The first class to hit the track saw last weeks winner, Al Koltunski, pick up where he left off. Al lead all fifteen laps of the feature but had a very familiar face in his mirror, that belonging to his wife, Karen. Karen started and finished in the number two position, with rookie Simon Wahlstrom in a borrowed ride third. Webster's Ken Hansen held down the fourth spot ahead of Duane Hodges. This was Hodgeson's first race after a long retirement from the sport, and the Barron body shop owner come out in fashion winning the COMP4's best appearing car award.
Eau Claire racer Steve Hallquist showed up Saturday with one thing in mind, winning! Steve drives the #U2 Front Wheel Drive and the #27 6/8 Full Size car's, and driving is exactly what the veteran dirt tracker did Saturday winning three out of four heat races and then going on to win both feature races. Hallquist finished runner up in his other heat, which was in the full size class.
Hallquist first challenge was in the 6/8 Full Size class, running second in the lineup for the day. Scott Miller was coming off a pair of heat wins and lead the first five laps of a caution filled race. Hallquist passed the Rice Lake native on lap six, leading the remaining laps en route to his first feature win of the day. Miller settled for runner up ahead of Kyle Johnson with Jarred Amundson and Jim Cimfl in tow.
With over half the field in the running the trophy for best appearing in the Full Size class was a tough decision. Voting went to the 70 ride of Bob Thompson, a Chevy powered Dodge (with a Ford carburetor) that he calls "The Mutt".
Hallquist journey was far from over though, the one of many drivers that drive in two classes still had a Front Wheel Drive feature to go. Hallquist started fifth in the seventeen car field, but it didn't take long before the familiar red and white U2 was up front. A lap four pass on Karen Koltunski gave Hallquist the lead, but two laps later the field would be bunched when the caution flew. On the restart Scott Miller, who in the previous race followed Hallquist to the line, was able to show a fender on the leader. Millers attempt would be denied as Hallquist was able to put distance between himself and the field for the win. Miller held of Koltunski for the runner up spot with Jesse Tripp and Jon Wigchers rounding out the top five.
Mike Schnider, which is normally a contender in the Front Wheel Drive class, was eliminated early in the feature race for a caution call against him but still took home some hardware after being voted the classes Best Appearing car.
The last class to make roll call for the day would be the Powder Puff. Rookie Jane Demars bettered her last week's runner up spot with the feature win. Demars had to hold off early pressure from Deb Cimfl and Tiffany Davis with veteran Sheila Cook working her way up. At mid race Cook took over the runner up spot to challenge Demars, but Demars would have nothing of it and drove her ride hard for the win. Cook finished second with Jill Amundson third, Cimfl fourth and First time racer Jessica Achterberg fifth.
Rice Lake Ice Racing is held on the north end of Rice Lake every Saturday through March 7th, race time is 12:30 pm.. Admission is free and there is a plowed parking area around the track. Race officials hope to have the bugs worked out by this weekend so spectators can tune their radios into FM102.5 and listen to live racing action and results,, something new this season. For more info visit www.geocities.com/ricelakeiceracing .
COMP4
Heat 1: 1~Tadd Davis, Rice Lake ; 2~Al Koltunski, Cumberland; 3~Karen Koltunski, Cumberland
Heat 2: 1~K. Koltunski; 2~A. Koltunski; 3~T. Davis
Feature: 1~A. Koltunski; 2~K. Koltunski; 3~Simon Wahlstrom, Cameron;4~Ken Hansen, Webster 5~Duane Hodgeson, Chetek
6/8 FULL SIZE
Heat 1: 1~Jarred Amundson, Barron; 2~Brandon Davis, Chetek; 3~Jim Cimfl, Clayton
Heat 2: 1~Scott Miller, Rice Lake; 2~Steve Hallquist, Eau Claire; 3~Bob Thompson, Cameron
Heat 3: 1~S. Hallquist; 2~J. Amundson; 3~Kyle Johnson, Eau Claire
Heat 4: 1~S. Miller; 2~B. Thompson; 3~Richard Featherly, Rice Lake
Feature: 1~S. Hallquist; 2~S. Miller; 3~K. Johnson; 4~J. Amundson; 5~J. Cimfl
FWD
Heat 1: 1~Mike Schnider, Rice Lake; 2~Karen Koltunski, Cumberland; 3~Jesse Tripp, Spooner
Heat 2: 1~Steve Hallquist, Eau Claire; 2~Jon Wigchers, Rice Lake; 3~Brooke Fairbanks, Spooner
Heat 3: 1~Scott Miller, Rice Lake; 2~J. Tripp; 3~J. Wigchers
Heat 4: 1~S. Hallquist; 2~K. Koltunski; 3~Jerret Hamilton, Chetek
Feature: 1~S. Hallquist; 2~S. Miller; 3~K. Koltunski; 4~J. Tripp; 5~J. Wigchers
POWDER PUFF
Heat 1: 1~Tiffany Davis, Chetek; 2~Jane Demars, Rice Lake; 3~Sheila Cook, Barron
Feature: 1~J. Demars; 2~S. Cook; 3~Jill Amundson, Barron; 4~Deb Cimfl, Clayton; 5~Jessica Achterberg, Chetek