Czarapata wins sixth IMCA Modified feature at Shawano Speedway

by Bert Lehman
With the 2011 race season winding down, Jason Czarapata continues to be the class of the field in the IMCA Modified division at Shawano Speedway as he won his sixth feature of the year Saturday night. Justin Ritchie won his first WISSOTA Late Model feature of the year, while Dan Michonski won his fourth IMCA Stock Car feature. Dave Fieber continues the lead the FASTRAK Late Model division, winning his third feature of the year. Travis Van Straten won his fourth IMCA Northern SportMod feature.

Justin Ritchie sped into the early lead over Justin Hirt, Brett Swedberg, Craig Bartz and Troy Springborn in the WISSOTA Late Model feature. Springborn moved past Bartz on the third lap, with Ron Berna following the next lap. By lap five, using the high-side, Hirt began running down Ritchie.

Hirt caught Ritchie two laps later and ducked to the inside coming down the frontstretch. The two raced side-by-side coming out of corner two when they made contact, resulting in both cars spinning in front of the field. No other cars were collected but the caution came out. Ritchie was given his spot back, while Hirt was sent to the back of the field on the restart. Ritchie led the remaining laps of the race to take the win over Berna, Swedberg, Paul Parker and Springborn.

Mark Weisnicht led the first five laps of the IMCA Modified feature before giving way to Lance Arneson. With Arneson and Weisnicht in the top two spots, Jason Czarapata, Matt Oreskovich and Tim Jorgenson followed. Czarapata dispensed of Weisnicht midway through the race and immediately began gaining on Arneson. It took only two laps for Czarapata to catch and pass Arneson for the lead.

A couple of late race cautions slowed the action and bunched the field. Despite the cautions, Czarapata was able to pull out to a small advantage over Jerry Wilinski, Arneson, Oreskovich and Pat Zdroik. That’s the way it ended with Czarapata taking another win.

In the IMCA Stock Car feature Mike Schmidt jumped out to the quick lead over Mitchell Stankowski, Jamie Becks, Devin Snellenberger and Greg Gutt. The Michonski brothers of Nate and Dan joined the top five over the next couple laps and began advancing through the top five. While that was happening, Schmidt and Stankowski were engaged in a side-by-side battle that lasted six laps, with Stankowski taking control of the top spot.

A caution with nine laps remaining slowed the action. Dan Michonski flew into the lead on the restart with Nate Michonski following. As the brothers took control of the race, Rod Snellenberger, Schmidt and Stankowski were left to fight for third. Stankowski took the fourth spot from Schmidt with two laps remaining, but there was no stopping Dan Michonski who went on to the win.

Dave Fieber took the lead from Aaron Holiday on the fifth lap of the FASTRAK Late Model feature and never looked back, as he cruised to the win. He was followed by Holiday, Joel Bennett, Tim Bennett and Kurt Waush.

The IMCA Northern SportMod feature got off to a shaky start, but once the race was started Jeremy Schaewe grabbed the early lead with Steve Petri Jr., Jordan Barkholtz, Greg Magsam and Kevin Bethke following. Travis Van Straten joined the top five on the next lap and steadily began making his way to the front.

Schaewe was able to fend off challenges on two restarts, but eventually gave up the lead to Van Straten on lap six. Once in the lead Van Straten pulled out to a comfortable lead. Van Straten led the rest of the way to take the win. He was followed by Schaewe, Roger Van Roy, Clint Forstner and Magsam.

Shawano Speedway concludes its season on Saturday, Sept. 3, during the Shawano County Fair. Hot laps begin at 6:30 p.m. with racing set to begin at 7 p.m.

For more information about Shawano Speedway visit www.shawanospeedway.net.

RACING SUMMARY

WISSOTA LATE MODEL FEATURE: 1)Justin Ritchie, 2)Ron Berna, 3)Brett Swedberg, 4)Paul Parker, 5)Troy Springborn, 6)Doug Blashe, 7)Craig Bartz, 8)Mark Mitchell, 9)Justin Hirt, 10)Chris Oertel. FIRST HEAT: 1)Hirt, 2)Terry Anvelink, 3)Ritchie. SECOND HEAT: 1)Berna, 2)Parker, 3)Springborn.

IMCA MODIFIED FEATURE: 1)Jason Czarapata, 2)Jerry Wilinski, 3)Lance Arneson, 4)Matt Oreskovich, 5)Pat Zdroik, 6)Tim Jorgenson, 7)Kyle Meyers, 8)John Peters, 9)Eric Scribner, 10)Mark Weisnicht. FIRST HEAT: 1)Peters, 2)Oreskovich, 3)Weisnicht. SECOND HEAT: 1)Jesse Peebles, 2)Jorgenson, 3)Meyers. THIRD HEAT: 1), 2), 3). FOURTH HEAT: 1), 2), 3).

IMCA STOCK CAR FEATURE: 1)Dan Michonski, 2)Nate Michonski, 3)Rod Snellenberger, 4)Mitchell Stankowski, 5)Mike Schmidt, 6)Devin Snellenberger, 7)Greg Gutt, 8)Jamie Becks, 9)Vern Stedjee, 10)Kyle Fredrick. FIRST HEAT: 1)Becks, 2)Stedjee, 3)D. Snellenberger. SECOND HEAT: 1)R. Snellenberger, 2)Schmidt, 3)Greg Gutt. THIRD HEAT: 1), 2), 3). FOURTH HEAT: 1), 2), 3).

FASTRAK LATE MODEL FEATURE: 1)Dave Fieber, 2)Aaron Holiday, 3)Joel Bennett, 4)Tim Bennett, 5)Kurt Waush, 6)Wayne Block, 7)Jeff Wickersheim, 8)Adam Janke, 9)Cody Welch, 10)Aaron Wickersheim. FIRST HEAT: 1)Fieber, 2)J. Bennett, 3)J. Wickersheim. SECOND HEAT: 1)Waush, 2)Justin Hirt, 3)A. Wickersheim.

IMCA NORTHERN SPORTMOD FEATURE: 1)Travis Van Straten, 2)Jeremy Schaewe, 3)Roger Van Roy, 4)Clint Forstner, 5)Greg Magsam, 6)Don Woller, 7)Joey Taycher, 8)Jordan Barkholtz, 9)Jason Jach, 10)Steve Petri Jr. FIRST CONSI: 1)Woller, 2)Chad Jaje. SECOND CONSI: 1)Jach, 2)Mike Sortino. FIRST HEAT: 1)Van Straten, 2)Petri Jr., 3)Kevin Bethke. SECOND HEAT: 1)Schaewe, 2)Barkholtz, 3)Jake Solin. THIRD HEAT: 1)Magsam, 2)Ron Besaw, 3)Van Roy.