RICE LAKE, Wis. – Five champions were crowned on the final night of points racing at Rice Lake Speedway Saturday evening.
When the final checkered flags would wave, the champions for the season included Mike Anderson, Cody Kummer and Mike Schnider. Travis Anderson and Eric Olson would win the two titles still to be determined, with mechanical issues ending the efforts of those trying to catch them.
Travis Anderson came into the evening with a razor thin two point lead in the Midwest Modified point chase as Shane Halopka has been closing on him in recent weeks. Their battle would be settled but not on the track as both would have preferred. During his heat race, which he was leading at the time, Halopka suffered a very rare mechanical failure with major motor problems that would put him on the trailer and end his evening without the chance to fight for the title.
However, Anderson would do it up right as not only would he claim the title, he would do it while winning his second feature race of the season at the track.
Rookie driver Zach Slayton would have a great race as he would lead the first half of the 15-lap feature contest, fighting off challenges from both Jamie Bisonette and Anderson as he held off the field during what would include three yellows in the first five laps.
Everyone settled down to racing at that point but Slayton continued to lead as Anderson took up the chase of trying to track him down. Finally, just past the halfway point, Anderson was able to get a run on the leader and make the winning pass down the back chute, after which he opened up a comfortable lead. Slayton would continue his strong drive however, as he would hold off Bisonette for second and record by far his best finish of the year.
Kennedy Swan had an interesting race that included one trip into the infield mud before the final checkered waved by she preserved to finish fourth with Fran Hanson completing the top five.
For Anderson it was his first ever point title in the Midwest Modifieds and first point title since he ran Hornets many years ago.
In other action, first-time winners included James Rahn (WISSOTA Pure Stocks) and Travis Loew (WISSOTA Street Stocks). The WISSOTA Super Stock feature was won by Curt Myers while the WISSOTA Modified feature was won by Mike Anderson.