By: Ashley Iwanski
(West Salem, WI – April 17, 2010) On a sunny spring day, in a field of almost 40 cars, Harley Jankowski was able to pull away from the pack to win the inaugural Spring Fling Enduro 200.

When the green flag waved none of the drivers hesitated to fight for position in the field. Cars were being pushed and shoved all over the track. By lap six, the first car had to leave the track. Jerry Oyer’s hood flew up and smashed into his windshield sending him behind the wall. On lap 10 four cars got together on the front stretch and the rear bumper of Cole Viner’s car was barely hanging on.

At the halfway point an intermission red flag came out. The cars were lined up in the pits with Jankowski leading them back onto the track. The 2009 Oktoberfest Enduro winner Mike Carlson restarted at the back of the pack. Carlson had already been in the pits with a flat tire and with 20 laps left his engine blew. Jankowski spent the second half of the race battling Matt Moore for the lead. Moore did take the position for a few laps, but Jankowski quickly moved back into the lead.

“That was a close call at the end of the race there,” commented Jankowski after his victory. “We started the race in the rear with (Carlson), but he had problems and had to pit and we luckily didn’t have to pit at all and were able to hang on.”

And hang on he did. “After the halfway break I discovered I didn’t have any breaks at the green, but for some reason they came back after three laps,” said an enthusiastic Jankowski.

Other drivers, like Scott Pittman, weren’t so lucky. Pittman was racing with a doughnut for his left rear tire and had no breaks on his car. As the field came around to take the white flag, Joe Howard smashed into one of the barrier tires on the track. By the end of the race bumpers were littering the track, hoods were smashed in, engines were smoking, and cars were duct taped together.

Jankowski took the checkered flag followed by Dan Rozek, Carl Dahl Jr., Justin Dienger and Cole Abnet.

Saturday, April 24th is opening weekend at La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway. All three fan favorite divisions will return for a night filled with exciting racing. Also, there will be a Double Spin to Win Novelty race. The Window World Hornets will accompany the NASCAR Late Models, Sportsmen, and Thunderstox on Saturday, May 1st, which is also Food Pantry Night. Bring a non-perishable donation and get $2 off an adult admission. The Speedway will celebrate Mother’s Day on Saturday, May 8th. All escorted ladies get in free. The Queen Bees will be racing that night and there will be a Mom & Son/Daughter egg toss. For more information call the Speedway office at (608) 786-1525 or visit www.lacrossespeedway.com.

LA CROSSE FAIRGROUNDS SPEEDWAY
Spring Fling Enduro 200
Feature (32 cars) — 1, Harley Jankowski, Sparta; 2, Dan Rozek, Tomah; 3, Carl Dahl Jr., Alma; 4, Justin Dienger, Winona, Minn.; 5, Cole Abnet, Winona, Minn.; 6, Kyle Ranzenberger, Calendonia, Minn.; 7, Joe Howard, Waukon, Iowa; 8, Jeff Martin, West Salem; 9, Jason Mork, Osseo; 10, Matt Moore, Kendall; 11, Mike Carlson, West Salem; 12, Scott Pittman; 13, Steven Rozek, Tomah; 14, Kevin Thompson, Galesville; 15, Ron Genske, Sparta; 16, Matt McFarlin, La Crosse; 17, Al Bartels, Tomah; 18, Josh Chapman; 19, Ryan Manke, West Salem; 20, David Fruecht, Winona, Minn.; 21, Tom Dienger, Winona, Minn.; 22, Ryan Pelowski, Winona, Minn.; 23, Fletcher Milene, Winona, Minn.; 24, Jack Litshiem, La Crosse; 25, Kaleb Miller, Sparta; 26, Dan Brandenburg, Menomonie; 27, Andrew Meyer, Winona, Minn.; 28, Jerry Oyer, Sparta; 29, Nick Webb, Osseo; 30, Josh Daffinson, Osseo; 31, Orrin Viner, Madison;