Manitowoc County Expo Speedway
May 11, 2012
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Manitowoc County Expo Speedway. Manitowoc, WI
Wisconsin Dirt Late Model Association.

Tigertons Justin Hirt and 2011 Champion Tim Buhler (Glenbeulah) led the field of Late Models out for their Main Event. Heat winners Ron Stroika (Mukwonago) and Jim Rychtik (Port Washington) made up the 2nd row after the fans rolled a 4 car inversion. Russ Scheffler (Waukesha) began his race from 11th as last week's feature winner. Hirt took off at the green, Stroika slid up the inside for 2nd, and Buhler dropped into 3rd as the first cuation came out for a spinning Turk Letizia (Milwaukee) on the second lap. Hirt again led them to the green, and the field was just settling in as caution flew again before another lap was complete for a spin by Tom Naeyaert (Shawano). Top 5 cars at the restart were Hirt, Buhler, Rick Scheffler (Waukesha) Stroika and Rychtik. Lap 4 brought another yellow as Eric Michaels (Cleveland) looped his car in Turn 4. Hirt led the field to green again, with Russ having climbed to 4th. Lap 6 produced another yellow as Letizia looped it again, being involved in his second caution put him on the trailer for the evening. The final yellow flew at Lap 12 when Jim Letizia's car died on the front stretch before he could coast to the pits. Hirt led the field to green, with Buhler, Russ, Rick, and Rychtik in the top 5. Hirt didn't come up to speed quickly, allowing Buhler to get away, while Russ and Rick made a Justin sandwich, passing him high and low on the frontstretch. The top 5 spots became a see saw battle as Buhler was hugging low side while Hirt and Russ were chasing him down on the top. Russ rolled around Buhler on the high side, with 7 to go. Crossing under the white flag, 2nd-5th were in a tight battle for position, no one backing off. Russ corssed the checkers with Buhler hanging in their for second, with Hirt, Rick Scheffler, Naeyaert (coming all the way from the back), Rychtik, Craig Schueffner (Sheboygan Falls), Stroika, Justin Rose (Elcho), and Dan Dippel (Plymouth) in the top 10. Hard charger honors to Russ picking up 10 spots and Rick 9.

HEAT 1 - 1, Jim Rychtik. 2, Tim Buhler. 3, Tom Naeyaert. 4, Turk Letizia. 5, Eric Michaels. 6, Justin Schmidt. 7, Rick Scheffler. 8, Pete Parker.

HEAT 2 - 1, Ron Stroika. 2, Justin Hirt. 3, Russ Scheffler. 4, Craig Schueffner. 5, Mark Rose. 6, Jim Letizia. 7, Dan Dippel. 8, Scott Haugstad.

FEATURE - 1, Russ Scheffler. 2, Tim Buhler. 3, Justin Hirt. 4, Rick Scheffler. 5, Tom Naeyaert. 6, Jim Rychtik. 7, Craig Schueffner. 8, Ron Stroika. 9, Mark Rose. 10, Dan Dippel. 11, Justin Schmidt. 12, Scott Haugstad. 13, Jim Letizia. 14, Eric Michaels. 15, Turk Letizia. 16, Pete Parker (DNS).

MSA 360 sprint car feature winner: Scott Netizel.
Grand National Feature winner: Matt Jackson
Street Stock Feature winner: Brad Ruh.