CARLSON WINS MIDWEST SERIES OPENER

Source: NASCAR Media Relations
Date: 04/14/2003

Carlson started defense of his Midwest Series championship by passing Ron Breese, Jr, of Dekalb, Illinois, on the last lap to record the wild win. "I've raced at Rockford a long time," said Carlson. "But I think that's the wildest one I've ever seen."

Davenport, Iowa driver Justin Diercks finished third while West Bend, Wisconsin's Eric Fransen and Sparta, Wisconsin's Tim Schendel rounded out the top five.

Fransen started from the pole position and led the entire race until a lap 245 caution set up a two-lap shoot-out. Series rules mandate at least a green/white/checkered finish, even if it means completing more than the advertised distance.

Fransen, a rookie on the series, brought Breese, Carlson and Diercks to the restart and continued to lead the field under the white flag. Exiting turn two of the last lap, Breese and Fransen made contact, sending the first-year driver up the track. Before Fransen could fully recover, Carlson and Diercks snuck by.

As Breese powered the field up the back straightaway, he appeared to have victory in hand. In turn three, Breese went low to protect the preferred line but Carlson found enough room underneath, got along side Breese as the pair drag raced to the finish line. At the checkers it was Carlson by .116 seconds-or about a foot.

In victory lane, Carlson's Chevrolet sat on a flat right front tire and displayed battle scars all the way down the right side. Carlson's win was made more improbable when he pitted for right side tires, under caution, on lap 193. While there was only six cars on the lead lap, he was forced to race back through those cars, and the lapped cars, in just over 50 laps.

"We had no choice but to pit," said Carlson. "There was only a handful of cars on the lead lap and we weren't gonna win on the four old tires we had on."

The International Truck and Engine Corporation Midwest Series travels next to Wisconsin Dells Motor Speedway, in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, Saturday night, May 10.

Finish

NASCAR Elite Division, International Truck and Engine Corporation Midwest Series

Rockford Speedway, Rockford, Illinois

Freund International 250--April 13, 2003

Fin St No Driver Hometown Sponsor Model Laps Points Earnings Status

1 2 66 Steve Carlson West Salem, WI Lefthander 
Chassis Chevrolet 254 180 $4,890 running

2 12 01 Ron Breese, Jr Dekalb, IL EWT, Inc. Chevrolet 254 170 $2,635 
running

3 5 29 Justin Diercks Davenport, IA Adrian Carriers/T.C. 
Fabricators Chevrolet 254 165 $2,035 running

4 1 16 Eric Fransen* West Bend, WI Sonya's Rose/RAM 
Tool Chevrolet 254 160 $1,735 running

5 3 21 Tim Schendel Sparta, WI Mathews Sol Cam Bows Chevrolet 254 155 $1,585 
running

6 20 68 Jeff Way Burlington, WI Wauwatosa Savings 
Bank Chevrolet 254 150 $1,485 running

7 13 99 Bryan Roach Becker, MN Northern Racing 
Products Chevrolet 253 146 $1,335 running

8 15 11 Josh Vadnais White Bear Lake, MN Northern Racing 
Products Chevrolet 253 142 $1,335 running

9 24 30 Mark Voigt* Marine, IL Bilstien Shocks Chevrolet 252 138 $2,035 
running

10 18 10 Doug Klein Fairview Heights, IL West Point 
Bank Pontiac 251 134 $950 running

11 10 26 Dave Finney Sycamore, IL American National 
Bank Chevrolet 250 130 $1,135 running

12 7 60 Ryan Hanson Beloit, WI Prairie Avenue Concrete Ford 250 127 $1,135 
running

13 4 45 Jeremy Lepak* Wausau, WI U.S. NAVY Chevrolet 250 124 $1,035 running

14 21 77 Dan Bedard* Prior Lake, MN Bedard Racing Chevrolet 247 121 $750 
running

15 14 79 Clint Bowyer* Emporia, KS Sonic Drive In Chevrolet 246 118 $700 
running

16 22 32 Chris Bires* Mauston, WI 4 DC Angus Farms Chevrolet 246 115 $650 
running

17 6 17 Jon Lemke Greenfield, MN K.C. Colors Chevrolet 246 112 $1,260 
running

18 23 33 Dave Bean Westby, WI Badger Environmental Chevrolet 240 109 $550 
running

19 9 8 Eddie Hoffman Wheaton, IL Lisa Thomas 
Salon/Redken Chevrolet 223 106 $885 running

20 17 5 Kenny Richards* Montello, WI Wisconsin Dells Motor 
Speedway Pontiac 212 103 $500 running

21 19 97 A.J. Rhoads* Hastings, MN Dakota Rhoads 
Masonry Chevrolet 190 100 $500 running

22 16 51 Brian Hoppe Madison, WI Gildan Activewear Chevrolet 167 97 $985 
running

23 11 86 Pete Moore McFarland, WI Star Concrete Chevrolet 114 94 $785 
electrical

24 8 4 Les Ferris Northfield, MN Ferris Racing Chevrolet 75 91 $785 engine

7 Cautions for 62 Laps
2-7, 33-46, 52-59, 71-81, 131-141, 191-198, 245-248
1 Lead Changes Among 2 Drivers
Eric Fransen 1-253, Steve Carlson 254
Time of Race: 1 hr 23 min 10 secs
Average Speed: 53.448 mph.
Margin of Victory: .116 seconds
Bud Pole Winner: Jon Lemke, K.C. Colors Chevrolet, 13.457 secs./78.026 mph.
POWERade Power Move of the Race Award: Mark Voigt, Bilstein Shocks Chevrolet
40-Lap Last Chance Qualifier: 1) Kenny Richards; 2) Doug Klein; 3) A.J.
Rhoads; 4) Jeff Way
Next Race: Wisconsin Dells Motor Speedway, Saturday, May 10, 2002

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