By: Paul Reichert
July 19, 2024
The fans came out in force to Tomah-Sparta Speedway for the annual Fan Photo and Autograph Night to let the drivers know how much they appreciate them. Tons of autographed hero cars were being handed out left and right. The drivers were handing out free treats and gifts that were being gobbled up by the race fans. On the race track there were a number of popular drivers making their way into TACU Credit Union Victory Lane. One driver that conquered the legendary Tomah-Sparta oval for the very first time was Scott ‘Chico’ Riedner. Our former race director and 30-year racing veteran powered by Mike Gratz with three laps to go to score the victory in his first time behind the wheel at Tomah-Sparta.
Mike Gratz powered around Landon Lockington to take the lead at the start of the Hobby Stock feature. Gratz would have his mirrors full of Grant Witcraft for the next several laps of the race. Scott Riedner shot past Shane Strothman for position as both drivers teamed up to make their way forward through the field. Just before the crossed flags were displayed, a huge pack of five race cars began to battle for the lead. Witcraft moved to the outside on Gratz, Riedner and Strothman caught the lead pack while maintaining the inside line, and Robby Robinson joined Witcraft on the outside. Gratz continued to show the way with this angry pack of race cars on his tail. Robinson would be the first to blink with four laps remaining when he bounced off the back straight wall and suffered suspension damage. Riedner needed only the first lap of the restart to drive around Gratz to settle into the number one position. Riedner would pull away during that final restart to capture his first ever feature win at Tomah-Sparta. As Riedner rang the Victory Bell loud and proud he announced the rest of the season would be dedicated to his mom Joyce, who passed away recently from her battle with cancer.
Troy Dobbratz outran Dan Frye to turn one to lead the Sportsmen feature, but Mark Challet wasted little time in getting around both Frye and Dobbratz to settle into first place at the end of the first lap. As Challet pulled away from the rest of the field and opened up an insurmountable lead, the fight over second wound up being the most entertaining battle of the evening. Dobbratz maintained his second place position on the inside groove, while former Sportsmen champion Frye tried many times to make the outside line work without any success. Frye moved to the inside to try and loosen up the 05 machine, but Frey was unable to get close enough to attempt that. Dobbratz did an outstanding job of driving to hold onto the runner-up spot. Back up front, Challet was taking a Sunday drive on a Friday night as he ran away with his second straight feature win and his fourth of the season.
The Hornet feature saw rookie contender Ashtin Quinnell power past Dakota Clauson to lead the first two laps. Glen Bush, Jr. stayed right in the tire tracks of Quinnell and charged by the young lion to take command of the race on lap three. The familiar blue Hornet of Adam Moore was making its way through the traffic, but it was being ‘guest driven’ by Rockford racer Waylon Robinson. Robinson cracked the top five on lap five, but he wanted more knowing Robinson had a very good race car under his control. Robinson continued his forward progress as he took third away from Jordan Finch on lap seven, then moved into second at Matthew Heim’s expense at the halfway point. Robinson quickly caught up to Bush’s race car and powered around him to take over the lead position with five laps remaining. Jamie Pearson drove around Bush, Jr. for second with three laps to go, but had nothing left for a late challenge as Robinson drove off with his second career Hornet feature win at Tomah.
Alex Lueth shot by Trenton Frye for the lead at the start of the TACU Credit Union Six Shooter feature. Contact by Tim Murphy, Sr. sent the nose of Frye’s race car into the front straight wall as the field completed two laps. Ryatt Dobbratz, James Gratz and Zachary Neal got tangled up together trying to avoid the incident, but all were able to resume competition. Greg Brown went right to work off of the restart to surge ahead of Lueth and be the new pacesetter of the feature. Monty Odegard would demote Lueth to third on lap six and set his sights on Brown and the lead. As the laps clicked away, Odegard was barely making a dent in Brown’s lead. It has been a very tough season for Brown, but capturing the checkered flag and making a trip to TACU Credit Union Victory Lane made those troubles seem like a distant memory.
The Crown Vic division saw a former racer return to competition as Rusty Winchel filled in for Cole Scholze in his first race at Tomah in at least ten years. Bruce Backus powered by Matthew Heim to lead the early stages of the Crown Vic feature. Winchel would motor around Heim to take over second and set his sights on Backus. The outside groove was working well for the Crown Vic cars, and Winchel was doing his best to keep up with Backus. After running on the inside lane for a couple laps, Winchel would move to the outside groove looking to get a run to power by Backus. Winchel was able to get alongside Backus a few times, but could not finish the job and make the pass. Backus said he is having a lot of fun with the Crown Vics as he scored his second straight feature win.
