Darek Gress of Neillsville won the second 55-lap Feature at the Lyle Nabbefeldt Memorial race at Dells Raceway Park in Wisconsin Dells Saturday, May 25, as part of the Central Wisconsin Racing Association Stars to Legends Tour. (Contributed photo)

Thayran Rezin of Tomah and Darek Gress of Neillsville took 55-lap Feature wins in the CWRA Stars to Legends Tour, Lyle Nabbefeldt Memorial race Saturday, May 25, at Dells Raceway Park in Wisconsin Dells.

For Rezin, it was a win in his first ever start on the CWRA Tour as presented by Smiley’s Old Time Diner, while Gress has been finding victory lane on a relatively regular basis.

The first 55 started with Putch Bentley of Iron River, Mich., and Monty Gress of Neillsville, setting the pace. Before a lap could even be completed, however, it was Mike Lichtfeld of Portage spinning in turn one.

With the green flag waving, action resumed with Pete Moore of Columbus, shooting by several cars to take the lead. A fluke accident with a lapped car on the front stretch unfortunately ended Moore’s day and with racing resuming it was Nick Roehl of Fond du Lac inheriting the lead. Roehl stayed in front with side by side battles going on behind him throughout the 18-car field, but Rezin from seventh starting spot was already in second position, taking the No. 1 spot from Roehl on lap 15.

Rezin’s car was on rails around the 1/3 mile paved oval track, and although there were caution slowing incidents tightening up the field, he would lead the rest of the way. Racing brothers Mike and Steve Lichtfeld moved into second and third at Roehl’s expense, remaining there to the checkered flag. Roehl’s good run ended with a right front tire issue as he was forced to the pit area with 10 laps to go. Rezin had no trouble holding his lead the rest of the way, finishing 10 car lengths in front of Mike Lichtfeld, Steve Lichtfeld, Rookie contender Dillon Mackesy of Wausau, defending Nabbefeldt race champion Mark Mackesy of Wausau, and Travis Volm of Mosinee in the Top Six.

Thayran Rezin of Tomah won the first 55-lap Feature at the Lyle Nabbefeldt Memorial race at Dells Raceway Park in Wisconsin Dells Saturday, May 25, as part of the Central Wisconsin Racing Association Stars to Legends Tour. (Contributed photo)

The second 55-lap Feature was shortened to a 30-lap affair due to area curfew and time constraints with Mike Reichenberger of Appleton setting the early pace. His lead was short lived however, as by lap two, Mitch Stankowski of Wausau, another Rookie of the Year candidate, took the lead.

Rapidly moving from his sixth starting spot was Darek Gress though, and he moved in front by the third go round.

Chad Butz of Green Bay was right behind Gress and looking to challenge for the lead. The two raced nose-to-tail and side-by-side for a number of laps, before Gress secured the position for good.

Paul Paine of St. Paul, Minn., in his first Tour race, grabbed the third position from Reichenberger on the 27th lap, and although fast, was no match for the two front runners settling into that position.

Jesse Bernhagen of Neillsville started all the way back in 12th position, but was steadily moving toward the front. Moving into the second spot, it appeared Bernhagen had a chance to catch Gress for the win. A spin all by himself in turn three, however, ended those chances.

Rounding out the top finishers in the race was Gress in first, followed by Butz, Paine, Reichenberger, Jeff Weinfurter of Wisconsin Rapids and Darren Jackson of Wisconsin Rapids.

In qualifying Feature action, it was Joey Pontbriand of Norway, Mich., and Bernhagen, the two 15-lap winners.

A new car-count high, 36 cars turned out to compete on the day, and it was Pete Moore on the comeback trail, pacing Group qualifying.

A great Memorial Day weekend crowd was on hand for the show, and all are looking forward to the next CWRA Stars to Legends Tour action on Saturday, June 1, at Marshfield Motor Speedway in Marshfield, where the Salute to America, twin 30-lap Features will be held.

   SUMMARY

55 lap Feature one 1. Thayran, Rezin, Tomah, WI., 2.Mike Lichtfeld, Portage, WI., 3. Steve Lichtfeld, Pardeeville, WI., 4. Dillon Mackesy, Wausau, WI., 5. Mark Mackesy, Wausau, WI., 6. Travis Volm, Mosinee, WI., 7. Hunter Stenson, Wis. Dells, WI., 8. Frank Nitzke, Berlin, WI., 9. Monte Gress, Neillsville, WI., 10. Derrick Van Dreel, Kellner, WI., 11. Mike De Angelo, Wis. Dells, WI., 12. Nick Roehl, Fond du lac, WI., 13. Daron Fish, Lyndon Station, WI., 14. Greg Matthews, Wis. Rapids, WI., 15. Putch Bentley, Iron River, MI., 16. Ted Griffin, Wis. Dells, WI., 17. Pete Moore, Columbus, WI., 18. Alyssa Larson, Green Bay, WI.

55 Lap (30 laps) Feature two 1.Darek Gress, Neillsville, WI., 2. Chad Butz, Green Bay, WI., 3. Paul Paine, St. Paul, MN., 4. Mike Reichenberger, Appleton, WI., 5. Jeff Weinfurter, Wis. Rapids, WI., 6. Darren Jackson, Wis. Rapids, WI., 7. Mitch Stankowski, Wausau, WI., 8. Harley Jankowski, Sparta, WI., 9. Joey Pontbriand, Norway, MI., 10. Rachel Kallas, Winneconne, WI., 11. Tod Stenson, Wis. Dells, WI., 12. Jesse Bernhagen, Neillsville, WI., 13. Chad Devine, Appleton, WI., 14. Dakota Blakeslee, Rudolph, WI., 15. Jay Potter, Rome, WI., 16. Brett Breitenfeldt, Wausau, WI., 17. Dave Neitzke, Eureka, WI., DNS. 18. Mike Sievers, Wis. Rapids, WI., DNS.

