Rodgers tops Super Late action at Lake Geneva after setting track record!!  Holtz tops wild Sportsman main!

By Dale R. Erdmann

August 15, 1998; Lake Geneva, WI. - The 20th. week of Saturday night stock car racing was a wild one, as Randy Rodgers of Lake Geneva won his second super late model 30 lap feature of the season at Lake Geneva Raceway, on Crest Chevrolet Night of Delavan night. Jeff Holtz of Franklin, a regular campaigner in the Mid American series, came down for his second visit and won the 14 lap feature for the Performance Unlimited sportsman cars, that was cut short by 6 laps, because of the numerous accidents and the last one, eliminated 6 cars from the field. Don Radke of Ingleside,Illinois survived a last lap melee to win his first Herb's super stock 20 lap feature of the season.

Is this crew ready for Winston Cup?  Well maybe not yet, but whenever John Janssen entries the pits at Lake Geneva Raceway he's going to get quick service.  The crew of Super Stock racer Janssen outperformed all others to win the pit stop contest this evening.

John Janssen super stock driver and his crew won the pit crew contest, with a time of just under 75 seconds and collecting $100. Ed Schneidwent and his crew was second and Mark Hartline and his crew third. Each collected $100.

Tim Lynn Jr. back for the first time since his crash four weeks ago, sprinted out front of the super late model main event, with Brian Ulrich and Mark Simonsen next, as the field looked like a parade lap. Larry Los and Mark Hartline were side by side right behind this group, as Terry Patnode, in his first appearance of the season put pressure the front runners, just waiting any mistake.

Rookie Ed Schneidwent looped it in turn three, on lap number six, bringing out the first yellow.

Randy Rodgers got back on track this evening.   After a few weeks of bad luck he put that all behind him setting a new track record and the scoring his second feature win of the 1998 season in the Super Late Model division.

With the cone out on the track, drivers chose their line and their fate. Lynn shot back out front, with Hartline slipping past Simonsen one lap later. On lap eight, it was a duel for the top, as Hartline tried the inside and Lynn smoothly drove the outside. Two laps later Hartline was a new leader, three more laps in the books and the field got even tighter, as Los, Jamie Wallace, Al Schill and Rodgers moved through the pack. Like the Sunday afternoon show last week, Schill was using the inside to his advantage, getting past Wallace on lap fifteen.

Ulrich started to fade a little as Ronnie Darnell and Kent Burkoth got by on lap seventeen.
It looked like Hartline who led by six lengths at one time, was now slowing, as Lynn slipped under him leader from time to time. Simonsen again worked on the leader, when Lynn would get behind them. By lap twenty, Hartline was just in front, with Simonsen inside, Lynn outside, Schill and Los were right behind them. Then on lap twenty one, Schill inched ahead of Los, as Rodgers came to the inside. On lap twenty five, Wallace dramatically slowed . Things got real interesting on lap twenty seven, as Schill slipped inside Lynn and then Hartline. One lap later Rodgers crept up on Schill and Lynn, as Hartline maintained a very slim lead.

Exiting turn four it looked like Hartline slowed, causing Lynn to tap into the leader. Hartline, bobbled ever so slightly, then turned to the right, quickly correcting and, slowing way down, with Schill and Rodgers to take a dangerous step, by shooting under Hartline. Both made it, but contact had been made. With the yellow out for only the second time, everyone missed the mix up and continued around the turn.

Hartline and Schill were signaled to the back, with Lynn heading to the pits for repairs. On the restart, Rodgers easily flew home to victory . Earlier in the evening, Rodgers broke his one week old, one lap qualifying mark, with a time of 16.107 seconds. Simonsen grabbed second, with Los, Darnell, Burkoth and Denny Hiffman rounding out the top six.

Don Radke took advantage of a last lap miscue by some of his competitors to pull off a win in the Super Stock feature event.   Radke's win was his first of the season and moved him into third in the standings behind John Janssen and Tommy Nevoso.

