September 13, 1997; Lake Geneva, WI. - It was championship night at Lake Geneva Raceway, as the Saturday Night race program was sponsored by Parts Place of Elkhorn and the WIX Filter Company. Denny Norton Jr. of McHenry, IL. ran away with the Herb's Street Stock point race in 1997, to win the championship in the division. Shane Bishop from nearby Pell Lake, was the 1996 rookie of the year in the Performance Unlimited Sportsman division, won the closest points race of the season, by just 25 points, to become the 1997 champion.
The 24 car Street Stock championship race wasn't even started as Tom McAluiffe and Jason Bishop got crossed up bringing the event to a halt. Lyle Bottlemy jumped out front at the drop of the double green flags. Rookie Shawn Donnelly inched out front on lap two, with the field extremely tight. Another rookie Tim White tried to drive through Bottelmy on lap three, causing him to get sideways, with Todd Peterson, Jerry Cowan, Lyle Messinger, Rick Jacobs, Adam Regnier, Tim Muller and Ryan Hughs all crashing hard together. No one was injured, but lots of equipment was severely damaged. For that incident, White was sent to the pits for the remained of the event and scored in 24th place.
Donnelly was again the leader, with another rookie Tommy Nevoso right along side of him. For the next few laps, it was a back and forth battle for the lead. On lap six, Nevoso slipped out front, with Kuxhouse now pressuring second place Donnelly. Somehow Kuxhouse pulled off a slick move to pass both Donnelly and Nevoso to take the lead on lap eight. Kuxhouse then went on to score his fourth feature victory of the season.
Champion Denny Norton Jr. who's uncle Duke Norton, won the 1974 championship for Sportsman cars at Lake Geneva Raceway, took a distant second place. Zac Deeringer nipped Donnelly for third, with Nevoso fifth, Jay Potter sixth, Messinger recovered for seventh and Jerry Marsh rounded out the top eight finishers in the 25 lap event.
Just as the green appeared for the 30 lap Sportsman championship race, Jerry Hansche got squeezed into the wall, bringing the race to a halt for a complete restart. Hansche wasn't injured, but his hopes for a great finish were over for the season. Dan Erikson shot out front when the race did begin taking the lead on lap one, with rookie of the year Rick Tackman Jr. right on his tail. With a big points battle between Donny Kachelmeier and Shane Bishop everyone was trying to move to the front fast.
Paul Loppnow grabbed third from Rick Schmidt on lap four, while Kachelmeier followed Loppnow through the pack with Bishop in tow.
Going into the feature race just 15 points separated Kachelmeier and Bishop, with Kachelmeier needing to finish ahead of Bishop to have a shot at the title. On lap six, Loppnow shot past Tackman for second and just two laps later shot past Erikson and into the lead.
On lap 10, Scott Koerner who was running eighth, did a solo spin, bringing out the caution. Three laps later rookie Mike DeKester spun in turn four stopping the action again. When the race resumed Bishop dated alongside second place Tackman, while Loppnow held command of the event. Meanwhile 1996 Sportsman champion Rick Corso was on the move, getting past Kachelmeier for fourth and two laps later Tackman lost third to Corso who was on the move.
The race was far from over, as Bishop who was in second had Corso all over him, while Loppnow enjoyed a slight lead. Kachelmeier advanced into fourth on lap 20, when he maneuvered by Tackamn and then began to close on the leaders.
The battle became even tighter when fast qualifier Bobby Gutknecht and Schmidt got together while attempting to enter the top five. This set up the battle of the season for the return of the green, as the finish would determine the champion. From time to time Corso would slip under Bishop attempting to gain second place, but he was never able to gain the advantage.
With just three laps to go, the last thing needed was a yellow. But, DeKester, first time visitor Mike Oiam and Dan Robers tangled bringing the action to a halt. On the restart, Loppnow shot out front, as Bishop, Corso, Koerner and Kachelmeier all waged battle for the second spot. On the last lap Kachelmeier slipped under Corso and made his last attempt for a championship, by trying to get under Bishop. That move never happened , as Loppnow won the event, his third feature of the season. Bishop nipped Kachelmeier for second to secure the title, Kachelmeier held third, Corso took fourth, Gutknecht claimed fifth, Tackman was sixth, while Erickson and Schmidt rounded out the top eight finishers.
The race for third took it's tool at the stripe, as both Kachelmeier and Corso crashed hard into the wall. Neither driver was injured but Corso's mount received considerable damage in the incident. Bishop's finish was good enough to claim the title by 25 points over Kachelmeier for his first track title in the Sportsman division. Bishop had previously won a Street Stock championship.
