Durbin's Birthday Win comes on sponsors race night at LGR!
By Dale R. Erdmann

June 26, 1999; Lake Geneva, WI. - Brad Durbin of Lyons , won his second super late model 30 lap feature of the season. For Brad it's was more than just that win as the local driver turned 28 years old today and the sponsor of the night, Steinbrinks Pick and Save, is his sponsor too. Shane
Bishop of Pell Lake won the 20 lap super stock feature and Bobby Gutknecht of Oak Creek, won the accident filled 40 lap Mid American feature sponsored by Lynch Motors.

62699a.jpg (16418 bytes) Brad Durbin (#57) chose the best possible night to score his second Super Late Model feature win of the 1999 season, as his main sponsor Steinbrinks Pick and Save was also the sponsor of the evening's racing program.

Larry Surleta charged out front of the eighteen car super late model feature, with Russ Blakley, Mike
Simon Jr.and Landry Potter behind him. Potter inched into third on lap three, with Billy Baumeister working on Simon Jr. The next cluster saw Mark Simonsen, Kent Burkoth, Garrett Fait and Joe Fisher dicing for position.

On lap ten, Baumeister and Burkoth got under Simon, as Fait got around Simonsen. The first caution came on lap thirteen, when Simonsen went around.

Baumeister jumped in front of Surleta, on the restart, as Fait worked on Blakley. Two laps later, Fait and Blakley tangled, stopping the race again. On the next restart, Burkoth tried to get under the leader on the next green, but it wasn't going to happen. Brad Durbin moved under Surleta, with Randy Rodgers and Al Schill right there. Schill got Rodgers on lap eighteen, with Surleta falling to both one lap later. The race stopped again for another Simonsen spin, on lap twenty.

As Burkoth tried that same restart move, Baumeister moved way out front. Durbin slipped into second on lap twenty one, with Burkoth fading to fourth, as Rodgers got under him, before the next lap ended, up front Baumeister and Durbin fought hard for that top spot.

With five laps to go, Durbin claimed that top spot. With the next eight so close, the dash to the finish would be great. Durbin scored the victory, with Rodgers nipping Baumeister for second, Danny Darnell held onto fourth, with Schill, Burkoth, Fisher and Simon rounding out the top eight, in this close contest.

62699b.jpg (17619 bytes) The Mid-American Stock Car Series tour paid a visit to Lake Geneva Raceway and when the dust settled in a wild feature race Bobby Gutknecht (#10) stood in the winners circle.

Rookie Craig Mertes started outside pole  in the Super Stock feature, only to have his ball joint break entering turn three. As the car spun, the other twenty three drivers missed the disabled race car and the race restarted from the top, minus Mertes.

Cars scatter every direction at the beginning of the Super Stock main event when Craig Mertes (not shown) had a mechanical failure causing his car to spin on the opening lap.  He was missed by 23 other drivers in the race.  Some of the evasive action can be seen here in this photo. 62699e.jpg (13316 bytes)

Jim Hughes led the first six laps with alot of action all the way to the back. On lap seven, Denny Norton Jr. slipped in front, with Hughes now feeling pressure of Jeff Lornez, Tom Fay and Troy Weber. On lap ten Kyle Ide got on his roof, coming to rest in the middle of the back straightaway. Rookie Dan Huber quickly shot onto the infield and jumped out of his car and ran to see about Ide.

Ide's evening was over, but the first year driver escaped injury. On the restart Norton Jr was out front, while Weber was inside second row, with Hughes and John Maki next. With the green flying Shane Bishop got inside Maki, then Hughes and within two more laps, Weber knew he was there, battling for second.

Just like that Weber fell to Bishop, who was on a mission to prove a point, as Norton Jr. would be his next victim . These two raced side by side for two laps, as Bishop took over the lead with just three laps to go.

Shane Bishop (#17) made his way to the winners circle after holding off Denny Norton Jr, in the Super Stock feature race.  Both Bishop and Norton have won championships here at Lake Geneva.  Bishop won a sportsman title, while Norton Jr., was a former Super Stock champion. 62699c.jpg (11367 bytes)

After taking over that top spot, Norton tried the inside, but Bishop went on to win this feature. Norton was second, with Zac Deeringer nipping Weber for third, Adam Regnier placed fifth with Maki, Fay and Greg Peterson next. After the race, Bishop said, "It's great to run as an independent, I like Norton Jr. but this is my chassis unlike many of my fellow competitors ".

