NEWS

THE FUTURE STARS OF RACING AND CLASSIC MODIFIEDS STEAL THE SHOW AT TOMAH

By: Paul Reichert
June 9, 2023
 
We cannot forget the drivers that helped build the foundation for racing after World War II.  It was because of them that the current generation of racers are able to compete in the top divisions, and they are building new avenues for the next generation competing in Legends, Bandoleros and the High School Racing Association.  On this Friday night at Tomah-Sparta Speedway we took a trip back in time to relive the heyday of dirt modified racing back in the 1950s and 1960s as Denny Schott was victorious in the Milwaukee Stock Car Racing Association feature.  We returned to present day ‘Daytomah’ to see Bentley Thompson continue his monster season with a sweep of the INEX Bandolero features, while Ayrton Brockhouse did his racing family proud to capture the win in the INEX Great North Legend main event.

The first feature for the INEX Bandoleros had to do it all over after Rylee Robinson spun out in turn four.  Bentley Thompson may have started sixth, but he powered his way through the field to assume the top spot.  Another yellow slowed the action on lap four when Ransom Tate lost it in turn two.  While Thompson pulled away from the field, defending champion Axel Oldenhoff drove around rookie Carter Stein for second on lap six.  Robinson went around again in turn two to cause caution #3 on lap seven.  Thompson and Oldenhoff got into their own little battle as they left the rest of the field in their dust.  Their fight for the lead was interrupted by another Robinson spin with four laps left.  Thompson would get away from Oldenhoff during that final restart to capture his first ever feature victory at Tomah.  

Bentley Thompson started at the back of the field for INEX Bandoleros feature #2, but he turned in a repeat effort to find the front at the end of the first lap.  Axel Oldenhoff lost control of his race car coming out of turn four and took a hard hit into the outside wall to bring the race to a halt on lap three.  Oldenhoff’s night came to an early end but he was able to get out of his race car and walked away.  Thompson would go right back to work on the restart as he opened up another huge advantage on the field.  This race would become a race of attrition as the field was slowly whittled down to just three racers.  Carter Stein and Rylee Robinson had no answer for Thompson scored a clean sweep of the features and ran his season win total for the Bandoleros up to seven.

The INEX Great North Legends feature saw Rose Borntrager, the next generation of her family to compete on the race track, charge from her fifth starting spot to pace the field.  Adam Hansen was in pursuit of Borntrager for the lead, but was not making a dent in her lead.  Fast qualifier Ayrton Brockhouse was making fast and furious moves to get to the front of the field.  Brockhouse needed only seven laps to power around Hansen to settle into second, then quickly closed up on Borntrager before roaring past her to assume the race lead on lap nine.  Rookie Anne Green made contact with Borntrager and spun her out on the back straight on lap 10.  Brockhouse would make quick work of Tyler Ledbetter on the restart and would park it in TACU Credit Union Victory Lane.
 
The vintage dirt modifieds of the Milwaukee Stock Car Racing Association returned to ‘Daytomah’ to put on another memory filled show.  Jeff Allard led the opening three circuits of the feature before his son Darrin took charge of the race on lap four.  Brian Titel followed right behind Darrin Allard to get around him on lap five to pace the field.  Denny Schott and his vintage modified was cutting through traffic in pursuit of the lead.  Schott dove to the low side of Titel to settle into the lead on lap nine.  Schott maintained a healthy advantage on the field to see the checkered flag first and proudly ring the Victory Bell.
 
The Zoellick Home Repair and Log Staining Modified feature had a family affair pacing the start with Bill Schott and cousin Denny up front.  Denny got the better of the battle with Bill at the start to pace the first three laps of the race.  Bill got shot out a cannon and quickly disposed of Denny to take over the lead on lap four.  Denny would do his best to keep up with Bill and somehow stuck to the outside lane to pull back even with Bill.  As the Schotts got into a hard fought side-by-side battle at the two-thirds mark of the race, Zach Oliver was doing all he could to keep his brand new modified on the track in his very first race.  Bill went back to the outside to power around Denny with three laps to go.  Bill pulled away from Denny over the final few laps to claim his second feature win of the year.  
 
