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Zobrist, Harrison, Salter, Winners at Highland

Chad Zobrist Becker Jeweler Late Model Winner

HIGHLAND IL (May 12, 2012) It’s always exciting when a feature event goes green to checker, leaders dealing with lap cars, drivers not having time to slow and catch their breath, it becomes a very intense race. The Becker Jewelers Late Model feature this past Saturday night at the Highland Speedway was one of those races.

Rick “The Salty Dog” Salter was the Pole Sitter by virtue of his dash win and having the choice, he started on the outside of the front row with defending points Champion to his left. At the drop of the green it was The Salty Dogs race to lose, and for 23 laps it was, but running inside of lap traffic Salter was held up by a lap car allowing not only Zobrist but also last week’s winner “Fast” Frankie Martin to skate by. At the checker flag it was Zobrist sitting in the Casey’s General Store Victory Lane, Martin, Salter, Michael Kloos, and Matt Taylor rounding out your top five.

Becker Jewelers Late Models Top Ten

1 Chad Zobrist

2 Frankie Martin

3 Rick Salter

4 Michael Kloos

5 Matt Taylor

6 Brent Helmkamp

7 Jason Zobrist

8 Adam Tischauser

9 Chris Shelton

10 Rick Standridge

Steve Schmitt Modifieds

Mike Harrison Steve Schmitt Modified Winner

Judging by the number of people picking the 24 of Mile Harrison to win the Feature event in the Highland Highland Speedway’s “Pick 3” contest it was no surprise the current National Champ captured the Steve Schmitt Modified feature win and parked the number 24 in the Casey’s General Stores Victory Lane. Chad Sellers hung tuff but Harrison took the win by several car lengths. Tyler Diebert in the 84 was third, Justin Ketrow, and Brad Venhaus completed the top five.

Steve Schmitt Modifieds Top Ten

1 Mike Harrison

2 Chad Sellers

3 Tyler Deibert

4 Justin Ketrow

5 Brad Venhaus

6 Brett Korves

7 Paul Bailey

8 Dustin Knerrer

9 Dane Gundaker

10 Stephen Plog

Miller Lite Pro Late Models

Rick "The Salty Dog" Salter Miller Lite Pro Late Model Winner

Rick “The Salty Dog” Salter definitely had two fast race cars Saturday night, his 1S led the Becker Jewelers Super Late Model Feature for 23 of the 25 Laps, and his USA 1 Pro Late Model was equally fast in the Miller Lite Pro Late Model feature event. The 18 of “The Undertaker” Bobby Dauderman spent the entire race putting pressure on Salter, but unlike the Super Late Model Feature event were lap traffic worked against him, this time it favored the driver from Albers IL and Salter found the way to the Casey’s General Stores Victory Lane. Dauderman followed in second, Jordan Bauer, Mark Oller and Billy Knebel, Jr were your top five.

Miller Lite Pro Late Model Top Five

1 Rick Salter

2 Bobby Dauderman

3 Jordan Bauer

4 Mark Oller

5 Billy Knebel, Jr

Sport Mods

Rob Lee Sport Mod Winner

Rob Lee again found the Casey’s General Stores Victory Lane to his liking as he took the night cap in the Sport Mod Division.

Sport Mod Top Five
1 Rob Lee

2 Tyler Deibert

3 Marty Smith, Jr

4 Brett Page

5 Len Garson

Factory Stocks

Factory Stock Winner Cale Hartnagel

Cale Hartnagel from Millersburg IL captured his first feature win of the 2012 season.

Factory Stocks Top Five

1 Cale Hartnagel

2 Austin Isaak

3 Jason Worley

4 Trevor Isaak

5 Jacob Tompkins

Sport Compacts

Rob Shaw Sport Compact Winner
Rob Shaw from Highland IL found his way onto the Casey’s General Stores Victory Lane Saturday night holding off a hard charging Bobby Funderburk.

Sport Compact Top Five
1 Robert Shaw

2 Bobby Funderburk

3 Christian Lee

4 Kenny Elliott

5 Kate Smith


KidModz

Kayle Gibson KidModz Winner
The KidModz made their first appearance to the Highland Speendway in 2012 and Kayle Gibson bested a field of boys to take the win.

