Posted by Mid Am Stock Car Series on 5/2/2005, 12:24 pm
Board Administrator

Schultz Tops Elko Mid-Am Race ELKO, MN, April 30 � The Mid-Am Stock Car Series made its first of three appearances in 2005 at Elko Speedway on Saturday evening. Webster, Minnesota�s Steve Schultz took the lead on lap 36 and held off a determined Paul Neisius for the win. The race had a rough start as the caution flew on the first lap when Andy Jirik went for a spin in turn one, leaving the rest of the field scattering to avoid contact. When the green flag flew for the second attempt, Greg Bieber charged to the lead from his outside front row starting position. The second caution flew on lap two for debris on the backstretch. The next caution followed immediately after the restart for spins by Andrew Ruthebeck and Jirik�s second go round. Another caution on lap 12 kept the field bunched up. Bieber continued to lead with Schultz and Neisius battling behind him. As the lead trio approached lapped traffic on lap 36, Schultz took the top spot exiting turn two. �Passing for the lead the with a couple of lapped cars there was like the parting of the seas. One went down and one went up and I went right through the middle,� said Schultz of his move for the lead. Schultz was able to hold of Neisius at the checkers. Neisius seemed satisfied with a second place finish after contact with Schultz and driving sideways through turn four midway through the race. �I just got on the gas and tried to drive out of it. He (Schultz) didn�t do it on purpose, the cars just checked up in front of us. Just a little dirt track experience I suppose,� said Neisius of his save. A hard charging Bill Prietzel came from the rear of the field after the opening lap incident to finish third. � I shouldn�t have been back there to begin with. The guy behind me pushed me into it. We got third out of it, but I�m not happy,� stated Prietzel after his drive through the field. Jonathan Eilen and Lyle Nowak rounded out the top five. Early action saw Schultz set fast time for the 30-car field with a 14.665. Qualifying races went to Eilen and Prietzel. �The Asphalt Assassin� Mike Felixberger won the last chance qualifier. The next Mid-American event is Friday night, May 20 at Madison International Speedway in Oregon, WI. Feature Results 1. Steve Schultz Webster, MN 2. Paul Neisius Hastings, MN 3. Bill Prietzel Franklin, WI 4. Jonathan Eilen Hampton, MN 5. Lyle Nowak Wausau, WI 6. Kevin Lutz Lakeville, MN 7. Mike Skaja New Prague, MN 8. Andy Jirik Lonsdale, MN 9. Ron Weyer Richfield, WI 10. Josh Larsen Glencoe, MN 11. Scott Null Lake Mills, WI 12. Jason Taghikhani Franklin, WI 13. Tom Kamish Prior Lake, MN 14. Rick McNamara Rosemount, MN 15. Andrew Ruthenbeck Virginia, MN 16. Elliot Marquardt Merrill, WI 17. Clifford Adee Lakeville, MN 18. Doug Brown Savage, MN 19. Justin Neisius Eagan, MN 20. Greg Bieber Lakeville, MN 21. Adam Bendzick New Praugue, MN 22. Mike Felixberger Hastings, MN 23. Billy Tuckwell Peoria, IL 24. Mark Storlie Elko, MN 25. Dan Whitehead Apple Valley, MN