Manitowoc Expo Raceway Sprint Main to O' Neal!!

June 21, 1998; Manitowoc, WI. -- David O'Neal made his first trip to the Manitowoc Expo Raceway a profitable one Sunday night as he topped the 360 sprint car feature to highlight the card.

Jesse Brey came out a winner in the modified feature while Billy Lemay won the dirt sportsman feature. Melvin I and Melvin II continued their streak in the cruiser division with another win.

Jerry Wenzel took the lead at the drop of the green in the 25-lap sprint car feature with O'Neal and Mike Emme giving chase.

David O' Neal made his first ever trip to Manitowoc County Expo Raceway and won a thrilling three-wide finish in the 360 Bandit Sprint division. O' Neal was barely able to hold off fellow rivals Mike Emme and Kurt Davis to score the win on a prefect racing surface.

Just three laps into the main the yellow waved as Kurt Davis spun his car in turn three, On the restart O'Neal took the top spot from Wenzel with Emrne also able to get by and move to second. Wenzel then found himself in the pit area as a motor problem sent the night's fastest qualifier to the trailer.

Following a pair of caution flag periods for Tim Haddy, O'Neal was able to maintain the lead with Emme looking to get around. The duo raced nose-to-tail for the second half of the race with Davis closing in late.

As the white flag fell Emme dove to the bottom of turn one and Davis took to the high line but neither could build enough speed to get by O'Neal at the stripe, Emme finished second ahead of Davis, Lloyd Dykstra, and Wenzel.

Jesse Brey topped the Modifieds, taking command of the race on lap 11, and never looking back to score the win. The Modified could run three wide on the ultra smooth track.

Rick Otte took the lead as the modified feature went green with Randy Brunette and Shawn Jaeger close behind. Brunette moved into the lead on lap four after Otte lost the handle of his car with Jaeger going to second.

Following the completion of lap eight Brunette and Jaeger made contact in the first turn, The shunt caused a flat tire on Brunette's car while Jaeger drove through the infield and back onto the track but fell from contention.

Otte inherited the lead only to have Brey find his way around and into the top spot on lap 11. From there it was all Brey as he topped Otte, Bryan Anderson. and Jaeger to win.

Billy LeMay wound up in victory lane after the dirt Sportsman feature. He was running third when the lead pair of Eddie Lemay and Jesse Cullen made contact giving the lead to Bill Lemay who then went on to win the event.

Eddie Lemay and Jesse Cullen provided the fireworks in the dirt sportsman feature as the duo exchanged paint for the lead following a 12th lap restart. Running into turn one with Lemay on the inside and Cullen high the pair made contact but both raced on. Entering turn three the same scenerio played out only this time Lemay had a tire cut down. As they went down the frontstreteh it was Lemay driving off the track and into the pit area while Cullen continued.

The incident left Billy Lemay in the lead and he held it to pick up his first win of the year over Frank Wirtz and Cullen.

After being beaten in the heat race Melvin I and Melvin II were not to be denied in the feature race for the cruisers as the pair lapped the only other car left running at the end of the event, Butch and Son of Butch enroute to the win.

With the win the Melvin's stay undefeated in competition at the track in 1998. Butch and Son of Butch finished second followed by Thor/Hendrickson and Weasel I and Wesel II.

Action continues this Sunday night at the Expo with a full program of 360 Sprint cars, modifieds, dirt sportsman, and crusiers. There has been an admission price reduction and all adult will be admitted for $7.00 for the program. Qualifying will take place at 5:30 p.m. and the first race will start at 6:00 p.m.

The track is located on 1-43 and Highway 151 on the Southwest side of Manitowoc. The third mile high-banked clay oval has easy access from the freeway and is located on the Maintowoc County Expo Fairgrounds.

360 SPRINT CARS:
25 Lap Feature - 1.) David O' Neal, Milwaukee; 2.) Mike Emme, Cleveland; 3.) Kurt Davis, Milwaukee; 4.) Lloyd Dykstra, Waupun; 5.) Jerry Wenzel, Two Rivers; 6.) Tim Haddy, Mayville
10 Lap Heat - 1.) Davis; 2.) Emme; 3.) Haddy

DIRT SPORTSMAN:
20 Lap Feature - 1.) Billy Lemay, Milwaukee; 2.) Frank Wirtz, Milwaukee; 3.) Jesse Cullen, Chilton; 4.) Robert Cullen, Chilton; 5.) Eddie Lemay, Milwaukee 6.) Mike Anderson, Sheboygan
8 Lap Heat: 1.) Eddie LeMay; 2.) Chad Rathke; 3.) Anderson

MODIFIED:
20 Lap Feature- 1.) Jesse Brey, Manitowoc; 2.) Rick Otte, Sheboygan; 3.) Bryan Anderson, Milwaukee; 4.) Shawn Jaeger, Manitowoc; 5.) Nick Mahlik, Green Bay; 6.) Mike Kudick, Mishicot; 7.) Randy Brunette, Chilton; 8.) Mike Mashl, Green Bay
8 Lap Heat: 1.) Mashl; 2.) Brunette; 3.) Jaeger

CRUISER:
FEATURE - 1.) Melvin I & Melvin 11; 2.) Butch & Son of Butch; 3.) Thor/Hendrickson