September 26, 1997; Lake Geneva, WI. - Friday Night was the first night of a three day special called, the October Classic. It's not October, It's September!! Well to make things even more interesting promoter Kevin Dawson came up with an idea.
Now last year the show was expanded to 3 days, a few divisions ran, the Super Late Models put on a special clash race, and everyone went home. It was okay, but something else was needed.
This was where Kevin Dawson's idea was born. Let's call it the Small Car World Championships!! This year the cars came, 136 of them and so did the crowd. The Small Car World Championships are now history, until next year that is!!
Here are the winners of the feature races. In the Select Performance Legend cars, Curt Gnatzig won the 20 lap feature and took fast time. The first appearance of the season for Dwarf cars, saw veteran driver Mike Powell win the 20 lap feature. The Formula Indy Racing Association cars feature event, which was 15 laps in distance went to Chris Blawat, as he edged out Brian Helmintoler and point leader Ron Morris. Jayson Beute broke the track qualifying record for the division, with a time of 17.933 seconds.
From acrossed the big lake, came the fast, North American Michigan Racing Association cars, as Scott Miller took a clean sweep of the division, establishing a qualifying mark of 16.214 seconds. This is faster than most any type of race car, that competes here at Lake Geneva Raceway in a weekly racing program.
The Wisconsin Allison Legacy Series cars, brought Bobby Giers back to the winners circle for the fourth time this season. Dr. Ken Johnson took a clean sweep of the Mini-Modified division. Johnson also broke the divisions quick time mark, turning in a lap of 18.241 seconds.
In the first appearance of the season for Wisconsin Sport Trucks, Scott Baker scored a clean sweep of the division. The Rascal Outlaw feature for 15 laps went to Butch Torkelson in his first victory of the season here at Lake Geneva Raceway.
The only 'full sized" cars competing during the evening, were the Super Late Models which ran a special "Clash of Champions". The event took it's toll of top notch drivers. Pat Echlin the winner of last seasons clash, crashed hard, after Rick Corso tangled with another driver. This caused Corso to turn completely around, rolling into the wall, Echlin had no where to go. Echlin's weekend was over with severe damage to his mount.
Kent Burkoth, a former Street Stock champion finished just in front of Billy Skinner Jr. to win the clash of champions race. Al Schill Jr. was third, with Fran Prestay, John Brolick, John Nutley, Landry Potter and Scott Ollerman following.
Promoter Kevin Dawson and his staff would like to thank everyone for their support of the show. Next years event will be held September 25-26-27, 1998. Starting off with the Small Car World Championships on Friday Night September 25th, 1998.
The final racing event of the 1998 season will be this Saturday 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.
Super Late Models
Clash of Champions: 1.) Kent Burkoth, Pell Lake; 2.) Billy Skinner Jr., Pell Lake; 3.) Al Schill Jr., Franklin; 4.) Fran Prestay, Silver Lake; 5.) John Brolick, New Lenox, IL; 6.) John Nutley, Midlothian, IL.
Select Performance Legend Cars
20 Lap Feature: 1.) Curt Gnatzig, Menomonee Falls; 2.) Nick
Schumacher, Germantown; 3.) Mark Bitzan, Menomonee Falls; 4.)
Jocko Terrault, Ingleside, IL; 5.) Scott Peterson, Machensney
Park, IL; 6.) Matt Kocourek, Racine.
First Heat: 1.) Bryan Cataldi; 2.) Kristie Goben; 3.) Ken
Ullman
Second Heat: 1.) Bitzan; 2.) Dave Mitchell; 3.) Herman Greinig
Third Heat: 1.) Terrault; 2.) Peterson; 3.) Gnatzig
Fast Qualifier: Curt Gnatzig, Menomonee Falls,
WI;............18.618 Seconds
Formula Indy Racing Association
15 Lap Feature: 1.) Chris Blawat, Wales, WI; 2.) Brian
Helmintoler, Itasca, IL; 3.) Ron Morris, Belvidere, IL; 4.) Jim
Bass, Madison; 5.) Jim Chapley, Northbrook, IL; 6.) Vern Brown,
Milwaukee, WI.
