HINKEMEYER SURVIVES FOR AMSOIL SERIES WIN
By Jerry O'Brien

Who could have predicted that the top ten in the 35 lap WISSOTA AMSOIL Late Model Series main event would be the last ten cars running plus one? Seven caution flags slowed the action as car after car fell from competition on the wickedly fast Superior Speedway clay surface. Heavy afternoon rains on Thursday left the track saturated and prevented it from becoming dry and slick, it stayed tacky the entire night.

2007 defending series champion Darrell Nelson still driving the Tom Esse owned #21 started the feature from the pole flanked by Kelly Estey. Estey got the jump on Nelson but it was A.J. Diemel that shot from the outside of the second row to take over the lead three laps into the contest. Estey maintained second ahead of Jeff Hinkemeyer, Tom Waseleski, Sr as Nelson began to slip back and Jake Redetzke ran fifth. Hinkemeyer took the second spot from Estey and, ten laps in the caution flag appeared when Diemel accidently rooted Greg Hill, a car about to be lapped, around off turn four. Diemel regained the lead at the restart with the pack hard on his heels but he was equal to the task. With two dozen circuits left and an open field ahead, Diemel had little trouble bolting out to the lead while Tom Waseleski, Sr battled with Hinkemeyer for second. The caution flag again appeared when Joey Jensen spun in the second turn and Terry Lillo and spun and collided trying to avoid him. As the field was about to be realigned, Diemel headed for the pits and the word was that something had broken and he was done for the night. Hinkemeyer inherited the lead after Diemel's demise with waseleski, Sr on this tail along with Waseleski, Jr, Estey, Redetzke, Harry Hanson and Nelson. A quick caution for debris flew and, at the restart Hinkemeyer got the jump and extended his lead only to have the yellow flag again fly as Waseleski, Jr spun off turn two and was done for the night. It was a single file restart with Hinkemeyer out front again. Waseleski, Sr was able to get a good run on Hinkemeyer but was unable to quite make the pass.

With 15 laps remaining a multi car crash in turn one involving Hanson, Jeff Provinzino, Estey, Jensen, Nelson and Mike Rich slowed the action once again. Provinzino's car was too damaged to continue but the rest were able to restart. The lap s remaining count was down to a dozen and nearly a dozen cars were out of the event. At the green flag another incident occurred when Hanson's car failed to go and Nelson and Don Copp collided trying to avoid him. Copp's car was wedged into the rear of Nelson's ride and it took several minutes to pull them apart. Copp was able to continue but Nelson was out. At the restart Waseleski again got a run on Hinkemeyer and again was thwarted as a couple of laps were clicked off until officials noticed Jensen had stalled in the pit exit bringing out caution flag number six. The seventh and final caution flag flew for debris once again with four laps to go and Hinkemeyer was able to hold off Waseleski, Sr, Redetzke, Rick and Copp in the top five. Unfortunately for rich staying out of trouble and finshing fourth from the 14th starting spot went for naught as the scale found him 22 pounds lite and a disqualification moving veteran Tim McMann up to fifth.

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