The Central Wisconsin Racing Association (CWRA) “Stars to Legends Tour” opened its racing season at Golden Sands Speedway in Plover Friday, May 18, with the Albert Getzloff Memorial Race.

It was experience and youth that ruled out, as veteran Mark Mackesy of Wausau and up-and-coming star Darek Gress of Neillsville took the headlining, 30 lap Feature events.

Darek Gress won the second 30-Lap Feature at the CWRA Stars to Legends Tour’s Albert Getzloff Memorial Race at Golden Sands Speedway in Plover Friday, May 18. (Jeff Blaser photo)

The race is held in honor of Getzloff, the long time race tire distributor who passed away several years ago.

The first 30-lap Feature found Brock Heinrich of Wausau and Cody Blakesley of Wisconsin Rapids leading the way, with Heinrich securing the lead. Derrick Van Dreel of Wisconsin Rapids wasn’t wasting any time, however, moving up from his fifth starting position into the lead by lap 10.

With battles being waged throughout the field, Van Dreel built up a sizeable lead before the caution came out halfway through the race, tightening the field.

With the double file restart that CWRA utilizes in effect, Van Dreel again jumped out to the lead. Mackesy, the five-time tour winner in 2017 who started ninth in the field, was just getting rolling, and moved into third.

With laps winding down, Mackesy moved into second and was planted on Van Dreel’s bumper. An inside move propelled the veteran driver into the lead and he held it the remaining distance, taking the checkered flag after 30 laps of hard-fought racing. Darek Gress motored into the second spot late but came up a bit short and had to settle for a close second at the finish.

The fastest car on the night, Darren Jackson of Wisconsin Rapids, came from the sixth starting spot to take third, followed by Van Dreel, Jeff Weinfurter of Wisconsin Rapids and Jim Sauter, Jr. of Tomah.

The second 30-lap Main event found Rachal Kallas of Winneconne and Jesse Bernhagen of Stevens Point battling for the early lead.

No less than a six-car battle ensued behind the two, with Gress steadily working his way to the front from his seventh starting position. Mackesy, after his earlier win, had to start from the eighth position, but he was on Gress’ heels moving through the field.

With just a handful of laps left Mackesy tried to make the power move to the inside of Gress, with the two making contact.

Both cars were able to get straightened out and back racing, but Gress proved to have what it took to keep the lead and held off Mackesy at the finish for his first-ever CWRA Stars to Legends Feature win.

Following Gress and Mackesy at the checkered flag were Bernhagen, Weinfurter, Sauter, Jr., and Jackson.

The next racing action for the CWRA Stars to Legends Tour group will take place at the Marshfield Motor Speedway in Marshfield Saturday, May 26.

2018 ALBERT GETZLOFF MEMORIAL RACE RESULTS

 30 lap Feature one 1. Mark Mackesy of Wausau, 2. Darek Gress of Neillsville, 3. Darren Jackson of Wisconsin Rapids, 4. Derrick Van Dreel of Wisconsin Rapids, 5. Jeff Weinfurter of Wisconsin Rapids, 6. Jim Sauter, Jr., of Necedah, 7. Jesse Bernhagen of Stevens Point, 8. Rachal Kallas of Winneconne, 9. Frank Nitzke of Berlin, 10. Brock Heinrich of Wausau, 11. Monte Gress of Neillsville, 12. Brian Henry of Omro, 13. Cody Blakeslee of Wisconsin Rapids, 14. Dave Neitzke of Eureka, 15. Mike Sievers of Wisconsin Rapids, 16. Greg Matthews of Wisconsin Rapids.

30 Lap Feature two 1. D. Gress, 2. Mackesy, 3. Bernhagen, 4. Weinfurter, 5. Sauter, Jr., 6. Jackson, 7. Henry, 8. Van Dreel, 9. Heinrich, 10. Kallas, 11. Neitzke, 12. Sievers, 13. Matthews, 14. Nitzke, 15. Blakesley, 16. M. Gress.

Time 1. Jackson

CWRA Stars to Legends point standings as of 5/18/18

1. Mark Mackesy 102
2. Darek Gress 97
3. Darren Jackson 92
4. Jeff Weinfurter 90
5. Jim Sauter, Jr. 82
6. Jesse Bernhagen 81
7. Derrick Van Dreel 77
8. Rachal Kallas 66
9. Brian Henry 65
10. Brock Heinrich 62