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Frederickson Wins Season Opening Race at State Park Speedway

Posted: 9:03 PM May 19, 2012

Racing

The American Speed Association® Midwest Tour presented by SCAG Power Equipment and Lester Buildings opened the season for State Park Speedway Saturday night, May 19th for the World Wide Packaging State Park 125.

Dan Fredrickson took home the victory.

Jason Weinkauf and Nick Panitzke led the 27 car field to green. Weinkauf took off to lead lap one. Panitzke settled in for second while Dan Fredrickson was already charging to the front.

With some of the best side-by-side, bumper-to-bumer racing in the Midwest, sparks were flying. Nathan Haseleu was also on the early move working into the fourth position over Jason Weinkauf.

Nick Panitzke ducked under Chris Weinkauf for the lead on lap 15 and Fredrickson joined the battle on the inside of Weinkauf. But just as Panitzke started to put a little gap between second and third, he came up on lapped traffic.

Just as the field was starting to get stretched out, the lead lap and lapped traffic were all mixed together and it was a true battle throughout the entire field.

On lap 36, the #36 of Dan Fredrickson took the lead from Panitzke as Jonathan Eilen started to make his move to the front working on Haseleu for fourth. Dan Fredrickson led the way on lap 50 followed by Panitzke, Eilen, Chris Weinkauf and Haseleu.

Jonathan Eilen, who showed his strength last week at Madison International Speedway, was on the move reeling in Panitzke every lap. As they worked through lapped traffic, Fredrickson was able to pull away. Jonathan Eilen finally took the spot from Panitzke as they maneuvered through traffic.

A ten-minute competition yellow came out on lap 75. Fredrickson continued to lead Eilen, Panitzke, Haseleu, and Jacob Goede who snuck into the top five.

With lead lap cars now at the tail of the field, the drivers were ready for the final 50 laps. Drivers had the option to choose the top or the bottom groove at the restart. Dan Fredrickson choose to start on the outside, followed by Chris Weinkauf and Eilen opted for the inside followed by Panitzke.

Fredrickson and Eilen battled side-by-side dicing for the top spot. The rest of the field was following suit running side-by-side through the top eight.

Fredrickson seemed to have the advantaged but Eilen held his own going into the corners. Weinkauf and Paniztke were at a dead heat for third lap after lap. Eilen and Fredrickson continued to battle as they began to pull away from the field.

Weinkauf finally got the advantage over Panitzke bringing Goede with him for third. Goede quickly found his way around Weinkauf for third and last year’s winner Mark Mackesy followed suit.

Eilen was not letting Fredrickson keep his lead very easily as they worked through lapped traffic. He never left his bumper. With 25 to go, the field was finally able to get some breathing room, but it did not last long as lapped traffic once again became a factor throughout the field.

Eilen continued to keep Fredrickson within striking distance as the two worked through side-by-side lapped traffic. Mackesy started working on Goede for third with ten to go. Eilen finally found an opening and dove under Fredrickson with six to go, recording the lead on lap 20. But Fredrickson took it right back on the following lap.

With one to go, Eilen had one more chance with an open track in front of them. But he settled for second followed by Mackesy, with Goede and Haseleu rounding out the top five.