Russ Scheffler Survives to win
UMP Late Model Special at Manitowoc!

July 5, 1998; Manitowoc, WI. - Russ Scheffler rode out the track conditions on Sunday night at the Manitowoc Expo Raceway and in the end he was rewarded with a feature win in the second leg of the United Midwestern Promoters' late model summer series at the track.

Jim Zdroik collected his second consecutive modified feature win while Chad Rathke topped the dirt sportsman main and Melvin I & Melvin II took the cruiser feature.

Scheduled for 30 laps, the late model feature was trimmed back to 25 after the race saw 13 caution periods and a red flag slow the activity, in all just nine of the 18 starters finished the event with seven of those cars on the lead lap.

Scheffier may have been the next victim of the track but the white and checkered flags came out just on time as when he drove his Bill Behling-owned GRT into victory lane the left rear tire on the car was completely flat.

The cut tire, which appeared to develop as lap 23 was completed, slowed the torrid pace that Scheffler was setting and allowed Bret Sievert to close in. With Sievet riding right behind Scheffier when the white flag fell it appeared that Scheffler would surrender his lead.

Sievert tried to use the low line coming off of turn two but Scheffler blocked the move sending Sievert to the outside as the duo entered the third corner. Sievert put the right rear tire of his car right on the cushion but fell just short in his quest for the win.

Following the top two across were Gordie Seegert, Scott Specht, and Scott Crowbridge. The second five consisted of Pat Kinjerski, Steve Mueller, Jon Krogstad, Mark Berglund, and Chris Carlson.

Several drivers ran into problems during the race including Al Atkinson, who was actually leading when he cut a tire down and was forced to pit area. Atkinson would return only to find the guard rail and ended up finishing 14th.

Jake Dolhun found himself engaged in a battle for the lead with Scheffler on Lap 19,  when motor woes and a broken driveshaft sent him to the pit area Dolhun, who was the night's fastest qualifier, ended up 12th.

Atkinson won the dash over Scheffler while Brian Jaeger and Jimmy Watson took home the heat wins for the 20 late models in the pit area.

Zdroik started the modified feature from the pole end survived a single caution period to take the checkered flag. Zdroik was never seriously challenged throughout the 12-lap race.

Mike Kudick wound up in the second spot after a battle with Jesse Bray. Bray was able to slide into the runner-up spot during the early laps of the race but Kudick made the pass on Lap five and went on to take second. Bray finished third followed by Bryan Anderson and Todd Hughes.

Rathke would lead every lap of the dirt sportsman feature race with Eddie Lemay chasing him to the stripe. Lemay's last lap efforts to overtake Rathke fell short at the finish. Jesse Cullen came home third followed by Dave Thomas and Bob Brant. Both Thomas and Brant were making their first starts of the year at Manitowoc.

After a couple of cars failed to make the first lap of the cruiser feature it was all Melvin I & Melvin II as the duo topped the team of Hendrickson/Cullen to take the victory. The wins keeps the Melvin's undefeated in cruiser action at the Expo.

Action continues this coming Sunday night with the Winged Supermodifieds joining the 360 Sprint cars, Modifieds, Dirt Sportsman and Cruisers on the card. Action is set to begin with qualifying at 5:00 and racing one hour later, Manitowoc Expo Raceway is located just off of 1-43 and Highway 151 on the southwest side of Manitowoc.