October ( FALL) Classic brings out the sun!
Rodgers takes Classic Super Late Model win!!

By Dale R. Erdmann

October 4, 1998; Lake Geneva, WI. - The third day of the October Classic brought out three important things, at Lake Geneva Raceway, on Sunday afternoon. The drivers, the sun and the largest crowd to ever attend the final day of the largest paved track race program in Wisconsin.

Randy Rodgers of Lake Geneva who has been plagued by mechanical problems recently, finished runner-up in the Super Late Model point standings this season, won the 50 lap feature, taking home the $1500 prize for his efforts.

1998 Lake Geneva Raceway - October Classic Winner - #14 Randy Rodgers
	Randy Rodgers scored an impressive victory besting over 60 Late Models who tried to win this years October Classic crown.  Rodgers quickly moved through the pack taking the lead from this years track champion Al Schill Sr., and then held off a late charge by Dave Weltmeyer for the win!

Fran Prestay of Silver Lake, timed just fast enough to start fifth row inside and pull off a close finish win, in the $500 to win, 40 lap Limited Late Model feature. Brian Holtz of Franklin won his first career Midwest Modified 25 lap feature, claiming the $400 top dollar, leading start to finish. Rick Coppernoll of Monona won the 30 lap super stock feature, grabbing the $300 top prize after apparent winner Ron Preskar was disqualified due to a rules infraction.

Adam Regnier of Richmond, Illinois the only out of state driver to win a feature, came home with $200 in winning the close Street Stock 30 lap feature and Darnell Mepham won the 4 cylinder 20-lap feature and $200 for his feat.

Billy Baumeister edged out front of the twenty-four car starting field of the Super Late Model feature race. Al Schill Sr. was second, with Dennis Vito, Conrad Morgan, Eric Fransen and Larry Los all over the leader. Just one lap was completed before Tim Rothe flew off of turn three, bringing out the caution. This gave Al Schill Jr. and Randy Rodgers that early break needed in a very tight field.

The field rolls down the backstretch at Lake Geneva Raceway for the October Classic Super Late Model feature.  Billy Baumeister (#12) and Dennis Vito (#21) lead the field around for the start of the big feature race.

By lap four, Rodgers had climbed to fifth and Schill Jr. was sixth. Baumeister maintained command of the field, with Schill Sr. working the low side of the leader. The next three laps were a side by side fight for the top, with Schill Sr. taking over on lap eight, by less than a few inches over Baumeister. Schill's left front brake started to hang up, causing smoke to come off the tire, with Morgan now giving Baumeister a run for second, the top ten was under a blanket.

On lap ten, Larry Los tagged Mark Simonsen causing another slowdown. Schill Sr. had another great race behind him, on the restart as Baumeister held onto second. Morgan could feel pressure from Schill Jr. who was coming inside through the turns. On a real mission after starting last in the large field, Dave Weltmeyer, who won the second semi, was up to eighth.

Father and son battle!  The Schill's put on an excellent show for the fans. Al Schill Jr. (#7), slips under his father this years Late Model champion Al Schill Sr (#14).  The two ran wheel to wheel for several laps, racing each other hard for position. In the end the elder Schill had the higher finish, taking fifth!

By lap sixteen, there were two side by side battles for positions, Schill Sr. and Rodgers at the top and Schill Jr. and Morgan for third. It still looked like a parade lap for the top twelve as the see/saw fight continued for the lead. On lap seventeen, Rodgers grabbed the lead, but Schill Sr. was not about to give up. Then Schill Jr. got by his father, with Morgan, Baumeister, Fransen and now Jamie Wallace trailing the lead trio.

Rodgers was about three cars in front, as the caution flew for a tangle between Garrett Fait and Vito. This tightened the field even more, with Schill Jr. inside Rodgers trying for the lead. Ronnie Darnell spun again, bringing out the caution on lap thirty three.

It was quite the tussle for second as Morgan got by Schill Jr. but coming up fast was Weltmeyer. Schill Sr. got by Schill Jr. and Morgan, while the field worked on each other, Rodgers however was moving away from the group. Somehow Weltmeyer slipped into second on lap forty, with Morgan third.

Fast time was indeed an honor for Jamie Wallace (#87) at this years October Classic, as 61 entries tried for the 24 car starting grid.   The 61 cars were the most entries for a Late Model event so far this season in Wisconsin!

