The crowded field of 6/8 Full Size were first onto the well groomed track, and among the large pack of cars jumping out front was last weeks first two time winner in the class, Jerrod Amundson. Andy Cimfl took the lead from Amundson on the second lap but a mid race caution grouped the field up. On the restart Amundson regained the lead and had steady pressure from Cimfl, with Bill Crapser, Jim Cimfl, Troy Holder, Joel Hinrichs, Don Cimfl and Don Cook joining the battling duo. With the laps winding down the pack caught lapped traffic, but it was Amundson crossing the finish line first by three car lengths to win his third feature in as many weeks. Runner up went to Andy Cimfl, Holder squeaking past Crapser by a bumper at the line for third and Jim Cimfl wedged between the two for fifth. Amundson also had a pair of heat wins for a clean sweep, with Hinrichs pairing also. Crapser took one heat and Chace Kreier won his first race in the class after posting a heat win.
In order to match the action packed Full Size feature the Comp4's had their work cut out for them, and with the tracks surface still in excellent condition fans saw the closest race in the class so far this season. Karen Koltunski and Troy Holder shared the feature front row. Koltunski bolted out of the inside starting position to lead the first lap with Holder and Ken Hansen on her outside. Holder spun on the second lap and brought out the caution, sending him tail end of the field. On the restart Koltunski again led the field of Hanson, Brent Procknow, Tadd Davis and Troy Gross. Meanwhile Holder began picking his way through traffic and a lap ten caution bunched the field again. Gross and Holder swapped positions every lap but stayed glued too Koltunski's bumper the remainder of the race. Koltunski protected the inside lane the last lap for the win with Holder runner up and Gross third, crossing door to door. Hansen and Procknow rounded out the top five. Holder paired his heat wins with Koltunski and Gross splitting the other two.
Attrition in a caution filled Front Wheel Drive race that was shortened by time limits saw Rice Lake driver Scott Miller continuing his dominance in the class. Taking the lead from the first lap, and each restart thereafter, Miller lead the field the entire distance. Jesse Tripp stayed within striking distance, gaining on Miller as the laps wound down. Brent Good moved too the high side and was on the move only too be eliminated after stuffing his ride in the outside bank. On the restart Miller and Tripp continued battle, with the white flag in the air and the pair coming out of the last corner, Tripp tried an inside pass on Miller with the two making contact sending Miller sideways. Miller recovered for his fifth win of the season with Tripp runner up. Harold Fischer showed patience the entire race and stayed out of trouble, moving up from the last row for a season best third place. Mark Lawrence and Brooke Fairbanks also used caution to complete the top five positions. Miller won a heat along with Mike Schnider, Fred Lloyd and Jarrett Hamilton.
After a last lap pass and winning her heat race, Jill Amundson lead wire to wire in the Powder Puff feature for the clean sweep, but the win did not come easy. Sheila Cook fell back at the start of the race so she switched race lines and caught Amundson. In a drag race for the checkers out of turn four Amundsen's car had just enough traction for a one foot win over Cook, Deb Cimfl rolled in third and Tiffany Tietz fourth.
This Saturday will be the last chance for drivers too accumulate points before the Season Championship race on March 1st. Championship features will be lined up by points accumulated through the year. Rice Lake Ice Racing is held every Saturday on Rice Lakes north end by the Bungalow Bar with racing action starting at 1:00 pm. Spectator admission is free and there is a plowed viewing area to enjoy the races from the comfort of you vehicle. For more information please visit our web site at www.geocities.com/ricelakeiceracing .
COMP4
Heat 1: 1~Troy Holder, Rice Lake; 2~Karen Koltunski, Cumberland; 3~Ken Hansen, Webster
Heat 2: 1~Troy Gross, Turtle Lake; 2~Gordy Hobbs, Fredric; 3~Jeremy Winningham, Menomonie
Heat 3: 1~K. Koltunski; 2~K. Hansen; 3~Brent Procknow, Menomonie
Heat 4: 1~T. Holder; 2~Tadd Davis, Rice Lake; 3~J. Winningham
Feature: 1~K. Koltunski; 2~T. Holder; 3~T. Gross; 4~K. Hansen; 5~B. Procknow
6/8 FULL SIZE
Heat 1: 1~Chase Kreier, Rice Lake; 2~Chad Zifko, Ashland; 3~John Erickson, Cameron
Heat 2: 1~Joel Hinrichs, Cameron; 2~Jim Cimfl, Clayton; 3~Troy Holder, Rice Lake
Heat 3: 1~Jarred Amundson, Barron; 2~Rick Hallquist, Eau Claire ; 3~Don Cimfl, Viola
Heat 4: 1~J. Hinrichs; 2~Andy Cimfl, Clayton; 3~Jeff Brueggen, Rice Lake
Heat 5: 1~J. Amundson; 2~Don Cook, Barron; 3~J. Cimfl
Heat 6: 1~Bill Crapser, Eau Claire; 2~R. Hallquist; 3~T. Holder
Feature: 1~J. Amundson; 2~A. Cimfl; 3~T. Holder; 4~B. Crapser; 5~J. Cimfl
FWD
Heat 1: 1~Fred Lloyd, Cumberland; 2~Scott Miller, Rice Lake; 3~Mike Schnider, Rice Lake
Heat 2: 1~Jarrett Hamilton, Chetek; 2~Brent Good, Birchwood; 3~Pete Leuschner; Cumberland
Heat 3: 1~M. Schnider; 2~Jesse Tripp, Spooner; 3~Steve Hallquist, Eau Claire
Heat 4: 1~S. Miller; 2~Mark Lawrence, Cumberland; 3~Jon Wigchers, Rice Lake
Feature: 1~S. Miller; 2~J. Tripp; 3~Harold Fischer, Eau Claire; 4~M. Lawrence; 5~Brooke Fairbanks, Spooner
POWDER PUFF
Heat 1: 1~Jill Amundson (RWD), Barron; 2~Sheila Cook (RWD), Barron; 3~Tiffany Tietz (RWD), Chetek
Feature: 1~J. Amundson (RWD); 2~S. Cook (RWD); 3~Deb Cimfl (RWD), Clayton; 4~T. Tietz (RWD)