Just as the 18 car Super Late Model feature hit the oval, a heavy mist fell for a brief period of time. The race came down the ramp and was underway with no delays.
Billy Baumeister dueled with Mike Arnold for the lead for the first nine laps, before Randy Rodgers, Denny Hiffman and Arnold got together causing a slowdown. Baumeister now had veteran driver John Brolick trying to take over the top spot when the race resumed. Baumeister held the point until he received a black flag for his sheet metal rubbing and Brolick became the new leader on lap 13.
On lap 16, rookie Chad Barker, Kent Burkoth, Ronnie Darnell and visiting Bryan Kubinski tangled while battling for sixth. When the race resumed Brolick had veteran drivers Danny Darnell and Brad Durbin right behind him, while Rodgers and Billy Skinner Jr. headed up the top five running positions.
When the green reappeared Darnell took over the top spot from Brolick who began to lose positions. Rodgers was next to get by to claim second and Skinner Jr. and Duirbin followed. On lap 22, Brolick retired to the pits for some unknown reason.
Rodgers took over the top spot on lap 25 from Darnell who also began to fade back in the field, giving up second to Skinner while Fran Prestay advanced to third. In the closing laps Prestay tried to get under Skinner but was unable to pull off the pass. Rodgers crossed the line to pick up his first win of the 1997 season ahead of Skinner, Prestay, Durbin, Mike Simon and Arnold who rounded out the top six positions. A record field of 36 drivers were on hand for the Super Late Models, with only .400 of a second separating the feature field.
The mini modified feature race was short on cars, due to an incident in the heat race. That accident damaged four cars, as Lisa Heywood escaped serious injury, but was dazed, as her mount nearly hit the wall and was then hit by three other cars.
The 12 lap feature went to Duck Wack who recorded his second win of the season at the track. Jeff Schultz held the lead for four the first four laps before Wack took command. Roy Morrison nearly passed Wack at the wire, in a close race, but he had to settle for second. Fast timer Glen Vernezze was third, with Schulz fourth, first time driver Bruce Summer fifth and Hermie Schultz sixth.
Next Saturday evening on September 20th, 1997, Jasper Engines and Transmission Company will sponsor the championship races for the Super Late Model and 102.3 XLC Sport Trucks. The #77 Jasper sponsored Winston Cup Late Model will be on display for the event.
On Friday evening September 19th, the Street Stocks and Mini-Modified have been added to the Legends Car show.
Time trials are at 6:00 P.M. with the first race to start at 7:30 P.M. sharp. Racing continues at Lake Geneva Raceway until October 4th, 1997. The track is located just three miles southeast of downtown Lake Geneva, WI., on Bloomfield Road.
Late Model Division
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HEAT ONE: 1.) Joe
Fischer, Grayslake, IL; 2.)Brian Ulrich, Racine, WI; 3.)Jim Taylor, Chicago, IL
HEAT TWO: 1.)
Larry Surletta, Lake Villa, IL; 2.) Hartline; 3.) Mike Simon Jr, Elgin, IL
HEAT THREE: 1.) Arnold; 2.) D. Darnell; 3.) Terry
Patnod, Oak Creek, WI
HEAT FOUR: 1.)
Al Schill, Franklin; 2.) Durbin; 3.) Rodgers
Performance Unlimited Mid-American /
Sportsman Division
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6 LAP DASH: 1.) Jerry Hansche, Racine; 2.) Kachelmeier; 3.) Gutknecht
Herb's Street Stock Division
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HEAT ONE: 1.) Tim
White, Pell Lake, WI; 2.) Taylor; 3.) Mike Robertson, East Troy, WI
HEAT TWO: 1.)
Mike Kooi, Island Lake, IL; 2.) Tom Fay, Delavan, WI; 3.) Muller
HEAT THREE: 1.) Regnier; 2.) Nevoso; 3.) Potter
Mini-Modifieds
15 Lap Feature: 1.) Duck Wack, Paddock Lake, WI; 2.) Roy Morrison, Antioch, IL; 3.) Glen
Vernezze, Paddock Lake, WI; 4.) Jeff Schultz, Silver Lake, WI; 5.) Bruce Summers, Lake
Villa, IL; 6.) Hermie Schultz, Silver Lake, WI
HEAT: 1.) Wack;
2.) Morrison; 3.) Vernezze
FAST QUALIFIER: Glen Vernezze, Paddock Lake, WI,......18.719 Seconds