Controversial Geneva Super Late Feature!

By Dale R. Erdmann

April 18, 1998; Lake Geneva, WI. -   The third night of weekly Saturday night stock car racing at Lake Geneva Raceway ended on a checkered flag/caution light finish. With Ronnie Darnell of McHenry, Illinois surviving tine last turn melee, winning the 30 lap super late model feature. John Janssen of Genoa City won his first 20 lap Herb' s super stock feature and extremely popular Beloit driver Joel Clossey won the 20 lap Performance Unlimited sportsman feature.

lgr983d.jpg (11779 bytes) Ronnie Darnell was the surprise winner in a wild finish at Lake Geneva Raceway.  It was Darnell's first win of the 1998 season in the Super Late Model division.

It took 3 tries before the closely timed field of 20 car super late models could stay together for the start of the feature event. Ronnie Darnell moved out front, with Mike Simon, Larry Los, Billy Baumiester and Kent Burkoth all over the leader.

Drivers throughout the field tried three deep to trying to advance, as Los moved into second on lap 3. One lap later Burkoth was on a mission, grabbing second on lap five and the lead one lap later.

Brad Durbin moved into fifth on lap 10, with point leader Al Schill and Danny Darnell side by side for 6th. Tim Lynn and Mark Hartline brought out the first caution and a long delay on lap 15. Finally underway, Schill was moving up, only to receive contact from Baumiester, spinning turn four, causing another slowdown.

One fast crew!!  Lake Geneva Raceway which is concentrating on special "fun" events this year held a pit stop competition to see which short track crew at Lake Geneva was fastest.  The winner was the crew of Late Model pilot Dan Mills who won the challenge with a time of 85.804 seconds. lgr983b.jpg (13366 bytes)

Three laps later Paul Loppnow and Brian Ulrich tangled, stopping the event again.

Durban used the cone to his advantage, slipping along side second place Darnell at the get go. One lap later Darnell inched back to second, with the large field bearing down on them.

Lap 27, Mike Simon Jr. and Baumeister tangled, bringing out another caution. On the restart Durbin pulled off a slick move, surprising Burkoth and darted in front. With everyone trying to move up, the white flag came out, with Durbin going for his first win of the young season. But coming off turn four for the wire, contact was made, causing Durbin to spin out.

With the checkered and the yellow light on Burkoth came across the line in front. Starter Dave Rex Jr. came off the flag stand and quickly came down onto the track, as Burkoth took his victory flag lap . In the winners circle, Rex said the win could not stand. The scorers moved everyone up, dropping the involved cars to the last running positions. Ronnie Darnell was declared the winner, with cousin Danny second, Los third, Randy Rodgers fourth, Chad Barker fifth and Schill sixth.

Katie Taylor scooted out front of the 20 car super stock main event, with a scurry of competitors right behind her. Zac Deeringer and Tim Mueller battled side by side for second, as Al Kuphal waited for any mistakes.

Mueller drifted wide with Kuphal and Todd Peterson moving up by on lap 4. One lap later Deeringer slipped in front. On lap 10 , Tom Fay spun in Troy Weber's gear lube, causing the first yellow. Weber received the black flag for the leaking lube, then spinning around in turn one and receiving one week off for that move.

On the restart , Deeringer moved back in front, with Shawn Donnelly right on his tail .Peterson was third, with quick timer Janssen now fourth. Wasting little time , Janssen moved into the lead on lap 13. With Peterson following the new leaders every move, dropping Donnelly and Deeringer a few positions. With racing action too close to call, Janssen had the only secure spot, as Donnelly and Don Radke moved up.

lgr983a.jpg (11902 bytes) He's on track now!! John Janssen has had a fast car all season but mechanical troubles kept him from victory lane until this evening when he made a visit after winning the Herb's Super Stock feature event.

Janssen who has been plagued with gremlins so far this season easily won the event. Second place went to Peterson, with Donnelly right along side in third. Deeringer hung onto fourth, with Radke just inches away in fifth, point leader Adam Regnier was sixth. A post race inspection brought Donnelly a disqualification, for an illegal cam. This moved everyone up and Jerry Cowan posted a sixth place finish.

Point leader Joel Clossey of Beloit, WI will be a regular competitor this season at Lake Geneva in the Performance Unlimited Sportsman division.  Here Clossey celebrates in victory lane after a feature win with queen Carrie Kagel and Jr. Fan Club winner Delvin Erikson. lgr983c.jpg (13463 bytes)

It took new point leader Joel Clossey seven laps to move in front, after Rick Tackman Jr. led from the start. Fast time qualifier R.J. Malec gave Clossey the most competition, coming along side him numerous times before the only caution came for Tackman's spin that collected Dan Robers and rookie Kevin Rybuck.

