RODEWALD REPELS TWO FORMER CHAMPS FOR FIRST MASCS WIN |
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Topics: Travis Rodewald, Dells Duel
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Matt Panure
Mid-American Stock Car Series
August 22, 2011
NEWS RELEASE SPORTS/MOTORSPORTS
Contact: Matt Panure – Public Relations Director
(920)-360-7618
Mid-American Stock Car Series
MidAmerMatt@yahoo.com
www.midamericanracing.com
WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. (August 22, 2011) – This time Travis Rodewald couldn’t be shaken. Rodewald held off the advances of four-time Mid-American Stock Car Series Champion James Swan and three-time champ Bill Prietzel to make his first visit to victory lane in an MASCS event in Saturday’s Dells Duel Part Two at Dells Raceway Park.
“It was a great feeling considering I had to battle with James Swan and Bill Prietzel,” Rodewald said. “Those guys, who have been in the sport for so long, are hard to beat. I ran hard and as clean as I could.”
It was almost a moment of déjà vu for Rodewald. Just last September he was denied his first MASCS win by Lyle Nowak with a last lap pass at the same venue. Although Swan and Prietzel had their chances, an ailing Rodewald’s machine was the still too strong to top in the 25-lap event.
Rodewald was not afraid to admit those thoughts of last season were rolling through his mind. In fact on a lap-seven restart, Prietzel dived to the inside and took Rodewald door-to-door for the next three laps in an attempt to steal the victory.
“Honestly I thought the race was over. I thought he took the win away from me there for a little bit,” Rodewald said. “I found out, for some reason the car handled better on the high side. I got back in front of him and ran to the checkers.”
Although Rodewald and Prietzel led the field to green and finished first and second, they were not without challengers up front.
James Swan quickly jumped from his fifth-place starting spot into the top three. As Rodewald began to check out from the pack Swan maneuvered his way into the runner-up spot by lap nine.
The field continued to jockey for position during the green flag run with Ryan Gutknecht and Lyle Nowak creeping toward the top three by lap 12. Gutknecht worked feverishly to find away around Prietzel, but could not negotiate his way into the top three.
A caution on lap 16 brought some nervous moments for Rodewald. Not only did he have to deal with Swan, who was already hot on his trail, on the restart, but he also had to hop that the slight plumes of smoke exiting his racer weren’t terminal. Track officials inspected Rodewald’s racer, but found no reason to send him to the pit area. Rodewald suspected there was a small leak in the transmission that was dripping onto the exhaust, causing the smoke.
The double-file restart pitted Swan to the high side of Rodewald with Prietzel and Gutknecht in the next row. Rodewald quickly fought off Swan, who tucked back into second spot. Nowak also found his way around Gutknecht into fourth. Through the green flag run, Prietzel held off Nowak for third, and then slowly started to reel in the top two at the 30-lap marker.
With seven laps remaining Jimmie Evans made hard contact with the outside retaining wall entering turn one. As the cleanup ensued Swan stalled on the back stretch. After several fiery displays of trying to get the car restarted, Swan was pushed back to the pit area. A coil wire failure ended his bid for a second straight win at DRP.
A single file set up Prietzel’s chance to take the win away, but ultimately Rodewald was too strong on the day. However, with two second place finishes, Prietzel was named the overall winner of the Dells Duels. He will receive the traveling plaque donated by MASCS supporter Hankscraft, Inc.
Rounding out the top five were Nowak, Mark Pluer, and Tyler Bauknecht.
The next event of the 2011 MASCS season is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 24 at Madison International Speedway in Oregon, Wis. The Capitol Classic marks Mid-American’s second visit of the season to Wisconsin’s Fastest Half-Mile. James Swan was victorious in the Firecracker 40 on July 1.
Madison International Speedway is located a half mile off of WI Hwy 138 on Sunrise Rd in Oregon, Wis. For more information visit www.madisoninternationalspeedway.com
For more information about the Mid-American Stock Car Series, including the full 2011 schedule, results, standings and driver information visit www.midamericanracing.com.