KidModz Top Five

1 Kayle Gibson

2 Zane Ulmer

3 Tyler Kuhn

4 Joey Gibson

5 Cole Sellers

Coming Events
May 19, Armed Forces Night sponsored by Scott Credit Union

May 26, Veterans Night sponsored by Miller Lite (Give a ways by the Miller Lite girls)

May 31, *Mars vs Northern All Stars Thursday

For more information about the Highland Speedway and the Madison County Fair Association visit their respective web sites: Highland Speedway .com, and Mad Co Fair .com. Also visit their respective Face Book pages.



(Photo's by Photo Billy, used by permission)

“Fast Frankie” Was Just That
Frankie Martin Picks Up First Win In 2012

HIGHLAND IL May 5 “Fast” Frankie Martin lived up to his moniker this past Saturday night at the Highland Speedway as the driver from DuQuoin Il dominated the Becker Jewelers Super Late Model Division feature event. It was Truck Centers Inc. night at the Speedway.



"Fast Frankie" Martin Becker Jewelers Late Model Winner


BECKER JEWELERS LATE MODELS
Rick “The Salty Dog” Salter, in the 1S was the pole sitter for the 25 lap main event. Chad Zobrist driving the familiar number 78 sat alongside in the front row. At the drop of the green flag Salter jumped to the point. After two short yellow flags for spins, the race settled in with Salter, Martin, following them was the 6K of Michael Kloos and Zobrist swapping lines on the raceway each trying to find the fastest way around the Speedway. Just past the half way point of the event Martin made his move around the 1S. On lap 20 A caution flag for the 21 of Kerry Gaultney’s rim ride around the wall on turn 4 slowed the pace and Martin’s lead over the field vanished. On the restart it was Martin, Salter, Kloos, and Zobrist. On the drop of the green flag Martin speed out ahead of the pack as Salter and Kloos were fighting for second.
On lap 24 coming out of turn 4 Salter and Kloos were fighting for the same piece of real estate and the ending result had the 1S pointed the wrong way on the front stretch of the Speedway. On the green white checker restart Kloos had nothing for the 25 of “Fast Frankie” as Martin found his way to the Casey’s General Stores Victory Lane for the first time in this young racing season. Kloos, Zobrist, Matt Weidner, and Steve Leach made up the top five.



Brian Bielong Steve Schmitt Modified Winner

STEVE SCHMITT MODIFIEDS:
The Steve Schmitt Modifieds lined up for their feature event, the first three rows are determined by heat finishes and then the finish of the Dash establishes the final starting positions. While the first three rows held drivers that regularly race at the Highland Speedway, noticeably absent were several past Feature Winners and Track Champions as they were scattered within the balance of the field, setting up for an exciting race.
Darrell Hewlett from Breese IL led the field to the green flag of the 20 lap main event. It was outside pole sitter Tyler Diebert that led the field for the first 8 laps, on lap 9 Brian Bielong driving the Number 70 took the lead but a caution reverted the running order back to the last lap and Diebert was put back up front.
It didn’t take Bielong very long to overcome Diebert, as by the time the field returned to the starting line the number 70 was in the lead.
On lap 14 the caution once again waved and Bielong’s lead was had vanished. The restart lineup had Bielong on point followed by Diebert, and by then Mike Harrison, Aaron Kleine and Brett Cygan made their way to the front.
For the last 5 laps the battle was between Diebert and Harrison as Bielong checked out, Diebert put up a fight but Harrison managed to get around him to take second place. Diebert finished third Kleine fourth and Cygan fifth.




Miller Lite Pro Late Model Winner Bobby Dauderman

Miller Lite Pro Late Models
Past UMP Champion Bobby “The Undertaker” Dauderman from Alhambra IL led the 20 lap main event from Green to checker, Rick “The Salty Dog” Salter in the USA 1, Bobby “The Italian Stallion” Martintoni, Mark Oller, and Billy Knebel, Jr completed the top five.




Sport Mod Winner Marty Smith JR

Sport Mod
The newest division at the Speedway was the only one that went green to checker. Marty Smith JR returned to the Casey’s General Store Victory Lane for the second time this season. In the Victory lane interview Smith commented that he was only driving the 55 in the Sport Mod class until he gets his new Steve Schmitt Modified finished, then he said he will turn the driving duties over to his Dad, long time Highland Speedway favorite Marty Smith SR. Brett Page, Rob Lee, Rick Johnson, and Tyler Diebert completes the top five.




