PLOVER, Wis. (July 19, 2013) – By the time the final chapter is written for the TUNDRA Super Late Model Series 2013 season Paige Decker’s name will be all over the history books.

On Friday night in Round Four at Golden Sands Speedway Decker recorded two feats which will never be washed from history becoming the first female and first rookie to win a TUNDRA event.

“I knew I was the first female, but then when they said I was the first rookie, that just topped it off. It feels awesome. I’m speechless,” the 20 year old from Eagle River said.

The elder Decker sister was the first female to record a top ten finish (Round One), the highest qualified female (second in Round One) and the best finishing female (seventh in Round Three at LaCrosse) prior to besting a field of 30 Friday night.

Decker said the win may have looked dominating in nature, but there were still nervous moments, even after seizing the lead from outside-pole-sitter Amanda Ferguson at the drop of the green.

“I was really nervous the whole time. I was nervous even with two to go,” she said. “Toby [Nuttleman, Paige’s crew chief] was really just trying to calm me down. I knew the car was good, and it wasn’t falling off at all.”

The feature event got off to an unfortunate start for Decker Racing as a team, however. After setting the second fastest time of the evening, Claire Decker made it no further than the start/finish line at the outset of the 60-lap feature. With cars checking up and scurrying to avoid one another, Claire’s machine darted off the track into the outside retaining wall and protective barrels. Jeff Weinfurter was also collected and sustained heavy damage to his machine. Both drivers were unharmed.

After red flag conditions and a cleanup on the front straight, the field was shown the green flag without incident. Paige Decker pushed ahead on the inside line of Ferguson on the first lap. Ferguson was left to deal with Tim Hintz, Matt Pyburn and Eugene Gregorich Jr. in the top five.

As Ferguson and Hintz scrapped for second, Decker began to stretch out her lead. Ferguson fought off the advances of Hintz by lap five and slipped away from the third-place battle. Hintz slowly regressed after the battle with Ferguson and watched Pyburn, Frank Nitzke, Mike Egan and Brandon Selle move past by lap 10.

Behind those battles TUNDRA point leaders Dalton Zehr and Nick Panitzke moved toward the top five. By lap 20 Zehr had begun to slide back and fell into a battle with Tom Lindquist for tenth. Panitzke, who earlier in the evening set fast time, quickly closed the gap on Selle. Before he had the chance to challenge the caution fell as fluid was spewing from Jordan Ives’ machine.

The TUNDRA barrel was placed and Ferguson decided to rejoin Decker in the front row for the restart. Once again Decker held the advantage through turns one and two over Ferguson. This time Decker’s rookie counterpart Matt Pyburn kept pace and stole second from Ferguson.

While Decker and Pyburn separated themselves from the rest of the pack, Ferguson fell back on the high line. In the five laps following the restart Egan, Selle and Panitzke all took advantage of the inside line to swoop past Ferguson and round out the top five.

Just past the halfway point Decker continued to grow her lead over Pyburn. By lap 37 Pyburn had company in the runner up spot. Egan surveyed his options for several laps before sliding to the outside of Pyburn and taking the second spot on lap 40. Just two laps later Selle made the same move and grabbed third.

Egan seemed to have a machine that could contend with Decker, but it became clear he would need the help of a caution to make up the track position Decker had gained while Egan was scrapping for second with Pyburn.

“If we would have got a caution I would have taken the high side and we would have had a gloves-off competition,” Egan said. “It would have been a lot of fun.”

However, the opportunity never came for Egan, Selle and Panitzke to battle Decker and she cruised to a win that sent a charge through the crowd. When she emerged from her machine in victory lane a large cheer roared through the grandstands.

“This feels good because it’s a TUNDRA race, bigger than a local show, and it was a good feeling when I heard the crowd going wild. All smiles the rest of the night,” Decker said.

The win erased Decker’s one-point deficit to Pyburn in the Dean’s Satellite Rookie of the Year battle. She now has a three-point advantage over Pyburn and sits in a tie with Gregroich for sixth in TUNDRA standings.