Landon Lockington had an impressive showing to win his heat race, and continued that performance to lead the first four laps of the Clark Powersport of Hillsboro Hobby Stock feature.  Lockington was working hard to fend off rookie Seth Gnewikow’s challenges on the outside, but Lockington got loose in turns one and two which allowed Gnewikow to take charge of the race on lap five.  After starting shotgun on the field, Andy Moore was methodically pushing forward in his quest for another victory.  Moore shot past Lockington on lap eight for second and quickly caught up to Gnewikow before diving low to settle into the number one spot with six laps left.  Charles Vian, Jr. was pressing Gnewikow hard for second, maybe a little too hard as they made contact and Gnewikow spun out with four laps to go.  Shelby Lockington climbed on the brakes and bumped Gnewikow, but both were able to continue with very minimal damage.  Hobby Stock newcomer Danny Mann lined up alongside Moore on the restart, but Moore quickly pulled away from Mann to capture another checkered flag for his trophy case.
 

The TACU Credit Union Six Shooter feature saw newcomers lead the early laps of the race.  Daniel Loendorf got a better run to power ahead of Zachary Morgan on the first lap, but Morgan got a big run on the outside to settle into first place on lap two.  Coming from deep in the field, Mike Gratz needed only three laps to challenge for the top spot.  Using the outer groove saw Gratz get around Loendorf for second, then powered by Morgan to be the new king of the mountain on lap four.  Gratz’s biggest competition was running in his tire tracks and looking for another checkered flag,  Dustin McCracken, the top dog of the division, bided his time as the laps clicked and waited for the right opportunity to strike.  McCracken picked the high line and got into a side-by-side battle for the win with Gratz over the final three laps.  McCracken got a better run out of turn four to break the plane of the finish line first and notched victory number 3 of the year.  

The first big crown jewel event of the season takes place next Friday, June 16 at Tomah-Sparta Speedway.  The 9th Annual Tim Myer Memorial Shootout takes place to remember a driver that left us too soon.  The night is all about the Sportsmen, but the Modfieds, Hobby Stocks, Hornets and Six Shooters will also be looking to claim a Tim Myer Memorial victory.  Gates open at 5:00, the drivers go up against the clock at 6 and the racing plus the handing out of hardware starts at 7:30.
 
Call the track office at 608-461-1920, visit our web site at tomahspartaspeeway.com or check out the track’s Facebook page for more information about Tomah-Sparta Speedway and the 2023 schedule of events.

RESULTS

INEX Bandoleros presented by Legends Direct

Feature #1 (15 laps):  1. Bentley Thompson, 2. Alex Oldenhoff, 3. Carter Stein, 4. Ethan Jenson, 5. Rylee Robinson, 6. Random Tate, 7. Brody Thompson
Feature #2 (15 laps):  1. Bentley Thompson, 2. Carter Stein, 3. Rylee Robinson, 4. Alex Oldenhoff, 5. Ransom Tate, 6. Ethan Jenson
Qualifying:  1. Bentley Thompson 18.226, 2. Carter Stein 18.821, 3. Axel Oldenhoff 18.915, 4. Ethan Jensen 19.938, 5. Ransom Tate 20.020, 6. Rylee Robinsin 20.548, 7. Brody Thompson 25.822
 

INEX Great North Legends presented by Legends Direct

Feature (15 laps):  1. Ayrton Brockhouse, 2. Tyler Ledbetter, 3. Adam Hansen, 4. Elliott Weiler, 5. Andrew Borntrager, 6. Rose Borntrager, 7. Ava Hanssen, 8. Russ Weiler, 9. Aydon Brockhouse, 10. Anne Green, 11. Braxton Paul, 12. Daden Bradley, 13. James Range, 14. Matt Schecklman, 15. Cody Gular
Heat #1 (8 laps):  1. Matt Schecklman, 2. Braxton Paul, 3. Anne Green, 4. Daden Barkley, 5. James Range
Heat #2 (8 laps):  1. Rose Borntrager, 2. Elliott Weiler, 3. Ava Hanssen, 4. Cody Gular, 5. Russ Weiler
Heat #3 (8 laps):  1. Ayrton Brockhouse, 2. Adam Hansen, 3. Tyler Ledbetter, 4. Andrew Borntrager, 5. Ayden Brockhouse
Qualifying:  1. Ayrton Brockhouse 18.630, 2. Andrew Borntrager 16.748, 3. Tyler Ledbetter 16.845, 4. Ayden Brockhouse 16.886, 5. Adam Hansen 16.874, 6. Elliott Weiler 19.939, 7. Rose Borntrager 17.036, 8. Ava Hanssen 17.299, 9. Cody Gular 17.377, 10. Russ Weiler 17.514, 11. Braxton Paul 18.172, 12. Matt Schecklman 18.660, 13. James Range 19.093, 14. Anne Green 19.244, 15. Daden Barkley 19.803
 