Jake Hewett Factory Stock Winner

Factory Stocks
Due to time restrictions the last time we raced at the Speedway, the Factory Stock Division didn’t get to run their features event. Their makeup feature started the nights racing affairs. Jake Hewett in the number 6 was ready as he not only captured the makeup feature event but he went on to win his heat race and the feature event for the night, Shaun Hortsmann, Tim Haeffner, T J Eilers, and John Gili were the top five in the night caps main event.




Christian Lee Sport Compact Winner

Sport Compacts
Christian Lee found his way into the Casey’s General Store Victory Lane for the first time this season. Last week’s winner Kenny Elliot was second, Bobby Funderburk, Rick Viviano, and Kate Smith rounded out the top five.



Coming Events
May 12, Oberbeck Grain Co Night with Hard Charger Awards given by Oberbeck Grain Co
May 19, Armed Forces Night sponsored by Scott Credit Union
May 26, Veterans Night sponsored by Miller Lite (Give a ways by the Miller Lite girls)
May 31, *Mars vs Northern All Stars Thursday

For more information about the Highland Speedway and the Madison County Fair Association visit their respective web sites: Highland Speedway .com, and Mad Co Fair .com. Also visit their respective Face Book pages.

Racers and Fans Fill the Highland Speedway for Week Three of Racing

HIGHLAND IL (April 21, 2012) The hottest ticket this year to any area race track has to be one for the Highland Speedway. While the temperature this past Saturday night was cool, it didn’t stop the racing loyalist from packing the Speedway’s Grandstand, and they weren’t disappointed, as the amount of race cars in attendance required the use of the overflow pit area located off of turn one and the racers provided exciting side by side racing with some unexpected winners. The night’s activities were sponsored by The Huddle House in Highland and Greenville.
With having a week off due to rain, plus a week of cool weather, add in a nightlong rain the evening before, the condition of the Speedway’s racing surface had many wondering what to expect. Promoter Scott Kuhn’s crew did a masterful job in prepping the surface as the racing was exciting from the drop of the first green flag.



Becker Jewelers Late Models
Being a member of the United Midwest Promoters (UMP) family of race tracks you’ll never know on a given Saturday night who might come to do battle with the Highland Speedway regulars.
As theBecker Jewelers Late Model division rolled out for their Heat races, it brought with it some interesting scenarios. There was a driver looking to extend his winning streak, some of the drivers were hoping to avenge a string of DNQ’s, and some hoping to be a first time winner this season earn a visit to the Casey’s General Stores Victory Lane
The heat races determine the line ups for the feature. The winners and runner ups in the heat races advanced to the Quick Six Dash. The dash qualifiers lineup is determined by a pill draw. Advancing to the Dash, from heat one, winner, in the 30V, Mark Voigt, and runner up Dan Jacober in the 22, winner and runner up from heat two, UMP traveler, Kevin Cole in the 81C, and Matt Weidner in the Circle 7 and from the third heat, winner and runner up, Michael Kloos in the 6K and Brett “The Silver Fox” Helmkamp in the 31 respectfully.
The pill draw line up put Helmkamp on the pole and Cole along side, row two was Jacober and Kloos and filling the last two positions were Weidner and Voigt.
Helmkamp looked strong in his heat and he lead the dash for the first three laps until he drove up high into turn two giving the lead to Kloos, who held on for the win and a front row start in the evenings night cap, Cole finished second putting him along Kloos in the front row.
The Highland track crew spent a few minutes during intermission grooming the racing surface and to say it was bad fast would be an understatement.
By winning the dash Kloos, (looking to make it three wins in a row), had the option of starting the 25 lap main event from either the pole (starting in the low groove) or outside pole (the high groove).
Kloos choose the high grove putting Cole, looking for his first Highland win, on the bottom. At the drop of the green flag Kloos jumped to the lead, but it was all for naught as something let loose in the 27E of Mike Schulte causing the first of three quick cautions, the cautions flag again came out on lap 2 and again on lap 4.
Cole wasted no time to get around Kloos and on the third restart the lineup was Cole, Kloos, Weidner, Voigt and the 78 of returning Highland Speedway Champ Chad Zobrist.
As mentioned before the track was fast and it wasn’t long before the racers were stretched out around the ¼ mile Speedway and on lap six the leaders caught the rear of the field. This proved difficult for Cole working the lap traffic. On lap 12 Kloos shot back into the lead. The race pace was fast as Kloos and Cole dealt worked in and around the lap traffic. On lap 19 the caution flag waved after 15 laps of very fast green flag racing. Kloos took the point on the restart with several lap cars positioned between the top five runners. Kloos again jumped to a commanding lead on the restart but it was short lived as after 1 lap something let loose on the 6K and it rolled to a stop on the back straight away and with it the chance of a three pete.
This time the lineup was without the lap cars integrated into the lineup as we were now under 5 laps to go. Cole was put into the number one spot with Voigt looking to avenge his string of DNQ’s but under caution something broke on the 30V and into the infield he sat, and the string of bad luck continued for Voigt.
Now the line up brought some new faces into the top five, Cole was now the leader, Jacober second, then “Fast” Frankie Martin in the 25, Followed by Chad Zobrist and Kerry Gaultney in the 21.
Cole with a clear racetrack jumped out to a multi car lead until the last lap when a caution came out and ended the lead Cole had over the field. What happened on the restart was a bit confusing as on the green white restart Cole slowed coming out of turn 4 bring out yet another caution. Apparently Cole thought a corner working was trying to stop the restart as to why he slowed. Cole was given his position back and this time the race finished under green.
Kevin Cole collected his first win of the season sending him to the Casey’s General Stores Victory Lane. Jacober, Martin, Zobrist and Gaultney were your top five finishers.

