Manitowoc opens season!

June 8, 1997; Manitowoc, WI.

Racing was underway Sunday evening at the Manitowoc County Expo Raceway, in spite of the fact that the tracks water truck broke forcing officials to water the 1/3 mile banked clay oval track with a fire hose.

Racing took place in the Street Stock, Hobby Stock, IMCA "Outlaw" Modifies and Winged Super Modifieds. A decent field of cars were on hand for the first race night on the new track, which is still being improved on a weekly basis.

Joe Kerkoff of DePere won the first ever event on the new track, winning the Street Stock heat race. The Super Stock heat event was claimed by Todd Krause of Green Bay.

The track was rewatered after the initial two heats due to dry conditions.

When action resumed the Outlaw Modified heat was won by Mick Kudick of Mishicot over Randy Brunette of Chilton.

Feature race action got underway with Dave Otte of Cedar Grove besting Jesse Brey and Kudick in the IMCA "Outlaw" Modified class.

Dale Carbon of Manitowoc took home the win in the Street Stock main over Rick Otte of Cedar Grove and Chris Lange of Appleton.

The final feature to be run in the Super Stock division saw Dan Nelson of Forest Junction take the checkered flag over Rick Otte and Rich Mahlberg.

The Winged Modifieds are the fastest cars at the Manitowoc County Expo Raceway and a good field of them were on hand for the first official events held at the Raceway. Troy Wondra came home the winner in the heat event. The feature was cancelled due to darkness. Track officials will have the new lighting system ready for the next event, which will include a 25 lap feature for these cars.

Track lighting was not yet completed so the Winged Super Modifieds did not run a feature this week. However the class did earlier run a heat race with Tony Wondra of Campbellsport taking the win over Tom Spooner who came all the way up from Antioch, IL.

Racing is slated to resume June 15th. Winged Supermods, IMCA Outlaw Modifieds with wings, Super Stocks, Street Stocks and Crusier cars will compete on Sunday nights, beginning at 6:00 P.M.

For raceday weather information, fans can tune into WCUB 980 AM in Manitowoc. For information during the week, call (414) 684-3028 or (414) 775-4879.

The raceway is located at the County Expo grounds off I-43 at Exit 151 in Manitowoc.

RESULTS

Street Stocks:
Feature: 1.) Dale Carbon, Manitowoc; 2.) Rick Otte, Cedar Grove; 3.) Chris Lange, Appleton; 4.) Joe Kerkoff, Depere; 5.) Joe Casadante, Two Rivers.
Heat: 1.) Kerkoff, 2.) Kevin Shilcox, Two Rivers.

Super Stocks:
Feature: 1.) Dan Nelson, Forest Junction; 2.) Rick Otte, Cedar Grove; 3.) Rick Mahlberg, Denmark; 4.) Mike Schultz, Howards Grove; 5.) Todd Krause, Green Bay.
Heat: 1.) Krause, 2.) Mahlberg

IMCA "Outlaw" Modifieds:
Feature: 1.) Dave Otte, Cedar Grove; 2.) Jesse Brey, Manitowoc; 3.) Mike Kudick, Mishicot; 4.) Ricky Mott, Larrabee; 5.) Shawn Jaeger, Manitowoc.
Heat: 1.) Kudick, 2.) Randy Brunette, Chilton.

Supermodifieds:
Feature: "Cancelled due to darkness"
Heat: 1.) Tony Wondra, Campbellsport; 2.) Tom Spooner, Antioch, IL