Schill Repeats as Opening Night Winner at Lake Geneva Raceway

By Dale R. Erdmann

April 19, 1997; Lake Geneva, WI.

It was opening night Saturday at Lake Geneva Raceway. The new super late model division brought out over 30 cars, as Al Schill of Franklin became the first winner of the year in an exciting 35 lap feature event. Schill also won opening night last season. Rick Corso, McHenry, IL, the defending Performance Unlimited Mid American sportsman champion, easily won the 25 lap main event. Rolf Tillman of Woodstock, IL won the 15 lap 102.3 XLC sport truck feature in the tightest run of the night and Denny Norton Jr. of McHenry, IL looks like the one to beat in the Herb's street stocks after posting fast time and winning the 30 lap feature.

The Super Late Models have returned to Lake Geneva Raceway in full force with over 30 cars qualifying for the evening's events. When the night was over veteran hot shoe Al Schill of Franklin stood in victory circle.

Ronnie Darnell jumped out front of the pack with rookie Chad Barker right on his tail. Bay Darnell and Mark Simonsen diced for the next position as Barker went around on lap 5 bringing out the caution. Ronnie Darnell had Bay Darnell all over him on the restart. The next caution came as Jim Kjellander made contact with Brad Durbin. Rookie Jeff Holtz, Mark Hartline, Larry Los, and Barker were also involved.

The next three laps were difficult to complete but Schill used the situation to his advantage. Taking over the top spot on lap 11. Fran Prestay got past Ronnie Darnell two laps later, with Billy Skinner Jr. advancing to third the next lap. The field was still very close, and on lap 15, David Ray Salentine spun in turn two. This created an even closer race with Schill in command.

The next 20 laps were awesome as Schill finished up front, Prestay held onto second with Skinner alongside for third, Jamie Wallace was fourth, Ronnie Darnell managed to hang onto fifth and Mike Simon rounded out the top six.

Todd Peterson led the first three laps of the street stock feature with rookies Lyle Messinger and Scott Kuxhouse in hot pursuit. The first caution came on lap 3 as Mark Swanson had problems. Two laps later, with Messinger in front, another rookie, Jeff Kaiser, Terry Hilgendorf, Adam Regnier, and Bert Getchell got together slowing the race one more time.

Zac Deeringer inched in front on lap 7 with Norton right behind him. Messinger dropped to fourth as defending champ, Dennis Carlton, got around him. Stand out rookie, Jerry Cowan, and Kuxhouse battled for the next position as Messinger slipped to sixth. Norton couldn't settle for second, worked on the leader and then took over the top spot on lap 10.

The Street Stock of Denny Norton Jr. not only looks nice but it really goes too! Norton of McHenry, IL. posted quick time in the Herb's Street Stock division and lated came back to win the main event. Norton has been winning with this car since before the season began as it was best appearing in class at the BARS Laet's Go Motorsports show back in March.

Norton held back numerous challenges from Carlton who wrestled second place from Deeringer who finished third. Regnier recovered for fourth, Cowan fifth and Getchell sixth.

It was a shaky first five laps for the Mid American sportsman, as Rick Tackman Jr. and Tommy Goff got together causing a complete restart before lap one could get in the books. Then on lap 3 Goff and Jim Erbe got together bringing out one more caution. Todd Linendoll led two more laps before Corso blew by on lap 5.

Corso finished ahead of Shane Bishop, Paul Loppnow, Donny Kachelmeier, Rick Schmidt, and Brian Baker.

Dave Shine and Jim Olson both led the sport truck feature before Tillman shot in front on lap 8. It took Butch Edwards Jr 12 more laps to catch up to the leader. Time ran out as Tillman won the event just in front of Edwards. Dan Ross was third, Joel "the tinman" Filtz was fourth with Olson and Chad Ross next.

Racing continues every Saturday. This coming Saturday brings in the first Mid American points event plus the super lates, street stocks, and first Midwest appearance of the Allison Legacy stock cars. Time trials will be at 6pm and first race at 7:30 sharp.