Steve Schmitt Modifieds
Two Highland Speedway drivers from two different divisions have found a home in the Steve Schmitt Modifieds. Darrell Hewlett came from the Street Stock ranks and Aaron Kleine moved down from the Late Models. Both have shown incredible improvement and Saturday night was no exception. Hewlett in the number 75 captured his heat win and also claimed the Dash victory. Kleine in the 13 won his heat and ran second to Hewlett in the dash. UMP traveler Brandon Roberts won the other heat.
The feature line up pitted Hewlett and Kleine on the front row and at the drop of the green flag Kleine looked as if he was shot out of a cannon. At one point he had as much as a straight away lead on the second place car.
But what looked like easy sailing on the white flag lap to the checkered flag nearly turned into disaster for Kleine. The 24J of Jacob Steinkoenig spun in front of the number 13 in between turns 3 and 4. Quick thinking from Kleine avoided the spinning racer. The resulting yellow allowed for the rest of the field to catch up to him. On the restart it was Klein, Roberts in the 35, Brett “The Kid” Korvis in the 25, Steve Lach in the 42 and Chad Sellers in the 11.
Kleine still had more than any of the other competitors as he held on for his first trip to the Casey’s General Stores Victory Lane in 2012. The finishing order didn’t change from the restart.
Hewlett who looked so good in the early part of the race fell out about midway with car trouble.







Miller Lite Pro Late Models

The Miller Lite Pro Late Models are in their second season at the Speedway and if this past Saturday night was any indication to their popularity it looks like this class is here to stay. The class utilizes a Late Model chassis and a GM Crate 350 cu. In. motor I an affordable way to learn the inner workings of a late model without the expense of a 750 hp motor.
The heat races were won by DJ Cygan in the 10, Steve Cole in the 37 and in the 14 Jason Suhre. The consolation race was won by Drew Marshall in the 18.
Cygan was the early on favorite taking the lead at the drop of the green flag. A late race caution bunched the field. Cygan was the leader, followed by Casey Montague in the 01 and Rick “The Salty Dog” Salter in the USA 1.
On the restart you could see Salter was on a mission working on the high side Salter passed the 01 and then set his sights on the leader. Driving harder on each turn Salter made a hard charge coming out of turn four and just passed the 01 of Cygan for a trip to the Casey’s Victory Lane. Cygan was second, Montague third followed by Cole, and Jason Suhre in the 4.






Sport Mods
Marty Smith Jr spent most of the race in the lead but unfortunately on lap 15 of the 20 lap feature the number 55 broke and Rob Lee who started deep into the field took the point and the eventual win for the second time in the young 2012 season. Tyler Deibert, Rick Johnson, Brett Page, Curt Loddeke rounded out the top five.

