Ratajczak races to Door County Speedway Mod win!  VanIten victorious in Stocks! By Dave Panske

August 18, 2001; Sturgeon Bay, WI. - Despite heavy rains throughout the state, the Door County Speedway beat the odds and was able to complete a full, fast paced program Saturday night.

The Modifieds opened the feature portion of the program with Rick LeMieux pacing the first 2 circuits before rookie contender, Tony Herbst pulled into the top spot with Tom McCormick, Dan Ratajczak, LeMieux and Greg Soukup behind. Ratajczak moved up in line and alongside the leader on lap 9 and into the lead 1 lap later.

A lone caution slowed the race on lap 11 for a spin, that closed the field. Ratajczak had McCormick, Jared Siefert and Herbst right behind for the rest of the race but the Frog Station flash was able to hold off the pack for his third feature win of the season. Siefert took the runner up finish with McCormick taking his best finish of the season in third. Herbst rounded out the top four with Buck Schmelzer and George Henkel making the top six.

Mark Derenne pulled the field for the first 4 laps of the Stock Car main with Eric VanIten moving into the runner up spot on lap 2 with Troy Rass, Dave Bouche, Pat Davister and Jay Matthias behind. VanIten moved into the lead on lap 5 and started to pull away from the field. Jeremy Christians, making his first appearance of the season moved into the runner up spot on lap 11, just before the lone caution of the race appeared on lap 11 for debris.

VanIten continued to pull the pack after the restart with Christians, Bouche, Derenne, Matthias and Davister battling for second. Benji LaCrosse, after starting last in the field, moved into the top five on lap 14. VanIten held off all challenges to win his second straight feature at DC with Christians taking the runner up finish. LaCrosse continued his trek to the point lead by finishing third and is now only 2 marks behind the point leader. Davister, Matthias and point leader, Craig Paque rounded out the top six.

Fred Davister paced the first lap for the Street Stock feature before a flat tire turned the lead over to last weeks feature winner, B.J. Soquet. With Charlie Kroll, Jeff Vlies, Chris Hendricks and Mike Soukup behind. A pair of cautions in the first six laps kept the entire field packed but things spread out over the final 9 laps, with Soquet able to pull away from the pack to appear to win his second straight feature event. Kroll took second with Vlies third. Kevin Sternard made a strong run from the last starting spot, 23rd, to finish in fourth. James Tebon and point leader, Gregg Siebold rounded out the top six. In a post race inspection, Soquet was disqualified for an illegal carb, which gave the win to Kroll, his second of the season.

Vinnie Belletini set the pace for the Bomber main for the opening 2 laps before last weeks winner, Ryan LeMieux moved into the top spot and brought point leader, Jeremy Wiitala along into the runner up spot. The pair pulled away until caution appeared on lap 10, and bunched the field on the leaders. Wayne Moore, Jody Annoye and Tracy Koontz were now right behind for the final 5 laps.

LeMieux held off every challenge and collected his second straight feature win after a last lap caution ended the race a lap early for a spin of the back chute. Wiitala, Koontz, Annoye, Belletini and John Knudson made up the top six. As in the previous race, LeMieux was found with an illegal carb following the race which gave the win, his 7th of the year, to the point leader, Wiitala.

SUMMARY

IMCA MODIFIED
20 Lap Feature l. Dan Ratajczak, Frog Station 2. Jared Siefert, Green Bay 3. Tim McCormick, Sturgeon Bay 4.Tonyb Herbst, Sturgeon Bay 5. Buck Schmelzer, Casco 6. George Henkel, Sturgeon Bay
10 Lap Heats First l. Bill LeMieux, Sturgeon bay 2. McCormick
Second l. Herbst 2. Henkel

IMCA STOCK CAR
20 Lap Feature l. Eric VanIten, Green Bay 2. Jeremy Christians, Horicon 3. Benji LaCrosse, Luxemburg 4. Pat Davister, Luxemburg 5. Jay Matthias, Green Bay 6. Craig Paque, Algoma
10 Lap Heats First l. Jason Geyer, Brussels 2. Mark Derenne, Kewaunee
Second l. Kerry Douglas, Sister Bay 2. Matthias
Third l. VanIten 2. Travis Annoye, Casco

STREET STOCK
15 Lap feature l. Charlie Kroll, Algoma 2. Jeff Vlies, Algoma 3. Kevin Sternard, Sturgeon Bay 4. James Tebon, Algoma 5. Gregg Siebold, Denmark 6. Rick Johnson, Gills Rock
10 Lap Heats First l. Vlies 2. B.J. Soquet, Luxemburg
Second l. Kroll 2. Johnson
Third l. Fred Davister, Luxemburg 2. Siebold

BOMBER
15 Lap Feature l. Jeremy Wiitala, Green Bay 2. Tracy Koontz, Sturgeon Bay 3. Jody Annoye, Casco 4. Vinnie Belletini, Sturgeon Bay 5. John Knudson, Sturgeon Bay 6. Brad Ohnesorge, Sturgeon Bay
10 Lap Heats First l. Koontz 2. Wayne Moore, Sturgeon Bay
Second l. Ryan LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay 2. Wiitala