Schill chalks up feature win number 6
in Lake Geneva Late Model action!!

By Dale R. Erdmann

August 22, 1998; Lake Geneva, WI. - It was a hot and humid Saturday night at Lake Geneva Raceway, as Al Schill of Franklin, the current super late model point leader, pulled off a close victory in the 30 lap feature. Dennis Carlton of McHenry, Illinois won his second 20 lap Herb's super stock feature of the season and Bobby Giers of Ingleside,IL. took another clean sweep in the
Wisconsin Allison Legacy series, by breaking his own qualifying one lap record, with a time of 19.060 seconds the dash and the 20 lap feature race.

lgr9821a.jpg (16194 bytes) Defending Super Late Model champion, Al Schill Sr., took a big step towards winning a repeat title by scoring his sixth feature win of the 1998 race season at Lake Geneva Raceway.  Schill's nearest rival Randy Rodgers finished fourth in the main event allowing Schill to further pad his point lead.

The roll over contest brought out the best in everyone as Todd Booker of Woodstock,IL. received 11 points, Tom Boyd of Antioch IL. had 3 points, Lance Yanke of Lake Geneva, 2 points and Jeff Kayser of Woodstock,IL. 1 point.

Kent Burkoth flew out front of the very tight 18 car super late model field, leading the first four laps, before Mark Hartline slipped by after running side by side with the leader on laps three and four. Just as Denny Hiffman got along side the leader Hartline, the race came to a halt for Dan Mill's solo spin in turn two. This set up a new race for turn one on the restart, as Hartline, Hiffman, Al Schill, Burkoth, Joe Fischer , Terry Patnode and Danny Darnell all wanted that top spot.

Schill shot inside with others scrambling for the outside lane, Hiffman followed Schill who took the lead on  lap nine, but Hartline wasn't giving in that easily. Those next three laps were awesome, until Mills spun again, in the same place as before, stopping this close contest. With the cone out, drivers picked their preferred lane for the restart. Schill knew there would be a quick challenge, once the green reappeared. Under way, Schill had all he could do, to keep Darnell, Hiffman, Hartline and Patnode behind him.

Midway, Darnell and Hiffman were side by side for that second spot, as Schill held a small lead. By lap eighteen, Darnell was under the leader, but Schill came back, leading by a fender or less on the next lap. This see/saw battle continued for the next seven laps, before Darnell took over the top spot. Schill inched in front again on lap 26 of the 30 lap contest. The crowd went wild, as this up front group of cars put on a show. Randy Rodgers who earlier broke his own one lap qualifying record, entered the top five, one lap later.

lgr9821b.jpg (7714 bytes) Everyone wants the front spot!  Al Schill Sr . (#14) had all he could do to hold back the determined efforts of Danny Darnell (#85).   Schill maintained this margin through the final turn to take the win with Darnell a close second.

With the white flag out, Darnell dove inside Schill one more time, Schill maintained his small advantage, going on to win the event. Darnell was second, Hiffman third, while Rodgers nipped Hartline for fourth, as Wallace grabbed sixth at the wire. An unexplainable incident occurred at the checkered, with sixth on back slowing before the wire, this caused drivers fighting for a spot to bunch up, Burkoth received the most problems from that stunt  as he Fischer and Mike Simon flew off the turn one corner. Burkoth's mount flew high into the air, smashing into the protection tire by the drainage ditch. No one was injured but Burkoth's race car, received some damage.

The 20 car super stock feature started off, just like the last feature ended with an exciting battle for the lead. As James Swan and Dennis Carlton fought for the top spot. On lap three, Carlton moved out front, with Swan, Greg Janutka, Adam Regnier and Tim Muller not letting the leader get away with any distance. On lap seven, with an extremely tight field, Jerry Cowan, Bob Koidahl, Greg Peterson and John Maki got together in turn four, causing a yellow.

It was a three way battle for the lead, in this evening's Herb's Super Stock feature.  Dennis Carlton (#18) maintained a slight advantage over point leader Tommy Nevoso (#84) and James Swan (#97).  Carlton a former champion in the class took the win, with Nevoso second and Swan third. lgr9821c.jpg (7615 bytes)

On the restart, Carlton slipped in front again, with Swan and point leader Tommy Nevoso racing for second. It took four more laps before Nevoso was able to secure second, with little movement behind these cars because of the close times. With five laps to go, the top three pulled away from the field, with Regnier and the remainder further back, in their own pack. Carlton went on to win the event, with Nevoso, Swan, Regnier, Janutka and Doug Peterson rounding out the top six.

lgr9821d.jpg (13351 bytes) He had it all going his way!!  Bobby Giers a former Late Model hotshoe has been enjoying the Wisconsin Allison Legacy Series cars.   This evening he took a clean sweep taking the feature, the dash and establishing a new track record in setting quick time for the division.

