John Beale in victory lane on Thursday at State Park Speedway. (TJ Harron Photo)
John Beale in victory lane on Thursday at State Park Speedway. (TJ Harron Photo)

Volm & Beale Split State Park Late Model Show

WAUSAU, WI – Travis Volm and John Beale were the two main event winners in CWRA Stars to Legends Tour competition on Saturday at State Park Speedway.

The first 35-lap CWRA feature started off with Mike Sievers taking the early lead from his pole position starting spot. Sievers would pace the field, with numerous side by side battles being waged behind him.

A yellow flag waved for a Hunter Stenson spin, but the action quickly resumed. Sievers again led on the restart, but Monte Gress made the pass of Sievers to grab the top spot. Two-time and defending champion Jeff Weinfurter wasted no time moving into the runner-up spot to challenge Gress.

The man on the move however was Volm, who rushed from his eighth starting spot into the lead with 10 laps into the race. Weinfurter and Beale, meanwhile had their own battle going on for second, with neither giving an inch.

Local favorite Mark Mackesy joined the fray, looking for an opening to move into the top three. Second position became his with 10 laps remaining, with his next conquest, Volm, having stretched his margin to six car lengths. Mackesy closed a bit, but Volm was too strong and passed under the checkered flag with a two car length win. Mackesy placed second, with Beale, Weinfurter, Dillon Mackesy and Gress following.

The second 35-lap main event started with Paul Paine on the pole. He immediately vaulted out to a lead with the rest of the field in pursuit. Putch Bentley and Harley Jankowski battle for second, while Paine stretched his margin to 10 car lengths.

A spin by Vohm slowed action, and on the restart it was again Paine out front, with Bentley second and Jankowski in third. Jeff Weinfurter had moved into fourth and was putting on the pressure, looking to move into second.

Mark Mackesy and Beale joined that battle with neither able to find room to pass. With seven laps to go Beale, who had garnered the second position, was all over leader Paine, taking the lead with an inside pass.

Beale increased his margin to six car lengths, but suddenly Volm, who had spun earlier, was up to second. Volm had nothing for Beale however, and he roared under the checkered flag for his first CWRA Stars to Legends Tour win. Following Beale at the stripe was Volm, Weinfurter, M. Mackesy and Paine.