The Central Wisconsin Racing Association Late Models return to Tomah-Sparta Speedway next Friday, July 26 to salute another great competitor of their past. A pair of 30 lap features will highlight the Marv Marzofka Classic, as we recognize the driver of the famous “Screaming Yellow Zonker” race car back in the 1970s. The weekly local divisions joining the CWRA will be the Hornets, Six Shooters and the Crown Vics. Parents will be fine tuning the kids’ race car to top condition this week for the second Kids’ Box Car Race of the year after qualifying. Gates open at 6, the race against the clock in qualifying starts at 6:15, then the countdown begins to green flag racing at 7:30.
Call the track office at 608-461-1920, visit our website at tomahspartaspeedway.com, and be sure to like the track’s Facebook page for the latest information on Tomah-Sparta Speedway and the 2024 schedule of events.
RESULTS
Hobby Stocks
Feature (15 laps): 1. Scott Riedner, 2. Shane Strothman, 3. Mike Gratz, 4. Grant Witcraft, 5. Seth Gnewikow, 6. Shelby Lockington, 7. Landon Lockington, 8. Bryan Schott, 9. Robby Robinson
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Mike Gratz, 2. Grant Witcraft, 3. Bryan Schott, 4. Seth Gnewikow, 5. Landon Lockington
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. Robby Robinson, 2. Scott Riedner, 3. Shelby Lockington, 4. Shane Strothman
Qualifying: 1. Scott Riedner 17.834, 2. Shane Strothman 17.886, 3. Robby Robinson 18.154, 4. Shelby Lockington 18.313, 5. Grant Witcraft 18.548, 6. Seth Gnewikow 18.574, 7. Mike Gratz 18.619, 8. Landon Lockington 19.105, 9. Bryan Schott 20.362
Sportsmen
Feature (15 laps): 1. Mark Challet, 2. Troy Dobbratz, 3. Dan Frye, 4. Jason Stark
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Mark Challet, 2. Dan Frye, 3. Troy Dobbratz, 4. Jason Stark
Qualifying: 1. Mark Challet 16.648, 2. Jason Stark, 16.691, 3. Dan Frye 16.932, 4. Troy Dobbratz 17.015
Hornets
Feature (15 laps): 1. Waylon Robinson, 2. Jamie Pearson, 3. Glen Bush, Jr., 4. Matthew Heim, 5. Jordan Finch, 6. Andrew Gardner, 7. Ashtin Quinnell, 8. Aubrie Leis, 9. Trentyn Wanta, 10. Jim Gardner, 11. Dakota Clauson, 12. Josh Schwartz, 13. Austin Leis
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Matthew Heim, 2. Trentyn Wanta, 3. Aubrie Leis, 4. Ashtin Quinnell, 5. Jim Gardner, 6. Nick Leszczynski, 7. Josh Schwartz, 8. Austin Leis
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. Dakota Clauson, 2. Jamie Pearson, 3. Jordan Finch, 4. Waylon Robinson, 5. Andrew Gardner, 6. Glen Bush, Jr., 7. Tristan Finnigan
Qualifying: 1. Waylon Robinson 18.707, 2. Jamie Pearson 18.717, 3. Andrew Gardner 18.761, 4 Tristan Finnigan 18.794, 5. Jordan Finch 18.877, 6. Glen Bush, Jr. 19.075, 7. Dakota Clauson 19.085, 8 Matthew Heim 19.086, 9. Ashtin Quinnell 19.168, 10. Aubrie Leis 19.666, 11. Nick Leszczynski 19.705, 12. Trentyn Wanta 20.370, 13. Jim Gardner 20.941
TACU Credit Union Six Shooters
Feature (15 laps): 1. Greg Brown, 2. Monty Odegard, 3. Alex Lueth, 4. Christopher Neal, 5. Ryatt Dobbratz, 6. Tim Murphy, Sr., 7. James Gratz, 8. A.J. Finnigan, 9. Zachary Neal, 10. Trenton Frye
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Christopher Neal, 2. A.J. Finnigan, 3. Alex Lueth, 4. Zachary Neal, 5. Trenton Frye
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. Tim Murphy, Sr., 2. Greg Brown, 3. James Gratz, 4. Ryatt Dobbratz, 5. Monty Odegard
Qualifying: 1. James Gratz 19.422, 2. Monty Odegard 19.507, 3. Ryatt Dobbratz 19.514, 4. Greg Brown 19.618, 5. Tim Murphy, Sr. 19.618, 6. Christopher Neal 19.684, 7. Trenton Frye 19.815, 8. Alex Lueth 19.896, 9. A.J. Finnigan 19.915, 10. Zachary Neal 19.957
Crown Vics
Feature (12 laps): 1. Bruce Backus, 2. Rusty Winchel, 3. Matthew Heim
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Bruce Backus, 2. Rusty Winchel, 3. Matthew Heim
Qualifying: 1. Rusty Winchel 20.676, 2. Bruce Backus 20.750, 3. Matthew Heim 20.876