In Wisconsin Allison Legacy Series action, a lap six yellow came out while Jeff Conn and Bay Darnell dueling for the top spot, the yellow, helped fast qualifier Bobby Giers move forward. Then a second caution on lap eleven, was all that was needed as Conn led only two more laps, before Giers grabbed the lead . The race wasn't over this time, as Jeff Goodwin came along side for those final eight laps. Nearly leading two of them, but Giers came across the line in first, with Goodwin along side for second, 16 year old Erik Darnell was third, rookie Monty Coffman next, with Ken Wills and Bay Darnell completing the top six.

Next Saturday night the sport trucks join the super late models and super stocks, as the Parts Place of Elkhorn will be the sponsor of the program. One on one Challenge races will top off the evening. Time trials are at 6 pm. racing at 7:30 pm sharp. Weekly Saturday night action continues through October 10th.

The raceway is located three miles south of downtown Lake Geneva on Bloomfield Road.  For more information contact the raceway at (414) 248-8566.

Late Model Division
30 Lap   Feature Event Trophy Dash
1. #14 Al Schill Franklin, WI 1. #85 Danny Darnell Beach Park, IL
2. #85 Danny Darnell Beach Park, IL 2. #87 Jamie Wallace Pell Lake, WI
3. #41 Denny Hiffman River Forest, IL 3. #62 Eddie May Crystal Lake, IL
4. #14 Randy Rodgers Lake Geneva, WI Time Trials
5. #30 Mark Hartline Gilberts, IL 1. #14 Randy Rodgers 16.067 Seconds
6. #87 Jamie Wallace Pell Lake, WI 2. #87 Jamie Wallace 16.129 Seconds
7. # 9 Larry Los Darien, WI 3. #85 Danny Darnell 16.166 Seconds
8. # 5 Terry Patnode Oak Creek, WI 15 Lap Semi-Feature
9. #19 Kent Burkoth Pell Lake, WI 1. #56 Mike Simon Jr. Elgin, IL
10. #48 Mike Simon Lake Villa, IL 2. #55 Larry Surletta Round Lake, IL
3. #15 Ed Schneidwent Greenfield, WI

First 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Garret Fait; 2.) Mark Moberg; 3.) Bob Pulkowski
Second 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Simon Jr; 2.) Brian Ulrich; 3.) Schnwidwent
Third 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Joe Fischer; 2.) Burkoth; 3.) Bob Moeller

Herb's Super Stock Division
20 Lap Feature Event Time Trials
1. #77 Dennis Carlton McHenry, IL 1. #43 John Janssen 19.307 Seconds
2. #84 Tommy Nevoso Trevor, WI 2. #67 Jerry Cowan 19.438 Seconds
3. #97 James Swan Lake Geneva, WI 3. # 2 Marty Robb 19.440 Seconds
4. #73 Adam Regnier McHenry, IL 6 Lap Trophy Dash
5. # 3 Greg Janutka Twin Lakes, WI 1. #84 Tommy Nevoso Trevor, WI
6. #63 Doug Peterson Antioch, IL 2. #67 Jerry Cowan Butlington, WI
7. #43 John Janssen Geona City, WI 3. #43 John Janssen Genoa City, WI
8. # 2 Marty Robb Lake Zurich, IL 15 Lap Semi-Feature
9. #34 Tim Muller Beach Park, IL 1. #16 Todd Peterson Wonder Lake, IL
10. #20 Don Radke Ingleside, IL 2. #26 Katie Taylor Chicago, IL
3. #40 Tim White Pell Lake, WI

First 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Taylor; 2.) T. Peterson; 3.) Nick Nelson
Second 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Carlton; 2.) G. Peterson; 3.) Muller

Wisconsin Allison Legacy Series

20 Lap Feature: 1.) Bobby Giers, Ingleside,IL; 2.) Jeff Goodwin, Wadsworth, IL; 3.) Erik Darnell, Beach Park, IL; 4.) Monty Coffman, Milwaukee; 5.) Ken Wills, Salem; 6.) Bay Darnell, Deerfield, IL; 7.) Randy Coates, Racine; 8.) Joel Edwards, Davenport, IA
10 Lap Heat: 1.) Wills; 2.) B. Darnell; 3.) Coates
4 Lap Dash: 1.) Giers; 2.) E. Darnell; 3.) Doug Reichley
Fast Qualifier: #50 Bobby Giers, Ingleside, IL,.......19.060 Seconds (New Track Record)