When asked how much more history she expects to make this season Decker commented, “We need to win one more. That’s what we need to do.”

For Egan, one of only two drivers to compete in every TUNDRA event, the second place finish was a best for him in TUNDRA action.

“I was ecstatic. We qualified third. I’m not the world’s greatest qualifier so that’s a big feat in itself,” said the veteran from Slinger, Wis. “To run second to Decker, it was awesome. She had a good car.”

Egan’s strong effort pushed him into a tie for third with the team of Frank Kreyer and Ferguson. They sit 30 back of Panitzke in TUNDRA standings.

After sour luck in TUNDRA Rounds Two and Three, Selle was happy to get the chance to come home and secure a podium finish.

“It was really good to actually finish a race,” Selle said. “We always come here to win, but the way our year has been going, just to finish is pretty good.”

Behind Selle, Panitzke cruised to a fourth-place finish in his first ever trip to Golden Sands. His main opponent in the TUNDRA points battle, Dalton Zehr, struggled with a tight race car. Zehr pitted under caution on lap 25 to make some adjustments. He came back from 17th to recover for a seventh place finish. The advantage was enough for Panitzke to turn a one-point deficit to Zehr into an 11-point lead.

Pyburn was able to hold off Eugene Gregorich Jr. to round out the top five after a dazzling side-by-side display between the de facto teammates over the final five laps.

After three races in less than a month TUNDRA teams will have three weeks to prepare for TUNDRA Round Five at Marshfield Motor Speedway. Nearly another month will pass after Round Five before the Championship Round at Slinger Speedway on Sunday, September 8.

The Unified Northern Drivers Racing Association (TUNDRA) Super Late Model Series was formed in 2011 as the Alive For Five Super Late Model Series at Dells Raceway Park. TUNDRA’s business plan is based on a sustainable program for promoters and race teams alike, while still providing high-quality Super Late Model entertainment to fans.

For more information on TUNDRA including news, results and standings, archived results and standings, the 2013 schedule and more visit http://www.tundrasuperlates.com. Also, interact with us on Facebook (facebook.com/TundraSuperLateModels) or Twitter (@TUNDRAslms).

WEST SALEM, Wis. (July 3, 2013) – Fast and Furious. A simple movie title was the best way to describe Frank Kreyer’s mindset Wednesday night at LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway. Kreyer vaulted to the lead on lap two and dashed away from the pack on two restarts to claim victory in TUNDRA Super Late Model Series Round Three.

The win was Kreyer’s first in TUNDRA/Alive For Five action since May 28, 2011 – the first ever event of what has now become the blossoming Super Late Model series. Since then he has claimed five second-place finishes.

After being the bridesmaid in so many events Kreyer said he needed to stay on the wheel and kept his urgency level high throughout the 40-lap feature.

“I wasn’t holding back,” Kreyer said afterward. “Those young kids are hungry behind me and I’ve got to go.”

Wasting no time from his inside-second-row starting spot, Kreyer threatened a three-wide pass for the lead not once, but twice on the opening circuit. Ultimately he waited for front row starters Adam Degenhardt and Maxwell Schultz to sort out the top spot. Degenhardt crossed the line as the leader on lap one, but Kreyer slid to his inside entering turn one to wrestle the lead away.

As Kreyer began to stretch out his advantage, the quick qualifiers were on the move. The trio of Eugene Gregorich Jr., Dalton Zehr and Nick Panitzke closed in on the top five by lap four. Gregorich was overtaken as the leader of the pack by Zehr and Panitzke followed shortly afterward.

Already in a tussle for the TUNDRA point lead, Panitzke and Zehr engaged in battle on lap five. Panitzke challenged to the inside entering turns one and two on the following circuit. He and Zehr were both going for the same plot of race track and came together. Although he made a valiant effort, Zehr could not save his racer from snapping around. The caution was thrown and both racers were sent to the tail of the field.

On the restart Kreyer quickly broke away from Schultz who was left to deal with Billy Mohn and Degenhardt with Gregorich in tow.

