Chad Zobrist set fast time at 13.345 seconds around the ¼ mile track at Highland Speedway
by: Jack Pugh

Highland, IL (April 8, 2006) - Highland Speedway continued their season on Saturday night with lots of cars in the pits and people in the stands despite the chilly weather.

In the UMP Late Model pits, there were 24 cars ready to race. Chad Zobrist set fast time at 13.345 seconds around the ¼ mile track. In heat race one, Chad Zobrist took the win over Mike Schulte, Aaron Kleine, Rust Griffaw, Kerry Gaultney, Mike Hammerle, Dan Jacober, and Justin Anderson. In the second heat, Dick Taylor took the high side and the checkered flag followed by Micheal Kloos, Frankie Martin, Mark Oller, Tory Ernst, JJ Hoselhorst, Manville and Rich Lawson. The third heat went to Mark Faust with Kenny Rumble, Craig Smith, John Beck, Steve Unterbrink, Brent Helmkamp, Dave Eaves and Brian Little. The dash went to Taylor over Zobrist, Faust, Kloos, Schulte, and Rumble.

The 25 lap feature started with Zobrist and Taylor on the front row. With the dropping of the green flag, it was Taylor to the lead on the top of the track. Zobrist, Faust and Kloos gave chase.

This race went green for 17 laps and during those laps Taylor hung on to the lead despite having a few problems in turns one and two. Zobrist chased Taylor on the top for much of the race and occasionally dropping to the low side in turns three and four.
Faust tried to get into the battle, but was a few cars lengthens back for the lead pair. Rumble, Kleine and Kloos fought for a spot in the top five much of the race.

On lap 17, Helmkamp spun in turn four to bring out the only caution of the night. The running order was Taylor, Zobrist, Faust, Kloos and Kleine in the top five.

With the green back out, Taylor continued to run the top with Zobrist trying any line to over take the leader.

On the white flag lap, Zobrist tried to put a slide job on Taylor coming out of turn four. Taylor ducked under Zobrist and the two cars put on a drag race for the checkered flag. At the line both cars were side-by-side with Zobrist declared the winner. Taylor was second followed by Faust, Rumble and Kloos to complete the top five.

In the UMP Modified class, there were 20 cars to do battle. Fast time was set by Brian Bielong. The first heat were to Brian Bielong over Paul Bailey, Steve Ellison, Leroy Haney, Chad Sellers, Ray Wagner and Jesse Carson, The second heat saw the win go to Matt Goulden followed by Brett Korves, Roger Fohne, Eric Goetter, Chris Smith, Micheal Vanderiet and Randy Dickman. The third heat saw the checers go to Ryan Driemeier over Scott Sugg, Dave Thorton, Jimmy Cummins, Ken Myracle, and Mark Clary. The dash went to Bielong followed by Bailey, Driemeier, Goulden, Korves and Sugg.

The 20 lap feature started with Bailey and Bielong on the front row. At the start of the race, Bielong jumped to the top of the track and into the lead. Chasing Bielong were Bailey, Goulden and Sugg. Goulden dropped to the infield and out of the race within the first three laps with Korves following with a flat tire.

The first caution came out on lap 5 when Sellers began to spin in turn four and collected Haney and Myracle. The running order for the restart was Bielong, Bailey, Driemeier, Sugg and Fohne.

With the race resuming, Bielong continued to dominate the race. Driemeier and Bailey fought for the lead with Driemeier taking over second and trying to put the pressure on Bielong for the lead.

On lap 12, Ellison developed problems in the engine with a small fire developing. The running order now was Bielong, Dreimeier, Bailey, Sugg and Fohne.

The final eight laps were run under green conditions with Bielong holding the lead. Bielong went on to sweep the night with Dreimeier, Sugg, Fohne and Bailey in tow to compete the top five.