First time winners celebrate at Chateau Raceway on Friday

Published 9:09 am Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Heavy thunderstorm rains Thursday and again on Friday morning did not put a stop to the racing action at the Chateau Raceway. The rain ended early on Friday and the crew got to work early Friday afternoon and whipped the facility into shape.

Eighty-two cars filed into the pits despite the gloom and doom weather forecast, set for another night of racing. Three drivers ended their nights celebrating their first feature wins of the season, while four others added to their good fortunes.

The kids had a great time during intermission as the “Gold Rush” was held Friday. A bucket full of shiny, silvery, coins were dumped on to the front stretch and the youngsters were turned loose. It looked like ants on sugar when the kids devoured the money in no time flat.

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Keith Weber and Katie Elward led the Misgen Auto Parts Pure Stocks to the green flag for their 15-lap feature. Randy Rauen quickly zoomed from row two and snapped up the lead in turn one of the second lap.

Dustin Sletten charged to third as Rauen had lengthened his lead to a full straightaway. A caution on lap six would negate that big lead and bring the pack back to the leader. On the restart, Sletten’s machine would not come up to speed and the pack scrambled to miss him.

Jason Newkirk, who started in row five, took advantage of the dodging cars and bolted to third. Dylan Nelson was also on the fly and was in the top five. Newkirk drove around Weber for second and Nelson was close on his heels in third. Rauen was once again gone up front, but not for long.

Another incident on lap eleven brought out the caution and once again the pack was back on the leaders bumper. Rauen again took off on the restart and pulled away from the field. Nelson spun down through the infield as the field got the two to go signal.

Rauen led the remaining two laps for his first pure stock win followed by Newkirk in second. Adam Godeke had a late race charge to finish third with Matt Miller fourth and Brady Krohnberg fifth.

The RS Auto Rebuilders Wissota Street Stocks had rookie driver Briana Grinstead on the pole with Ryan Goergen alongside at the drop of the green. Goergen took off up front but Mike Blowers was challenging right off the bat.

Blowers stole the lead in turn four and the next lap a caution came out for a spinning Anthony Condit. Blowers took off again on the start as Bobby Kilby got to second. Tyler Peterson then battled with Goergen for third and took the position on lap three.

A.J. Zvorak had moved into the top five and thirteenth starting Dan Holland was sixth on lap four. Peterson’s right front suspension broke on lap six, and he drove off of turn one bringing out the yellow and ending his night.

The race restarted and then quickly was back under caution as Zvorak and Matt Eustice tangled in turn two. Eustice was judged at fault and placed to the tail, while Zvorak regained his spot.

Blowers was in control the entire way and survived another late race caution to win his first of the season. It was also a clean sweep for the rookie street stock pilot. Zvorak ended up in second with Goergen third. Kilby finished up in fourth and Eustice came from the tail to fifth.

In the Farm Boy BBQ Wissota Midwest Modifieds, Cody Gardner showed why he’s a driver to be reckoned with in only his rookie season. Gardner looked like a seasoned veteran, and he took the lead on lap one.