Schill Repeats as Super Late Model Feature Winner.

By Dale R. Erdmann

April 26, 1997; Lake Geneva, WI.

It was the second night of weekly Saturday night stock car racing at Lake Geneva Raceway, as Little Johnnie B's of East Troy sponsored the program. Al Schill of Franklin, WI, increased his point lead, with a surprise feature win in Super Late Model competition, during the 30 lap contest, that veteran driver actually finished third. The post inspection winner and second place cars, weight did not meet the rules and were disqualified. Both Jamie Wallace, the winner and Ronnie Darnell, who place second, vigorously protested the officials decision. There will be a meeting by Wednesday, April 30th, 1997, to decide if there is any merit for their protest.

Jamie Wallace of Pell Lake set a new track record in qualifying for the evening with a time of 16.467 seconds around the third mile oval.

In other feature action, Dennis Carlton the defending Herb's Street Stock division champion won his first 25 lap feature of the young season. Steve Moenck of Mokena, IL won his first career Pro Motion Mid-American Stock Car feature that ran for 30 laps. The first appearance of the Allison Legacy race car series cars, saw Bobby Giers from Ingleside, IL win the close exhibition race.

Dennis Carlton of McHenry, IL is the defending Street Stock Champion. This evening he held off the challenges of Denny Norton Jr. to claim his first victory of the season and a 25 lap shootout.

Before the racing program began, fans stood for a moment of silence, as Butch Edwards Jr. took the black flag around the oval, for everyone's good friend and one of the raceway's first fans, Vernon "Nick" Carter, from Honey Lake, who we lost during the off season. Nick's wife Irene and her family were on hand for the program. The Carter's never missed a race show here or at Slinger Speedway, until the recent illness.

The late model main got underway but just five laps were completed as Jim Kjellander and race leader Jeff Holtz got together in turn one bringing the late model main event to a halt.

Ronnie Darnell became the new race leader, with Chad Barker, Billy Baumeister, David Ray Salentine and Mike Simon all over him. From time to time Barker would get under the leader but Darnell would come right back in front. Larry Los and new track qualifying record holder Jamie Wallace were on the move, as Simon could feel there presence beginning with lap ten.

By lap 15, Wallace was in fourth with an extremely tight field behind, as Darnell stayed in command. On the the 17th round, Schill pulled off a real slick move on Billy Skinner Jr., Salentine, and Fran Prestay who had won the semi-feature to get into the event. This move allowed Schill to advance to sixth all while Barker continued to work over the leader Darnell.

With just ten laps to go, Wallace couldn't wait much longer, finally taking second from Barker and then working on the leader. On lap 22, Simon and Brad Durbin tangled bringing out the caution. Wallace gave the crowd something to cheer about, securing the lead with just four laps to go. Behind second place Darnell, it was too close to call. Schill got under Barker with Prestay still within range of advancement.

Larry Loss of Darien, WI held off all comers in the Late Model Trophy Dash for the fastest cars of the evening.

Wallace crossed the line first, as Darnell held back Schill by inches to hit the stripe second. Schill was third before the disqualification's and Prestay nipped Barker for fourth, Barker in only his second run here, after switching from the Midwest Modified class claimed fifth with Baumeister taking sixth.

In the Street Stock feature, Ron Benedict looked like he'd run away and hide from the 17 other street stock drivers far behind him, as started Dave Rex Jr. displayed the double greens. Zac Deeringer slipped into second, with Mark Swan right along side him. There was lots of side by side excitement throughout the field, as Carlton inched through some very tight traffic, running fourth by lap twelve.

Zac Deeringer has had a stong season so far. Here he takes a victory in the trophy dash. Later in the evening he claimed a pair of third place finishes in the main and the heat.

Using all available racing surface, that wasn't occupied, Carlton and now Denny Norton Jr, who captured fast time earlier this evening, were definitely on the move. On lap 16, Carlton grabbed the lead from Benedict. The next go round, Norton, the Deeringer, then Swan and Adam Regnier, all dropped the former leader Benedict back into the pack.