Sport Compacts
Kenny Elliot made it to the Casey’s General Stores Victory Lane for the second time this year; following him to the finish line were Bobby Funderburk, Christian Lee, Zach Schantz and Rob Shaw.

Factory Stocks
Due to the tremendous total number of cars for the evening the Factory Stock feature will run next Saturday. Heat winners were Jake Hewitt, Justin Leichsenring, and Austin Isaak.

Coming Events:
Next Saturday April 28th it’s Truck Centers Night at the races.

For more information about the Highland Speedway visit the tracks web site at highlandspeedway.com or on Facebook. You can also get up to date race information on your phone by texting “highland” to 91011.

(Photos by Photo Billy used by permission)

Kloos Wins on Last Lap Pass
Highland Honors First Inductee into the Speedway’s Hall of Fame

Highland IL (April 7, 2012) Tradition has always been a mainstay at the Highland Speedway, and this past Saturday the Speedway honored the first inductee into the Highland Speedway Hall of Fame.
It was just one year ago we lost famed driver and car owner Chris Bargetzi, the first inductee into the Highland Speedway Hall of Fame.
The night was named in his honor. Bargetzi’s last race car, the yellow 441 Late Model, sat the entire evening in the Casey’s General Stores Victory Lane, reminding all of us that Chris is keeping a watchful eye on the Speedway.

Becker Jewelers Super Late Models
Making his way down from Northern Illinois, Scott Schmitt looked to be the favorite going into the Becker Jewelers Super Late Model feature, having won his heat race and the Quick Six Dash.
The race got off to a shaky start when a first lap caution led to a complete restart of the feature event. On the second attempt the 30V of Mark Voigt was looking to avenge his last week’s misfortunes (he broke leading the feature). Voigt immediately jumped to the high side while last year’s track Champion Chad Zobrist decided to work the low groove and by lap six Zobrist took the 78 machine to the point clearing Voigt by several car lengths.
At lap ten, the 10 car of Schmitt spun as Voigt was overtaking him bringing out the yellow and sending Schmitt to the tail end of the field.
On the restart the top five cars were Zobrist, Voigt, the 6K of Michael Kloos, Matt Weidner in the famed Circle 7,(Both the 6K and The Circle 7 are cars prepared by Gerstner and Sons Racing out of Breese Illinois), and Rick “The Salty Dog” Salter in the 1S.
The race went green for five laps when the caution came out for the 27S of Mike Schulte, making a solo spin in turns 3 and 4.
The five cars at the front stayed in the previous running order.
On the restart Voigt again started working the high side against Zobrist. Voigt was slowing gaining ground and was charging hard towards the 78 when on lap 19, just as the two lead cars were racing out of turn four, two cars spun in turn 2, Zobrist lifted seeing the yellow flag in flagman Dan Donderos hand, but Voigt had a full head of steam coming out of turn 4 looking for the lead. Seeing the slowing 78 of Zobrist, Voigt tried to make a last minute attempt to avoid a collision, he swerved to the left but clipped the left rear of Zobrist, the resulting collision ended the night for Voigt, but luckily for Zobrist, he only encountered sheet metal damage.
With only 6 laps to go, Zobrist lead the field to the green flag, this time with Michael Kloos on his tail. Kloos, had been running on the bottom of the track up until this point, he then decided to move high in an attempt to run down the current Champion. As the laps ticked down Kloos was slowly edging his way to the front. With the double checker flags in sight coming out of turn four, Kloos was hammer down and the 6K made the pass on the 78 of Chad Zobrist right at the finish line. Kloos lead only part of one lap, but it was the most important part, winning the Becker Jewelers Late Models and sending him to his second appearance in the Casey’s General Stores Victory Lane in the very young 2012 point season. Zobrist was second, Weidner third; Salter fourth and coming from the tail end of the field after the lap 10 spin was Scott Schmitt to finish in fifth.

