 |
 Scott Sippel wins main!! |
| The 360 Bandit Sprints made their second appearance of 1997 and Scott Sippel made his way to victory lane on his first run on the track in a Sprint Car!! | |
By Alex and David Kwitek
August 24, 1997; Manitowoc, WI.
Six divisions roared their way around the new "one-of-a-kind" Manitowoc Expo Raceway, with another special appearance by the 360 sprint bandits.
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Scott Sippel wins main!! |
| The 360 Bandit Sprints made their second appearance of 1997 and Scott Sippel made his way to victory lane on his first run on the track in a Sprint Car!! | |
Scott Sippel bolted to an early lead in the feature, as he overtook pole-sitter Andy Glewen going into turn one. Gregg Curzon of Baileys Harbor and past feature winner Kurt Davis followed suit as they took over the second and third positions respectively. Meanwhile, K.J. Skelton motored around the high groove to earn the fourth spot, with Jerry Schultz taking fifth. After the race, Sippel stated it was the best racetrack he had ever raced on.
Super wing modified points leader Bill Wenninger led all 25-laps as he won his first feature of the season. Wenninger overtook pole-sitter John Spooner off of the start while ninth-place starter Paul Pokorski made his way up to fifth.
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Eventual winner Bill Wenninger (#53) fights off a determined Paul Pokorski (#4) in the Winged Super Modified division. Wenninger the point leader in the division recorded his first feature victory of the season. |
Caution came out on lap 6 when Tommy Sexton spun in turn 3. Off of the restart, Pokorski continued to pass through the pack as he caught up to the leader Wenninger, with Steve Bricker and Ken Jay Fiedler right behind him.
The caution flag waved on lap 18 as rookie T.J. Luedtke expired his motor going down the backstretch.
| Point leader Bill Wenninger enjoyed his first trip to victory lane in the Winged Super Modified division this season. Wenninger's feature win helped him extend his point lead on Brian Van Scoy who currently stands second in the season points. Just a single week of racing remains and the track champion in the class will be determined next week. |  |
Wenninger led off of the restart, with Pokorski, Chuck Tuschl, and Fiedler were all tightly packed behind the leader. Once again, passing came down to the last lap, with the battle for third place between Tuschl and Fiedler. Contact between the two allowed Tuschl to progress as Fiedler spun after contact in turn 3.
Wenninger, Pokorski, Tuschl, Bricker, and Alex Crimmings rounded out the top five.
The 15-lap super stock feature went Ed Stehula's way, as he took home his first checkered flag of the year at the Manitowoc raceway.
| Ed Stehula who has been making limited appearances at Manitowoc this year, found his way to victory lane in the Super Stock division, taking the feature event. Stehula took command when the race leaders tangled. |  |
Polesitter Steve Kracht took the lead while Haese moved into second. The cautions came out one by one as several drivers spun out while trying to keep up with the pace.
Kracht led off of the restart on lap 5, with Haese and eight-place starter Stehula in close pursuit. On lap 13, Haese connected with the leader Kracht in turn 4, with Kracht spinning out. Haese was black flagged for contact, and Stehula was the new race leader. Chad Radke took second, Steve Krause took third, Rick Otte fourth, and Rich Mahlburg fifth.
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Jesse Brey was
another point leader earning his first feature win of the
season during the evening's activities. Brey also won his
heat race to claim a sweep of the night's events in the
Outlaw Modified division. Brey continues to lead the points in the class over Dave Otte. The champion will be determined next week. |
Points leader Jesse Brey continued his successful season by winning his first 15-lap feature of the season. Brian Rief passed polesitter Shawn Jaeger from the start. On lap 3, Brey passed Rief for the lead. On lap 4, Rief spun out of turn 4, bringing out the caution. Rief was unable to return.
Brey led off of the restart, with Dave Otte, Jerry Wenzel, and Brad Anderegg all paced tightly together. Brey went on to win, with Wenzel, Anderegg, Otte, and Todd Hughes rounding out the top five.
Tom Leonhard started inside the second row and went onto win his fifth street stock feature of the season.
Polesitter Kirk Shillcox paced the field until he spun in turn 2 off of the start. Cullen led off of the restart, with Leonhard tight to his rear bumper. Leonhard immediately passed Cullen for the lead.
Caution came out on lap 13, when Cullen spun in turn 3. The top five finishers were Leonhard, Kevin Shillcox, Joe Casadonte, Chris Lange, and Cullen.
The 10-lap cruiser race allowed the rookie team of Buzz & Woody to win their first feature of the season.
Woody & Buzz overtook the Leist/Schultz team for the lead. Team Melvin brought out the caution on lap 5 with a mechanical failure as they slowed on the backstretch. Off of the restart, the Golden Flame team spun on the backstretch, collecting Team Hillbilly.
However, Woody & Buzz led off of the restart and took the checkered flag. Team Hillbilly finished second, Leist/Schultz third, Golden Flame team fourth, and Team Melvin took fifth.
Next Sunday, August 31st, late models will make their first appearances at the Manitowoc track. Joining them for the season finale will be cruisers, street and super stock, outlaw modifieds, and super winged modifieds. Hotlaps at 5 pm with racing at 6 pm. You gotta BE THERE!!!
RESULTS
360 Bandit Sprints:
Feature: 1.) Scott Sipple; 2.) Gregg Cruzon; 3.) Kurt
Davis; 4. ) K.J. Skelton; Jerry Schultz
First Heat: 1.) Cruzon; 2.) Sipple
Second Heat: 1.) Davis; 2.) Skelton
Outlaw
Modifieds:
Feature: 1.) Jesse Brey; 2.) Jerry Wenzel; 3.)
Brad Anderegg; 4.) Dave Otte; 5.) Todd Hughes
First Heat: 1.) Brey; 2.) Otte; 3.) Anderegg
Super Winged Modifieds:
Feature: 1.) Bill Wenninger; 2.) Paul Pokorski; 3.) Chuck
Tuschl; 4.) Steve Bricker; 5.) Alex Crimmings
First Heat: 1.) Tommy Sexton; 2.) Pokorski
Second Heat: 1.) Dave Enders; 2.) T.J. Luedtke
Super Stocks:
Feature: 1.) Ed Stehula; 2.) Chad Rathke; 3.) Steve
Krause; 4.) Rick Otte; 5.) Rick Mahlberg; 6.) Mike Anderson
First Heat: 1.) Rathke
Second Heat: 1.) Stehula; 2.) Otte
Third Heat: 1.) Steve Kracht; 2.) Gregg Haese
Street Stocks:
Feature: 1.) Tom Leonard; 2.) Kevin Shillcox; 3.) Joe
Casadonte; 4.) Chris Lange; 5.) Bob Cullen
Heat: 1.) Shillcox; 2.)Leonard;
Cruisers:
Feature: 1.) Woody and Buzz; 3.) Team Hillbilly; 3.)
Leist/Schultz; 4.) Golden Flame Team
Heat: 1.) Woody and Buzz; 2.)Team Melvin;