Rodgers makes it two in a row in Late Model action at Geneva!
By Dale R. Erdmann

August 21, 1999; Lake Geneva, WI. -  Chicago Lighting and Prate Installation sponsored the nineteenth night of weekly Saturday night racing at Lake Geneva Raceway. Second year driver Jeff Lorenz, out of Waukesha scored an impressive victory in the 20 lap super stock feature, on a last lap run for the wire his first career win. Mike Lange of West Allis won his first career 20 lap sportsman feature, after taking fast time. Erik Darnell of Beach Park, Illinois took a clean sweep in the Wisconsin Allison Legacy series events, while Randy Rodgers of Lake Geneva scored his fourth 30 lap super late model feature win of the season.

Randy Rodgers (#14) continued his late season assault on the point standings, winning his fourth Super Late Model main event in the past seven outings at Lake Geneva Raceway.  The victory was also his second straight.

Mark Simonsen paced the field at the drop of the first green in the 20 car super late model main event. Bob Moeller in his return after a few weeks away was second. Simonsen looped his mount in turn two, on lap four, with everyone missing the fallen leader. Landry Potter out gunned Moeller on the restart, with Al Schill, Jamie Wallace, Danny Darnell and Paul Loppnow next. Schill inched into second on lap six, with a tight field behind him.

In his first run of the season, Terry Patnode was running mid pack, when Denny Hiffman bounced off the wall causing everyone ko check up. Patnode was the only one to receive any damage, after bumping into the wall forcing a second caution peroid. Patnode returned after some quick repairs to his nose piece.

From laps eleven to the next caution on lap nineteen, Potter and Schill put on an excellent show, dicing side by side for the lead. Schill led laps fourteen, sixteen and seventeen, with Potter in command of all the rest. Then on lap nineteen, Wallace spun, after Brad Durbin's power steering started to leak. Everyone missed Wallace, but over heating sent the former fifth place runner to the pits.

Danny Darnell (#85) had misfortune strike, when he got into the wall during feature race action while trying to avoid another car.   Darnell's car received extensive damage in the incident but he was uninjured.

Potter shot out front, with Schill, Darnell, Kent Burkoth and Randy Rodgers next. Right behind this group, Moeller had a recovering Simonsen trying to get him. On lap twenty six, just as Schill had come back in front, Burkoth spun, stopping the torrid pace. Then on the restart, Potter drafted high , with Darnell trying to move around him. Potter nearly spun, but then over corrected, causing everyone to check up again, as Darnell rode the wall, knocking off a post of the protection fence. Sparks, debris and cars scattered. Darnell and the fans sitting in those bottom bleachers escaped any injures, but the race car received extensive damage.

Here's where the controversy began, someone alleged that Rodgers caused the Potter car to spin, then crossed under those two. No officials saw that happen, but a quick review of the unofficial video taped clearly showed, that was not the case.

Testing the safety features!  One of the features Lake Geneva Raceway utilizes are plastic barrels which are placed in front off the wall off turn four.  These drums help absorb some of the impact of a car hitting the wall, as seen here.

Even thou, if it would have, no direct action could have taken place. With just three laps to the finish, Moeller and Schill were in a dead heat for the lead, on lap tmenty eight. Schill was just in front, as Rodgers crept inside the veteran driver, pulling ahead and then taking the win, over Schill, one lap later. Simonsen took third, with Moeller, Loppnow, Mike Simon, Russ Blakley and a recovering Burkoth making up the top eight.

One the way to taking over the lead of the Super Stock feature, Jeff Lorenz (#25) slips bast Bob Koidahl (#89).  Lorenz would score the win while Koidahl, would finish a very close second.

The 20 car super stock feature was another fast paced race, with Jeremy Tess out front, as Tom Fay, Bob Koidahl, Greg Janutka and Greg Peterson dueled for that second place spot. On lap six, Koidahl snuck in front, just as Peterson got around Fay. Tess was next, with Jeff Lorenz, Janutka and Troy Weber all over the third place runner.

With Just five laps to go, Marty Robb crashed hard into the wall, stopping the race. Robb escaped uninjured, but his night was over, with lots of damage to his mount. This gave Lorenz, the momentum he needed, moving into second on that next green. Jerry Cowan got around Fay, with extremely tight racing, behind them.

Feature win number one!  On the last last of the Super Stock feature Jeff Lorenz (#25) took the lead and held it to the finish to record his first career Super Stock win at Lake Geneva Raceway.

With just two laps to go, Koidahl looked like he'd pull off the win, but on the final lap, coming into turn three, Lorenz grabbed the lead. At the wire, Lorenz made it number one, with Koidahl, nipping Cowan, point leader Zac Deeringer came on strong, finishing fourth, as Peterson hung onto fifth, fast timer Shane Bishop, Adam Regnier and Fay were next.

The first seven laps were led by Monty Coffman, before Brian Baker took over. Top qualifier Mike Lange was on the move, slipping into second on lap eleven, as LeRoy Potter and Scott Poritz battled for third. Lange secured the lead, one lap later . The only caution came on lap fourteen, with a tangle between, Potter and Chris Wangrow.

Another first time winner!  Mike Lange (#8) set fast time this evening in the Mid-American Sportsman division and then charged through the pack to record his first ever feature victory at Lake Geneva Raceway.

On the restart, Lange was in front, winning the event over Poritz, Baker, Randy Holmes, a close Dan Erikson, a recovered Wangrow, Al Coopland in only his second start here and Coffman made up the top eight runners.

Randy Coates led lap one before Jack Kossow shot in front of the Wisconsin Allison Legacy Series main event. Jeff Goodwin and Casey Darnell tangled on lap three, with the first caution stopping the tight race. Tom Bauer got by Coates on the next green, with Kossow the leader. By lap six, Erik Darnell was challenging, then taking over third. Bauer spun on lap nine, halting the action, just as Darnell took over the second spot.

As the green reappeared, Darnell went around Kossow for the lead. The next five laps went quickly, as Darnell won his second feature in a row. Kossow, Gary Krueger, Doug Richley, Bauer and Jeff Conn were next. 

Next Friday night Moto Cross Racing begins at 8 pm. on the stadium dirt course. On Saturday night on the action oval, the special added attraction is the final trailer race of the season. The super late models, super stocks and sport trucks will be on hand. Time trials are at 6 pm. racing at 7:30 sharp. Weekly racing continues through October 9th. 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.

Lake Geneva Raceway is a one-third mile progressively banked asphalt oval located three miles south of downtown Lake Geneva on Bloomfield Road.

RESULTS

First 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Chuck Duncan; 2.) Blakley; 3.) Mike Simon
Second 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Landry Potter; 2.) Denny Hiffman; 3.) Loppnow

First 12 Lap Semi-Feature: 1.) Nick Nelson; 2.) Doug Benedict; 3.) Tim Wilson
Second 12 Lap Semi-Feature: 1.) Al Kuphal; 2.) Dan Huber; 3.) Adam Mass
First 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Nelson; 2.) Maas; 3.) Al Kuphal
Second 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Huber; 2.) Jeremy Tess; 3.) Norm Paulson
Third 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Lorenz; 2.) Marty Robb; .3.) D. Peterson

First 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Coffman; 2.) Dan Erikson; 3.) Troxel

Wisconsin Allison Legacy Series

Feature: 1.) Erik Darnell; 2.) Jack Kossow, 3.) Gary Krueger; 4.) Doug Richley; 5.) Tom Bauer; 6.) Jeff Conn