Columbus 151 Speedway – Big 8 Series

May 28, 2014

THROUGH RAIN, WIND AND LAPPED TRAFFIC, JOHNSON DELIVERS AT COLUMBUS

Casey Johnson fought through a rain delay, power outage, and lapped traffic to emerge victorious in the Big 8 Late Model Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet feature event Memorial Day Monday at Columbus 151 Speedway.

After three aborted starts to the event and with more threatening weather on the way, the race got underway with an announced distance of thirty-nine laps instead of the scheduled seventy-eight laps, with another rain storm fast approaching. Pole sitter and Columbus regular Brady Liddle showed the way early in the event over teenager Brent Edmunds, making his third Big 8 Series start. As the race settled in, Liddle continued to lead Edmunds, with Johnson quickly making his way to the front.

With the advancing storms apparent, a sense of urgency was felt by all competitors. Johnson especially felt this urgency, working inside of Edmunds for the second spot. As Johnson advanced through the field, Austin Nason followed the defending Big 8 Series champion through traffic. As Johnson advanced to second, Nason grabbed third. Only a few laps later, Johnson used the traffic to grab the lead from Liddle. As Johnson moved to the lead, Nason followed Johnson and assumed second place, dropping Liddle to third. Nason worked hard to find a way around Johnson, but lapped traffic worked in Johnson’s favor, as he was able to keep Nason at bay.

One final caution flew with four laps remaining, setting up a sprint to the finish. Johnson pulled away from the pack at the drop of the green, cruising to the victory. Nason matched his best ever Big 8 finish with a second place effort. Edmunds claimed third, his first podium finish in the Big 8 Series. Defending Dells Raceway Park champion Nick Nolden came home in fourth, with defending Jefferson Speedway Champion Dale Nottestad rounding out the top five.

(Thanks to Charlie Spry for his help and contributions to this report)

May 27, 2014

Columbus 151 Speedway Results

Big 8 Late Model Series

A-Main 01 — 1. Casey Johnson, Edgerton, Wis; 2. Austin Nason, Roscoe; 3. Brent Edmunds, Monticello, Wis; 4. Nick Nolden, Sun Prairie, Wis; 5. Dale Nottestad, Cambridge, Wis; 6. Brady Liddle, Oregon, Wis; 7. Steve Dobbratz, Rio, Wis; 8. John DeAngelis, Jr, Hubertus, Wis; 9. Jesse Bernhagen, Markesan, Wis; 10. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 11. Mike Meyerhofer, Burlington, Wis; 12. Dan Lensing, Roscoe; 13. Christopher Marek, Lakeville, Minn.; 14. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 15. Gregg Pawelski, Muskego, Wis; 16. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 17. J. Herbst, LaCrosse, Wis; 18. Mark Miller, Columbus, Wis; 19. Jacob Gille, Machesney Park; 20. Dave Edwards, Salem, Wis; 21. Jacob Vanoskey, Hartford, Wis; 22. Mike Ehde, Prairie du Chien, Wis; 23. John Beale, Verona, Wis; 24. Michael Clapper, Dane, Wis.

Last Chance “A” 01 — 1. J. Herbst, LaCrosse, Wis; 2. Mike Ehde, Prairie du Chien, Wis; 3. Jacob Gille, Machesney Park; 4. John Beale, Verona, Wis; 5. Dave Edwards, Salem, Wis; 6. Craig Phillips, Edgerton, Wis; 7. Ryan Kamish, Farmington, Minn.; 8. Jeff Nowak, Weston, Wis; 9. Mark English, Edgerton, Wis; 10. Eric Connell, Fort Atkinson, Wis; 11. Jacob Vanoskey, Hartford, Wis; 12. Casey Strese, Johnson Creek, Wis; 13. Collin Olson, Hugo, Minn.; 14. Tom Jasinski, Pewaukee, Wis; 15. Cody Kippenhan, Menasha, Wis; 16. Kyle Kirberger, Ramsey, Minn.; 17. Jeff Holtz, Franksville, Wis.

Heat 01 — 1. Mark Miller, Columbus, Wis; 2. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 3. J. Herbst, LaCrosse, Wis; 4. Ryan Kamish, Farmington, Minn.; 5. Jeff Nowak, Weston, Wis; 6. Mike Ehde, Prairie du Chien, Wis; 7. Craig Phillips, Edgerton, Wis; 8. Cody Kippenhan, Menasha, Wis; 9. Kyle Kirberger, Ramsey, Minn.; 10. Mike Taylor, Stoughton, Wis; 11. Collin Olson, Hugo, Minn..

Heat 02 — 1. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 2. Michael Clapper, Dane, Wis; 3. Jacob Gille, Machesney Park; 4. John Beale, Verona, Wis; 5. Dave Edwards, Salem, Wis; 6. Jeff Holtz, Franksville, Wis; 7. Casey Strese, Johnson Creek, Wis; 8. Mark English, Edgerton, Wis; 9. Jacob Vanoskey, Hartford, Wis; 10. Eric Connell, Fort Atkinson, Wis; 11. Tom Jasinski, Pewaukee, Wis.

