Schnell, Borth and Schad winners in EWSC action.

By Jeff Pederson

May 31, Plymouth, WI.

Kiel's Kevin Schnell held off fellow front row starter Ken Jay Fiedler of Sheboygan Falls, in a thrilling late race battle on the way to his second career Eastern Wisconsin Stock Car, Winged Super Modified Feature victory Saturday night at Sheboygan County Fair Park.

Kevin Schnell stands in victory lane after winning his second career Winged Super Modified feature event. Schnell took the low groove to the lead on the fifth lap of the 30 lap feature and held on for the win.

Fiedler started on the pole and charged into the top position on the drop of the green flag. On lap three, the outside front row starting Schnell used the low line to challenge the rim riding Fiedler. Schnell then slipped under Fiedler on lap five, exiting turn three to assume the lead during the mid-way portion of the race.

Seventh year EWSC Winged Super Modified competitor maintained the top spot during the next sixteen circuits as the lead group began to slice their way through slower traffic. The lone red flag of the race flew on lap 21 when Plymouth's Chuck Melis, LeRoy Ostrowski of Milwaukee and Chuck Tuschl of Cato made contact along the frontstretch.

Following the restart, Fiedler jetted up to the high groove to power around Schnell exiting turn four on lap 22. However, Schnell battled back three laps later along the low line and the two front runners proceeded to mount a heated side-by-side duel over the course of the closing five laps of the event.

The Late Race Duel! Kevin Schnell (#23) uses the low line around the 1/3 mile Sheboygan County Fairpark Raceway, to hold off the high riding Ken Jay Fiedler (#95). Schell would take the win while Fiedler would settle for runner-up honors.

Schnell finally surged ahead for good on lap 28, as Fiedler began to slow along the high groove after six laps of spirited competition for the top spot. The Kiel racer held on during the final two circuits to capture his first feature triumph of the season.

Fiedler was second, second row starter Tim McMullen of Plymouth placed third, Eddie Staehler of Kewaskum finished fourth after starting sixth and Juneau's Randy Butler charged up from the 16th starting position to take fifth.

Fifteen year veteran Keith Borth of Sheboygan picked up his first victory of the year in the 25 lap Limited Late Model feature event.

Outside front row starter Henry Dickmann of Sheboygan outdueled polesitter Scott Haugstad of Plymouth to lead the opening lap of the event. On the next circuit, Borth raced in from his second row starting spot to dive under Dickmann exiting turn four.

Keith Borth (#65) dives under early race leader Henry Dickmann (#71) to take over the top spot. Borth who has been racing with Eastern Wisconsin Stock Car for fifteen year would take the checkered, while Dickmann would fall back to a fifth place finish.

Borth held a comfortable quarter-straightaway edge over Dickmann until the first red flag appeared on lap ten for an incident in turn three involving Dale Bauer of Sheboygan Falls and Kiel's Jeremy Becker. Following the restart, Borth bolted out to a half-straightway cushion over Jeff Fechter of West Bend, who started fourth.

The second red flag came out on the 19th circuit when Tim Veldmann of Plymouth and Fredonia's Dave Jessen collided in turn three. The third red flag was displayed two laps later for another spin by Veldmann in turn three. When the race resumed, Borth powered away from the rest of the field over the final four laps to earn his second career EWSC Limited Late Model feature triumph.

Career feature win number two for Keith Borth was a rewarding one, he is shown in victory circle with track trophy queen Laurie Klumb.

Fechter was second, 1993 Limited Late Model champion Randy Markwardt of Sheboygan worked his way up from the 13th starting spot to finish third, Plymouth's Dick Hed placed fourth after starting 18th and Dickmann wound up fifth.

Two-time track champion Steve Schad of Cleveland collected his first victory of the 1997 campaign in the 20 lap Super Stock feature race.

Steve Schad took his first Super Stock feature win of the 1997 racing season. Schad is a former champion in the division and is off to a good start this year.

Dale Damrow of Sheboygan grabbed the lead on the opening lap from the pole position. Damrow held the top spot until lap two, when a three car incident in turn two involving Doug Teunissen of Oostburg, Sheboygan's Mark Brass and fellow hometown pilot Bob Duncan brought out the first of four red flags.

Another red flag for the stalled car of Elkhart Lake's John Dirks slowed the pace on lap three. A fire under the hood of Damrow's car forced him to the pits during that red flag period.

Damrow's sudden departure allowed the third starting Schad to take over the top spot when the race returned to green flag action. The red flag appeared again on laps 8 and 15 for the stalled cars.

After the final restart of the event, Schad pulled away from second place Brian Kessler of Plymouth during the final five circuits to secure the feature win.

Kessler was second, Elkhart Lake's Brian Gilles finished third after starting 14th, 1995 Super Stock co-champion Tim Thompson of Campbellsport charged from the ninth row to take fourth and Greenleaf's Dave Horneck placed fifth.

Fast Time for the first time in 1997. Craig Schueffner of Sheboygan Falls turned in a lap of 13.243 Seconds around the 1/3 mile clay oval to take quick time honors in the Winged Super Modified division.

Chuck Tuschl of Cato won the 15 lap Winged Super Modified "B" Semi-feature. Tim Carman of Sheboygan was victorious in the 15 lap Limited Late Model semi-feature and Elkhart Lake's Jerry Gilson captured the 15 lap Super Stock semi-feature.

RESULTS

FAST QUALIFIER: #47 Craig Schueffner, Sheboygan Falls, ....13.243 Seconds.

FAST QUALIFIER: #7 Randy Harshbarger, Campbellsport,.... 15.351 Seconds

FAST QUALIFIER: Mike Schultz, Howards Grove...17.719 Seconds