The last five laps, fans were treated to some all out racing. Norton tried everything to get under Carlton for the lead. Carlton was up to the challenge and took the win over Norton, with Deeringer third, Swan fourth, Regnier fifth and rookie Jerry Cowan next.

Earlier in a heat, first year driver Don Vorva escaped injury, after hitting the large tire that protects the inside wall and power box. Vorva was begin lapped by Tommy Nevoso and then decided to race the faster car, then sliding sharply to the right, hitting the tire causing it to fly high into the air, acrossed the track and into the fence, smashing the gate which allows access to the track.

It took 30 minutes to repair the gate and fence, before racing could continue. Vorva's new Street Stock was severely damaged.

Fran Prestay the defending track Late Model champion had a busy night. Mechanical troubles kept him from his usual qualifying pace forcing him into the semi-feature. He then won the semi feature race to advance to the main. After charging though the field he was fourth at the line. Subsequent disqualifications moved him up to a second place finish!!

Next Saturday night May 3rd, 1997, the Outlaw Rascals bring their open wheel show to the one third mile paved oval, along with Super Late Models, Herb's Street Stocks and HOT 102.3 XLC Sport Trucks.

Time trials are at 6:30 PM. with the first race at 7:30 PM. sharp.

RESULTS

Late Model Division
Feature Event   Semi-Feature
1. #14s Al Schill Franklin, WI   1. #99 Fran Prestay Silver Lake, WI
2. #99 Fran Prestay Silver Lake, WI   2. #85 Danny Darnell Park City, IL
3. #68 Chad Barker South Milwaukee, WI   3. #23 Brian Ulrich Racing, WI
4. #12 Billy Baumeister Janesville, WI   Trophy Dash
5. #47 Billy Skinner Jr. Pell Lake, WI   1. # 9 Larry Loss Darien, WI
6. # 2 David Ray Salentine Muskego,WI   2. #47 Billy Skinner Jr. Pell Lake, WI
7. #19 Kent Burkoth Pell Lake, WI   3. #14 Al Schill Jr. Franklin, WI
8. #50 Bobby Giers Ingleside, IL   Time Trials
9. # 9 Larry Loss Darien, WI   1. #87 Jamie Wallace 16.467 Secs.
10. # 5 Terry Patnode Oak Creek, WI   2. #47 Billy Skinner Jr. 16.515 Secs.
        3. #19 Kent Burkoth 16.552 Secs.

HEAT ONE: 1.) Mike Simon Jr., 2.) Jim Taylor, 3.) Chuck Duncan
HEAT TWO: 1.) Danny Darnell (T), 2.) Randy Harris, 3.) Denny Hiffman
HEAT THREE: 1.) Brad Durbin, 2.) David Ray Salentine, 3.) Jamie Wallace

Herb's Street Stock Division
Feature Event   Semi-Feature
1. #18 Dennis Carlton McHenry, IL   1. #40W Tim White  
2. #96 Denny Norton Jr. McHenry, IL   2. #46 Tom Mc Auliffe Pell Lake, WI
3. #02 Zac Deeringer McHenry, IL   3. #50 Carl Hughes Wauconda, IL
4. #85 Mark Swan Delavan, WI   Trophy Dash
5. #73 Adam Regnier Richmond, IL   1. #02 Zac Deeringer McHenry, IL
6. #67 Jerry Cowan Burlingotn, WI   2. #58 Jerry Marsh Palatine, IL
7. # 8 Ron Benedict Wonder Lake, IL   3. #73 Adam Regnier Richmond, IL
8. #57 Scott Kuxhouse Antioch, IL   Time Trials
9. # Mike Simo Jr. Elgin, IL   1. #96 Denny Norton Jr. 19.227 Secs.
10. #55 Al Kuphal Franklin, WI   2. #73 Adam Regnier 19.468 Secs.
        3. #18 Dennis Carlton 19.588 Secs.

HEAT ONE: 1.) Carl Hughes, 2.) Tim White, 3.) Todd Courtright
HEAT TWO: 1.) Al Kuphal 2.) Tommy Nevoso, 3.) Terry Hilgendorf
HEAT THREE: 1.) Denny Norton Jr., 2.) Dennis Carlton, 3.) Zac Deeringer