September 20, 1997; Lake Geneva, WI. - Jasper Engines and Transmission Company sponsored the championship races for Super Late Models and Sport Trucks, Saturday Night at Lake Geneva Raceway. Al Schill of Franklin, WI, started racing some 30 years ago, winning a Super Modified title here at Lake Geneva Raceway in 1969, and then a Super Late Model title in 1975. This year Schill wasn't even at the track on championship night, but he easily won the 1997 Super Late Model crown. Rolf Tillman of Woodstock, IL, won his second 102.3 XLC Sport Truck championship. Tillman tied Butch Edwards Jr. in qualifying setting quick time, and both Tillman and Edwards rode around in the familiar 14 truck of Tillman during opening ceremonies.
Before the twenty car, 40 lap Super Late Model feature could get underway, there were cars scattering everywhere. First Mark Simonsen and Denny Hiffman tangled. Then Billy Skinner Jr., who had the most to gain by Schill's absence, was out of the race, when Mike Arnold stopped quickly and Skinner slid into him, rupturing the radiator.
When real racing finally began, Danny Darnell shot out front with Dennis Vito, Jim Kjellander, Brian Ulrich and Mike Simon battling for second. Billy Baumeister, who started fourth row outside started his quest foreword, gaining third on lap five, before getting into a battle for second with Vito on lap six. He took second from Vito on the next round and within the next four laps was alongside Darnell challenging for the lead.
Mark Hartline who started twelfth was up to fourth by lap 18 and ready to move in on the leaders. At the halfway point, Darnell had Baumeister and Hartline right behind, wanting his spot. Visiting driver Jamie Wallace who had come through the semi-feature was up to fourth running Vito's bumper.
The good size crowd that braved the cold weather saw the next ten laps run smoothly, with Baumeister and Hartline putting on a good show for second. On lap 30, Hartline began to pressure Darnell for the lead and Wallace moved up to challenge Baumeister for third. Just one lap later Kjellander ran out of brakes. Then as Hartline grabbed the lead position from Darnell, Kjellander had his engine expire, dumping oil in turn two.
After a lengthy clean up, the cone was placed on the track and drivers chose either the inside or outside line, this allowed several drivers to move up. Hartline was out front for the return of the green with Darnell and Baumeister right behind.
Hartline was just out front of Darnell when Wallace and Baumeister tangled while battling for third on lap 36. The race resumed for a single lap when Simonsen spun. With all the position jockeying Kent Burkoth had slowly worked his way into contention.
This set up a real battle as there was now a three lap dash to the checkered. On lap 38, Hartline was the leader and over the next lap Darnell ducked inside, even leading the lap briefly, as Burkoth charged in on the pair in third. With the white flag displayed Burkoth ducked under Darnell and then Hartline to lead as things heated up behind the new leader.
Burkoth sailed to the checkered for his third feature win of the season, right behind him Danny Darnell tagged Hartline, sending the former leaders, into a spin. Chad Barker who had nowhere to go crashed into the stalled car of Hartline. No one was injured but both cars received extensive damage. When the dust settled, Ronnie Darnell took second, with Denny Hiffman, Danny Darnell, Terry Patnode, David Ray Salentine, Simon and Simonsen rounding out the top eight.
The sport truck feature wasn't going to be outdone, as many drivers were fresh from their run in the Short Track Nationals the night before. As the green flag came out for the 20 lap contest, Chad Ross scooted out front. By lap four Butch Edwards Jr. who won last night's feature event, moved out front.
Tillman was also on the move and dropped Chad Ross to third on lap six. Dan Ross slipped by Chad and a three way battle for the top spot between Edwards, Tillman and Dan Ross ensued.
On lap 10, Tillman somehow got under Edwards and moved out front. The lone caution appeared on lap 12, as Bill Swinford spun. On the last restart Dan Ross got around Edwards. For the next five laps it was all Tillman. Towards the finish Edwards slipped back by Dan Ross for second and at the white flag Tillman was still out front with Edwards and Dan Ross right behind.
Coming off turn four on the final lap, Edwards somehow grabbed the lead from Tillman to take his first win at Lake Geneva Raceway of the season, giving the points runner-up back to back wins Friday and Saturday Night. Ross finished just behind Tillman, who took second place and successfully defended his track crown. Donnie Swiercz took fourth, Ron Ross got fifth, followed by Steve Kamin, Joel Filtz and James Thorndike.
The Street Stock main event brought out 18 cars for the green flag. Craig Carlson in his first appearance in some time paced the field, with Greg Janutka, rookie Tommy Nevoso, Tim Muller and Scott Kuxhouse next. It took Kuxhouse who was back in his own car this week, only four laps to gain second. Kuxhouse then moved in alongside the leader on lap eight and the pair of Carlson and Kuxhouse raced side by side until lap 13.
With five laps left Kuxhouse inched ahead, while Denny Norton Jr. moved in to join the action. With just a pair of laps remaining Nevoso assumed command of the event and looked like a sure winner. But just like the previous two feature this evening the final lap was for all the marbles. Coming off turn four, it was three deep for the lead between Norton, Kuxhouse and Nevoso.
Norton, to the delight of the crowd, came acrossed the line in front. Nevoso was right alongside for second, with Kuxhouse a close third. Carlson was right behind in fourth, while Jerry Cowan and Muller rounded out the top six positions.
This coming weekend, September 26, 27, and 28th, 1997; the Annual Fall Classic will be held, with action on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. A special report can be found on the main page of this website, and action for this event will see over 17 divisions compete in the three day event.
Racing will continued on October 4th, 1997, with the Annual "Run What Ya Brung" special event. 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.) Mike Strupp, Thersa, WI; 2.) Jim Taylor,
Chicago, IL; 3.) Vito
HEAT TWO: 1.) Chad Barker, South Milwaukee; 2.) Larry
Surletta, Lake Villa,IL; 3.)Salentine
HEAT THREE: 1.) Mark
Hartline, Lake In The Hills, IL; 2.) Ronnie Darnell; 3.) Hiffman
Herb's
Street Stock Division
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HEAT ONE: 1.) Fay; 2.) Sheldon; 3.) Witt
HEAT TWO: 1.) Carlson; 2.) Janutka; 3.) Jacobs
HEAT THREE: 1.) Adam
Regnier, Richmond, IL; 2.) Norton Jr; 3.) Kuxhouse
XLC
102.3 Sport Truck Division
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6 Lap Trophy Dash: 1.) Ross; 2.) Edwards; 3.) Tillman