With the run of green flag laps progressing, Gregorich began to find his groove. Gregorich moved around Degenhardt on lap 17 and closed in to challenge Mohn at the halfway point. Gregorich would not get his chance to challenge for third before the second yellow flew. On lap 21 Degenhardt and Brandon Selle came together in an incident similar to that of Zehr and Panitzke.

The second round of Kreyer versus Schultz saw the young driver hang with Kreyer for a short while, only to see Kreyer break away again. Behind them Gregorich challenged Mohn for third and took it on lap 23. He set his sights on Schultz and grabbed second with 11 circuits remaining.

A little deeper in the pack, Panitzke was putting on a display of strength of his own. Panitzke restarted 11th and quickly started to slice his way through the top ten. With nine laps to go Panitzke cracked the top five for the first time since early in the race, he then tracked down Mohn and Maxwell Schultz with powerful moves to the inside to secure third with two laps to go.

“I’m not going to lie it was a lot of fun coming through the field, but the whole time I’m pretty upset obviously, but it was good,” Panitzke reflected. “From what we were handed, we couldn’t ask for more.”

Unfortunately for Panitzke and Gregorich, Kreyer’s lead was too stout to overcome in just two laps and he cruised to the checkered flag. Schultz held on to forth and Mohn completed the top five.

“If I could lie to you I would say yes we did,” Gregorich commented when asked if he had anything for Kreyer. “But I’m pretty sure he had us covered.”

With plenty of evidence to support his stance, Panitzke thought he might have played a factor. “I don’t know how good Frank was, but it would have been fun to get up there and do battle with him.”

As for Kreyer, he felt very comfortable in the clean air and kept focus on his machine over the final circuits to ensure that he would have something left in case the challengers did come calling.

“After a while I just had to calm it down,” Kreyer said. “I couldn’t keep running those laps like I was running. I heard a couple of 18 second laps and I thought if I keep this up I won’t have much of a car left at the end even if it’s a 40-lap feature.”

Kreyer’s win, Panitzke’s charge and Zehr’s tenth place finish gave the TUNDRA title chase a drastic facelift as the series heads into Round Four at Golden Sands. Zehr leads by one marker over Panitzke with Kreyer just 13 back of Zehr. Bryan Roach sits fourth only 20 out, and Gregorich jumped from 11th to fifth sitting just 21 points back of Zehr.

Gregorich was especially pleased with his points effort in Round Three, especially with two very familiar tracks coming up on the TUNDRA schedule.

“We just need those guys to have one more bad run to get us in there,” Gregoric said. “[We’ll] come back to Plover and Marshfield, our neck of the woods and we’ll hopefully get back in the points race here.”

Panitzke also knew the significance of his run back through the field.

“Everything is tight and that’s the way it should be. It’ll make for some good racing,” Panitzke said. “It’s a little different racing for wins versus racing for a championship. We’ve got to make sure all of our ‘I’s are dotted and our ‘t’s are crossed during the week and hopefully we’ll get it as good as it was tonight.”

As he stated on his way to a title in 2011, Kreyer likes to focus on trying to win races versus doing the points racing. However, he relishes the chance to continue to mix it up with some of the up-and-coming drivers of TUNDRA.

“It’s funny, they’re all my buddies…but at the same time they’re my arch enemy,” Kreyer said. These young kids, I’m proud of what they’re doing, but I’ve got to show them every once in a while these old guys can still do it.”

The next race for the TUNDRA Super Late Model Series is Round Four scheduled for Friday, July 19 at Golden Sands Speedway in Plover, Wis. Dalton Zehr was victorious in TUNDRA’s first visit on Memorial Day over a stout field of 40 entries.

Golden Sands Speedway is located at 10992 Hwy. 54 just outside of Plover, Wis. For more information visit http://www.gssraces.com.

The Unified Northern Drivers Racing Association (TUNDRA) Super Late Model Series was formed in 2011 as the Alive For Five Super Late Model Series at Dells Raceway Park. TUNDRA’s business plan is based on a sustainable program for promoters and race teams alike, while still providing high-quality Super Late Model entertainment to fans.

