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Door County Speedway
championship crowns to Dart, Paque, Siebold and Wiitala!
By Dave Panske |
September 15, 2001; Sturgeon
Bay, WI. - Following an emotional week in the
country, the seasons best crowd watched the largest field of cars compete in the final
race of 2001 in the inaugural season at the Door County Speedway, on Victory Lane Racing
Supplies Championship night. Two repeat and two first time track champions were also
crowned following the nights action.
With the track smooth and tacky, the Modifieds took to the track first with two
drivers in a five point battle for the tack title.
It took three tries to get a lap in the books, and it was Bill LeMieux sneaking through
to take the lead. Dave Zeitler pulled into second and the leaders started to pull away
from the field. LeMieux would build a several length lead only to have Zeitler chew back
to challenge. Doug Maurer was holding the third spot with a tight battle behind with
Randie Back, George Henkel, Tim McCormick, Dean Maurer and Chris Derenne. Henkel, one of
the point leaders broke through into third and for awhile, his competition, Dart, was
caught back in the field Dart had to finish no further back than five places of Henkel to
clinch the title.
Over the final 5 laps, the race up from was a side by side battle. LeMieux was holding the
outside line and Zeitler was working the inside. On the final lap, Zeitler was able to
slip into the lead on the back chute With the help of a lapped car. However, LeMieux would
not be denied and charged back to the outside in turns three and four. The pair raced even
out of the final turn and LeMieux got enough bite to nip Zeitler at the line for his
second feature win of the season. Back took third with Henkel taking fourth. Dart
broke through the traffic jam over the final few laps to place fifth and in the process
won his third division track championship. Dean Maurer rounded out the top six finishers.
Larry Karcz, Jr paced the first 5 laps of the Stock Car finale before Eric VanIten pulled
into the lead and started to pull away from the field. The battle for the runner up spot
stayed close for the entire race with Karcz, Greg Gretz, Jay Matthias, Wally Lhost, Benji
LaCrosse and Shawn Kilgore behind.
Matthias made the outside line work, pulling into second on tap 12 and started to close
the huge gap the VanIten had opened up. LaCrosse also used the outside line and moved into
the third spot on lap 16. Two laps later, the lone caution of the race appeared and set up
a 2 laps dash to the finish.
The caution bunched the field on the leader and the field shuffled quickly over the final
laps. VanIten maintained the lead for one lap with LaCrosse moving into second and right
up on the leader as the white flag appeared. LaCrosse stayed outside and over the final
lap, took over the top spot and took the checker for his 6th feature win of the year by
less than a car length at the line. Matthias was third with Kilgore taking fourth, Gretz
fifth and Kyle Fredrick rounding out the top six. The win kept LaCrosse in the title hunt,
but a 10th place finish by point leader, Craig Paque secured a first career title for the
Algoma driver with a 499- 493 margin.
Fred Davister took charge of the Sbreet Stock main and pulled away from the field at the
Mart. He continued to pull away until a cloud of smoke ended his race and brought out the
lone caution of the race on tap 10. Kevin Sternard had just taken over the runner up spot
just before the caution so he inherited the top spot with 5 laps remaining.
Tom Daubner tried to unseat the leader but Sternard proved to have the upper hand and
walked off with his 4th feature win of the season. Daubner took second with Aaron Thornton
taking third, James Tebon fourth, David Baenen fifth and Mike Soukup sixth. Point leader,
Gregg Siebold, finished 8th in the main and clinched his second straight division title.
Vinnie Belletini set the pace for the first 3 laps of what turned out to be a caution
filled, time limit shortened Bomber feature event. Following a lap four caution, Ryan
LeMieux pulled into the lead and held on to win his second feature of the season after a
time limit, 8 lap event. Wayne Moore nipped Tony Herbst for the runner up spot with point
leader and 2001 champion, Jeremy Wiitala, taking fourth, Tom Frea fifth and Scoff
Reinhardt sixth.
In a post race inspection, LeMieux was disqualified, which gave a fourth feature win to
Wayne Moore.
Track promoters, Tom and Todd, would like to THANK all of the fans, drivers, crews and
sponsors for making their first year a success. They announced that the new contract for
next season is complete and that the new track lights were approved for next season along
with more new clay for the track. A banquet is also being planned with information to be
mailed shortly.
SUMMARY
IMCA MODIFIED
20 Lap Feature I. Bill LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay 2. Dave Zeitler, Luxemburg
3. Randie Back, Green Bay 4. George Henkel, Sturgeon Bay 5. Todd Dart, Algoma 6. Dean
Maurer, Green Bay
12 Lap Consy I. Randy LeMieux, Jr, Sturgeon Bay 2. Art Siefert, Green Bay
3. Gary Jacobs, Algoma 4. Darrell Massart, Brussels
10 Lap Heats First I. Doug Maurer, Green Bay 2. Dart
Second I. Bill LeMieux 2..Jefemy Jacobs, Algoma
Third I. Scott Derenne, Luxemburg 2. Chns Derenne, Luxemburg
IMCA STOCK CAR
20 Lap Feature 1. Benji LaCrosse, Luxemburg 2. Eric Vaniten, Green Bay 3.
Jay Matthias, Green Bay 4. Shawn Kilgore, Kewaunee 5. Greg Gretz, Kewaunee 6. Kyle
Frednck, Cecil
12 Lap Consy 1.Fredrick 2. Jeff LaCrosse, Luxemburg 3. Kerry
Douglas, Sister Bay 4. Travis Van Straten, Hortonville I 0 Lap Heats First
I. Matthias 2. Gretz
Second I. Troy Rass, Brussels 2. Larry Ingebretsen, Luxemburg
Third 1.Vanlten 2. Brett Wenzel, Manitowoc
STREET STOCK
15 Lap Feature I. Kevin Sternard, Sturgeon Bay 2. Tom Daubner,
Carlsville 3.Aaron Thornton, Casco 4. James Tebon, Algoma 5. David Baenen, New Franken 6.
Mike Soukup, Egg Harbor
12 Lap Consy I. Jay Naze, Forestville 2. Corey Haen, Carlsville 3. Dave
Verhagen, DePere 4. James Anderson, Sturgeon Bay
10 Lap Heats First I. B.J. Soquet, Luxemburg 2. Daubner
Second I. Gary Reinhardt, Fish Creek 2. Fred Davister, Luxemburg
Third I. Baenen 2. Soukup
BOMBER
8 Lap Feature (time limit) 1. Wayne Moore, Sturgeon Bay 2. Tony Herbst,
Sturgeon Bay 3, Jeremy Wiitala, Green Bay 4, Tom Frea, Sturgeon Bay 5. Scott Reinhardt,
Fish Creek 6. John Knudson, Sturgeon Bay
10 Lap Heats First I. Wiitala 2. Tracy Koontz, Sturgeon Bay
Second 1. Knudson 2. Frea |
