Sports Section — Barron News-Shield — Wednesday, July 11, 2012 SporSportsts Leader of the pack Barron’s Bryce Johnson led a pack of Midwest Modifi eds with his Lighting Auto sponsored entry out of turn four during the Firecracker special last Tuesday, July 3, at the Rice Lake Speedway. Following Johnson are Dustin Brown of Rice Lake, Cole Spacek of Phillips, Jake Stai of New Auburn and Wheeler’s Kerry Halopka. Brown won the heat race, followed by Spacek and Johnson. The grandstands were full of race fans who were treated to a spectacular fi reworks show between feature races. Minnesota driver raises ‘Cain’ with Firecracker fi eld By Ed Reichert in the pack, Kevin Adams was trying Cain continued to roll on unabated. that the drivers settled down and hard to beat a tough fi eld of Street Stock tention for the lead, and with a strong to fi ght his way forward after starting He drove home for a relatively easy racing took place. racers. move, raced past Knudtson to take Dave Cain has a habit of dropping tenth. win with Myers unable to cut into his Ryan Viltz continued to lead, but Mike Knudtson and Jim Miller bat- over the top spot. in at various speedways from time to Cain continued to lead through two advantage. Adams was able to charge he had to fi ght off fi rst Halopka and tled on the opening laps of the main, A collision between Miller and time and making things miserable for more minor yellows, with the last past Leer for third in the late going then his brother Tito, who moved with Miller and Knudtson swapping Cody Kummer stopped the race and the local favorites. Such was the case twelve laps running under the green. with Duval rounding out the top fi ve. into the second place. Meanwhile, the top spot until Knudtson took con- set up a four-lap sprint to the fi nish. again last Tuesday at the Rice Lake Cain gradually built up his lead until Wilson may have had the most Cory Crapser, who started ninth, was trol. They were both challenged by Randall pulled away as Richards and Speedway as the annual Firecracker it was a comfortable one, as he found dominating performance of the night on the move. He worked past Travis Eric Olson and Danny Richards, who Knudtson battled for second. Randall special was served up to the fans. a groove running up against the wall in the nonstop Super Stock feature. Anderson and into the top fi ve. Ryan were providing plenty of heat. fl ashed across the line for his sec- Cain, making his second appearance in turn one and low in the other cor- In the early going, Brad Eding- continued to show the way, but Tito A huge swarm of cars were close ond straight victory at Rice Lake as of the year at Rice Lake, heading ner. The action behind him heated up. ton jumped into the initial lead, but and Halopka were battling hard right behind the lead duo with positions Richards held off Knudton for third. back home over the border to Min- Adams had a good battle with Duval he was quickly challenged by Scott behind him. Crapser also looked for a being swapped on every corner. The Kummer’s mud encrusted car, after nesota with his second feature race for position and then set off after Lawrence. Lawrence made several way past the front runners. fi ghting was intense with little give an off track excursion through the victory. Leer as Myers had worked his way runs on the low side of Edington, but As the laps ran down, Ryan contin- and lots of take going on, but every- infi eld, held on for fourth ahead of Other winners on a steamy pre hol- into second. Brad staved him off with some con- ued to hold the groove and continued one managed to keep their cars point- Doug Wojcik. iday night included Aaron Wilson, tact between the two on several oc- to fi ght off the challenges right to ed in the right direction. Wagner’s fi rst win of the year was Ryan Viltz, Jimmy Randall and C.J. casions. the checkered fl ag as he recorded his Meanwhile, Randall steadily accomplished by making a great Wagner. Golfers ‘Rally for With the top two locked in their third Rice Lake win of 2012. He was worked his way forward, showing a move for the lead as two other com- Twenty cars took the green fl ag for own warfare, Wilson moved to high chased by his brother Tito, Halopka, lot of speed as he rode the high side petitors battled it out. the Modifi ed feature and Cain, ben- the Cure’ July 24 side of the track, and with a great run Crapser and Anderson to the fl ag. of the track but also showed the abil- John Erickson and Bob Thomp- efi ting from a redraw that saw him on off turn four, blew past both front Randall may have executed the ity to pass on the low side if neces- son battled for the early lead in the the outside pole, battled side-by-side at Pine Crest runners to take over the lead. Wil- drive of the night. He came from 11th sary. Before too long he was in con- Pure Stock main before Thompson for the fi rst couple of laps with Adam The Pine Crest ladies are hosting a son’s car was handling great right in secured the front spot. Soon though, Hensel before edging into the lead. “Rally for the Cure” on Tuesday, July the middle of the track and he quickly Thompson was being challenged Matt Leer quickly moved in to chal- 24. Golfers are asked to make a $20 put distance on the fi eld. hard by Jason Havel for the lead, lenge for the second spot along with donation plus the cost to golf nine Shane Kisling started seventh on with the two beating and banging in Steve Hallquist. Hensel only made it holes. Tee off is set for 9 a.m. the grid, and after battling past Dar- Taxidermists clinch the corners for the top spot and both for fi ve laps before he rolled to a halt All golfers are encouraged to join rel Hazelton and Tommy Richards, with suspension problems and went for a fun morning with may golfi ng closed in on the cars battling for sec- (See Racing page 2) off on the hook. events and prizes. Valuable breast ond. He also went to the topside and Cain continued to maintain the cancer education material will also drove past to take over the runner-up regular season title lead with Curt Myers moving in to be available. slot, but by then Wilson had nearly fi ght Leer for second. Scott Duval For more information, call Kaye a straightaway on the fi eld. With the also was on the move. Farther back Leaman at 715-790-1947. yellow fl ag not coming out, Wilson’s comfortable lead was not challenged with twin bill sweep and he drove home for his second Red Cedar Men’s Fastpitch Minor Kiel Gowin had base hits for RLWS. win of the year at Rice Lake. Divison squads were involved in a Brandon Johnson was two-for- Having by far his best run of the couple of doubleheaders in league four, Tom Dettle had a double and season was Bart Steffen. He used the week eight, playing the regular Mike Bailey a home run as pitcher Ja- SPORTS SCENE low side to gradually work his way scheduled games of July 5 and mak- son Hoff and Larson Collision Center past Edington for third, making the ing up the postponed games of June held on to defeat Whitetail Dairy 9-7. pass in the late going, while Jason By Bob Veness 14. Twin Pines Taxidermy wrapped Losing pitcher Brandon Manecke Forehand got the hard charger award, up the regular season title with a had three hits in four at bats, includ- Everybody that you talk to is getting ready for the Green Bay Packers to coming from fourteenth to round out sweep over Rice Lake Weighing ing a triple and a double, and Bryan be in camp. h ey want the season to start, mostly because our other two the top fi ve. Systems, while Whitetail Dairy and Nelson also hit three-for-four. Bran- pro sports (Bucks and Brewers) are having bad years. Will this carry over Josh Basey got the jump on Cole Larson’s Collision Center split their don Christian was two-for-three. to the Packers? I certainly hope not, but everyone I have talked to recently Spacek to be the early leader of the twin bill. Manecke pitched the second game agrees that it would be impossible for Green Bay to be as dominating this Midwest Modifi ed main event, but Gary Ekholm’s one-out base hit in as well and this time got the pitch- season as last. As one of my good friends (he is a Vikings fan) says, no before a couple laps could be com- the bottom of the seventh plated Mor- ing victory as Whitetail rebounded to matter how good the Packers are during the season, they will fold in the pleted, Ryan Viltz made a strong gan Neuman and Patrick Rankin as chalk up a 13-9 win. Losing pitcher playof s. I have a few words for that guy and the main word is winning.