BIlderback Muscles Way to Final Larry Detjens Memorial Win
2024-07-26
For what is likely to be the final race at State Park Speedway, everyone was eager to claim the 2024 Larry Detjens Memorial 58 in Wausau, Wisconsin.
During qualifying, Carson Phillips from Edgerton (WI) laid down the fastest lap of the session with a 14.310. Michael Ostdiek was second on the charts with a 14.335 and Grant Brown third with a 14.360.
Jevin Guralski brought home the win in the Fast 8 Heat, with Brandon Laing getting the victory in the odd heat and Clayton Storey winning the even heat.
When the race began, Michael Bilderback quickly moved forward from his ninth-place starting spot to third before the first yellow flag came out on lap 13, when Jon Reynolds Jr came to a stop with a flat tire. He was able to get it replaced and continue on.
On the restart, Bilderback chose the outside lane and pounced to take the lead from Shane Radtke Jr who then had to fight off Guralski and others behind him. After a couple laps, Guralski secured the runner-up spot.
With 33 to go, the second yellow flag came out after the #39 of Colton Morgan went for a ride through the infield. Guralski took the inside while Ostdiek took the outside moving him to the third spot.
Guralski held on to second and quickly peaked under Bilderback but progress was stalled when Mike Cox and Storey came together in turn one bringing out a caution. The following restart Bilderback got a better restart and was able to gap the field a little more but a single car spin with 29 to go halted progress once more.
Bilderback survived another restart, but it was just six laps later when another yellow flag bunched the field again. Morgan and Laing came together resulting in a spin from Laing and both cars were able to continue. On the restart mahem occured in turn three with several cars involved including Reynolds Jr, Tyler Hromadka, and Matt Gawjewski.
When the field went back to green, Guralski stuck it to the inside of Bilderback sending them both up the track in turn three, with Guralski briefly climbing the Bilderback car. Guralski tapped out, taking responsibility for the incident which allowed Bilderback to keep his spot and leaving Ostdiek to take over second.
Ostdiek showed his hand on the following restart and bolted to the inside of Bilderback but once again was halted by an immediate yellow.
With 20 to go, Ostdiek slid to the inside and battled Bilderback nose-to-nose as Randy Sargent moved to third right behind them. The two leaders two swapped the lead back and forth but stayed next to each other for nearly 18 laps.
With two laps remaining, Ostdiek cleared for the lead heading into lapped traffic. The white flag flew and heading down into turn one Bilderback got into the back bumper of Ostdiek knocking him sideways and allowing him to take the lead down the back stretch. Ostdiek attempted to return the favor in turn three, but caught the front corner of Sargent which created a stack up while Bilderback crossed the finish line collecting the win.
"Good race to Michael (Ostdiek), he rooted me the one time before," Bilderback said. "I wasn't going to give this one up, we lead this one for a long time and I wasn't going to give it away."
As for Ostdiek, the feeling of disappointment was strong after seeing the win slip away.
"Really wish we could have another shot at it next year, but unfortunately we will not be able to," Ostdiek said. "I tried my best to race hard, with respect, but got drove through and moved all the way from one corner through the next corner to lose the lead at the very end.
Brown, the 2023 winner, crossed the line in second. Phillips, the fast-timer from earlier in the evening, was running fourth at the white flag but inheirited third in the last lap incident to finish with a podium spot. Find the full event results here.
The next Big 8 Series race is Friday, August 2nd at Madison International Speedway. This race is an All-Star Challenge race and the entry blank is available. If you aren't able to make it to the track, be sure to watch on TrackTV.com