Those final nine laps were awesome as Weltmeyer moved in for the kill by lap forty-five. Wallace inched ahead of Schill Sr. and started to work on Morgan for third. On the last lap, Rodgers held his line, with Weltmeyer giving it one last try at the lead. Coming off turn three this twosome drew close to even, but time had run out on the veteran driver Weltmeyer who had come within one car length of a win, as Rodgers crossed the line ahead of Weltmeyer, Wallace nipped Morgan at the wire for third, with Schill Sr., Fran Prestay, Danny Darnell, Schill Jr., John Nutley and John Brolick rounding out the top ten.

Eric Fransen was disqualified from the event, after ignoring the black flag for smoking and giving starter Dave Rex Jr. a hand gesture, witnessed by the crowd.

The twenty two car limited late model field brought Chuck Duncan out front, with Brian Ulrich, Scotty Null and Fran Prestay in a cluster. Null charged in front on lap three, with Kent Burkoth right behind the leader. By lap six, Null could feel the pressure from the Burkoth / Prestay duel for his top spot. On lap seven, Null had Prestay along side for that front spot. Prestay moved in front, with Burkoth creeping along side Null one lap later for second.

Dean Schultz followed Burkoth around Null on lap ten, with 1998 Jefferson champion Andy Wendt right behind Null. Second through eighth was too close to call  as Prestay who qualified eighth, pulled away from the field.

Schultz and Wendt wasted little time, grabbing second and third on lap fourteen. Wendt dove under Schultz , one lap later, as Landry Potter tried to get in this battle too.

Schultz came back to second on lap seventeen, then contact was made between Wendt and Potter, but the race continued. Entering turn four Potter spun, after contact with Wendt. The first of only two caution flags came out. Both drivers were sent to the rear .

On the green's return Prestay moved away from the field. Schultz, Null, Bob Moeller and Greg Wichman were putting on a show for second. Two laps later Jason Erickson joined the fray, with Rick Nelson who had started dead last was now seventh.

Schultz finally moved in on the leader, slipping along on lap thirty one. The picture remained that way until lap thirty-six, that's when Kevin Brescia spun and backed into the turn two wall, bringing the race to it's last halt.

That's the break Wichman needed moving around Schultz one lap after the green's return. Nelson quickly overhauled Moeller and Null, on the same lap, as this race would turn into a real great finish.

Wichman finally came up on Prestay with five laps to go, but the crafty veteran knew the lapped cars would help him maintain the margin he needed for a victory. Wichman slipped under the leader with one lap to go, but another lapped car got into the way and Prestay won the event, with Wichman, Schultz, Nelson, Moeller, Erikson, Potter and Wendt in another great finish.

Brian Holtz had his work cut out for him as several drivers challenged his lead during the Midwest Modified feature race.  In spite of serious pressure throughout the race, Holtz never wavered and took the checkered just ahead of Dennis Prunty.

Brian Holtz jumped out front of the modified feature with Andy Anderson the first challenger to the top position. Dennis Prunty was the next to give the Holtz lead a try on lap seven, but Holtz wasn't going to be denied a win. Despite numerous caution periods, Holtz won the event over Prunty, Chris Harmon, Anderson, Joel Clossey the Lake Geneva Raceway's sportsman champ, Steve Maciosek, Leonard Gallenberg Jr. and Mike Bidlack.

The 4 cylinder class had an interesting mix of vehicles as the local Sport Truck division took on other Mini-Stock cars from around the area.  Here eventual winner Darnell Mepham (#12) slips under Todd Ross (#5) for the lead and the eventual win.

Todd Ross led the first fifteen laps of the 4 cylinder feature, before Darnell Mepham got by, coming home to victory, over new comer Todd Ross, Butch Edwards Jr., R.J. Ross, Rolf Tillman, defending and 1998 sport truck champion and Bob Koidahl. Todd Ross was disqualified for an illegal carb, bringing Dave Shine to sixth.

Mike McCabe led the first lap of the super stock feature with Rick Coppernoll, Chad Stevens, Alan Schade and Ken Morris next. Coppernoll edged in front on lap two and looked like a sure winner, even with too many caution periods and good challenges. Mike Geralds rolled his mount on lap three, with no injuries to the driver.

It was a wild final lap in the Super Stock feature.  Ron Preskar (#71) led at the checkered but was later disqualified, giving the win to Rick Coppernoll (#75).  Scott Riedner (#26) the divisions fast qualifier finished in second.

