Nine drivers in the Powder Puff class were first out of the pits, leading the way was a familiar face that has seen her fair share of wins. Missy Hallquist used her experience to lead every lap for the win. Trailing Hallquist the entire way was Leslie Thompson, and her first time competing netted her the runner up spot. Rookies Ali Kuehndorf, Jessica Achterberg and Amy Morrison battled to the end for the third through fifth positions, finishing in that order.
With the Powder Puff drivers cleared from the track, the COMP4 class was next. Duane Hodgeson and Karen Koltunski swapped the lead back and forth for the first half of the race, with Simon Wahlstrom and Glen Koehler hot on their rear bumpers. Hodgeson was able to break free from the pack and put some distance on the field, looking like he would be the eventual race winner. Koltunski would have nothing of it though, searching the track for the perfect lane catch enabling her to make the pass on Hodgeson for the win and defending her title from 2008. Third went to Koehler with Al Koltunski making his way from the back for forth. Marcus Simonson stayed out of trouble to round out the top five.
With two Champions crowned, two classes were still looking for a Champion. A full field of twenty Full Size drivers left the track entrance, and with five different winners in six heat races it was anyone's feature to win. Steve Hallquist started pole but his lead would be short as Glen Koehler inhareted the point, leaving Hallquist to do battle with Doc Cimfl. A lap five caution involving Hallquist and Cimfl would send Hallquist to the back.
With the field back underway veteran dirt tracker Butch Madsen moved into the runner up spot, with Cimfl slipping back in the field. While Madsen worked the inside line Troy Holder was moving forward in the middle grove. Holder edged past Madsen first, then overtook Koehler on lap ten.
Just as Holder looked comfortable in the lead a caution would bunch the field again. On the restart Holder used his line to go on for the win, with Koehler second. Andy Cimfl took home the third place trophy with Chase Kreier coming from the back of the pack for a forth place finish. Madsen, filling in for Scott Miller, rounded out the top five.
Last on the card for the day would be the Front Wheel Drive class, and for a second race in a row fans saw a full field of twenty cars take the green flag. Mike Schnider took the early lead but had a pack of cars on his tail. Rocky Kempe, Steve Hallquist and Steve Miller along with the only female to drive with the men, Karen Koltunski, joined the battle for the front spot. As the lead pack approached lapped traffic, Hallquist was able to make the pass for first.
A lap eleven caution would end Miller's bid as a repeat "Ice Jam Champion" sending him outside with mechanical issues. The field was relined and the green flew again, this time was Hallquist as the leader with Schnider and Koltunski glued to his bumper. Schnider was able to regain the lead on the last corner, leaving Hallquist as the runner up. Koltunski settled for third ahead of Jerret Hamilton, with Mark Lawrence advancing from mid pack for 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. Spectators can tune their radios into FM102.5 and listen to live racing action and results, a new twist for the 09 season. For more info visit www.geocities.com/ricelakeiceracing . The club is also selling raffle tickets for a mini chopper to help offset expenses, info can be obtained by contacting the Bungalow Bar at (715)234-9931 or Troy at (715)296-6768.
POWDER PUFF
Heat 1: 1~Eloise Rowan, Eau Claire; 2~Jan Karshbaum, Rice Lake; 3~Jane Demers, Rice Lake
Heat 2: 1~Missy Hallquist, Eau Claire; 2~Jessica Achterberg, Chetek; 3~Amy Morrison, Cumberland
Feature: 1~M. Hallquist; 2~Leslie Thomson, Cumberland; 3~Ali Kuehndorf, Chetek; 4~J. Achterberg; 5~A. Morrison
COMP4
Heat 1: 1~Duane Hodgeson, Chetek; 2~Tadd Davis, Rice Lake; 3~Karen Koltunski, Cumberland
Heat 2: 1~Simon Wahlstrom, Cameron; 2~K. Koltunski; 3~
Feature: 1~K. Koltunski; 2~D. Hodgeson; 3~Glen Koehler, Turtle Lake; 4~Al Koltunski, Cumberland; 5~Marcus Simonson, Milltown
6/8 FULL SIZE
Heat 1: 1~Bill Crapser, Eau Claire; 2~Glen Koehler, Turtle Lake; 3~Dale Kisner, Eau Claire
Heat 2: 1~Butch Madsen, Rice Lake; 2~Troy Holder, Rice Lake; 3~John Erickson, Cameron
Heat 3: 1~Steve Hallquist, Eau Claire; 2~Doc Cimfl, Cameron; 3~Andy Cimfl, Turtle Lake
Heat 4: 1~D. Cimfl; 2~G. Koehler; 3~Jim Demers, Rice Lake
Heat 5: 1~A. Cimfl; 2~T. Holder; 3~Steve Rowan, Eau Claire
Heat 6: 1~B. Madsen; 2~S. Hallquist; 3~B. Crapser
Feature: 1~T. Holder; 2~G. Koehler; 3~A. Cimfl; 4~Chase Kreier, Cameron; 5~B. Madsen
FWD
Heat 1: 1~Steve Hallquist, Eau Claire; 2~Steve Miller, Rice Lake; 3~Jon Wigchers, Rice Lake
Heat 2: 1~Karen Koltunski, Cumberland; 2~Mark Lawrence, Cumberland; 3~Pete Leuschner, Cumberland
Heat 3: 1~Rocky Kempe, Eau Claire; 2~Brooke Fairbanks, Spooner; 3~Fred Lloyd, Cumberland
Heat 4: 1~J. Wigchers; 2~B. Fairbanks; 3~Brent Good, Birchwood
Heat 5: 1~K. Koltunski; 2~S. Miller; 3~Jerret Hamilton, Chetek
Heat 6: 1~S. Hallquist; 2~Mike Schnider, Rice Lake; 3~R. Kempe
Feature: 1~M. Schnider; 2~S. Hallquist; 3~K. Koltunski; 4~J. Hamilton; 5~M. Lawrence