Milwaukee Stock Car Racing Association

Feature (15 laps):  1. Denny Schott, 2. Brian Titel, 3. Darrin Allard, 4. Jeff Allard, 5. Jerry Jacobsen, 6. Roy Stern, 7. John Koran, 8. Dale Herring, 9. Matt Schellinger, 10. Doug Drews, 11. Cal Moule
Heat #1 (8 laps):  1. Denny Schott, 2. Jeff Allard, 3. Darrin Allard, 4. Jerry Jacobsen, 5. Doug Drews, 6. Jim Straseski
Heat #2 (8 laps):  1. Dale Herring, 2. Brian Titel, 3. Roy Stern, 4. John Koran, 5. Matt Schellinger, 6. Cal Maule
 

Zoellick Home Repair and Log Staining Modifieds

Feature (15 laps):  1.  Bill Schott, 2. Denny Schott, 3. Zach Oliver
Heat #1 (8 laps):  1. Bill Schott, 2. Denny Schott, 3. Zach Oliver
Qualifying:.  1. Bill Schott 16.142, 2. Denny Schott 16.584, 3. Zach Oliver 17.236
 

Clark Powersport of Hillsboro Hobby Stocks

Feature (15 laps):  1. Andy Moore, 2. Danny Mann, 3. Shelby Lockington, 4. Matthew Cleveland, 5. Landon Lockington, 6. Seth Gnewikow, 7. Grant Witcraft
Heat #1 (8 laps):  1. Landon Lockington, 2. Seth Gnewikow, 3. Andy Moore, 4. Shelby Lockington, 5. Danny Mann, 6. Grant Witcraft, 7. Matthew Cleveland
Qualifying:  1. Andy Moore 17.636, 2. Matthew Cleveland 18.163, 3. Shelby Lockington 18.331, 4. Danny Mann 18.379, 5. Grant Witcraft 18.609, 6. Seth Gnewikow 18.915, 7. Landon Lockington 19.425
 

TACU Credit Union Six Shooters

Feature (15 laps):  1. Dustin McCracken, 2. Mike Gratz, 3. Kenan Shaw, 4. Zachary Morgan, 5. Greg Brown, 6. Tim Murphy, Sr., 7. Tristan Drazkowski, 8. Austyn Blank, 9. Daniel Loendorf, 10. Brian Smith, 11. Alex Lueth, 12. Chris Brown, 13. John Beanken
Heat #1 (8 laps):  1. Brian Smith, 2. Tim Murphy, Sr., 3. Daniel Loendorf, 4. Chris Brown, 5. Austyn Blank, 6. Zachary Morgan, 7. Alex Lueth
Heat #2 (8 laps):  1. Dustin McCracken, 2. Kenan Shaw, 3. Mike Gratz, 4. Greg Brown, 5. John Beanken, 6. Tristan Drazkowski 
Qualifying:  1. Dustin McCracken 18.832, 2. Mike Gratz 18.890, 3. Kenan Shaw 19.390, 4. Greg Brown 19.514, 5. Tristan Drazkowski 19.759, 6. John Beanken 19.794, 7. Chris Brown 19.836, 8. Tim Murphy, Sr. 19.844, 9. Austyn Blank 19.991, 10. Zachary Morgan 20.247, 11. Daniel Loendorf 20.290, 12. Brian Smith 20.842, 13. Alex Lueth 21.533