Kevin Schnell goes wire-to-wire for Super Mod Win!
Hoffmann locks-up Limited Late Model title!

By Jeff Pederson

September 6, 1997; Plymouth, WI. - Kevin Schnell of Kiel captured a convincing flag to flag victory in the 30 lap Eastern Wisconsin Stock Car Winged Super Modified feature Saturday night at Sheboygan County Fair Park.

Kevin Schnell came out on top of the Winged Super Modified feature event, he had started on the pole and led the race wire-to-wire to pick up the win. Schnell's trip to victory lane was his second for feature wins this year. He is currently attempting to finish in the top ten in season points, and this victory helped that effort greatly.

Schnell started on the pole and bolted into the lead on the drop of the green flag. By lap 10, Schnell had opened up a full-straightaway advantage over outside front row starter LeRoy Ostrowski of Milwaukee.

As Schnell began to work his way through lapped traffic, the lone red flag of the race flew on lap 15 when fast qualifier Brad Dahmer of Sheboygan stalled in turn three. After the restart, the seventh year EWSC Winged Super Modified driver pulled out to a comfortable lead while two-time track champion and current point leader Pete Ostrowski of Milwaukee rode the outside groove from his fourth row starting spot to take over the second place on lap 18.

Schnell continued to set a lightning fast pace during the final 12 laps of the event on the way to his second feature victory of the season.

Pete Ostrowski finished second, Billy Kreutz of Kiel charged from the 10th starting spot to finish third, second row starter Chuck Melis of Plymouth was fourth and Juneau's Randy Butler came from the eighth starting spot to place fifth.

40th Year Anniversary! K-Schulz Racing has been competing in the Winged Super Modified division with Eastern Wisconsin Stock Car. The team began with Kermit Schulz one of the founding fathers of EWSC, who competed until the early 1980's when son Ken took over the wheel.

Pete Ostrowski now holds a commanding 93 point advantage over Sheboygan Falls driver Ken Jay Fiedler (952-859) heading into this Saturday's End-of-season Championship Night of racing.

Newly crowned 1997 Limited Late Model track champion Steve Hoffmann of Plymouth recovered from an early race accident to collect his second feature victory of the season in the 25 lap main event.

Steve Hoffmann of Plymouth has successfully defended his Limited Late Model championship. Hoffmann had scored numerous fast times and two feature wins this season at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds. That effort allowed Hoffmann to wrap up his second consecutive title with one week still remaining in the 1997 racing season.

Outside front row starter Keith Borth of Sheboygan outdueled polesitter Dale Bauer of Sheboygan Falls to take the lead in turn four of the opening circuit. On lap two, the first of five red flags appeared after John Scharenbroch of Sheboygan Falls made contact with the turn three guardrail.

Following the restart, Borth moved out to a ten car length advantage over second row starter Scott Haugstad of Plymouth. The second red flag was displayed on lap 5 for a four car incident on the frontstretch involving Hoffmann, Scott Cramer of Random Lake, Chad Kistner of Kiel and Sheboygan's Mark Dingel. The mishap forced Cramer and Dingel out of the race, but Hoffmann and Kistner were able to continue.

The nose is bent! Jeff Fechter (#29) got involved in a tangle in the Limited Late Model feature. That accident rearranged the front end of his car. In the background sits the stalled car of Howie Weiss (#11).

The third red came out when Jeff Fechter of West Bend spun in turn three on lap six. When the race resumed, three-time Super Stock champ Rick Hed of Cleveland, who was driving the car owned by his father Dick, moved from the fifth starting spot to challenge Borth for the lead beginning on lap nine.

One lap later, fast qualifier Randy Harshbarger of Campbellsport brought out the fourth red flag period of the event after stalling out in turn three. Following the ensuing restart, Borth spun in turn four which allowed fourth row starter Brian Schmidt of Cedar Grove to assume the lead on lap 11.

Close feature race action! The Limited Late Models really put on a show for the fans! Here eventual winner Steve Hoffmann (#14), Randy Markwardt (#3) and Rick Hed (#6) all duel for position.

Schmidt held down the top spot over the next 10 laps as the 14th starting Hoffmann and 16th starting Randy Markwardt of Sheboygan charged up to join Hed in a heated four way battle for the top position. On lap 21, Hoffmann used the outside groove to power around Schmidt for the lead exiting turn four.

The fifth and final red flag came out on lap 22 for debris on the track in turn two. Hoffmann then held off Markwardt during the final three circuits to earn a hard fought come-from-behind victory.

With the victory, Hoffmann wrapped up his second consecutive Limited Late Model title. The 16th year driver holds an insurmountable 55 point lead over Fredonia's Dave Jessen (474-419) with one week left in the season.

Markwardt was second, Schmidt took third, Jessen moved up from the 15th starting spot to place fourth and Haugstad wound up fifth.

Dean Gosse of Kiel turned back a late charge from Plymouth's Dave Haag to post his third victory of the year in the 20 lap Super Stock feature.

He's been here before! Dean Gosse of Howards Grove found victory lane after a Super Stock feature for the third time this season. Gosse was able to hold off a late charge by Dave Haag to take the win.

After a false start for a loose tire off the car of Sheboygan's Brian Genske, Gosse led the opening lap of the race from the pole position. Gosse maintained the top spot until lap 11 when Sheboygan drivers Bob Duncan and Matt Jackson made contact in turn three.

When the race returned to green flag action, Gosse began to feel heavy pressure from Haag, Jim Bailey of Oostburg and Plymouth's Brian Kessler on lap 13. Gosse fended off all three challengers during the finals seven laps to claim his fourth career Super Stock feature triumph by a slim two car length margin over the 15th starting Haag.

Kessler came from the eighth starting slot to place third, outside front row starter Dan Holm of Waldo took fourth and 1993 Super Stock champion Brad Ruh of Elkhart Lake steered the car normally driven by Mark Brass of Sheboygan to a fifth place showing.

Former Super Stock champion and current point leader Tim Thompson of Campbellsport enters this Saturday's final night of racing with a slim four point edge over Brian Gilles of Elkhart Lake (171-177).

Craig Schueffner of Sheboygan Falls won the 15 lap Winged Super Modified B-Semi-feature. Jerry Wenzel of Two Rivers was victorious in the 8 lap Winged Super Modified "C" Semi-feature. Sheboygan's Tim Carman took the checkered flag in the 15 lap Limited Late Model semi-feature, while Greenleaf's Dave Horneck was the victor in the 15 lap Super Stock semi-feature.

All three 1997 track champions will be officially crowned during this Saturday's End-of-Season Championship Night of racing.

Fast time for team drivers! Brad Dahmer Motorsports drivers set quick time in both the Winged Super Modified and Super Stock divisions. Brad Dahmer wheels the Mod, while J.J. Walvoord pilots the Super Stock.

The final night of the EWSC season starts with time trials at 6:00 P.M. with racing to follow at 7:00 P.M. Action takes place in the Winged Super Modified, Limited Late Model and Super Stock divisions. Over 110 cars compete nightly!!

There will be no rain date for the event and in the event of rain the season will be considered complete.

RESULTS

FAST QUALIFIER: #45 Brad Dahmer, Sheboygan,......13.178 seconds.

FAST QUALIFIER: #7 Randy Harschbarger, Campbellsport,.......15.392 Seconds

FAST QUALIFIER: #45 J.J. Walvoord, Oostburg,........16.973 Seconds