Ron Preskar moved from his fourteenth row starting spot and into the lead, after turning in second fast time with just five laps to go. Coppernoll didn't let that faze the former Columbus 151 Speedway champion, taking the lead back  with just three laps to go.

Coming around for the checkered , Preskar crossed the line about ten inches ahead of Coppernoll, for the win. Fast timer Scott Reidner had the time run out for himself, finishing a close third, with Chad Stevens, Don Morning, Dave Wolf, McCabe, Tony Koepke, Todd Peterson and Thompson following at the stripe.

A post race inspection, took the win from Preskar for an illegal carb. This moved everyone up, with Coppernoll being named the winner.

In one of the best features of the day, Mike Kooi, led the opening lap of the street stock feature. Zac Deeringer then bolted out front, Dave Lawrence quickly followed the new leader, as Kooi tried to come back into second.

A well earned win!  Adam Regnier (#73) held on tenaciously to the lead once he got to the front of the Street Stock feature.   Regnier went wheel to wheel with Denny Norton Jr, and track champion John Janssen (#43) and edged out both of them for the win.

Rookie Jeff Lorenz dumped water and oil all over the track just before turn one, bringing the race to a halt. James Swan had no where to go and joined Lorenz in the spin forcing the caution period.

Deeringer had Kooi, Lawrence and now Denny Norton Jr. all over himself for the next four laps after racing resumed. Norton then secured second on lap ten, and two laps later, Norton became the new leader, as Deeringer had Adam Regnier now on his tail.

Lap fourteen, Tim Muller running midpack, blew something, dumping more liquid right where the last spill was cleaned up. Just then Lawrence broke something, ending up in the turn two wall. There were no injures, but both the hard chargers were done for the day.

Norton held onto the lead as the next green was displayed. Regnier shot under Jerry Cowan, with John Janssen and Tommy Nevoso right behind. Deeringer began to slow on lap nineteen, dropping back to seventh, as Don Radke joined the tight pack near the front.

Regnier worked hard on Norton, finally taking over the front spot on lap twenty. The last ten laps were picture perfect, as Regnier, first had Norton, then Janssen, then Nevoso and Cowan in a ball for the top spot.

Fantastic racing!  Lake Geneva Raceway's own Street Stock division put on an excellent show.  Here Adam Regnier (#73), Zac Deeringer (#02), Jerry Cowan (#67) and Tommy Nevoso (#84) run wheel to wheel in the feature race.

Regnier maintained a smooth momentum to go on to win, Janssen was along side for second, with Norton, Nevoso, Cowan, Radke and quick timer Jay Kalbus nipped Deeringer at the line following.

Ryan Finley and John Maki rounded out the top ten. There were no cars lapped as the entire field running finished within a half lap of the winner. Regnier who had a hard second half of the season said this was an important win in his career.

Also on hand were both Mid-American series division as both the CENEX Mid-American Super Trucks and the Mid-American Stock Car Series cars were on hand.  The following reports were submitted by Gary Vercauteren.

1998 Lake Geneva Raceway - Mid-American Stock Car Series winner - #88 Rick Corso
	Rick Corso had turned many laps en route to two past Sportsman championships at Lake Geneva Raceway.  He put his knowledge of the tricky third mile oval to good use after beating out Mark Pluer and Pat Kelly in a race long duel in front of his hometrack fans!

Rick Corso manhandled his 1997 Ford Thunderbird past Mark Pluer and then held off a late charge from Pat Kelly to score his initial 1998 Mid-American Stock Car Series victory of the 1998 campaign Sunday afternoon in the 35-lap main event at Lake Geneva Raceway.

Corso won by a car length over Kelly while Pluer claimed third after leading much of the way around the one-third mile paved oval.  Mike Monroe nailed down fourth by less than six inches over series point leader and defending champion Jeff Storm.  Series rookie leader Gregg Haese rounded out the top six with a real strong run.

Curt Van Der Wal led the opening round.  He was quickly overhauled by Pluer who assumed the point.  Corso was quick to move through the field and began to challenge Pluer for the top spot on lap three.  Corso nosed ahead on lap four, but Pluer put his Roger Koski oven Chevrolet back ahead a circuit later.

For much of the Mid-American Stock Car series feature fans were treated to this battle for the top spot.  Rick Corso (#88) and Mark Pluer (#97) each looking for their first series win of the season, ran door to door for the lead.  Corso would win the event by a few feet over Pat Kelly.

