Burkoth bests weather and Super Late Model field at LGR!
By Dale R. Erdmann

May 15, 1999; Lake Geneva, WI. - Lake Geneva, wi. May 15th. It was a cool rainy night at Lake Geneva Raceway, Saturday night. But the good size crowd came to see some stock car racing, when they left, local Pell Lake driver, Kent Burkoth was the winner of the 30 lap super late model feature.

Eventual winner Kent Burkoth (#19) noses under Al Schill (#14) for the lead in the Super Late Model feature race.  Burkoth would go on to score the win this evening, while Schill would fade to fifth at the finish.

Bob Koidahl also from Pell Lake looks like the driver in sport truck competition who can't be beat, scoring another clean sweep, by winning the 12 lap feature and taking fast time. John Janssen, the defending McHenry Limo super stock champion, ran away with the 20 lap feature, as another local driver from Genoa City won an event. The Wisconsin Allison Legacy series cars also ran and defending champion, Bobby Giers of Ingleside, Illinois won the caution flag plagued 26 car, curfew shortened feature, the events were sponsored by Wisconsin Fans for Auto Racing.

Al Schill and Bob Moeller dueled for the lead of the super late model feature, neither giving an inch for the first four laps. Once Schill scooted in front, Mike Simon Jr. dove under Moeller for second, with a side by side cluster behind them. Landry Potter made contact with Moeller on lap seven, slowing the action for the first time.

Great late model action!  The feature race in the Super Late Model division saw many side by side duels.  In the left photo, Danny Darnell (#85) uses the inside line on Al Schill (#14) to gain position.   In the right photo former Mid-American Stock Car series graduates Jeff Storm (#25) and Paul Loppnow (#28) battle.  Storm would finish in the seventh position in just his second run behind the wheel of a late model.

With the cone on the track, Schill took the outside, as Burkoth grabbed next row, inside. The green reappeared, as Schill held the lead for one more lap, before Burkoth drove to the front on lap nine.

Just like that, Jamie Wallace was knocking on Schill's door , with Simon Jr. visiting driver Jeff Storm and Brad Durbin within striking distance. The next caution, came on lap thirteen.

One lap later, anothercaution flag flew for a Denny Hiffman spin in turn three/four. This gave Storm a chance to challenge the top three, choosing the right spot to be on the restart. Wallace dipped under Schill, taking a slim advantage, with Burkoth just ahead of this tight pack. On lap sixteen Durbin got around Storm, with quick timer Danny Darnell following his every move.

Jerry Mueller spun in turn two, bringing the action to a halt on lap twenty two. Second place Wallace shot into the pits and never returned due to a broken valve spring. Burkoth now had Darnell, Schill, a recovered Potter and Durbin, all looking for that top spot.

The final caution came on lap twenty four, as Durbin went around entering turn four. Everyone missed him, but this created another quick dash for the conclusion.

Billy Skinner Jr. slipped under Schill, as the final green appeared. Running side by side for two laps, Skinner was on the move. Within a lap, Darnell could feel the pressure of Skinner Jr.

Burkoth won the event , with the next twelve positions being challenged on that final go round. Darnell held back Skinner Jr. with Potter slam dunking Schill for fourth, Simon Jr. nipped Storm for sixth , with Billy Baumeister eighth.

The non-stop super stock feature saw 20 cars take the double greens of starter Dave Rex Jr. Second year driver John Maki darted out front, with Jerry Cornelison, Dan Huber, Troy Weber and Greg Peterson next. Somehow Janssen moved through the close pack, gaining fifth on lap six.

Weber grabbed second on the same lap, but Janssen had a mission and there was no stopping him. By lap nine , Janssen was the leader, with Weber inching under Maki, one lap later for second.

Defending Super Stock champion John Janssen (#43) got to the lead early and stayed out of trouble to score an impressive victory in the feature race.

Starting in the seventh row outside, fast timer Bob Koidahl was finally getting some breaks, moving
into second on lap eleven. With just five laps to go, Janssen was running away with the lead, but Koidahl now had last weeks feature winner, Zac Deeringer in his rear view mirror. The only car to be lapped proved to not be a problem, as Janssen easily came home to victory , with Deeringer nipping Koidahl for second, as Maki, Katie Taylor, Jerry Cornelison, Jerry Cowan and Marty Robb rounding out the top eight.

In the Sport Truck division it took Bob Koidahl only one lap to climb in front, after first lap leader, Lance Ross faltered. It wasn't a shoe in for Koidahl, as Todd Ross stayed with the winner. Chad Phillips, Jim Phillips, RJ Ross and Chad Ross rounded out the to six, of the sport truck feature.

The Wisconsin Allison Legacy cars spent time sitting on the infield because the drivers couldn't get past the first lap, didn't stop the numerous cautions to follow. When the cars again took to the track the remaining nineteen laps of the WALS special was run, as drivers from four different states came in. After taking the lead on lap seven, Giers looked like he'd run away with the win.

Former Late Model hotshoe Bobby Giers (#50) would outlast and outrun the competition in the Wisconsin Allison Legacy Series feature race.  Giers managed to best the 24 car field in the event.

Gary Krueger a former modified driver and mid 70's hot dog in late models ran out of time, finishing a close second, with Jon Arendsen, Jim Johnson, Tim Byler and Randy Coats completing the top six.

Thirteen year old Joel Kauffman a 6 grade middle school student from LaGrange, Indianan and a former second place NMMA driver, was tenth, in his first visit here.

Though most of the caution producing incidents in the Legacy Series feature were for spins, third generation driver Casey Darnell (#7) was one of those unfortunate enough to damage his ride when he made contact with another car.

This coming Saturday night , the super late models and super stocks, will be joined by the first appearance of the Select Performance Legend cars and the Performance Unlimited sportsman cars. Time trials begin at 6 pm. racing at 7:30 sharp.

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

Heat races cancelled due to weather!

Heat races cancelled due to weather!