2011-12 Round 15

March Madness - Turtle Creek Park - Brookfield, WI

March 29, 2012

Round 15 of 16

Walczak Sets Single Season Victories Record

(Brookfield, WI) -- Mark Walczak had two goals going into the March Madness race at Turtle Creek, first to get Mike Lack to finish behind him in order to help secure his fourth Husarsbilt Cup championship in a row and second to score a ninth win in the season and set the single season record, obviously attaining the second, guarantees the first and that is exactly what happened. A large field of 13 drivers showed up for the "open class" rules event that allows teams and drivers to prepare their own cars, as opposed to the series owned and prepared cars that are used at most races. Walczak complained of not having a car that would compete with Mike Lack, who has been on a tear to close the championship to just 18 points in the last 3 races, as well has his teammate pole winner, Dean Strom. But Walczak was fortunate that Dan Margetta ran into the tunnel wall and knocked the body off the chassis, leaving open the heat for Walczak to advance to the final. Meanwhile, Mike Lack survived a challenge from hometown favorite Larry Rotter, who was taken out by a much slower Mike Kristof when the two collided on the front stretch. Chris Spehert made the final by holding off Amy Butler and Ev Kamikawa. Lack's Team Lotus teammate John Weidemann was quick and also advanced to the the final

In the final it was all Walczak who moved into an early lead, Lack struggled early, and Weidemann found the floor and crashed out before half way. While Chris Spehert had handling problems that kept him at a distance behind Lack at the finish. With Walczak winning and Lack second, the championship will be decided at the the final race of the year, the biggest event of the season, HO Indy 500. Walczak holds an 28 point advantage over Lack, who will probably need to win and have something very bad happen to Walczak to have a chance to hoist the Husarsbilt Cup.

Lack Closing in On Walczak

(Brookfield, WI) -- The 2011-12 season was looking to be a complete blow out after Mark Walczak won his eighth race of the season at his home track, Round 10, the Walczy World Grand Prix, looking not only to take his fourth Husarsbilt Cup championship but to break Larry Rotter's record of eight wins set in 2003-04, all of which seemed assured with 6 more races to go. However since then Walczak has made just one final and finished ahead of second place in points, Mike Lack, just once, the points lead has dwindled from 81 down to just 18. Tonight's round 15 of 16, March Madness at Turtle Creek is another "Open Class" race which Mike Lack has owned so far this season with wins in both other events where the drivers can prepare their own cars. Will the battle continue right down to the final race, the HO Indy 500 or can Walczak recover and clinch another chmapionship?