15 lap Qualifier 1. Pontbriand, 2. D. Mackesy, 3. Paine, 4. M. Lichtfeld, 5. Jankowski, 6. Rezin, 7. Butz, 8. Roehl, 9. Reichenberger, 10. Moore, 11. Neitzke, 12. Bentley, 13. T. Stenson, 14. Nitzke, 15. Blakeslee, 16. Larson, 17. Breitenfeldt, 18. H. Stenson.

15 lap Qualifier 1. Bernhagen, 2. Fish, 3. Weinfurter, 4. D Angelo, 5. Jackson, 6. Van Dreel, 7. D. Gress, 8. Volm, 9. Stankowski, 10. S. Lichtfeld, 11. Potter, 12. M. Gress, 13. Kallas, 14. M. Mackesy, 15. Devine, 16. Matthews, 17. Sievers, 18. Griffin.

Group Qualifying 1. Moore.

AR Bodies      

10% off Product certificate      5th place Feature one             Mark Mackesy

                                                5th place Feature two             Jeff Weinfurter

Bentley Trucking $100 cash  Fast Qualifier                          Pete Moore

                             $25 cash                 15 lap Qual.                Joey Pontbriand

                             $25 cash                 15 lap Qual.                Jesse Bernhagen

Coleman Racing Products

$50 Product certificate “Brake of the Race”  Feature one      Nick Roehl, broke

$50 Product certificate “Brake of the Race” Feature two       Darek Gress, lead pass

Diamond Racing Wheels $50 certificate 1st Feature           Thayran Rezin

      $50 certificate 2nd Feature           Darek Gress

Don’s Truck and Auto           Checkers     $25 cash              Thayran Rezin

      or           $25 cash              Darek Gress

Wreckers     $50 cash              Pete Moore

Howe Racing Ent.     

$50 Product certificate Hard Charger        Feature one         Mark Mackesy, 13th-5th.

$50 Product certificate Hard Charger       Feature two          Paul Paine, 8th-3rd.

QA-1 Prec. Products        $50 certificate  Feature one        Mitch Stankowski, 1st

                                          $50 certificate Feature two        Darek Gress 1st                         

Tiry’s Race Engines

$100 off certificate                                     Feature one        Frank Nitzke, 7th

$100 off certificate                                    Feature two        Mitch Stankowski, 7th

CWRA Stars to Legends Tour point standings as of 5/25/19

1. #12 Mark Mackesy, Wausau, WI.             145
2. #93 Chad Butz, Green Bay, WI.                            145
3. #8 Harley Jankowski, (R) Sparta, WI.             133
4. #3 Jeff Weinfurter, Wis. Rapids, WI., 133
5. #5 Mike Reichenberger, Appleton, WI., 129
6. #18 Frank Nitzke, Berlin, WI., 115
7. #19 Mitch Stankowski,(R) Wausau, WI., 111
8. #2 Darren Jackson, Wis. Rapids, WI., 111
9. #7 Joey Pontbriand, Norway, MI., 106
10. #12 Derrick Van Dreel, Kellner, WI., 103
11. # 93 Dillon Mackesy, (R) Wausau, WI., 101
12. # 107.5D Darek Gress, Neillsville, WI., 99
13. #12 Putch Bentley, Iron River, MI., 85
14. #70 Rachel Kallas, Winneconne, WI., 84
15. #107.5M Monte Gress, Neillsville, WI., 82

16 # 79 Dan Lindsley, Norway, MI.,                           82

17.# 8 Greg Matthews, Wis. Rapids, WI.,                   79

18. #14 Brett Breitenfeldt,(R) Wausau, WI., 73
19. #63 Jason Stark, (R) Sparta, WI., 67
20. #6 Thayran Rezin, Tomah, WI., 65
21. #44 Mike Lichtfeld, Portage, WI., 65
22. #25 Alyssa Larson, (R) Green Bay, WI., 65
23. #27 Paul Paine, St. Paul, MN., 65
24. #64 Rob Christen, Holmen, WI., 57
25. #28 Jesse Bernhagen, Neillsville, WI., 53
26. #32 Steve Lichtfeld, Pardeeville, WI., 51
27. #360 Daron Fish, Lyndon Station, WI., 50
28. # 76 Travis Volm, Mosinee, WI., 49
29. #33 Mike De Angelo, Wis. Dells, WI., 48
30. #7 Brian Henry, Omro, WI., 47
31. #52 Nick Roehl,(R) Fond Du Lac, WI., 39

32 # 2 Hunter Stenson, Wis. Dells, WI.,                      37

33. #40 Curt Tillman, Rockford, IL., 36
34. #2 Tod Stenson, Wis. Dells, WI., 33
35. #2 Rick Shone, Lyndon Station, WI., 32
36. #33 Jay Potter, Rome, WI., 31
37. #76 Pete Moore, Columbus, WI., 30
38. #06 Dave Neitzke, Eureka, WI., 29
39. #54 Chad Devine, Appleton, WI., 29
40. #55 Dakota Blakeslee, Rudolph, WI., 28
41. #2 Ted Griffin, Wis. Dells, WI., 25
42. #6 Mike Sievers, Wis. Rapids, WI., 23
43. #41 Scott Stanchina, Kingsford, MI., 0