LeMieux Grabs Mod Checkered, Bouche
Best in Non-Stock Stock Main at Door County Speedway! July 20, 2002; Sturgeon Bay, WI. - Another perfect night for racing action at the Door County Speedway. The fast track produced two repeat and two first time winners following the extended lap feature events.
The IMCA stocks took the track first and clicked off an excellent, non-stop feature event. All 20 cars finished, no one was lapped, and the entire field ran within a ½ lap. Tracy Koontz jumped from the front row to the lead at the start followed by Jeff LaCrosse, Mike Weitor, Dave Bouche and Gary Reinhardt. With the pack remaining to tight, it was difficult to move ahead with most of the field side by side., which made for some three wide racing. Koontz was still in command at the mid point, but the field was closing in. Bouche moved into third on lap 12 and on lap 14, moved into the runner up spot. One lap later, Bouche took over the top spot and held on to record his first feature win of the season. Craig Paque made a late race run to the front, taking over second on lap 19. He closed on the leader, but would settle for the runner up spot finish. Koontz took the third place finish ahead of Joe LeBotte, LaCrosse and Brett Piontek. Paque’s strong run moved him into the point lead by three markers over Benji LaCrosse, after he was caught in traffic throughout the race and finished 8th. It took a couple tries to get the Street feature underway, with B.J. Soquet finally taking the top spot followed by Troy Muench, Tom Frea, James Tebon and Aaron Thornton. Muench moved into the lead on lap 5,and started to pull away from the pack. The battle for the runner up spot got tighter with Soquet holding the spot and Thornton and point leader, Kevin Sternard, moving into the battle. A final caution on lap 8 bunched the pack. Sternard moved into second on the restart and was right behind Muench. The pair pulled away from the field leaving a tight battle for third between Soquet and Thornton. Muench was able to hold off Sternards charges, even with lapped cars over the final few laps, to record his first division feature win since September 18, 1999. Sternard was right behind at the finish with Thornton winning the battle for third over Soquet. Mike Soukup and Kevin Brungraber rounded out the top six spots. The Modifieds also had trouble getting the first lap recorded. After a couple attempts, and a lap 4 caution, the race went to the finish non stop. Doug Maurer led the first 2 laps before Randy LeMieux pulled into the top spot. After the caution, Jared Siefert moved to the outside and hooked the berm to take over the lead on lap 6, and pull away from the field. Looking like he was on a rail, Siefert was in perfect rhythm until lapped traffic came into the picture on lap 15. Siefert had to change lines briefly and LeMieux took advantage of the situation and closed the couple length margin to again challenge for the lead. On lap 20, LeMieux was able to get into the top spot again using the inside line. He was able to pull away to become the first repeat feature winner in the division this season. Siefert took the runner up spot and strengthen his point lead. Jeremy Jacobs ended a race long battle to place in third place with Randie Back taking fourth. Rick Johnson took fifth and Chris Derenne rounded out the top six. Rookie Derek Moede took the lead in the Bomber main followed by Robert Patza, Evan Madden, Kevin Laughlin and Dave Serrahn. Patza stayed right behind the leader with Serrahn moving into the third spot by lap 7. On lap 8, the lone caution flew and bunched the field. Serrahn took over the lead after the restart with point leader, Wayne Moore moving into second. Scott Reinhardt moved into third and then took to the outside to move into the lead on lap 12. Serrahn took second as Moore faded with overheating problems. Reinhardt held on to win his second straight feature and took over the point lead. Serrahn held off a hard charge by Greg Aregoni to take second. Aregoni was third with Joe Hegnet taking fourth. Patza was fifth and John Knudson rounded out the top six. SUMMARY IMCA MODIFIED IMCA STOCK CAR STREET STOCK BOMBER |