For more information on TUNDRA including news, results and standings, archived results and standings, the 2013 schedule and more visit http://www.tundrasuperlates.com. Also, interact with us on Facebook (facebook.com/TundraSuperLateModels) or Twitter (@TUNDRAslms).

JEFFERSON, Wis. (June 22, 2013) – Mother Nature may have been a fan of Nick Panitzke on this Saturday night at Jefferson Speedway. A persistent sprinkle developed into a heavy rain on lap 37 of TUNDRA Super Late Model Series Round Two, forcing officials to shorten the main event.

The rain couldn’t have come at a better time for Panitzke, as the healthy lead he built early in the race was in grave danger due to lapped traffic and some fast company closing the gap.

“It would have got interesting if Dalton (Zehr) and Casey Johnson would have got up there,” Panitzke said. “I know they were fast all day. My car was definitely faster in the feature than it was all day.”

The 22-year-old Lakeville, Minn., driver seized the lead from pole-sitter Steve Lichtfeld as he stormed to a two-car-length lead by the time the field had exited turn two. Panitzke’s jump allowed Mike Egan and Frank Kreyer to follow into second and third and begin a battle for the runner-up spot.

As Kreyer dashed to the inside and took the spot from Egan, Brandon Selle swung to the outside of Lichtfeld for fourth on lap two. Selle, who entered the event with the TUNDRA point lead, had a short run of luck up front. On lap three Selle slid up the track and subsequently dropped out with mechanical issues. Earlier in the day, Selle and crew were forced to scramble to fix a broken rear end.

Selle was able to get his machine out of harm’s way and into the infield, but the caution flew just one lap later for a major melee in turn four. Billy Mohn was sent spinning just outside of the top five. With congestion in turn four Claire Decker attempted to check up, but had nowhere to go except into the outside retaining wall. Decker’s hit was thunderous, but she was unharmed.

After a red flag to check on Decker and a quick cleanup, the cone was placed for the restart. Panitzke elected to hold the outside line as he did at the start, leaving the bottom open for Kreyer. When the green was dropped Panitzke got away and built a large margin over Kreyer. Kreyer had the same stout advantage over third place where the action was frantic.

Spots in the top five were being hotly contested on lap six among Eugene Gregoric Jr., Johnson and Zehr. Zehr hugged the bottom and found his way past Johnson on lap seven. Just two laps later Zehr used the same line to surpass Gregorich; then James Swan two laps after that. As Zehr clicked off spots on the bottom, Johnson followed in his tire tracks.

By lap 16 Zehr had caught third place John Zimmerman and made the pass. One lap later Johnson moved to fourth. Unfortunately for the duo of Zehr and Johnson, Kreyer and Panitzke were over a straightaway ahead. As they tried to close the gap, Zehr and Johnson reengaged in battle for third.

“With the two car [Casey Johnson] right on my bumper there it probably would have taken five to ten laps, but we were catching the leaders,” Zehr said. “I was using lapped cars as picks, I can tell you that much. I knew he was quick. I knew if I would have given him the outside he would have been gone.”

Indeed ten laps later things started to take shape for Zehr and Johnson to catch the top two. Panitzke closed in on lapped traffic that was getting thicker and thicker as the field neared the midway point. Right at lap 30 Panitzke’s lead had shrunk drastically and Kreyer had moved in to challenge. Zehr and Johnson had closed the gap, as well.

“I’ll bet you the crowd was kind of flipping out there,” Kreyer said. “My wife Michelle was spotting for me and told me the rain was coming and it was time to go. The lapped traffic definitely helped, but we were tight off.”

Panitzke was in a very auspicious position on lap 35 when two lapped cars were racing for position in front of him and did not fall into line. Kreyer not only closed the gap, but also had an inside look for the lead on Panitzke.

