Abbreviated Dells Duel One to Prietzel

Topics:  Bill Prietzel

Matt Panure
Mid American Stock Car Series
May 31, 2008

(Wisconsin Dells, WI) May 31, 2008 – Two weeks ago when the rains fell on the La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway, a shortened feature event put a halt on Bill Prietzel’s advance to the top spot. Saturday night Prietzel made a frantic charge to the front to ensure that would not happen again. Prietzel took advantage of an open outside lane on a lap 12 restart and stayed out front long enough to win the caution-filled Dells Duel Part One.

Pole sitter Scott Null raced to the green flag alongside Jeremy Spoonmore in front of a field of 24 Mid-American Stock Cars. Spoonmore, who finished third in series standings last year, fell to second early on. The outside groove finally started to work for Spoonmore and by lap six he was side by side with Null.

While the two raced side by side, Prietzel and James Swan began to charge into the top five. Prietzel, using an open inside lane, worked his way up to third by lap eight with Swan hooked to his back bumper. Those two drivers were being tailed by the night’s fast qualifier and defending race winner Kyle Shear. Shear made his move into the top five by passing his brother Troy Jr. on lap 11.

It was on lap 11 when Dells Duel Part One started to go down the wrong path. Tim Sehr spun in turn three bringing out the first caution as fluid poured from his machine through the turn. The field lined up with Null alone in the front row and Prietzel on the outside of Spoonmore in row two.

Two restarts went awry for the field before they were able to complete another lap. The botched restarts were good news for Null who lost the lead on both attempts. The third restart was no different as Prietzel shot around the outside in turn two and secured the lead down the back straight. “Scott [Null] ran a good line. I guess [Spoonmore] got into him a bit and we got around,” said Prietzel.

The restart was also an advantageous one for Kyle Shear. “That was awesome when Bill went,” said Shear, who set fast time and tied the track record earlier in the night. “We were really hooked up on the high side.” It was not advantageous, however, for Swan who was stuck behind Null as several cars swept by on the outside line.

Prietzel jumped out to a healthy advantage on the lap 12 restart while Shear and Nowak moved into second and third. The caution then flew for a fourth time when Kevin Moenck spun in turn two attempting to pass Null on the outside. Drivers and spotters were warned that, due to curfew, another caution would end the event.

The drivers were able to go another three laps until a group of cars spun in turn one to bring out the yellow-checkered. Shear and Nowak had tried to reel in Prietzel while jousting side by side for those final three laps. When the final caution flew, the 2007 Mid-American Stock Car Series rookie of the year got the better of the Wausau, WI veteran. Spoonmore finished fourth and Swan recovered from a bad restart to round out the top five.

With the win Prietzel seized the point lead from Swan. “Points are nice, but I just like racing and having fun and tonight was a fun night,” the three-time Mid-American champion remarked. Prietzel leads by four markers over Swan, 14 over Nowak, and 25 over Shear.

The next event for the Mid-American Stock Car Series is the Tisler Salvage Red Race on Saturday, June 14 at the Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, WI. Prietzel is the defending race winner.

Wisconsin International Raceway is located just outside of Kaukauna, WI on Highway KK to the east of Highway 55. For more information please visit www.wisconsininternationalraceway.net

For more information about the Mid-American Series including results, current 2008 standings, the remaining 2008 schedule and driver info please visit www.midamericanracing.com.