By Alex and David Kwitek
August 10, 1997; Manitowoc, WI.
The 360 Sprint Bandits made their first official appearance at the new "one-of-a-kind" Manitowoc County Expo Raceway. On the last lap of the 25 lap feature, Kurt Davis made a tough outside pass around Bill Warren in lapped traffic for the lead and the win.
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Sprint Cars took to Manitowoc County Expo Raceway for the second straight week. This time it was the 360 Bandits, touring the 1/3 mile high-banked clay oval. Shown here Kurt Davis (#6K-Yellow) uses the low groove, while Todd King (#6-Red) uses the high line. Davis won the feature event |
At the start of the event, Andy Hunt darted his sprinter around pole-sitter Andy Glewer of Waupun for the initial lead. On lap three, the only caution flag of the race flew when Gregg Curzon spun out in turn two.
Off the restart, Jerry Schultz wheeled his way up the pack and passed Hunt for the lead. Over the next eight laps, tight 3-wide battles ensued as drivers made their way up from the back of the pack.
| 360 Bandit Action! John Hoch (#61) goes wheel to wheel with Al Schlafer (#26) during one of the heat races. Fans have been treated to some excellent Sprint Car racing action the past two weeks, this weeks 360 Sprints followed a show by the IRA Outlaw Sprints last week, in both shows the pass for the win came on the final lap. |  |
On lap 12, Bill Warren, who had started eleventh, took the lead away from Schultz, and would lead the race up to the the final lap. As lapped traffic slowed Warren's pace, Kurt Davis of Milwaukee whipped his sprinter around Warren in turn two, and held him off for the win. Warren held on for a close second place finish, Schultz took third, while K.J. Skelton, who started twelfth earned a fourth place finish. Al Schlafer rounded out the top five finishers.
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This accident slowed the pace of the Outlaw Modified feature event. Mike Kudick (#26) and David Otte (#6) get turned around, while Brad Anderegg (#12) faces the infield. Eventual winner Jerry Wenzel (#34) just missed making hard contact in this accident. |
Jerry Wenzel won his second straight 20-lap Outlaw Modified feature event. He drove away from a 5-car pile-up and his rear suspension lasted long enough for the Two Rivers driver to take the checkered flag.
Mike Kudick of Mischicot led from the pole until caution came out on lap three. Off the restart, Shawn Jaeger bumped Kudick, setting off a chain reaction, collection Dave Otte, Brad Anderegg, Brian Reif and Wenzel.
| Two in a row for Wenzel! Jerry Wenzel won his second straight Outlaw Modified feature event in convincing fashion. After some hard luck early on in the season Wenzel has been coming on strong the past several weeks. |  |
Jesse Brey was the new leader and Wenzel was in hot pursuit after the restart. A tight battle ensued with Wenzel taking the lead on lap eight, which he held to the finish. Kudick came back to place second, Todd Ewald claimed third, Reif finished fourth and Brey who is the current point leader took fifth.
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Winged Super Modified heat race winner Steve Bricker (#33) was all smile after the event. Bricker rolled his car hard at another track the night before and worked all day to prepare the car to race today. |
The Winged Super Modified 15-lap feature was won by hard-lucked driver Paul Pokorski of West Bend. Pokorski, whose previous showings included and engine failure and a broken wing, took home his first feature at Manitowoc. Bill Wenninger took second, with Two Rivers native Steve Bricker third, while Tony Wondra claimed fourth.
| Kenny Richards made his first ever appearance at the Manitowoc County Expo Raceway a memorable one by earning his first career Super Stock feature victory. |  |
Super Stock action brought Kenny Richards his first 15-lap feature win of the season. Highlights of the event included Gregg Haese, who fell back in the pack early, only to fight his way back to the front for a close second place finish. Jeff Richards, Dan Nelson and Rick Otte rounded out the top five finishers.
Tom Leonard continues to find the checkered flag in the Street Stock division as he took home his fourth feature win of the 1997 season. On lap four, Leonard passed Lance Fassbender for the lead. Kevin Shillcox placed second, Fassbender was third, while Bob Cullen and Dale Carbon rounded out the top five places.
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Cruisers in action!! The more the merrier, as new Crusier cars are turning up every week. In the spirit of team racing, one driver steers the car, and the other controls the brake and gas. Team Melvin (#20) dominated the nights action with a clean sweep! |
Team Melvin swept the field of rookies in the heat and feature, thus taking their second straight Crusier victory of the season. The 10 lap event went cautionless as the Woody and Buzz team led early on. On lap four, Team Melvin powered their Ford around the high groove for the lead. Woody and Buzz placed second, the Berry team took third, and the Armstrong car took fourth.
Next Sunday on August 17th, 1997, the Legend cars will appear as part of the regular racing program which will include Winged Super Modified, Outlaw Modifieds, Super Stock, Street Stocks and Crusiers.
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
360 Bandit Sprints:
Feature: 1.) Kurt Davis; 2.) Bill Warren; 3.) Jerry
Schultz; 4.) K.J. Skelton; 5.) Al Schlafer
First Heat: 1.) Davis; 2.) Tony Walters
Second Heat: 1.) Al Schlafer; 2.) John Hoch
Third Heat: 1.) Frank Firari; 2.) Danny Schlafer
Outlaw
Modifieds:
Feature: 1.) Jerry Wenzel; 2.) Mike Kudick; 3.)
Todd Ewald; 4.) Brian Reif; 5.) Jesse Brey
First Heat: 1.) Brey; 2.) Dave Otte
Second Heat: 1.) Shawn Jaeger; 2.) Brad Anderegg
Super Winged Modifieds:
Feature: 1.) Paul Pokorski; 2.) Bill Wenninger; 3.) Steve
Bricker; 4.) Tony Wondra
Heat: 1.) Bricker; 2.) Wenninger
Super Stocks:
Feature: 1.) Kenny Richards; 2.) Gregg Haese; 3.) Jeff
Richards; 4.) Dan Nelson; 5.) Rick Otte
First Heat: 1.) Haese; 2.) Jeff Richards
Second Heat: 1.) Jesse Cullen; 2.) Nelson
Street Stocks:
Feature: 1.) Tom Leonard; 2.) Kevin Shillcox; 3.) Lance
Fassbender; 4.) Bob Cullen; 5.) Dale Carbon
Heat: 1.) Leonard; 2.) Kirk Shillcox
Cruisers:
Feature: 1.) Team Melvin; 2.) Woody and Buzz; 3.) Tea,
Armstrong; 4.) Team Berry
Heat: 1.) Team Melvin; 2.) Team Berry