SLINGER, Wis. (September 12, 2013) – Plenty of buzz surrounded the Slinger regulars prior to TUNDRA Super Late Model Series Round Six last Sunday, and for good reason. Drivers with Slinger ties swept the top six spots in the 75-lap feature.

However, the next six spots were taken by TUNDRA Travelers. Among those next six were TUNDRA Champion Nick Panitkze, a hard-charging Dalton Zehr and Eugene Gregorich Jr.

“We needed a little bit more to be competitive, especially at the beginning,” said Panitzke, who sealed the title by starting the main. “The car came around for the end; we just didn’t have enough laps. We had a couple circumstances that kept us out of the front pack, but we’re happy with it. It gave us something to work with if we come here next year.”

Panitzke started in the sixth spot and fell out of the top ten early in the race. After about the midway point the Lakeville, Minn., driver found his way back into the top ten. He continued to challenge the likes of Mike Egan, Frank Kreyer and Travis Dassow in the second half of the race, but could not catch the front six.

Having the title sealed gave Panitzke an opportunity to feel comfortable becoming reacquainted with Slinger. His strong runs in Rounds Two through Five, coupled with Cardell Potter’s podium finish at Golden Sands were enough to give him that breathing room.

“Obviously we got a great start with what Cardell did at Golden Sands,” Panitzke said. “We started off winning at Jefferson, and that was a great start for us. We had everything go right for us right from the get-go. We couldn’t have asked for a better year and we look forward to next year.”

If not for a few bad luck runs by Zehr in the middle rounds of the season, Panitzke may have been sweating a little more behind the wheel of his machine Sunday.

After failing to time in, and missing the cut in the Gong Show by one spot, Zehr was a man on a mission from the drop of the green in the 15-lap Bonafide “Locked In” Last Chance Race. Zehr easily captured the win and began the feature in 23rd.

Zehr’s machine remained on point through the 75-lap feature. By the midway point he had moved from the final row up into a top ten spot. On the final restart Zehr chose the outside at the TUNDRA Barrel and restarted sixth. Unfortunately for Zehr the extra laps and hard charging resulted in weary tires. He recorded a seventh-place finish.

Of the top three in TUNDRA standings coming in, Zehr and Panitzke had tested Slinger Speedway in the past. Eugene Gregorich Jr. had not. Coming off a feature win and a title at Marshfield on Saturday, Gregorich qualified 22nd. He received a provisional into the feature. Gregorich hung in and spent most of the race contesting seven-time Slinger Champion Lowell Bennett. He finished 12th, but dipped to third in standings because of Zehr’s strong run.

Paige Decker – 2013 Dean’s Satellite TUNDRA Rookie of the Year (Dave Olson speedgraphicscompany.com photo)

Several other TUNDRA spots in the top ten swapped hands at Slinger. The most significant swap was the difference in the Dean’s Satellite Rookie of the Year battle between Paige Decker and Matt Pyburn. Pyburn had a four-point lead over Decker heading into Sunday. Both drivers qualified for the main, but Pyburn was left with an uphill climb.

Decker qualified in the 12th spot which granted her a third-place start in the feature. Pyburn, although admittedly thrilled to make the show on time, needed to climb from 16th to content. However, Pyburn would have the opportunity to accumulate passing points while Decker needed to hold at the front of the field.

As some of the Slinger regulars ascended through the field Decker patiently held in the top ten. With Decker continuing to ride, Pyburn was in need of a charge through the field. Unfortunately for Pyburn, it was a charge that did not come. Just past the midway point Pyburn spun in turns one and two and made contact with the outside retaining wall. Pyburn retired, finishing 23rd while Decker carried on to finish 16th. She grabbed the Rookie of the Year title by just three points over Pyburn.

The TUNDRA Travelers, most making their first trip to Slinger, fared much better against the Slinger regulars than anticipated. The feature was evenly split with 12 TUNDRA drivers (including Mike Egan and Travis Dassow) and 12 Slinger Standouts. Both last chance races were won by TUNDRA drivers who had to wrestle spots away from Slinger regulars.

Perhaps Round Six winner Brad Mueller put the best wrap on the TUNDRA Travelers’ day at Slinger. “For the most part, the people that had never seen the track before that were all pretty green, they did a really, really good job. They have a lot to be proud of because this isn’t the easiest place in the world to race at.”

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

By Dan Margetta
Slinger, Wis., Sept. 8—Brad Mueller charged to the lead following a lap 51 restart and held off a closing Dennis Prunty to win the Tundra Super Late Model Series 75-lap season finale Sunday afternoon at the Slinger Super Speedway.

“This car was awesome today, “Mueller said from victory lane, “I have to thank my crew as they worked really hard this week.”

“This has been a dream come true, “Mueller continued, “I won my dirt race last night (at Plymouth) and then to win to win at Slinger Speedway on Sunday, it doesn’t get any better than this.”

