ARCADIA, Wis. -- It's true that Mother Nature played a decidedly crucial role in bringing to a close sever extremely close points battles this year. With heavy rains forcing the cancellation of the final two nights of regular-season action at the big 3/8-mile, points battles which were sure to erupt into full fledge warfare were simply locked in as they had stood following the August 12th race night results.

But, even with the forced cancellation of the final two nights, drivers and fans alike were treated to some wonderful battles leading up to what has now become the final track standings for 2005.

Karl Fenske has a name and a history in the sport that is well known throughout the upper Midwest. A driver who has visited victory lane in a nearly uncountable number of dirt tracks around the upper Midwest made enough visits to Fox Ridge's victory lane in 2005 to offset the other nights of bad luck and hold off the determined challenges of local driver John Doelle to pick up his third straight Fox Ridge Speedway USRA Modified track championship.

"I saw it in some of the articles this year", commented the Winona driver with his characteristic laugh as he referred to his up and down season. "It's either feast or famine for Fenske, but on those nights when we didn't have problems we were either winning or finishing near the front."

Despite several feature DNFs) early in the season, Fenske put together seven feature wins with nine top-5 and twelve top-10 feature finishes.

And the points battle was still close.

"We didn't even start thinking championship until Brad Waits (points leader at the time) missed a week," explained Fenske. "And then it was Doelle and me -- and it got awfully close there for a while!"

And now, with three-in-a-row in his pocket, Fenske is starting to talk like no race fan ever expected.

"I'm not saying that I won't ever drive again," he stated when asked about next year, "But, you probably won't see any more championship runs from the Fenske camp.

"I've got everything for sale. If it doesn't sell, maybe I'll polish up the #99 and just kind of pick and choose a couple races here or there when I get the urge."

But it sure appears that this may have been Fenske's final full-season hurrah!

Fox Ridge racing action takes a rest through the month of September before resuming in full force with the two-day "Thunder At The Ridge" scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Oct. 7-8. Spectators can also enjoy a unique night of fun on Saturday September 17th when Fox Ridge Speedway hosts the "Harvest Havoc - Night of Destruction". A Combine Demolition derby will highlight this evening of "full-moon fever" along with Tuff-Trucks competition, a burn-out contest and spectator races.

Spectators or interested participants can visit the Fox Ridge Speedway web site (www.foxridgespeedway.com) or call the speedway office at (608) 323-3396 for more details!