The regular Saturday night show switches to Friday night, due to the REMAX show here on the 3rd. of July. Four divisions will be here as the Rascal Outlaw, open wheel sprinters, along with the sport trucks join the super late models and super stocks.

Doug Rose and his 300 mile per hour jet dragster will do their incredible car melt downs. Elton Sawyer, Andy Santerre and Casey Atwood Busch Grand National drivers will sign autographs and have their pictures taken between 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

On Saturday night, the NASCAR touring series, REMAX Challenge race will take place. Al Schill the defending track champion, who finished third in last years event, will race the Jerry Gunderman number 8 race car. This is the same car, his late son, raced on March 27 and 28, during the spring opener at Rockford.

The feature race has been named the Al Schill Jr. memorial race, in honor of our 1995 champion who died on March 29. The super stocks will be the added division.

Time trials begin at 6 p,m. racing at 7:30 p.m. sharp. A special two night ticket is now available. Adults will be just $20  juniors 8 to 14 years of age $10, with children under 8 free, with a adult ticket purchase. For additional information call 414-248-8566.

Lake Geneva Raceway is located on Bloomfield Road just one and a half mile southeast of downtown Lake Geneva. The track surface is a paved one third mile banked oval.

For a complete schedule of the 1999 events, send one large self addressed stamped envelope to: Lake Geneva Raceway 1015 N. Bloomfield Road , Lake Geneva, WI. 53147. If you wish to contact the track the phone number is  (414) 248-8566.

RESULTS

Late Model Division

30 Lap Feature Event

Time Trials
1. #57 Brad Durbin           Lyons, WI 1. #14 Randy Rodgers 16.232 Seconds
2. #14 Randy Rodgers Elkhorn, WI 2. #85 Danny Darnell 16.365 Seconds
3. #12 Billy Baumeister Janesville, WI 3. #14 Al Schill Sr. 16.378 Seconds
4. #85 Danny Darnell Park City, IL

7 Lap Dash
5. #14 Al Schill Sr. Franklin, WI 1. #14 Randy Rodgers Elkhorn, WI
6. #19 Kent Burkoth Pell Lake, WI 2. #14 Al Schill Sr. Franklin, WI
7. # 2 Joe Fisher McHenry, IL 3. #19 Kent Burkoth Pell Lake, WI
8. #56 Mike Simon Jr. Elgin, IL

8 Lap Semi-Feature
9. #55 Larry Surleta Round Lake, IL 1. #74 Bob Moeller Johnsburg, IL
10. #48 Mike Simon Grayslake, IL 2. #48 Mike Simon Grayslake, IL
3. #27 Scott Applin Milwaukee, WI

First 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Applin; 2.) Chuck Duncan; 3.) Brian Ulrich
Second 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Landry Potter; 2.) Simon Jr.; 3.) Baumeister

McHenry Limo Super Stock Division

20 Lap Feature

Time Trials
1. #17 Shane Bishop   Pell Lake, WI 1. #43 John Janssen 19.171 Seconds
2. #63 Denny Norton Jr. McHenry, IL 2. #17 Shane Bishop 19.431 Seconds
3. #02 Zac Deeringer Wonder Lake, IL 3. #02 Zac Deeringer  19.443 Seconds
4. #73 Adam Regnier McHenry, IL

6 Lap Dash
5. #28 John Maki Antioch, IL 1. # 2 Marty Robb Lake Zurich, IL
6. #92 Tom Fay Delavan, WI 2. #17 Shane Bishop Pell Lake, WI
7. #36 Greg Peterson Paddock Lake, WI 3. #36 Greg Peterson Paddock Lake, WI
8. #50 Jim Hughes Wauconda, IL
9. #67 Jerry Cowan Burlington, WI
10. #89 Bob Koidahl Cary, IL

First 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Tim Wilson; 2.) Jeremy Tess; 3.) Scott Peterson
Second 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Regnier; 2.) Maki; 3.) Hughes