Billy Mohn and Dale Prunty brought the field to the green flag and the two swapped paint and the lead as they battled through the opening laps before Prunty was able to edge ahead from the outside. Behind the lead duo, James Swan, Travis Dassow, Paige Decker, and Jeff Holtz raced hard for position. The inside lane was the place to be early and Mohn and Decker found that out as they began to fade from the outside as Swan, Dassow, and Holtz all raced by. Brad Mueller, Dennis Prunty, Steve Apel, and Austin Luedtke also used the inside to advance forward as Dale Prunty continued to lead over Swan. Swan caught up to Prunty’s rear bumper and began to pressure him for the lead, peeking to the inside off the corners on numerous occasions. Eventually Swan was able to duck to the inside of Prunty off turn four to draw even with him as they raced through turns one and two and then use lapped traffic as a pick entering turn three to take the command of the race. While the leaders battled, Holtz, Mueller, Apel, and Dennis Prunty all were able to close the gap and lined up directly behind the top two. The first caution flag waved on lap 45 when Frank Kreyer spun in turn three while racing with Travis Dassow. Swan maintained the lead on the restart while Holtz used the lane cone to line up alongside as the field completed two laps before the yellow flag appeared again when Matt Pyburn spun into the turn one wall. This time the outside lane wasn’t as kind to Holtz and when racing resumed, Mueller, Apel, and Dennis Prunty all charged by in the lower groove as Swan continued to lead. Holtz continued to fall back in the upper groove as Austin Luedtke and Conrad Morgan went by and when Dale Prunty attempted to find a way around, both he and Holtz spun against the turn three wall, drawing the third caution flag on lap 51. Mueller also chose the outside lane for the restart and he used a strong run off turn four to challenge Swan for the lead, pulling even as they entered turn one. Mueller maintained the momentum through the turn and upon exiting turn two, was able to edge ahead and drop down in front of Swan before they entered turn three to take the lead. Dennis Prunty followed Mueller in the outside lane and as he battled Swan for second, Mueller began to gradually ease away out front. Prunty and Swan raced side by side for several laps with Apel racing directly behind them as Mueller continued to pull away. Prunty was able to finally wrestle second away from Swan and began to close slightly on Mueller for the lead as the laps wound down. However, Mueller’s lead was too much to overcome and he drove under the checkered flag for the victory ahead of Prunty who finished a strong second. Swan crossed the finish line in third while Apel and Luedtke rounded out the top five in fourth and fifth respectively.

Braison Bennett won the super late model Waterfurnace non-qualifiers race over Steve Lichtfeld and Claire Decker while super late model qualifying race wins were recorded by Dalton Zehr and Davey Pennel. Randy Schuler won the super late model Gong Show race over Curt Tillman as they transferred to the main event while Brad Mueller was the winner of the fast dash. Steve Apel was the fastest qualifier with a lap of 11.479 seconds.

MARSHFIELD, Wis. (August 10, 2013) – Throughout the TUNDRA Super Late Model season Eugene Gregorich Jr. had been foreshadowing a good chance of success in Round Five at Marshfield Motor Speedway.  On Saturday night, even though he didn’t sleep much the night before, the two-time Marshfield Champ turned that dream into a reality.

“I knew this was going to be our time to show the [other TUNRDA Travelers] that we’ve got something for them and things worked out,” Gregorich, of Amherst, Wis., said.  “Right from the drop of the green I knew that it was going to be a good car all night.”

VIDEO: Post-race interview with Winner Eugene Gregorich Jr.

VIDEO: Interview with second-place Mark Eswein

VIDEO: Interview with third-place Nick Panitzke

Full Results from TUNDRA Round Five at Marshfield Motor Speedway

Updated TUNDRA Points after Round Five

Gregorich and several team members pulled a near all-nighter to prepare his machine for the 50-lap main event.  After sustaining damage in a race at Golden Sands two weeks ago Gregorich finally found some good luck on the track where he claims he has turned the most laps.  Several early cautions allowed Gregorich to move to the front, take the lead on lap eight and turn aside several challenges on restarts.

“Everything kind of opened up for us,” he said.  “We had a fairly clear shot.  It was one of those deals where we were at the right place at the right time.”

Starting ninth in the 26-car main event, Gregorich caught a break right at the start of the feature.  Outside pole-sitter Davey Pennel sagged back and the inside line made a quick jump through the first two circuits.  By the time lap three clicked off Gregorich was up to third behind pole-sitter Cardell Potter and Billy Mohn.

The first caution of the race came on lap six when Jeremy Lepak spun in turn one. With the TUNDRA Barrel placed, Potter and Mohn squared off in the front row. Gregorich selected the inside of the second row and was flanked to the high side by Mark Eswein.

A jousting match ensued after the green flag between Mohn and Potter.  Mohn initially got the jump, but Potter dashed back to the lead on the inside line of turn three.  Unable to tuck back in line, Mohn was forced to watch Gregorich slide to the runner up spot and begin challenging for the lead.  Gregorich surveyed quickly and stole the lead from Potter exiting turn four on lap eight.