“Kreyer and I were both on the back bumpers of two lapped cars,” Panitzke recalled. “It was getting pretty dicey, if it would have come down to another lap or two it would have come down to who was being harder nosed than the other guy.”

Zehr agreed, and was hoping that he and Johnson would have had the chance to turn the two-car battle into a four-car frenzy for the lead in lapped traffic.

“If we would have caught them I know that it probably would have gotten real hectic, real quick because everyone was ready to go somewhere,” Zehr said.

Unfortunately the rain started to pick up on lap 36, and on lap 37 officials decided to throw the yellow flag in hopes of restarting. Cars cycled for several laps as the rain continued to come down. Officials also learned of severe weather in the area and decided it was in the best interest of safety to throw the checkered flag on the event.

Panitzke was awarded the win in his first TUNDRA start, Kreyer picked up his fifth second-place finish in 11 TUNDRA starts and Zehr again found the podium in third. Johnson was fourth and James Swan rounded out the top five.

The trip to Jefferson was a completely new experience for Panitzke who had done some traveling in the past, but had never visited Jefferson. In Victory Lane, as he was awarded the Kim Parsons Memorial Trophy, he called Jefferson his new favorite track and said he hopes to return.

It was also Panitzke’s first time in a TUNDRA event. He said he plans to run the remaining four races of 2013, and feels as though he may have found a home.

“I had a ton of fun racing TUNDRA,” he said. “I can’t say enough about all of the people that are involved and all of the competitors. It’s a real good deal for the average joe racer to come out here and compete in these types of Super Late Model events.”

Nicknamed “Picker,” Panitzke certainly picked a solid partner to team with in the TUNDRA points battle as he and Cardell Potter will form a union toward the title. The win sent the team to second in standings, but they still sit in Zehr’s rear-view mirror, with a 16-point spread to try to catch TUNDRA’s winningest driver.

The next event for the TUNDRA Super Late Model Series is scheduled for Wednesday, July 3 at LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway in West Salem, Wis. TUNDRA’s stop marks a rare mid-summer Super Late Model event at the home of the famous Oktoberfest Race Weekend. The first green flag is scheduled to drop at 7:30 p.m. TUNDRA will be joined by the LaCrosse Sportsman and Thunderstox. A huge fireworks display will round out the night.

LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway is located at N4985 County Road M in West Salem, Wis. For more information visit http://www.lacrossespeedway.com.

The Unified Northern Drivers Racing Association (TUNDRA) Super Late Model Series was formed in 2011 as the Alive For Five Super Late Model Series at Dells Raceway Park. TUNDRA’s business plan is based on a sustainable program for promoters and race teams alike, while still providing high-quality Super Late Model entertainment to fans.

For more information on TUNDRA including news, results and standings, archived results and standings, the 2013 schedule and more visit http://www.tundrasuperlates.com. Also, interact with us on Facebook (facebook.com/TundraSuperLateModels) or Twitter (@TUNDRAslms).

Zehr picks up fifth TUNDRA win in ten starts in Round One at Golden Sands

PLOVER, Wis. (May 27, 2013) –  The TUNDRA Super Late Model Series began a new era in a familiar way Monday afternoon at Golden Sands Speedway – with Dalton Zehr in Victory Lane.

Zehr navigated the outside line from his ninth-place starting spot, taking the lead on lap 44 of the Element Mobile 60.  He then had to hold off a late challenge from defending race winner Cardell Potter on a restart with five laps remaining.

“I said it wasn’t my strongest track,” Zehr remarked after the race.  “Normally we’re thrashing on the car.  Today it was a light work day on the car which is uncommon for us.  We got the results we should get, because if we didn’t work on it, and didn’t win it, that means we didn’t work hard enough.”

It took some time for things to open up for Zehr and the quicker cars in the middle of the pack during the opening circuits of the 60-lap main event.  Pole-sitter Rene Scheinoha broke away from fellow front-row starter Mike Egan at the drop of the green.  Egan was left to contend with Brady Baldry for the second spot.   The tussle allowed Scheinoha to stretch out her advantage and left the rest of the field waiting for space to open. http://www.youtube.com/embed/OiZt-JciUPQ

Lanes finally began to clear on lap five when Baldry snapped sideways and Egan captured second.  Potter was quick to capitalize once the outside was free.

