Dan Lewis Photo | danlewisphoto.netby Edward Anschutz
Brad Lautenbach continued his winning ways capturing the Sport Mod main event at John Miles Park in Sturgeon Bay. Other feature winners were Dave DeGrave (Stock Car), Aaron Thornton (Street Stock), CJ Weckler (Hobby Stock)and Ralph Liegeois Jr. (Four-Cylinders). The track saw a total of 52 cars take the green flag for the Wednesday night show.
Scott Boyea took advantage of his front row starting spot pulling out to an early lead in the Sport Mod feature. A caution plagued event kept the field bunched. Erik Mahlik made his presence felt as he worked to the inside of Boyea for the lead. The duo would make contact as another caution flew sending Boyea to pit lane with a flat tire. Mahlik inherited the lead but his reign up front didn’t last long as Brad Lautenbach worked from row 5 to take the lead in only 5 laps. Lautenbach would lead the rest of the way out lasting Troy Jerovetz, taking home another feature win. Jerovetz placed a solid second followed by Randy LeMieux Jr., Mahlik and Kurt Moeller.
Dave “The Hammer” DeGrave scored a clean winning his heat and feature in Stock Cars.
DeGrave snatched the lead away from Mike Weitor on the opening lap and built up a half a track advantage. Driving his Uncle Tony’s racer, Dave Bouche and Weitor battled hard for second with Bouche winning that battle. A caution on lap 9 bunched the field. This time DeGrave wouldn’t pull away from the field as the race restarted with Bouche pulling tight to DeGrave’s rear bumper. Bouche looked to the inside of DeGrave several times but never was able get along side the leader as DeGrave lead every lap en route to taking the checkers. Bouche settle for second, third for Weitor, Tim Jandrin fourth and Jeremy Anschutz rallied after an early spin to place fifth.
Aaron “The Hammer” Thornton dominated the Street Stock feature leading every lap en route to victory.
Tony Everard and Thornton drew the front row with Thornton quickly pulling away from the field leaving the battle for second. Everard, Geno Sternard, John Sternard, Bob Czarapata and Jerry Winkler waged a physical battle for the runner up position. By the midway point Thornton began to put the tail end of the field a lap down, a wreck on the front stretch sent Geno and Matt Van Pay behind the wall with extensive damage to their machines, which resulted in a caution. On the restart John Sternard and Winkler had their best chance to challenge Thornton for the top spot, but the veteran once again set a vigorous pace and pulled away. Winkler suffered a flat tire battling for second, ending his mount with only 5 laps remaining. Thornton went unchallenged the rest of the way picking up the win. John Sternard in his first race of the season placed a solid second followed by Czarapata, Jon Ashcraft and Everard limped home to a fifth place finish after blowing up his engine on the last lap.
As soon as the Street Stock feature ended Thornton for went his victory lap and photo. Instead he quickly drove to the pits as Troy Muench borrowed Thornton’s car to race the Stock Car feature, Muench’s machine suffered a mechanical failure during his heat race and was unable to get it fixed in time. Muench passed a few cars before heading to the pits with more mechanical issues.
CJ Weckler lead every lap winning his first ever Hobby Stock Feature.
A wild first lap ended with Maynard Hegnet hard into the front stretch wall, ending his night. CJ Weckler snuck past the crash and took the lead on the first lap. As the race progressed Tom Brumlic, Brandon Peterson and Dave Schmidt closed in on Weckler. Brumlic became victim to a mechanical failure which ended his bid for the win. Peterson hounded Weckler the entire race but was never able to make the pass. Weckler picked up the win and celebrated his first career feature by taking a polish victory lap. Peterson and Schmidt placed a close second and third, with Travis Lumaye fourth and Kim Denil rounded out the top 5.
Ralph “The Legion of Doom” Liegeois Jr. took top honors in the four cylinders.
Brian Johnson jumped to the lead from his front row starting spot. Calvin Stueck and Liegeois squared off with a physical battle for second, with Liegeois taking the runner up position at the midway point. Johnson looked to have the win in the bag when his machine began to slowing out of turn 2. Liegeois then made quick work of the ailing Johnson and went on to pick up the win. Stueck also snuck by placing second, Johnson manage to maintain third with Michael Verheyden and Kasey Gross rounding out the top 5.
The Denil’s would like to send a big thank you to the drivers, crews, fans and track workers for all their help and support, as well as all the sponsors who helped put on the Fall Special; Denil Auto & Trucking, Metals America, 141 Speedway, Reinhardt Construction, Kurtz Corral, Napa of Sturgeon Bay, Witt Peninsula Ford, Custom Seal Coating, May’s Sports Center, That Guy Sign and Design, Little Hoppers, The Draft Haus, Greystone Castle, Bley’s Bar, Rouer Plastering & Drywall, Livewire Services, Institute Saloon, McDonalds of Sturgeon Bay, FTM Construction, John Henry’s at Stonehenge, Spude Construction and Van Pay’s Lawn Care.
RACE SUMMARY
20 LAP SPORT MOD FEATURE: 1. Brad Lautenbach, New Franken; 2. Troy Jerovetz, Green Bay; 3. Randy LeMieux Jr., Sturgeon Bay; 4. Erik Mahlik, Green Bay; 5. Kurt Moeller, Seymour
HEAT 1: Todd Weise, Algoma
HEAT 2: Lautenbach
HEAT 3: Scott Boyea, Abrams
18 LAP STOCK CAR FEATURE: 1. Dave DeGrave, Luxemburg; 2. Dave Bouche, Algoma; 3. Mike Weitor, Green Bay; 4. Tim Jandrin, Kewaunee; 5. Jeremy Anschutz, Brussels
HEAT 1: DeGrave
15 LAP HOBBY STOCK FEATURE: 1. CJ Weckler, Sturgeon Bay; 2. Brandon Peterson, Sturgeon Bay; 3. Dave Schmidt, Algoma; 4. Travis Lumaye, Sturgeon Bay; 5. Kim Denil, Sturgeon Bay
HEAT 1: Tom Brumlic, Denmark
20 LAP STREET STOCK FEATURE: 1. Aaron Thornton, Maplewood; 2. John Sternard, Sturgeon Bay; 3. Bob Czarapata, Krakow; 4. Jon Ashcraft, Oshkosh; 5. Tony Everard, Green Bay
HEAT 1: Jerry Winkler, Oshkosh
HEAT 2: Sternard
15 LAP 4 CYLINDER FEATURE: 1. Ralph Liegeois Jr., Oconto; 2. Calvin Stueck, Clintonville; 3. Brian Johnson, Oconto Falls; 4. Michael Verheyden, New Franken; 5. Kasey Gross, Gleason
HEAT 1: Johnson
This article was posted to the website on October 13th, 2011 • Click to view all related content in the following categories
