmidt with a lap of 14.841 (60.64 mph). Dave Schmidt captured the flag in the RA Heating and Air Conditioning Dash with Jeremy Bredeson winning the heat.
Jay Kincaid Best of the 6Shooters
Jay Kincaid made the most of his first appearance at Madison by winning the 18 lap feature for the Roto Rooter 6Shooters.
Twenty-one cars took the green flag on the “Ring of Fire” with Seth Niday and Jay Kincaid bringing the field to the green flag. After running side by side for the first three laps, Kincaid was able to take the lead by working around lapped traffic. Niday and Rick Buss were fighting it out for second with Buss taking the spot on lap 7 while Kincaid was building his lead out front. Buss was starting to close the gap when his car started leaking fluids forcing the caution flag to come out.
It was a great restart for Kincaid who continued his lead while Ozzie Osborne moved past Niday for second with Steven Buna and Ken Morris joining the top five. Kincaid was able to navigate his way through lapped traffic the rest of the way to pick up the checkered flag. Osborne held off Morris for second followed by Niday and Randy Grancorvitz.
“The car sat all winter and we got it ready last night. This is a blast,” said Kincaid.
6Shooter heat wins went to Josh Morris, Ken Morris, and Trevor Chilson.
Next Friday night (May 21st) at Madison it’s Busch Light Night with racing action in the Late Models, MISfitz, and Bandits. Practice begins at 5:00 with qualifying at 6:15 and racing at 7:30. Grandstands open at 6:00.
Results
NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Late Models
Feature (1-10) Zack Riddle, Bobby Wilberg, Stephen Scheel, Ryan Goldade, Will Rece, Jon Reynolds Jr., Brent Edmunds, Jeff Holmgren Jr., Jerry Mueller, Pat Richgels
(11-22) Hunter Drefahl, Michael Haggar, Kyle Smith, Braden Berge, Mike Simonson, Bill Baumeister, Vincent Wilkinson, Gary Krueger, Rusty Hansen, Shaun Scheel, Brady Liddle, Jacob Goede- DNS
RA Heating and Air Conditioning Dash (1-6) Jacob Goede, Ryan Goldade, Jon Reynolds Jr., Bobby Wilberg, Zack Riddle, Shaun Scheel
Heat One: (1-8) Kyle Smith, Jeff Holmgren Jr., Hunter Drefahl, Braden Berge, Mark Simonson, Gary Krueger, Vince Wilkinson, Bill Baumeister
Heat Two: (1-7) Will Rece, Jerry Mueller, Rusty Hansen, Brady Liddle, Pat Richgels, Michael Haggar, Brent Edmunds
Heat Three:(1-7) Ryan Goldade, Jon Reynolds Jr., Jacob Goede, Shaun Scheel, Stephen Scheel, Bobby Wilberg, Zack Riddle
Qualifying: (1-10) Ryan Goldade, Jacob Goede, Jon Reynolds Jr.,Bobby Wilberg, Zack Riddle, Shaun Scheel, Stephen Scheel, Brady Liddle, Will Rece, Jerry Mueller
(11-20) Rusty Hansen, Brent Edmunds, Pat Richgels, Michael Haggar, Jeff Holmgren Jr., Kyle Smith, Hunter Drefahl, Mark Simonson, Braden Berge, Bill Baumeister
(21-22) Gary Krueger, Vince Wilkinson-DNS
Dave’s White Rock MISfitz
Feature: (1-9) Ray Hellenbrand, Chris Wangrow, Tyler Hansen, Mike Taylor, Rick Coppernoll, Eric Adrian, Joshua Lundy, Dan Lerdahl, Tim Wondrash
RA Heating and Air Conditioning Dash: (1-6) Ray Hellenbrand, Tyler Hansen, Mike Taylor, Chris Wangrow, Joshua Lundy, Tim Wondrash
Heat One: Chris Wangrow, Rick Coppernoll, Tim Wondrash, Eric Adrian, Dan Lerdahl
Heat Two: Ray Hellenbrand, Tyler Hansen, Joshua Lundy, Mike Taylor-DNS
Qualifying: (1-9) Ray Hellenbrand, Mike Taylor, Tyler Hansen, Joshua Lundy, Chris Wangrow, Tim Wondrash, Rick Coppernoll, Eric Adrian, Dan Lerdahl
Pellitteri Waste Systems Bandits
Feature: (1-8) Jeremy Bredeson, Nick Schmidt, Dave Schmidt, Brandon Junget, Ronnie Osborne, Steve Dickson, Kevin Beyer, Ben Rucker
RA Heating and Air Conditioning Dash: (1-6) Dave Schmidt, Nick Schmidt, Ronnie Osborne, Brandon Junget, Jeremy Bredeson, Kevin Beyer
Heat One: (1-8) Jeremy Bredeson, Nick Schmidt, Ronnie Osborne, Dave Schmidt, Brandon Junget, Kevin Beyer, Steve Dickson, Ben Rucker
Qualifying: (1-8) Nick Schmidt, Dave Schmidt, Brandon Junget, Ronnie Osborne, Jeremy Bredeson, Kevin Beyer, Steve Dickson, Ben Rucker
Roto Rooter 6Shooters
Feature: (1-10) Jay Kincaid, Ozzie Osborne, Ken Morris, Seth Niday, Randy Grancorvitz, Dan Bishop, Trevor Chilson, Cory McCarthy, Josh Morris, Dylan Klinger
(11-21) Rick Buss, Vincent Snyder, Todd Carteron, Steven Buna, Todd Klinger, Dave Hodd, Jason Morgan, Curtis Nighswonger, Dary Schulz, Julie Morris, Sam Schulz
Heat One: (1-7) Josh Morris, Randy Grancorvitz, Ozzie Osborne, Seth Niday, Vincent Snyder, Dary Schulz, Sam Schulz
Heat Two: (1-7) Ken Morris, Dan Bishop, Rick Buss, Jay Kincaid, Steve Buna, Todd Klinger, David Hodd
Heat Three: (1-7) Trevor Chilson, Dylan Klinger, Cory McCarthy, Todd Carteron, Jason Morgan, Curtis Nishwonger, Julie Morris