RICE LAKE, Wis. — Cole Richards, a high school student from Mondovi, Wis., and part of a family rich in racing tradition across the entire state of Wisconsin, won his first Street Stock feature race to highlight the program on Saturday night at the Rice Lake Speedway.
A solid field of eighteen Street Stocks would take the green flag for their 15-lap main event with James Clausen grabbing the early lead over Dan Boissy and Richards. However, when Clausen slid out of the groove in turn four, Richards was right there to jump at the opportunity as he put his car low on the track and drove into the lead with Boissy moving into second.
The race was slowed early a couple of times for spins, keeping the pack bunched and desiring more uninterupted green flag laps. Shawn Amundson and Hunter VanGilder were on the move as they came from the fifth and fourth rows respectively to move into challenging positions. They would both pass Boissy for position and close in on leader Richards.
With the yellow flags at an end, all out racing would see the last ten laps ran off without interuption and both Amundson and VanGilder were chasing Richards for the lead. But despite having two of Rice Lake’s quickest Street Stocks tailing him, Richards drove an outstanding race, never faltering and never giving in to the pressure. In fact, in the last few laps he strengthened his advantage and gained a few car lengths over his closest competitors. He drove a flawless race and the third year driver would visit victory lane here for the very first time. During the last few laps, VanGilder would close in on Amundson for second and they flashed across the line in close formation with Amundson holding on by half a car length to second. Zach Beaulieu would make a late move to grab the fourth spot and Boissy would hold on to complete the top five.
It was a rare win for Aric Lindberg that headlined the Midwest Modified main while Kevin Adams and Ryan Olson added to their win totals and Terran Spacek became the first repeat winner at the speedway as he topped the Super Stock main for the second time this season.