First Heat: 1.) Ken Losch Jr.; 2.) Rodney Long; 3.) Dennis
Hilgart
Second Heat: 1.) Brown; 2.) Blawat; 3.) Morris
Fast Qualifier: Jayson Beute...............17.933 Seconds *NEW TRACK RECORD*
Wisconsin Sport Trucks
15 Lap Feature: 1.) Scott Baker, Kaukauna; 2.) Mike Schneider,
Appleton; 3.) Kevin Streck, Menasha; 4.) John Meidam, Appleton;
5.) Rick Kalinski, Combine Locks; 6.) Steve Meidam, Neenah
First Heat: 1.) Ken Lang; 2.) Jim Kraft; 3.) Greg Petrie
Second Heat: 1.) Baker; 2.) Schneider; 3.) Streck
Fast Qualifier: Scott Baker, Kaukauna, WI;..........19.190
Seconds *NEW TRACK
RECORD*
Badger / Illinois Dwarf Car Association
20 Lap Feature: 1.) Mike Powell, Polo, IL; 2.) Denny Selvog,
Janesville; 3.) Roger Osborne, Janesville; 4.) Tim Peterson; So.
Elgin, IL; 5.) Ryan Walsh, Harvard, IL; 6.) John Meyers,
Beusenville, IL
Heat: 1.) Selvog; 2.) Osborne; 3.) John Meyers
Fast Qualifier: Denny Selvog, Janesville, WI;.........18.111
Seconds *NEW TRACK
RECORD*
North American Michigan Racing Association
12 Lap Feature: 1.) Scott Miller, Byron, MI; 2.) Brian Selby,
Joliet, IL; 3.) Mark Curtis, Jerome, MI: 4.) Joe Cochran, Avilla,
IN; 5.) Jayson Beute, Grand Rapids. MI; 6.) Andy Siebert,
Kendallville, IN
Heat: 1.) Miller; 2.) Selby; 3.) Curtis
Fast Qualifier: Scott Miller, Byron, MI;...........16.214 Seconds
*NEW TRACK RECORD*
Wisconsin Allison Legacy Series
20 Lap Feature: 1.) Bobby Giers, Ingleside, IL; 2.) Jon E.
Arendsen, Lansing, MI; 3.) Jack Kossow, Union Grove; 4.) Mark
Keifer, Lansing, MI; 5.) Mark Fair, Laingsburg, MI; 6.) Nate
Pohlhammer, Waterford, WI
Heat: 1.) Ardensen; 2.) Giers; 3.) Kossow
Fast Qualifier: Bobby Giers, Ingleside, IL;..........19.671
Seconds
Mini-Modified
15 Lap Feature: 1.) Dr. Ken Johnson, Chicago, IL; 2.) Roy
Morrison, Antioch, IL; 3.) Glen Vernezze, Salem, WI; 4.) Joe
Christenbury, Cary, IL; 5.) Rich Musgrave, Des Plaines, IL; 6.)
Lisa Heywood, Richmond, IL
Heat: 1.) Johnson; 2.) Morrison; 3.) Vernezze
Fast Qualifier: Dr. Ken Johnson, Chicago, IL;..........18.241
Seconds
Rascal Outlaws
15 Lap Feature: 1.) Butch Torkelson, Bristol; 2.) Bob Torkelson,
Trevor; 3.) Chris Carlson, Cary, IL; 4.) Jeff Phillips, Fox River
Grove, IL; 5.) Kip Novotny, Johnsburg, IL; 6.) Jeff Goodwin,
Zion, IL;
Heat: 1.) Goodwin; 2.) Bob Torkelson; 3.) Carlson
Fast Qualifier: Jeff Goodwin, Zion, IL;...........17.959 Seconds