Pluer seemed to like the high line around the raceway, while Corso tried to keep his Ford down low.  The two drivers ran door-to-door with Corso gaining the lead by inches on laps six and seven.

Pluer, the 1996 series champion, pulled back ahead of Corso on lap eight and held the top spot until the 22nd round, when again Corso found enough momentum to nose ahead.  Pluer kept digging in the higher groove and got back into the top spot on lap 24.

The caution flag flew on lap 25 when Joe Fransisco blew a tire and drilled the outside wall in front of the grandstand.  When action resumed Pluer led the field acrossed the line on lap 26, but Corso moved back ahead one lap later, with Kelly, Haese and Monroe right behind him in the lower lane.

Pluer managed to reassume the top spot on lap 28, but on lap 30 the leaders cam off turn four three wide with Kelly down low, Corso in the middle and Pluer on the top side.  Corso had crossed the line first on that lap, while rookie Jessie Wilcox flipped his Oldsmobile Cutlass onto it's side in turn four.

The caution flag and the re-alignment had Corso first, Pluer second and Kelly third.  Corso took the green with five laps remaining.  Pluer tried to work the inside lane, but Kelly charged past him into second.  On the final lap Kelly pressed Corso for the top spot hoping for a slip to take the lead.  Corso remained steady out front however and took the win by less than a car length on his hometrack where he had won a pair of Sportsman championships previously.

Terry Marzofka slipped inside rookie standout Ryan Mathews on lap 24 and went on to score his first victory of the season Sunday afternoon at the Lake Geneva Raceway in the 35-lap CENEX Mid-American Super Truck Series feature race.

Defending CENEX Mid-American Super Truck champion, Terry Marzofka (#91) slips under Danny Heinritz (#95) on his way to his first feature win of the 1998 racing season.

Marzofka, the defending series champion in the Wehr's Chevrolet / Aerial Crop Care 1998 Chevrolet, won by several lengths over Danny Heinritz, the 1997 USA Truck Nationals winner. Mathews had his best finish of the year and was the first Ford driver acrossed the line in third place.  Point leader Kevin Peterson brought the  Ridges Supper Club and Golf Course Dodge home in fourth.

Rim riding Rick Lemmens, who won the CENEX Super Truck race several weeks ago at the 141 Speedway, finished in fifth while Jerry Seibel earned his highest finish of the year with a sixth place run.

Rookie Scott Lautschwager paced the field for two laps before Vincent Wilkinson slapped the backstretch wall and nearly flipped his Chevrolet.

Seibel ducked under Lautschwager when the race was restarted to take the lead in the event.  Mathews worked his way around Seibel on lap 13 to assume the point and motored along smoothly until, the 21st lap when Jodi Clark's Ford stalled in turn three with front suspension failure.

On lap 22 Jason Hicks and Chad Brundidge tangled in turn three bringing out another yellow flag.

Marzofka and Heinritz locked horns in a heated battle for second just before Lautschwager brought out the final caution of the race on lap 22 when he spun in turn four.

Marzofka and Heinritz were able to wedge past Mathews several laps later to secure the first and second positions before the checkered flag fell.

Heidi Jo Dawson won both the street stock powder puff, in the Jerry Cowan mount and took the win in the super late models on the last lap of the heat for another win, this time in the Denny Hiffman car. The race program was completed by 8 pm. and a big thank you went out to the fans and drivers for their support.

Next years event will be October 2nd. and 3rd 1999,  the days following the small car world championships which will be October 1st, 1999.

This coming Saturday night is the annual "Run  what ya brung" show. There will be three divisions, 4 cylinders , street and super stocks and super late models. This will be the final event of the 1998
season. Time trials will be at 6 pm. racing at 7:30 sharp.

Each regular LGR driver will receive 300 points for participating. The championship for all divisions is already determined, but other positions are very close, as drivers can move up or down, some three spots, if they don't show up.

The rules meetings for the upcoming year will be October 17th. 18th. 24th. and 25th. please check our website at www.racingonline.com/lgr or call the raceway for the class schedules at
(414) 248-8566

The raceway is located just three miles south of downtown Lake Geneva on Bloomfield Road.  The location of the third-mile progressively banked asphalt oval is with an hour drive from Milwaukee, Chicago, Rockford and Madison.

Heat Races were rained out!

Heat Races were rained out!

Heat races were rained out!

Heat races were rained out!

Heat races

Heat Information to be posted.