Van Pay on tops foes for Mod win!  Matthias best in IMCA Stocks action!
By Dave Panske

August 20, 1999, Luxemburg, WI. - it was the second last night of the 1999 season and with all of the point battles tight, the racing was fast and furious on a perfect evening for racing at Tri-Star.

Frank Dorn took the lead at the start as the Street Stock division started off the feature portion of the program Friday night. On the 3rd lap, the first and only caution appeared for a several car spin in turn three. Dorn continued to set the pace after the restart with Jesse Colwell, Joe Van Ooyen, Jason Czarapata, Brandon Czarapata and Jared Siefert tucked behind. Colwell eased into the top spot on lap 6, with Jason Czarapata moving into the runner up spot 2 laps later. 

Jason Czarapata moved to the outside line and ran alongside the leader for 5 laps before taking over the top spot on lap 11 Czarapata was able to open a slight lead with the cars bunched behind. Colwell fought off Dorn until Brandon Czarapata moved by with 3 left. Jason sped on to win his fourth feature of the season with Colwell holding off Brandon for the runner-up finish. James Tebon and Siefert were able to slip by Dorn on the final lap to fill in the top five dropping Dorn to sixth.

Entering the night, Siefert held a 6 point lead, which is now only 2 markers entering next weeks final race over defending champ, Jason Czarapata.

Jay Matthias (#8) earned his second IMCA Stock Car feature victory of the season at Luxemburg Tri-Star Speedway.  Matthias charged from third to first after a late race restart to grab the victory.

Bucky Coopman led the way in the IMCA Stock Car main until the first caution on lap 6. Jeremy DeGrave moved into the lead on the restart with Coopman edging the top spot on lap 8 before Kerry Havlovitz flew by and took command on lap 9. John Heinz moved into the runner up spot on lap 13 with Jay Matthias, point leader, Joe White, DeGrave and Rod Snellenberger in line. A spin on lap 19 set up a 3 lap dash to the finish.

On the restart, Matthias found the bite outside and moved by both Heinz and Havlovitz to the lead, Havlovitz chased Matthias to the finish line for his second feature win of the season here. Doug Kropp and White were able to move ahead of Heinz when he backed off on the final lap to move out of the top 4. Heinz was credited with 5th and Bob Waechter rounded out the top six.

Joe White now holds a 447 - 422 point lead entering next weeks race which means he will win his second straight Tri Star track championship in the division if he at least qualifies for the feature next week.

The IMCA Modifieds ran one of the finest feature races of the season in the area tonight with the top four performing a flawless non stop race. Eddie Muenster took the lead at the start and hooked up on the outside to build a slight lead. Chis Christensen moved into he runner-up spot on lap 5 and started to close on the leader with R.M. Van Pay moving into third on lap 6 and Mike Mashl taking over fourth on lap 9. 

By the mid point, lap 13, the three had closed up on Muenster and the show kicked into top form with Muenster holding his high line with Christensen moving alongside Van Pay decided to go high behind Muenster with Mashl taking the low line behind Christensen. The four staged a high speed ballet of sorts never touching while swapping positions lap after lap Van Pay knew if he was going to the front, he would have to get inside and was finally able to squeeze between Muenster and Christensen on lap 19. 

It took three more laps to wrestle the top spot away from Muenster and he then held on to win his second feature of the season here. Muenster took the runner-up spot edging Mashl and Christensen. Point leader, Brian Mullen broke clear of the pack with four laps remaining to take the fifth place finish with Chris Derenne rounding out the top six.

Mullen still holds the lead by only 8 points over Dan Ratajczak entering next week.

First career feature win!  Ed Danoff (#7) won his first ever Sport Truck feature and accepts his Wisconsin Fans for Auto Racing trophy from representative Mal Richert Friday Night.

Ed Danoff took the lead at the start of the Sport Truck main and despite one caution that bunched the field on lap 3, was able to run at the front to the finish to win his first career feature event. Current point leader, Kevin Strebel ran to second place holding off Ben Kroll and Brandon Blashe. Strebel holds a 485 - 479 margin over rookie contender, Dan Davister with Kroll 3rd with 474 and Blashe 4th with 472 which should offer an all out battle next week for the championship. All four are looking for their first career track title.

The final weeks of action is for the 1999 schedule at Tri Star is this coming Friday evening, August 27th. All four division are involved in tight point races. Racing starts at 7 PM sharp. Luxemburg Tri Star Speedway is a third mile clay oval which is located on the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds in the town Luxemburg WI. Each week over 100 cars take to the track in a four division program featuring IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, Street Stocks and Sport Trucks.

RESULTS

IMCA MODIFIED
25 LAP FEATURE: 1.) R.M. Van Pay, Green Bay; 2.) Eddie Muenster, Green Bay; 3.) Mike Mashl, DePere; 4.) Chris Christensen, Sturgeon Bay; 5.) Brian Mullen, Seymour; 6.) Chris Derenne, Luxemburg
12 LAP CONSOLATION: 1) Doug Maurer, Green Bay; 2.) Dale Boerschinger, Green Bay; 3.) Dan Ratajczak, Frog Station; 4.) Mike Klenz, Sobieski
FIRST HEAT: 1) Christensen; 2.) Scott Mullen, Seymour
SECOND HEAT: 1) Roy Ihlenfeld, Kewaunee; 2.) Dave Maurer, Seymour
THIRD HEAT: 1) Muenster; 2.) Derenne
FOURTH HEAT: 1) Dan Deau, Suamico; 2.) Van Pay

IMCA STOCK CARS:
22 LAP FEATURE: 1) Jay Matthias, Green Bay; 2.) Kerry Havlovitz, Maribel; 3.) Doug Kropp, GReen Bay; 4.) Joe White, Oconto Falls; 5.) John Heinz, Green Bay; 6.) Rob Waechter
12 LAP CONSOLATION: 1) Brian Bruechert, Kewaunee; 2.) Matthias; 3.) Pat Davister, Luxemburg; 4.) Dave Budzban, Luxemburg
FIRST HEAT: 1) Rod Snellenberger, Pulaski; 2.) Bucky Coopman, Green Bay
SECOND HEAT: 1) White; 2.) Havlovitz
THIRD HEAT: 1) Kevin Nuthals, Green Bay; 2.) Eric VanIten, Green Bay

STREET STOCKS
20 LAP FEATURE: 1.) Jason Czarapata, Pulaski; 2.) Jesse Colwell, Greenleaf; 3.) Brandon Czarapata, Pulaski; 4.) James Tebon, Algoma; 5.) Jared Siefert, Green Bay; 6.) Frank Dorn, Luxemburg
12 LAP CONSOLATION: 1) Bob Bernier, Sobieski; 2.) Mike Czarapata, Green Bay; 3.) Rick Kylonen; 4.) Tom Leonard, Two Rivers
FIRST HEAT: 1) Darren Otto, Pulaski; 2.) Gary Reinhardt, Fish Creek
SECOND HEAT: 1) Brandon Czarapata; 2.) Dorn
THIRD HEAT: 1) Jamie Colwell, Greenleaf; 2.) Jason Czarapata
FOURTH HEAT: 1) Jesse Colwell; 2.) Siefert

SPORT TRUCKS
12 LAP FEATURE: 1.) Ed Danoff, Green Bay; 2.) Kevin Strebel, New Franken; 3.) Ben Kroll, Green Bay; 4.) Brandon Blashe, Winneconne; 5.) Dan Davister, Luxemburg
FIRST HEAT: 1) Danoff; 2.) Blashe