Willie Schumacher moved out front of the 20 car super stock feature, with Burt Getchell, Greg Peterson, Don Radke and rookie Jeff Lorenz right on his bumper. Like the super late feature, the track surface made it real easy to stay in formation, it was a see/saw battle for the lead, by lap six, as Getchell and Schumacher put on a great show.

Getchell finally took over the top spot on lap nine. By lap thirteen, Radke was now the new threat for that popular spot. Peterson spun at the end of that lap, but quickly corrected and there was no yellow. Again it was a back and forth show at the top, with side by side racing right behind these two. The top seven were under a blanket on lap eighteen, Zac Deeringer who waited so patiently to grab the top spot,  moved under Radke on lap nineteen for the second spot.

	Jay Potter's damaged racer spins on the track after contact with Burt Getchell on the final lap of the Super Stock feature.   Potter's car received the most damage in the accident which eliminated several top running cars.
Former race leader Burt Getchell loops around in front of Jeff Lorenz giving up a top five feature run in the process.

Things got real crazy on the final go round, Getchell started to spin, as Denny Norton Jr. driving Marty Robb's car, made contact. Lorenz and Jay Potter got the worst from that racing incident, along with Getchell. Radke came across the line first, as everyone else missed the fallen leader. Deeringer was second, as Jerry Cowan, point leader Tommy Nevoso, Norton and subbing Scott Kuxhouse in Bob Koidahl's mount completed the top six.

Brad Troxel took the lead of the sportsman feature, with Tommy Goff , Mike Lange, Mike Dekeuster and Holtz all trying to take the top spot. The first caution came as first night driver Chris Wangrow's spin in turn four. Wangrow also had a leak and there was a lengthy delay. DeKeuster flew in front on the restart, with Troxel maintaining second, as Landry Potter worked on Holtz.

It was a great race throughout the field, as Holtz would try to take his third place back. DeKeuster and Potter made contact on lap eleven, bringing out the caution one more time. Both drivers had to start in the rear, but officials wanted DeKeuster to stop, for an inspection, because of his right fender. Just one more lap was recorded, as Holtz became the leader. Troxel then spun stopping the race again.

Quick timer Tim Schmitt dropped out one lap later with damage to the rear of his car. On lap fourteen something happened, as Lange spun, everyone else tried to avoid his mount. When the dust cleared, Lange, Dan Erikson, Troxel, Goff, Rick Rowlett and Potter had received heavy damage. The race was declared a completed event. Lange's fuel cell ruptured in the crash spilling 9 gallons of fuel onto the surface. Holtz who led three laps was the winner, with point leader Joel Clossey second, Brian Baker third  Jack Kossow, Rick Tackman Jr. and a recovering Schmitt rounded out the top six.

Friday night August the 21st. the third part of the Nielsen Enterprises of Lake Villa, IL. triple crown for moto cross racing. Riders from all over the country are expected, the stadium dirt course has weekly racing through September 25th. at 8 pm. On Saturday night Operation Lifesavers presents three divisions of action, on the paved oval. The Wisconsin Allison Legacy series is back, along with the Super Lates and Super Stocks. The sports trucks are not here, as shown in some schedules. There will be a roll over contest to top off the evening.

^{Time trials are at 6:00 p.m. and the first race get going at 7:30 p.m. sharp.  The raceway is located three miles south of downtown Lake Geneva on Bloomfield Road.  For more information contact the raceway at (414) 248-8566.}

Weekly racing continues through October 10th and Our website is located at   WWW.RACINGONLINE.COM/LGR to keep up on the latest developments at Lake Geneva Raceway.

First 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Bill Kloster; 2.) Moeller; 3.) Duncan
Second 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Mike Simon; 2.) Baumeister; 3.) John Simon
Third 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Ulrich; 2.) Burkoth; 3.) Tim Lynn Jr.

First 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Holtz; 2.) Chris Wangrow; 3.) Erickson

First 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Nick Nelson; 2.) Dave Edwards; 3.) Scott Peterson
Second 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Todd Peterson; 2.) Maki; 3.) Donnelly
Third 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Radke; 2.) Greg Peterson; 3.) James Swan