By: Randy Van Hoof Jan. 23, 2010
It was a foggy and misty day for racing at Tilleda Thunder On Ice on “Lake Speed” in Tilleda. The new layout of the track with it’s longer straights and more sweeping turns is providing for some close three and sometimes four wide racing, Saturday was no exception. The crowds this season has been great and this week saw the largest car count of the year so far. Next week with the special benefit race should prove to be a great day.

Eight racers will take to the track for the first feature of the day, the FWD Studded class. Alan Gast in the 6 car will lead the eight car field to the green flag. Gast and Calvin Stueck in the 35Q will battle for the first lap and a half. Daryl Erickson in the 45E will challenge for the top spot also as Clint “Chucky” Forstner piloting the 64 car will bide his time from his fourth starting spot and pick his lines to the front and get the top spot on lap five and hang on for the win.

FWD Non-Studded class rolled on the ice for their feature next. “The Kid” Josh Jolitz finds himself on the pole with the 113 of Josh Roehl along side. After a rough start finding the 3 of Brad Schneider and “The Kid” nose to nose in the first turn the red flag was thrown of the field for a complete re-start. After some bumper surgery to “The Kids” front bumper to get the two cars separated the race was re-started. New comer Tom Brandt in the 111, the 1 of Jeff Jolitz and Scott Weisnicht in the 53 battled their way to the front. These three put on a great battle for half the race but B.J. Giese in the 30V had different plans as he patiently worked his way through traffic to battle for the lead by lap eight. Brandt and Giese put on a show as B.J. Waited for Brandt to make a mistake. On lap ten Giese found his chance and made the move to the front and held on to take his third win of the season.

Fourteen RWD Non-Studded cars took the track with the 13 of Brandy Moede and Kyle Lemke in the 74 wagon pacing the field. This race was a battle with the 66 of Les Slater, the 00 of Barry Van Stratten and Pete “Rabbit” Forstner showing the way to the front battling for the opening laps as Dan Michonski and Clint “Chucky” Forstner were picking off cars deeper in the field. C. Forstner worked his way up to the third spot before dropping back in the later laps while D. Michonski was heading to the front. After some door to door action with his brother Nate in the 33, the 75 of Justin Kraeger and the 9 of Travis Verg, Dan would not be denied his second win of the season in the number 1 wagon.

Racing continues every Saturday at 1:00pm through February.

Remember the Special benefit race for Reed Luepke, four year old boy that has leukemia, is next Saturday the 30th with donations, 50/50 and the driver payout for the day going to the Leupke Family. That will also be our annual “Media Day” with special media race and a special dirt vs. asphalt challenge race.