“It was a little (congested).  I just tried to be patient and work my way through traffic,” Potter explained.  “The outside was really hooked up early in the race and that was important to get clear right away and take off.”

Once he had secured the second spot, Potter closed the gap on Scheinoha.  By lap 10 Potter saw his opportunity to attack and tested the top side on the early-race leader. One lap later Potter nosed ahead at the line.

Potter began to pull away with traffic still heavy from second on back.  That advantage was erased, however, for a spin on lap 14 by Leo’s Upper Dells Bar Gong Show winner Austin Luedtke. http://www.youtube.com/embed/rMMVneDijnM

With the decision cone placed, Potter jumped to the outside for the restart, with Scheinoha choosing the bottom lane.  After the green Potter was able to fend off Scheinoha and regain the top spot.

Heavy traffic behind Potter again allowed him to break away from the pack.  Behind him things began to get frantic.  Just two laps after the restart a scrap for fourth saw Billy Mohn and Eugene Gregorich Jr. jump past Mike Egan in a jolting three-wide display.  That shake up in the top five allowed some lanes to begin to open in the middle of the field for Zehr and fast-qualifier Brandon Selle.

As the field neared the 20-lap marker, Jeff Weinfurter slid to the second spot past Scheinoha.  Weinfurter was followed in the next five laps by Gregorich into third, Selle into fourth.  Selle continued his mission past Gregorich into third on lap 28.  One lap later Gregorich experienced mechanical issues and slowed.  He was unable to coax his machine back to the pit area, bringing out the second yellow of the main. http://www.youtube.com/embed/aXdU_IjWc2I

The field was set to take the green at the halfway point behind Potter (again on the outside) and Weinfurter.  The second row consisted of Selle and Zehr.

Weinfurter briefly took the lead from Potter after the restart, but could not show the way for more than one circuit.  Potter reclaimed the lead on lap 32 and soon jumped away from Weinfurter.  Once Potter was clear Zehr slipped past Weinfurter and set his sights on the lead.

“It was a little bit of side-by-side up front there that just couldn’t get settled.  When we went to pick-a-lane it opened up some opportunities on the outside,” Zehr explained.  “I actually chose the outside and fell back a position.  It cleared up again and I got to the outside.  I passed a couple cars on the outside.  It was just a fast race car.”

Zehr chewed up the disadvantage and began to challenge by lap 39.  After a few peeks to the inside, Zehr sprung to the top on lap 42.  After two laps of disputing the top spot, Zehr inched ahead on lap 44.  He began to pull away from Potter until the caution flew again on lap 55.

Coming back to the green in single file formation, Potter found one more chance as Zehr spun his tires and broke sideways.

“We picked up a slight vibration under the caution, but I lit the tires up, got off the gas and got back to it and had great forward bite from there,” Zehr said.  “The vibration went away I think I had a bunch of junk on the the right rear or something like that.”

Potter had a brief look inside, but could not find the grip to make the pass.

“I stuck a nose in there but I was just about as loose coming out of the corner as he was and coming out of two I did the same thing,” Potter explained.

Over the final five circuits Zehr built his lead.  Potter was challenged by Frank Nitzke who quietly, but quickly slipped into the top five over the final 20 laps.

“I needed a little more room to work,” said the defending GSS Champ Nitzke.  “I think if I would have gotten through traffic a little better the first 20 laps it would have been real interesting there.”

Nitzke was unable to make the pass on Potter and settled for third.  Selle held on for fourth and Mohn rounded out the top five.

Winning his fifth TUNDRA feature in 10 starts, Zehr kept the bigger picture in mind. After coming up just shy of a title last season in TUNDRA’s five-race set at Dells Raceway Park, Zehr seems focused early on in the title hunt.