Before Gregorich had the chance to build on his advantage, a second caution flag flew when Frank Nitzke’s machine went up in smoke at the pit entrance.  By this point on lap ten fast qualifier Brandon Selle and dash winner Dalton Zehr were on the heels of Colin Reffner for the final spot in the top five.  After the caution those three continued their battle with unfortunate circumstances.

Two laps after the restart Selle and Reffner were racing in close quarters.  Selle was sent spinning off the backstretch, and with nowhere to go Dalton Zehr went off track as well.  Selle’s car was too badly damaged to continue.  Zehr, who entered just 11 points behind Nick Panitzke in the TUNDRA title chase also saw his day come to an end as he spun and nearly launched off the berm.

With two top contenders out of the event, Gregorich continued to capitalize on his chance to dominate in front of his family, friends and sponsors.  The strongest challenges came from Billy Mohn on several restarts, but Gregorich was able to keep him at bay.

“With that many restarts he starts learning what you’re doing so it’s easier for him to get a jump,” Gregorich said.  “You try to mix it up and maybe he catches you once, but the next time hopefully you get him.”

Mohn’s final restart chance came on lap 22 as a result of a skirmish between the top two Dean’s Satellite Rookie of the Year contenders.  Just outside the top ten Matt Pyburn and Paige Decker were racing for the same plot of real estate entering turn three.  The end result was Pyburn’s machine jumping on the hood of Decker’s as the two slid off the track and came to a rest just before riding the berm.  Both drivers were ok.

After a red flag for the cleanup, Gregorich and Mohn once again stared each other down to the green flag.  The end result was the same as Gregorich pulled away and went uncontested over the final 18 circuits.

Behind Gregorich, Mohn, Potter, Eswein and Panitzke scrambled for spots in the top five.  Potter returned to the runner up spot on lap 25, only to be overtaken by Eswein five laps later.  Potter later relinquished a spot to Mohn and eventually to his TUNDRA co-point leader Nick Panitzke.  With just four laps to go Panitzke took the opportunity to steal one more spot from Mohn and round out the podium.

“That’s all we were hoping for.  We figured this was our last shot,” Gregorich said of sealing the win at Marshfield.  “Slinger is one of those tracks where not a lot of [TUNDRA Travelers] race.  It’s going to open it up to whoever stays clean and brings the best car.  I feel we have a really good car for every track.”

A late run through the field, coupled with Zehr’s DNF allowed Panitzke to stretch his point lead to 39 markers and put a virtual stranglehold on the TUNDRA title heading to Slinger’s Round Six in September.

“It’s in the back of our minds really.  We really want to go to Slinger and do well more than focus on points,” Panitzke said.  “It’s really not playing too big of a role.  That’s why we’re doing things the way we are.  We’re still racing hard.”

The late run was all a part of the plan after coming to compete at the facility a week before, Panizke said.

“If we learned one thing from last week when we came here and tested it’s just conserve,” Panitzke said. “I guess I should have picked a little earlier time to get going.  I don’t know if I would have had anything for the two locals that are obviously pretty quick here.”

Eswein’s second-place finish met his goals.  Although he didn’t get his chance to contend with Gregorich, he was content with a car that was far better on the short runs that it was during the early cautions.

“I knew I could probably at least get to second seeing the tendencies of the cars ahead of me were and how good this one was getting on the long run,” Eswein said.

To contend among the 37 entries and come out with a podium at one of his home tracks left the long-time Central Wisconsin ace with a good impression.  “It’s a fairly inexpensive way to travel and it was nice for me to come here because it’s close to home.  We’ll see what kind of mood we’re in by the time TUNDRA goes to Slinger.”

When TUNDRA does head to Slinger for the sixth and final round it will be Gregorich in the runner up spot.  To gain 39 points would require fast time and a max invert of 14 for Gregorich to make up 39 points in the feature on Panitzke.  If Panitzke makes the dash, the invert is less than 14 or someone else sets fast time, he will seal the title.

Behind Panitzke, however, plenty of battles will be left to decide.  The separation from Gregorich to Pyburn in seventh is a mere 20 points.  Pyburn and Decker will also have a Rookie of the Year battle to settle as he leads her by four points.  Should they falter again, Claire Decker sits just 19 points back.

More details of TUNDRA Round Six at Slinger Speedway on Sunday afternoon, September 8 will be available as the event nears.  All weekly Slinger divisions except the Super Late Models will crown Champions on that afternoon.

Most weekly Slinger Super Late Models have expressed interest in joining what could be TUNDRA’s strongest car count in the three-year history of the series.

Slinger Speedway is located off of Hwy 41 and Highway 144 at 280 Cedar Creek Road, Slinger Wisconsin 53086.  For more information visitwww.slingersuperspeedway.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 www.tundrasuperlates.com. Also, interact with us on Facebook (facebook.com/TundraSuperLateModels) or Twitter (@TUNDRAslms).

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).