Qualifying Dash 01 — 1. Brady Liddle, Oregon, Wis; 2. Brent Edmunds, Monticello, Wis; 3. Mike Meyerhofer, Burlington, Wis; 4. Casey Johnson, Edgerton, Wis; 5. Gregg Pawelski, Muskego, Wis; 6. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 7. Steve Dobbratz, Rio, Wis.

Qualifying Dash 02 — 1. Austin Nason, Roscoe; 2. Dale Nottestad, Cambridge, Wis; 3. Christopher Marek, Lakeville, Minn.; 4. Dan Lensing, Roscoe; 5. Nick Nolden, Sun Prairie, Wis; 6. Jesse Bernhagen, Markesan, Wis; 7. John DeAngelis, Jr, Hubertus, Wis.

Time Trial — 1. Steve Dobbratz, Rio, Wis; 2. Jesse Bernhagen, Markesan, Wis; 3. Casey Johnson, Edgerton, Wis; 4. John DeAngelis, Jr, Hubertus, Wis; 5. Mike Meyerhofer, Burlington, Wis; 6. Christopher Marek, Lakeville, Minn.; 7. Gregg Pawelski, Muskego, Wis; 8. Nick Nolden, Sun Prairie, Wis; 9. Brent Edmunds, Monticello, Wis; 10. Dale Nottestad, Cambridge, Wis; 11. Wayne Freimund, Elkhorn, Wis; 12. Dan Lensing, Roscoe; 13. Brady Liddle, Oregon, Wis; 14. Austin Nason, Roscoe; 15. Kyle Kirberger, Ramsey, Minn.; 16. Jeff Holtz, Franksville, Wis; 17. Ryan Kamish, Farmington, Minn.; 18. Michael Clapper, Dane, Wis; 19. Jon Reynolds, Jr., Rockford; 20. Casey Strese, Johnson Creek, Wis; 21. Mark Miller, Columbus, Wis; 22. Tim Sargent, South Beloit; 23. Mike Ehde, Prairie du Chien, Wis; 24. Jacob Gille, Machesney Park; 25. J. Herbst, LaCrosse, Wis; 26. Dave Edwards, Salem, Wis; 27. Jeff Nowak, Weston, Wis; 28. John Beale, Verona, Wis; 29. Craig Phillips, Edgerton, Wis; 30. Eric Connell, Fort Atkinson, Wis; 31. Mike Taylor, Stoughton, Wis; 32. Tom Jasinski, Pewaukee, Wis; 33. Collin Olson, Hugo, Minn.; 34. Jacob Vanoskey, Hartford, Wis; 35. Cody Kippenhan, Menasha, Wis; 36. Mark English, Edgerton, Wis; 37. Mark Hartline, Gilberts.

May 20, 2014

MONDAY MATINEE AWAITS BIG 8’S BEST AT COLUMBUS!

By: Eric Huenefeld

Following a rain out last month at Rockford Speedway, a bullring battle awaits the ‘Best Weekly Warriors in the Country’ this Monday afternoon.

The Big 8 Late Model Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet officially kicks off its tenth anniversary season Memorial Day Monday May 26 at Columbus 151 Speedway, the tight quarter mile oval located northeast of Madison Wisconsin.

This season marks the fourth consecutive season the Big 8 Late Model Series has scheduled a stop in Columbus on Memorial Day Monday. Back in 2011, scorching weather and wild racing were the name of the game. When the dust settled on that inaugural 68 lap affair, four-time Big 8 champion Jeremy Miller held off eventual series champion Steve Rubeck for the victory.

In 2012, Miller was in line for another Columbus triumph. However, late race lap traffic hampered Miller’s chances, and opened the door for Ryan Carlson. Carlson completed a three wide pass for the lead with three laps to go, clearing both Miller and the lapped traffic, en route to his last Big 8 Series win to date.

Last season’s event was cancelled due to a day-long deluge on Memorial Day, making Monday’s return to Columbus a much anticipated return. A record number of entrants for the Columbus event include representatives from nine tracks throughout the Midwest. Twenty track and series championships are represented and drivers from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa all plan to converge on Columbus 151 Speedway Memorial Day Monday, looking to take top honors in the 78 lap feature event.

Along with the Late Model excitement, the Great Northern Sportsman Series (GNSS) opens their second season this Monday at Columbus. The GNSS event at Columbus 151 marks the series’ first ever trip to the facility. Also appearing on the busy holiday afternoon card will be the four-cylinder ‘Bandit Blast’ and the Back Up Cars, a Columbus 151 Speedway staple.

Spectator gates open Monday at Noon, with time trials set to begin at 12:30 PM. Racing begins at 2 PM, with a full slate of preliminaries and feature races for the Big 8 Late Models, GNSS and Bandits plus the ‘wild n crazy’ Back Up Race . Adult general admission tickets are $15, Children ages 6-10 are $5 with kids ages 5 and under admitted free.

Columbus 151 Speedway is located northeast of Madison on US 151 at Exit 111 between Columbus and Sun Prairie. For more information on Columbus 151 Speedway, please visit www.columbus151.com or call 920-623-4393.

For more information about the Big 8 Late Model Series presented by Gandrud Chevrolet, please visit www.big8series.com.