RESULTS

Late Model Division
Feature Event   Semi-Feature
1. #14s Al Schill Franklin, WI   1. #50 Bobby Giers Ingleside, IL
2. #99 Fran Prestay Silver Lake, WI   2. # 5 Terry Patnode South Milwaukee, WI
3. #47 Billy Skinner Jr. Pell Lake, WI   3. # 3 Chuck Duncan Milwaukee, WI
4. #87 Jamie Wallace Pell Lake, WI   Trophy Dash
5. #58 Ronnie Darnell Crystal Lake, IL   1. #14s Al Schill Franklin, WI
6. #48 Mike Simon Lake Villa, IL   2. #87 Jamie Wallace Pell Lake, WI
7. #50 Bobby Giers Ingleside, IL   3. #48 Mike Simon Lake Villa, IL
8. #57 Brad Durbin Burlington, WI   Time Trials
9. #85 Bay Darnell Waukegan, IL   1. #47 Billy Skinner Jr. 16.583 Secs.
10. #68 Chad Barker South Milwaukee   2. #87 Jamie Wallace 16.639 Secs.
        3. # 9 Larry Loss 16.744 Secs.

 

Performance Unlimited Mid-American Sportsman Division
Feature Event   Trophy Dash
1. #88 Rick Corso McHenry, IL   1. #17 Shane Bishop Pell Lake, WI
2. #17 Shane Bishop Pell Lake, WI   2. #95 Donny Kachelmerier Waukesha, WI
3. #28 Paul Loppnow Burlington, WI   3. #32 Brian Baker Pell Lake, WI
4. #95 Donny Kachelmerier Waukesha, WI   Semi-Feature
5. #24 Rick Schmidt Burlington, WI   1. #88 Rick Corso 17.724 Secs.
6. #32 Brian Baker Pell Lake, WI   2. #32 Brian Baker 17.912 Secs.
7. #17 Ed Kubicz Whitewater, WI   3. #95 Donny Kachelmeier 18.094 Secs.
8. #14 Tommy Goff Lake Geneva, WI    
9. #02 Jim Erbe Racing, WI        
10. #16 Willy Peterson Woodstock, IL        
             

 

Herb's Street Stock Division
Feature Event   Semi-Feature
1. #96 Denny Norton Jr. McHenry, IL   1. # 8 Ron Benedict Wonder Lake, IL
2. #18 Dennis Carlton McHenry, IL   2. # 9 Joe Zenati Lake In The Hills, IL
3. #02 Zac Deeringer McHenry, IL   3. #33 Jason Bader  
4. #73 Adam Regnier Richmond, IL   Trophy Dash
5. #67 Jerry Cowan Burlington, WI   1. #18 Dennis Carlton McHenry, IL
6. #68 Burt Getchell Cary, IL   2. #58 Jerry Marsh Palatine, IL
7. #57 Scott Kuxhouse Antioch, IL   3. #20 Don Radke McHenry, IL
8. #76 Rob Hunt McHenry, IL   Time Trials
9. #58 Jerry Marsh Palatine, IL   1. #96 Denny Norton Jr. 19.174 Secs.
10. #40 Lyle Messinger Milwaukee, WI   2. #02 Zac Deeringer 19.530 Secs.
        3. #73 Adam Regnier 19.590 Secs.

 

 

Hot 102.3 Sport Truck Division
Feature Event   Time Trials
1. #14 Rolf Tillman Woodstock, IL   1. #14 Rolf Tillman 19.642 Secs.
2. #92 Butch Edwards Jr. Burlington, WI   2. # 5 Dan Ross 20.238 Secs.
3. # 5 Dan Ross Gurnee, IL   3. #92 Butch Edwards Jr. 20.247 Secs.
4. # 7 Joel Filtz South Milwaukee    
5. #24 Jim Olson McHenry, IL        
6. # 4 Chad Ross Kenosha, WI        
7. #99 Ron Ross Northbrook, IL        
8. #38 Stephen W. Kamin Woodstock, IL    
9. #10 Jim Phillips Darien, WI        
10. #2 Dave Shine Crystal Lake, IL