June 13 1998; Lake Geneva, WI. - The largest crowd of the season came out Saturday night for Lynch Motors of Burlington night at the races, here at Lake Geneva Raceway. With ideal weather finally, Kent Burkoth of nearby Pell Lake won his first 30 lap super late model feature of the season, in the wire to wire fashion. Jeff Storm of Waterford, the defending Mid American champion and current point leader, led all 40 laps, to claim the win in the point series feature.
 |
Kent Burkoth of Pell Lake, WI, had some lousy
luck early in the season. That luck cost him two possible feature events.
However on this evening he made up for it, taking the lead early in the Super Late
Model division and then avoiding the pitfalls that befell some of his competitors. Burkoth, is a very consistent driver that has finished in the top ten in points every year in every division he has competed in at Lake Geneva Raceway. |
Another local driver John Janssen of Genoa City, won his second Herb's super stock 20 lap feature of the season and takes over the point lead, by just 5 points. Bobby Giers of Inqleside, Illinois won another Wisconsin Allison Legacy series 15 lap features.
The 20 car super late model field timed within .400 seconds of each other , creating a very intense situation, as Dave Rex Jr. threw the double green flags. Burkoth edged in front, until a lap 6 caution stopped the action, as Mike Simon and Danny Darnell tangled. Once again Burkoth inched in front, with Denny Hiffman right on his heels. Right behind these two, Joe Fischer, Mark Hartline and Brian Ulrich raced deep into the corners trying to move up. By lap 10, Billy Baumeister joined that group as some three deep racing developed. Midway through the race Burkoth had gotten a 4 car advantage, with Hiffman and Hartline side by side, Ulrich was looking for a mistake between these two, as Fischer, Baumeister, Larry Los and quick timer Randy Rodqers, doubled up the action nehind them.
| Around we go! Scott Lindsey (#29) is one of the newer Late Model drivers at Lake Geneva Raceway, and he found out how challenging the 1/3 mile progressively banked track can be. |  |
With 10 laps to go, point leader Al Schill and Landry Potter moved in on the top runners, somehow getting by Rodgers and Los. Hartline was now second, with Hiffman challenging for that runner up spot.
The last thing Burkoth wanted to see was a caution, but Mark Simonsen solo loop in turn three, and sent cars scattering everywhere to avoid contact, on lap 29. With the now famous cone on the surface, drivers had to decide which lane to choose for the restart. Drivers had their chance to beat Burkoth, who led all 29 lads of this great event. When the green reappeared Burkoth did an excellent job of out maneuvering the field, as the green, white and the checkered came out for this two lap dash for all the marbles. Burkoth mastered his competition, with Hartline second, Potter nipped Hiffman for third, with Schill fifth and Baumeister sixth in this barn burner.
A complete restart came in the 20 car super stock main event, as cars flew everywhere to avoid contact. The controversial restart saw Mike Kooi grab the lead with Shawn Donnelly, Burt Getchell, Willie Schumacher and Don Radke all over the leader. By lap 4, Schumacher was now out front dazzling his fellow competitors with that sleek move to the front. Don Radtke was working on second place Kooi with Troy Weber waiting to move in.
By lap 9, Radke was along side the leader, as Kooi watched for any mistake. Then Weber got by Kooi as Janssen began to move up through the field. Radke inched in front of the field at the midway point, as the thight field behind was trying to move up. Once Radke established the lead, Janssen wasn't going to let the leader out of his sights. Schumacher who led this event, battled with Weber, as fast qualifier Tommy Nevoso began to challenge for a better spot.
Weber dropped out of the race unexpectedly, as Nevoso slipped into third with five laps to go. Current point leader Adam Regnier was finally through the pack, getting past Schmuacher, just as Janssen took over the lead on lap 17 when Radke got wide in turn two. Jassen went on to win the event, with Radke, Novoso, Regnier, Jerry Cowan and Getchell under a blanket, in this non stop event.
 |
 |
| John Janssen scored his second Herb's Super Stock feature win of the year, and in doing so took over the point lead by the smallest of margins. | Tom Fay, is all smiles after taking the win in the Semi-feature event. Fay is an up and coming driver in the Herb's Super Stock division. |
Regnier vigorously protested the restart of the event, stating that he started two rows behind Janssen and Novoso, who were to start in the 14th. and 16th. position on the original line up. Regnier was to start in 15th. position, as he and Novoso were second and the winner last Saturday night. The top two each week, unless there is a special start 15th. and 16th. in the feature. Regnier claims they started two rows up. Janssen now has a 5 point lead in the division, with Regnier second and Novoso third. Just 145 points separates these three drivers, entering the mid season this weekend.
Dennis Petretti jumped out front of the Legacy feature, for just one lap, before Jeff Conn moved by. Randy Coats moved into second, with Bobby Giers already third, by lap three. Within a few laps, it was side by side, as Conn and Gires dueled for the lead. On lap 9, Giers secured the top spot, with Jack Kossow, Jeff Goodwin and Conn next. Before the finish Goodwim moved around Kossow, but time ran out for any challenge of the leader. Giers won the event just ahead of Goodwin, Kossow, quick timer Joe Beyer who nipped Conm at the wire and 15 year old Erik Darnell.
Saturday night June 20th. marks the mid season championship races, for the super lates, super stock , Wisconsin Allison Leqacy cars and LGR sport trucks. Bennett Enterprises and Total Comfort Heating and Air Conditioning will sponsor the night, a 50 lap super late feature is on tap. For additional information call 414-248-8566.
Time trials are at 6 pm. races at 7:30 pm sharp, on the progressively banked, one-third mile asphalt oval. The racetrack is located three miles south of downtown Lake Geneva on Bloomfield Road.
Late Model Division
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
First 10 Lap Heat: 1.)
Larry Surlatta; 2.) Schneidwent; 3.) Scott Lindsey
Second 10 Lap Heat: 1.)
John Simon; 2.) Mike Simon Jr.; 3.) Paul Loppnow
Third 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Danny Darnell; 2.) Burkoth; 3.) Dennis Vito
Herbs Super Stock Division
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
First 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Lorenz; 2.) Peterson; 3.) John Maki
Second 10 Lap Heat: 1.)
Schumacher; 2.) Radke; 3.) Deeringer