Mississippi Thunder Speedway
Red-hot Redetzke holds off Mars at Fountain City
Jake Redetke enjoys victory lane at Mississippi Thunder Speedway. (jdphotosports.photoreflect.com)
FOUNTAIN CITY, Wis. (July 1) — Continuing a recent hot streak, polesitter Jake Redetzke of Eau Claire, Wis., earned $3,500 Friday at Mississippi Thunder Speedway in the first race of a holiday weekend tripleheader on the Dart Challenge Series.
The 23-year-old Redetzke, son of former WISSOTA champion Jerry Redetzke, has finished no worse than third in any Late Model feature since June 5. | Slideshow
At Mississippi Thunder, he outran his chassis builder Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, Wis., catching a break when a caution flag erased a potentially winning pass by the 12th-starting Mars.
Mars settled for second with former series champ Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis., rallying from 14th to finish third. Lance Matthees of Winona, Minn., and Justin Fegers of Mound, Minn., rounded out the top five.
Redetzke also won Thursday night's non-touring WISSOTA event at Mississippi Thunder Speedway, earning $1,000. The back-to-back victories also paid a $5,000 bonus from the racetrack.
Notes: Redetzke's MB2 Customs Chassis has a Wegner Automotive powerplant and sponsorship from Champ Pans, J&D Manufacturing, Curt Manufacturing and Toys Scrap & Salvage. ... Among Redetzke's recent strong runs is a $4,000 NLRA victory on June 23 at Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, N.C. ... On Friday at Mississippi Thunder, Redetzke drew No. 1 in the draw for heats and the redraw for the feature among the top eight in passing points. ... Twenty of 25 starters were running at the finish. ... Threatening weather forced offiicals to move the Late Model feature up in the running order, and the wet stuff hit later, forcing the postponement of three lower division features. ... Chad Becker went to a backup car after having mechanical problems before his heat race; he used a provisional starting spot. ... Brady Smith's 14th-to-third run gave him Lou Fegers Racing Equipment Hard Charger honors. ... Former series champion Steve Laursen was a no-show after recently becoming a grandfather. He was spending time with the family and planned to rejoin the series Saturday. ... Among drivers failing to make the main event: Travis Budisalovich, Mike Stadel, Shawn Kirwin and Joe Ludemann. ... Next up for Dart Challenge Series competitors is a Saturday event at Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn.
Dart Challenge @ Mississippi Thunder: (1) Jake Redetzke, (2) Jimmy Mars, (3) Brady Smith, (4) Lance Matthees, (5) Justin Fegers, (6) John Kaanta, (7) Cory Mahder, (8) Jordan Yaggy, (9) Joel Cryderman, (10) Nick Herrick, (11) Adam Hensel, (12) Brent Larson, (13) Steve Isenberg, (14) Chad Mahder, (15) Eric Breeschoten, (16) Kyle Jumbeck, (17) Zach Johnson, (18) Doug Herrick, (19) Chris Oertel, (20) Chad Becker, (21) Kyle Gavel, (22) Brad Waits, (23) Marshall Fegers, (24) Kelly Anderson, (25) Seth Brede. Heat race winnners (among 30 cars): Larson, Cryderman, Breeschoten. Consolation winner: Oertel. Provisional starter: Becker.
