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LADIES NIGHT AT THE ZONE
Dave Buss

What seems to be repeating theme at the Oshkosh Speedzone Raceway once again put the show on hold for a while on Tuesday night. A brief but heavy downpour hit the track just before the National Anthem but again
the drivers were willing to do what it takes and the show would go on.  When racing did begin it became Ladies Night at the Zone with two female competitors grabbing feature wins.

The Total Power Sales Street Stocks took to the track for the first feature of the night and it would be Frank Formiller to the point early.  Formiller would hold the lead until Shawn Haydon grabbed the lead after a great three way battle that included Steve Gawarsky. On lap 7 though the Red flag would fly when Jerry Winkler went air born in turn one in
the first of two spectacular wrecks on the night. Winkler would walk away unharmed. When racing resumed Haydon would continue to lead. The race seemed to settle down a bit but as laps clicked by it was apparent Tim Reichenberger would have something to say about the ending. Reichenberger would make multiple attempts to pas Haydon on the high side but to no avail. However, on the final lap Reichenberger got the run he needed out of corner four and would grab the win by inches if not less.

The Miller Lite Grand Nationals would have a tough act to follow after the excitement in the previous feature but the drivers did not disappoint. Jestin Danes would lead the race from green to checkers but not without some competition. Troy Weich would provide the competition
throughout the race giving Danes all he could handle. The race would run smoothly until a four car wreck brought out the caution on lap fifteen bunching the field back up. Caution would again fly on lap 18 causing the race to end in a green-white-checkered finish. Brian Henry would be one taking advantage of the situation as he grabbed second from Weich but did not have the time to catch Danes who went on to win.

The Fastrak Late Models took center stage with Rocky Miller and Ron Paulick leading the field to the line. Paulick would lead through lap seven when Dave Fieber would make the move on the outside grabbing the lead. On lap eleven Paulick would spin and collect Brett Swedberg in a
wreck bringing out the caution. For Swedberg, who entered the night leading in points, it would be second time that he was collected as he also sustained damage in hot laps. When racing restarted it would Fieber and Paul Parker putting on a great battle for the lead. Unfortunately, a car
returning from the pits never got up to speed and made contact with Parker causing terminal damage and Parker would role to the pits. Fieber would make it look easy from there with Scott Lewis, Jeff Curtin and Rocky Miller in tow.

Mark Kelm and Ivar Malmquist brought the field to the line in the Modified division and it would be Malmquist setting the early pace. On lap 3 Julie McDermid would grab the lead away and by lap six would hold a straight away lead over second place. The lead would continue to grow
until lap 10 when yellow took the advantage away. McDermid would not falter though as she again built a large cushion on the restart. A six car wreck would slow things once again setting up a show down between McDermid and Jay Schraufnagel. McDermid would be up to the challenge and runaway with the win with Schraufnagel second and Joey Jaeger. 

Shell Marie would look like she would be second female feature winner as she took the lead on lap one of the Lynn's Service Center Dirt Devil feature. Marie would lead throughout the event with heavy racing going on behind her. On lap eleven Brian Vinney would go up and over for
the second time the past three weeks causing major damage to his vehicle and bringing out the red flag. When racing resumed, Marie maintained her lead with Tim Sheppard charging hard on the outside. On lap 15
Sheppard would take the lead only to have a mechanical failure end his night giving the lead back to Marie. However, Marie would be overtaken by Hollie Welch late in the event. Welch would go on to win and make it back
to back women in Victory Lane. Chris Quaintance would grab second with Tyler Kontos finishing third.