“This is about as good as you can get for the points to start.  We picked up right where we left off last year,” he said.  “Hopefully we build up a little bit of a cushion so that if the driver has a little foul up we can still contend for the Championship at the end of the year.”

If history is any indication, Zehr may be in good standing for Round Two.  Wins have come in pairs for Zehr – capturing Rounds Two and Three in 2011 and Rounds Three and Four in 2012.

However, due to passing points Zehr trails Brandon Selle in TUNDRA Super Late Model Series points.  Selle has yet to decide if he will chase the full TUNDRA season while both Zehr and Nitzke are committed to the six-race schedule and the title hunt.

Round Two for the 2013 TUNDRA Super Late Model Series season is scheduled for Saturday, June 22 at Jefferson Speedway just outside Jefferson, Wis.  A visit to Wisconsin’s Action Track will be the first time TUNDRA has competed on a quarter-mile.  TUNDRA will be joined by the Mid-American Stock Car Series and other support divisions to be named soon

For more information on Jefferson Speedway visit www.jeffersonspeedway.com.

The Unified Northern Drivers Racing Association (TUNDRA) Super Late Model Series was formed in 2011 as the Alive For Five Super Late Model Series at Dells Raceway Park. TUNDRA’s business plan is based on a sustainable program for promoters and drivers alike, while still providing high-quality Super Late Model entertainment to fans.

For more information on TUNDRA including news, past results and standings, the 2013 schedule and more visit www.tundrasuperlates.com. Also, interact with us on Facebook (facebook.com/TundraSuperLateModels) or Twitter (@TUNDRAslms)

WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. (September 9, 2012) – When Dennis Prunty started the Advanced Engine Concepts 80-lap feature event Saturday Night for TUNDRA Super Late Model Series Round Five he knew there was only so much he could control. Prunty took care of his business; fate took care of the rest.

The veteran from Knowles, Wis. claimed his first ever Super Late Model title at DRP by seizing control of the feature on lap 21 and holding off a hungry Steve Rubeck in heavy lapped traffic for the win.

Prunty entered the night three points back of Dalton Zehr. After Zehr gained four more points in qualifying, the deficit was seven heading into the main. However, with an invert of 13, Prunty was given a favorable starting spot inside row three.

“After qualifying I figured I didn’t have much of a chance unless (Rich Bickle) and (Zehr) had a bad night,” Prunty said. “I knew all I could do was just win the race, and the rest was out of my hands. It happened to work out for me.”

Both Zehr and Bickle suffered off nights leaving Prunty with a five point advantage over Zehr in the final TUNDRA standings.

Working his way through the field early, Prunty showed every indication of a man on a mission. Prunty started alongside Dan Lensing, who later in the evening went on to claim the DRP Late Model title. Lensing and Prunty waited for front row starters Josh Wallace and Steve Rubeck to sort out before they both attacked the outside line.

On lap four Lensing jumped to the top to take second from Wallace and carried on past Rubeck to the top spot one lap later. Mimicking the move Prunty jumped to the outside of Wallace on lap four and cruised past Rubeck on the next circuit.

Lensing’s healthy advantage began to wither as Prunty caught him within three laps of taking second. Just as he was prepared to challenge Lensing, Prunty’s advances were cut off by a caution when Ross Zumbach spun in turn two on lap eleven.

The restart was short-lived as Mike Egan was sent spinning through the grass right at the outset. When the line up sorted out Michael Bilderback had made a strong move. On the cone Bilderback hopped to the outside line and claimed a spot in the top five.

The field quickly sorted back into single file and drivers started to plot their moves. With Prunty running in the second spot, all eyes were on Dalton Zehr. Needing only a top ten finish, Zehr had exercised patience in the past. He was in familiar territory deep in traffic in the early going.

However, the DRP outside wall claimed Zehr’s title chances victim on lap fifteen when he tagged the front stretch wall. Zehr started to fall back through the field with obvious damage to his right front. He nursed his machine to a 12th place finish.

