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| Dave Moulis was the big winner in the IRA Sprint car feature. At left he is interviewed by track announcer Eric Mueller, while at right he shows he's number one for the night! | |
By Alex and David Kwitek
August 3, 1997; Manitowoc, WI.
For the first time in two years, the IRA Outlaw Sprint cars roared their way around the newly designed, "one-of-a-kind" Manitowoc County Expo Raceway.
Dave Moulis proved why a race is never over until the checkered flag waves as he edged out race leader Joe Roe for the win.
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| Dave Moulis was the big winner in the IRA Sprint car feature. At left he is interviewed by track announcer Eric Mueller, while at right he shows he's number one for the night! | |
At the start of the feature event, Roe overtook polesitter Kim Mock for the early lead. On lap five, IRA point leader Donny Goeden flipped in turn one, bringing out the first caution. Goeden was unhurt and was able to get his mount prepared for the restart minus the front wing.
| For much of the feature
race, Joe Roe (#61) the defending IRA Sprint Car
Series champion, seemed unbeatable. The 6 time title holder held command until the final lap, when Dave Moulis reeled in Roe, and with a stunning outside move in turns three and four stole the win from Roe. |
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On the restart, caution flags flew again as Jon Trudeau slowed for traffic as he passed the cone, going into a spin and collecting the hard-lucked Goeden.
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Mike Frost earned
a top five feature finish in the first appearance of the
IRA Sprint Cars at Manitowoc County Expo Raceway. The 'wide-open' Outlaw Sprints thrilled the fans with their high speed maneuvers. |
Roe continued to command the field uncontested when on lap 17, third place runner Kim Mock spun in turn four, creating the third and final caution. The Kenosha native, Roe led the pack off the restart, as Moulis chased tightly behind in second place. Looking for a last chance to pass, Moulis darted his sprinter around Roe on the last turn of the race to take the lead and the win. Roe finished less than a car length behind in second, while Al Schmidt finished third, Scott Neitzel claimed fourth, and Mike Frost rounded out the top five.
Goeden established a track record for the IRA Sprints with a lap of 13.636 seconds.
| Jerry Wenzel earned
his first "Outlaw Modified" feature win of the
1997 season at Manitowoc County Expo Raceway. Wenzel took
the lead on a late restart from previous feature winner
Brad Anderegg. The Outlaw modifieds put on a great show with some wild four wide racing!! |
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The Outlaw Modifieds were also on hand as they staged another exciting 15-lap feature, that included tight four wide racing and a first win for Jerry Wenzel this season. Brad Anderegg led off the pole for eight laps until fifth place starter Dave Otte overtook him for the lead.
That's when caution appeared for a tangle between Jesse Brey and Jack Parrish, with Wenzel passing Anderegg for second place.
Otte led off the restart, yet Wenzel made his move for the lead and the win. Anderegg was second, Otte third, Shawn Jaeger took fourth and 13th place started Mike Kudick rounded out the top five.
| John Sauermilch went
for a wild ride in qualifying, when something appeared to
break on the Randy Sipple "Rent-A-Ride".
Sauermilch climbed the backstretch gaurdrail and flipped
over. Sauermilch was not hurt in the accident but his car was through for the evening, as damage was to severe to continue the evenings program. |
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Next Sunday on August 10th, 1997, the USA Bandit 360 Sprinters which include such top drivers as K.J. Skelton, Jerry Schultz, Gregg Cruzon and J.J. Hoch will appear along with a regular full program of racing including Winged Super Modifieds, Outlaw Modifieds, Super Stocks, Street Stocks and Cruisers.
Hot Laps will start at 5:00 P.M. and the first race will take place at 6:00 P.M. This will mark the first ever appearance of the '360 Sprints" at the raceway. The track is located just outside of Manitowoc, at the Manitowoc County Fairgrounds near the intersections of Highway 151 and Interstate 43.
You gotta be there!!
RESULTS
IRA Outlaw Sprints:
Feature: 1.) Dave Moulis; 2.) Joe Roe; 3.) Al Schmidt; 4.)
Scott Nietzel; 5.) Mike Frost; 6.) Darrell Dodd; 7.) John Haeni;
8.) Todd Daun; 9.) Jim Melis; 10.) Mike Stefka
11.) John Tierney; 12.) Bob Robel; 13.) Joe Seymoens; 14.)
Raymond Hensley; 15.) Kim Mock; 16.) Fred Michaels; 17.) Fred
Ebler; 18.) Jim Walkanoff; 19.) Donny Goeden; 20.) Jon Trudeau
B-Main: 1.) Melis; 2.) Stefka; 3.) Trudeau
First Heat: 1.) Dodd; 2.) Daun
Second Heat: 1.) Schmidt; 2.) Nietzel
Third Heat: 1.) Mock; 2.) Frost
Fourth Heat: 1.) Tierney; 2.) Haeni
Fast Qualifier: Donny Goeden, Kewaskum, WI; .....13.636 Seconds (NEW TRACK RECORD)
Outlaw
Modifieds:
Feature: 1.) Jerry Wenzel; 2.) Brad Anderegg; 3.)
Dave Otte; 4.) Shawn Jaeger; 5.) Mike Kudick
First Heat: 1.) Otte; 2.) Anderegg
Second Heat: 1.) Jesse Brey; Jaeger