Steve Schmitt Modifieds
Mike Harrison proved again why he is a multi track Champion, a state Champion and is the current UMP National Champion, in dominating the Steve Schmitt Modified division this past Saturday evening at the Highland Speedway.
Harrison made a clean sweep of the night, by first winning his heat and then the dash, and finished the night by holding off a hard charging Aaron Klein, to make his first appearance to the Casey’s General Store’s Victory Lane in 2012.
Kleine and former Factory Stock stand out Brad Venhaus also won heats.
In the night cap, Kleine was second, Darrell Hewlett finished third, Venhaus finished fourth, and last year’s track Champion Dean Hoffman, after having mechanical problems earlier in the night, and having to start last on the field, made his way all the way to the fifth finishing position.
In the Casey’s General Stores Victory Lane, Harrison dedicated the win to his Mother in-law who had passed away earlier in the day, to the memory of Chris Bargetzi and to all who have lost loved ones recently.

Miler Lite Pro Late Models
Mark Oller captured a heat win on his way to winning his first Miller Lite UMP Pro Late Model feature. He outlasted last week’s winner Bobby Martintoni, former UMP National champion and winner of the other heat race, Bobby Dauderman, the 9Star of Jordan Bauer and the 20 of Jon Cory.

Factory Stocks; Austin Isaak made his second trip to the Casey’s General Stores Victory Lane in as many weeks finishing ahead of the 8T of T J Eilers, the 00 of Ryan Emig , the 15 of Michael Ripperda, Jr and the 54 Shaun Hortsmann.

Sport Compacts: Bobby Funderburk made his first trip to the Casey’s General Stores Victory Lane in 2012 keeping ahead of the 47L Christian Lee, last week’s winner, Kenny Elliott , Jordan Suhre in the 26 and Zach Schantz in the 128 .

Sport Mods: Last week’s winner Rob Lee tangled with a lap car while leading the feature event, Lee setting his sights on back to back wins was relegated to the back of the field after the mishap. This handed the lead over to Marty Smith JR, giving him his first win in 2012. Rick Johnson finished second, Tyler Diebert third, Steve Stevenson fourth and Jerry Thompson rounded out the top five.

Coming Events:

April 10, 2012: Test & Tune from 5:00 - 8:00 pm. Pits open at 4:30 pm and pit passes are $15. Grandstands are free.

April 14 2012: Excel Bottling Night, from the makers of SKI Soda, give a ways and taste samples of all the fine sodas made by the Excel Bottling Company, plus action in all six Highland Speedway Divisions.

April 21 2012: Hall of Fame Night sponsored by Huddle House with give a ways.

New in 2012 during our Weekly Racing Series: “Pick 3” Contest

Beginning April 7th The Speedway is starting a new weekly contest for our fans.
When you buy your adult grandstand ticket, you will also get a “Pick 3” winner card.
To win you must pick the winner of the 3 Features designated for night.
Turn in your picks to the grandstand gate before the start of the dashes.
If correctly “Pick 3” winners, you will get $100. If there is more than one person who correctly “Picks 3” winners for that night, the money will then be split between all winners.
If no one wins, the money will roll over until someone correctly picks a winner in the three divisions for that night.
The divisions will be change every week. Cards are being provided by Tribout Carnival Supply. You must be over 18 to play.

For more information about the Highland Speedway visit the tracks web site at highlandspeedway.com or on Facebook. You can also get up to date race information on your phone by texting “highland” to 91011.

(Photo Credits; Photo Billy, Used by Permission)


Becker Jewelers Late Model Winner Michael Kloos


Steve Schmitt Modified Winner Mike Harrison


Miller Lite Pro Late Model Winner Mark Oller
Weather permitting, Belle Clair Speedway in Belleville, IL and Highland Speedway in Highland, IL will have companion shows to start off the 2012 racing season. Both shows will feature the UMP Late Models racing for $1500 to win with the possible winner of both events getting an additional $1000.
Belle Clair Speedway will have the Shamrock 40 for Late Models. Additional classes will be the UMP Modifieds, UMP Sportsmen and UMP Pure Stocks. Pit price is $30 while the grandstand is $15. Races start at 7:00 P.M.
Highland Speedway will have the Lucky 40 for the Late Models. Additional classes will be the UMP Modifieds, UMP Pure Stocks and Pro4. Prices are the same as Belle Clair.
This is the first venture for these tracks and should be a good event for drivers and fans. These tracks are close together and should draw many of the same race cars and fans. Let's go racing in 2011.