| From Worldspeedway.com Ice Speedway A stellar field of 18 Manufacturers Cup Bike Racers rode their hearts out for over 5,000 appreciative and knowledgeable Midwest motorcycle racing fans. The first heat race set the tempo for the night. It was a wild one that saw Jake "The Snake" Mataya (KAW) from Brooklyn Center, MN on the pole, Shane "The Doctor" Vance (HON) from Macomb, IL in the second spot, JR Schnabel (SUZ) from West Bend, WI next to him and defending I.C.E. World Champion "Jamin" Jared Mees (HON) from Clio, MI on the outside. The lead changed every lap in this one and you could have thrown a blanket over the top 3 at the finish. It was Mees barely squeaking out the victory over Schnabel and Mataya respectively. The momentum only built from this point on producing arguably the best night of ICE Racing ever. The field was so deep with talent that a 5 rider runoff that included Rounds-1 and 2 winner and current World Championship Points leader "Smokin" Joe Kopp (HON) from Mica, WA on the outside. Major I.C.E. event winners Tom "Freighttrain" McGrane (HON) from Honeybrook, PA, Jake Mataya, Kenny "Hot Sauce" Malaguarnero (HON) from Hisperia, CA and Justin Hittle (HON) from Peoria, IL was required just to try and qualify for the BACK ROW of the LCQ. The main event was like something out of a Hollywood Script - No it was better. The first attempt at a start was thwarted when Rob "Bugs" Pearson (YAM) from Morton, IL and JR Schnabel tangled and went down in the first turn. As the wreck happened in the first corner on the first lap, Referee Robert Arms called for a full restart. When the 8 riders were set to go for the second time, Mark "The ICE Man" Cheza (HON) from Clio, MI prematurely launched off his front row starting spot right through the starting gate tape. The unhappy Cheza was sent to the back to the penalty line behind row 2 for breaking the tape. The next attempt to start the race cleanly was the charm. The battle was on with great racing taking place through out the pack. Half way through the 8-lapper Kevin Anderson (HON) from Cambridge, MN was flying with a commanding lead over Schnabel who had worked his way up through the pack to second as Mees and Pearson were fighting it out for the last podium spot. Every lap Schnabel reeled Anderson in more until the white flag they were nose to tale going into turn one for the last time. Schnabel got a great drive coming out of the corner sending him side by side with Anderson. Schnabel was making his move for the lead when contact was made mid way down the back straight sending young Anderson to the ice hard. About the same time Anderson and his machine stopped sliding down the track, Schnabel was taking his first checkered of the season followed by Mees and Pearson respectively. Close behind them were Henry Wiles (YAM) from Blanchard, MI, Joe Kopp and Mark Cheza. Anderson was scored 7th place as Jeremy DeRuyter (HON) from West Bend, WI had crashed out earlier in the race. The safety crew were still attending to Anderson on the track to make sure he was ok when more drama was taking place at the awards presentation. Schnabel was enjoying the thrill of victory as Pearson and Mees were taking verbal shots at eachother from both sides of JR. At one point it looked like the two were going to throw down and go at it over an incident that took place on track. Calmer heads prevailed and the awards presentation, photographs and interviews were completed topping off and incredible night of racing. The 6-Lap main event was action packed from start to finish. "Dapper" Dan took and early lead pole sitter Chuck Calvert from Madison, WI. The real threat to Bergquist tonight came from Rich Schoeberl from Chester, SD when he worked his way through traffic to challenge from the outside frontrow. The last two laps Schoeberl was all over Daniel like a wet T-shirt. But it was no avail as Bergquist held on for a narrow victory over Schoeberl, Calvert, Zach Thomas from Burlington, IA, Steve Palmer from Des Moines, IA, Ryan Kaufman from Table Grove, IL, Dan Jensen from Red Oak, IA and finally Don Bergquist, Daniel's father who experienced a spectacular crash near the end of the race. Don suffered possible season ending injuries with a broken collar bone and one broken rib On a final note it was great to see ICE Champion Deny "Moo Man" Sommerfeldt back in the pits. Tonight he was helping fellow Beloit, WI racer Brady Burk. We remember well Denny's $5,000 win in Las Vegas a few years back at the World Championship Grand Finale © Copyright Worldspeedway.com |