Clossey managed to stay afew feet in front for the win, as Malec, last weeks feature winner Jack Kossow, Tim Schmidt, a recovering Rybuck and Brad Troxel followed.

Saturday night April 25th. marks the first of three appearances by the Mid American point series cars, with the super late models and super stocks also here. Time trials are at 6 pm. first race at 7:30 sharp. A field of at least 30 Mid American cars will be here.

Late Model Division
30 Lap Feature Event Trophy Dash
1. #58 Ronnie Darnell Gilberts, IL 1. #14 Al Schill Sr. Franklin, WI
2. #85 Danny Darnell Beach Park, IL 2. #57 Brad Durbin Burlington, WI
3. # 9 Larry Los Darien, WI 3. #30 Mark Hartline Gilberts, IL
4. #14 Randy Rodgers Lake Geneva, WI Time Trials
5. #68 Chad Barker Caledonia, WI 1. #14 Randy Rodgers 16.286 Seconds
6. #14 Al Schill Sr. Franklin, WI 2. #57 Brad Durbin 16.332 Seconds
7. # 4 John Simon McHenry, IL 3. #14 Al Schill Sr. 16.336 Seconds
8. #41 Denny Hiffman River Forest, IL 20 Lap Semi-Feature
9. #48 Mike Simon Lake Villa, IL 1. #41 Denny Hiffman River Forest, IL
10. #56 Mike Simon Jr. Elgin, IL 2. #88 Tim Lynn Jr. Huntley, IL
3. #21 Dennis Vito Crystal Lake, IL

First 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Larry Surletta; 2.) Lynn; 3.) Vito
Second 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Joe Fischer; 2.) Paul Loppnow; 3.) Hiffman
Third 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Barker; 2.) R. Darnell; 3.) Simon Jr.

Performance Unlimited Sportsman
20 Lap Feature 6 Lap Trophy Dash
1. # 1 Joel Clossey Beloit, WI 1. # 2 Jack Kossow Sturtevant, WI
2. #89 R.J. Malec Kenosha, WI 2. #81 Dan Robers Burlington, WI
3. # 2 Jack Kossow Sturtevant, WI 3. #24 Rick Schmidt Butlington, WI
4. #69 Tim Schmitt Muskego, WI Time Trials
5. #11 Kevin Rybuck New Berlin, WI 1. #89 R.J. Malec 17.398 Seconds
6. #17 Brad Troxel Beloit, WI 2. # 1 Joel Clossey 17.432 Seconds
7. #67 Rick Tackman Jr. Muskego, WI 3. #24 Rick Schmidt 17.545 Seconds
8. #14 Tommy Goff Lake Geneva, WI
9. #16 Willy Peterson Woodstock, IL
10. #81 Dan Robers Burlington, WI

 

Herbs Super Stock Division
20 Lap Feature Time Trials
1. #43 John Janssen Genoa City, WI 1. #43 John Janssen 19.243 Seconds
2. #16 Todd Peterson Woodstock, IL 2. #77 Lewis Bochette Jr. 19.305 Seconds
3. #02 Zac Deeringer McHenry, IL 3. #67 Jerry Cowan 19.477 Seconds
4. #20 Don Radke Ingleside, IL 6 Lap Trophy Dash
5. #73 Adam Regnier McHenry, IL 1. #84 Tommy Nevoso Trevor, WI
6. #67 Jerry Cowan Burlington, WI 2. #20 Don Radke Ingleside, IL
7. #84 Tommy Nevoso Trevor, WI 3. #73 Adam Regnier McHenry, IL
8. #58 Jerry Marsh Palatine, IL 13 Lap Semi-Feature
9. #63 Doug Peterson Antioch, IL 1. #92 Tom Fay Delavan, WI
10. #41 Lyle Messinger Milwaukee, WI 2. #89 Bob Koidahl Cary, IL
3. #40 Tim White Pell Lake, WI

First 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Jim Hughes; 2.) Fay; 3.) Jason Bader
Second 10 Lap Heat: 1.) Koidahl; 2.) White; 3.) Greg Peterson
Third 10 Lap Heat: 1.) T. Peterson; 2.) Deeringer; 3.) Messinger