Zehr’s hard luck was not the only bad-for-him-good-for-me situation Prunty would encounter on this fateful evening. Trailing Lensing closely for ten laps after the restart Prunty had again closed the gap and was ready to strike for the lead. Just as he closed in Lensing lost control and spun out exiting turn four. Lensing spun to the infield, kept his machine fired, and kept rolling which allowed the green flag to stay out.

The situation was a near-miss in many ways for Prunty.

“I was about a car length behind him and I’m not sure what happened. I saw him start to get sideways and I thought, ‘should I go inside or outside,’” I’m glad I went to the outside,” he said of the potential contact.

However, he wasn’t sure if he was out of the woods. “I was thinking to myself, ‘I hope they don’t think I did that,’ because I was nowhere near him. It was cool that it stayed green. I feel bad for him, but it was good for me.”

With Prunty in the lead, and Zehr starting to fade, attention then turned to Bickle who had the opportunity to close in on Prunty with passing points. Bickle started his move on lap 29 as he started to work the outside and creep toward the top ten. The run was disrupted when Bickle started to fade backward in what looked to be a means to conserve equipment.

Falling just back outside of the top ten Bickle was caught by Corey Jankowski. With a little bad blood still spilling over from a previous TUNDRA event, Jankowski and Bickle connected out of turn four, resulting in Jankowski going airborne over the left rear of Bickle. Jankowski retired with damage to his machine and Bickle was forced to change a flat left rear.

On the lap 36 restart Prunty broke away from Rubeck and Bilderback. Stretching out his lead, spots in the top five seemed secure until the final ten circuits.

As Rubeck started to reel in Prunty slightly for the top spot, James Swan closed the gap on Bilderback for third. Coming off a second-place finish in TUNDRA Round Four, Swan jousted with Bilderback over the final ten circuits for the final podium spot. Behind them, Terry Schoppenhorst and fast qualifier Bobby Kendall closed the gap.

While the stunning side-by-side display between Swan and Bilderback raged on, Rubeck crept in on Prunty. With just seven laps remaining, Prunty had some difficulty with lapped traffic and Rubeck had closed to a car length.

“The first car I caught up to stayed high,” Prunty said of the lapped traffic. “The next car didn’t want to go a lap down. It was a fight and Rubeck was behind me, but when I cleared thankfully there were only three laps to go.”

Over the final three trips, Prunty stretched out his advantage. With both Zehr and Bickle outside the top ten, Prunty cruised to putting an exclamation point on his first title. Rubeck, who had struggled mightily, was pleased to have luck on his side with a second-place finish. Swan beat Bilderback to the line by a nose to claim third and Schoppenhorst rounded out the top five.

In victory lane Prunty took the microphone to begin thanking all of those involved in his first ever title run. To claim his second Super Late Title, Prunty needed less than 24 hours. On Sunday afternoon Prunty claimed a 10-point victory for his first title at Slinger Speedway.

“This Championship means a lot to me,” Prunty said of his TUNDRA title Saturday. “I can’t wait to see what we (TUNDRA) do next year. I’d like to see if we get some other tracks involved, or if we just do this again. It was awesome.”

The TUNDRA Super Late Model Series would like to thank its supporters for the 2012 season including: Dells Raceway Park, Advanced Engine Concepts, Waterfurnace, Super Star Motorsports, Barricade Flasher Service, Bonafide Security Solutions, Coleman Racing Products, The Country Plumber, Tiry’s Race Engines, Five Star Race Car Bodies, TD Graphics, Wegner Automotive Research, Leo’s Upper Dells Bar and all the sponsors who made it possible for their teams/drivers to compete.

This offseason brings a lot of excitement as TUNDRA hopes to grow on its success of 2012 and parlay it into an even bigger 2013 season. Expect to see announcements through the DRP web site and facebook.com/tundrasuperlatemodels. TUNDRA hopes to launch its own web site within the coming months.

Dells Raceway Park is located at N1070 Smith Road, five minutes north of downtown Wisconsin Dells, Wis., off highway 12-16. For more information including the latest news, the 2012 schedule and more visit http://www.dellsracewaypark.com.