Ratajczak best in IMCA Mod action, VanIten at three straight in IMCA Stocks!

June 18, 1999, Luxemburg, WI. - After three weeks of battling weather, the Luxemburg Tri Star Speedway was able to cruise through a nice night for their sixth program of the season.

Brad Anderegg led the first laps of the IMCA Mod feature with Dave Zeitler moving into the runner up spot on lap 6. Hooked up on the outside, Zeitler led the next 9 laps before the engine let go, turning the lead back to Anderegg. Dan Ratajczak was running in second and closed in on the leader, bringing Mike Mashl and Scott Mullen along to the front.

Brian Drexler (#8) picked up his first IMCA Modified checkered of the season in the Consolation race.  Drexler had lost the lead to R.M. Van Pay with two laps to go, but made a brilliant pass on the final lap to win the event and make the feature race. Drexler is a former Street Stock champion at the raceway.

Ratajczak took over the lead on lap 19, and once in front, drove away to become the first repeat feature winner in the division this season. The baffle for the runner up spot went to Mashl with Chris Christensen nipping Anderegg at the line for fourth. Brian Mullen also slipped by brother Scott for the fifth place finish.

Lance Arenson led the opening lap of the Street Stock main but spun on the second lap, turning the lead over to Chas Van Ooyen. Van Ooyen led the next 2 laps with James Tebon taking his turn for 3 tours.

On lap 8, Jason Czarapata found his way to the lead position after a caution and headed the field for the rest of the way to win his first division feature of the year. Tebon held on for the runner up finish with Fred Davister taking third place with Van Ooyen running fourth. Brandon Czarapata ran fifth and Shannon Smith rounded out the top six.

15 year old Eugene Gregorich Jr. (right) scored his first career feature win in the Sport Truck division at Luxemburg Tri-Star.  He became the youngest driver to ever win a feature race on the third mile clay oval. He is show with his father Eugene Gregorich Sr., who was a front runner in the IMCA Modified division.

In the Sport Truck feature, rookie, Dan Davister set the pace for the opening four laps, with three time feature winner, Ben Kroll right behind. On lap 5, as the leaders came out of turn 4, Davister broke lose, with Kroll making contact as a result. Davister tried to regain the handle but crossed up at the finish line. The truck dug into the track and caused the truck to roll over, coming to rest on the wheels.

The left rear broke off Davister's truck and was hit by Eugene Gregorich, Jr., sending him into the air. Davister was not hurt, and Gregorich was able to stay on the track, and was in the lead for the restart. Gregorich led the race to the finish for his first career feature win, and became the youngest feature winner ever at Tri-Star at 15 years old.

Point leader, Kevin Strebel chased Gregorich until Kroll came back through the field into the runner up spot with 2 laps left. Kroll finished right behind Gregorich at the line. Strebel spun on the final lap, moving Bob Brown into the third place finish. Jerry Scray took fourth. Strebel recovered to take fifth and Ed Danoff rounded out the top six.

Ed Danoff won his first race of the season when he took home the victory in the Sport Truck heat race.  Danoff would later finish sixth in the feature event.

The winner of the last two IMCA Stock Car features, Eric VanIten, took the lead for the opening two circuits of tonight's main event before rookie contender, Shawn Wagner took over on lap 3. Wager hugged the inside line with VanIten right behind Doug Kropp was running the high line and moved into second on lap 5.

On lap 7, Wagner broke lose out of turn 2, spinning to the infield before rejoining the field in the back. Kropp took the lead but VanIten came right back to move into the lead again on lap 10. Kropp, Tim Van De Hei and Pat Davister moved to the front and were right behind the leader to the finish with VanIten winning his third straight feature event. Davister was the runner up with Kropp and Van De Hei behind. Rod Snellenberger took fifth and Joe White rounded out the top six. The win for VanIten, made him the first driver since John Gregorich in 1993 to win three straight in the division.

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.) Dan Ratajczak, Frog Station; 2.) Mike Mashl, DePere; 3.) Chris Christensen, Carlsville; 4.) Brad Anderegg, Algoma; 5.) Brian Mullen, Seymour; 6.) Scott Mullen Seymour
12 LAP CONSOLATION: 1) Brian Drexler, Oshkosh; 2.) R.M. Van Pay, Green Bay; 3.) Brian Mullen, Seymour; 4.) Buck Schmelzer, Casco
FIRST HEAT: 1) Dan Deau, Suamico; 2.) Dean Maurer, DePere
SECOND HEAT: 1) Christensen; 2.) Mashl
THIRD HEAT: 1) Anderegg; 2.) Dave Zeitler, Luxemburg

IMCA STOCK CARS:
22 LAP FEATURE: 1) Eric Van Iten, GreenBay; 2.) Pat Davister, Luxemburg; 3.) Doug Kropp, Green Bay; 4.) Tim Van Dei Hei, DePere; 5.) Rod Snellenberger, Pulaski; 6.) Joe White, Oconto Falls
12 LAP CONSOLATION: 1) John Heinz, Green Bay; 2.) Kerry Douglas, Sturgeon Bay; 3.) Joe LeBotte, Kewaunee; 4.) Tony Bouche, Algoma
FIRST HEAT: 1) White; 2.) Bob Waechter, Luxemburg
SECOND HEAT: 1) Kropp; 2.) VanIten
THIRD HEAT: 1) Davister; 2.) Criag Paque, Algoma
FOURTH HEAT: 1) Van De Hei; 2.) Snellenberger

STREET STOCKS
20 LAP FEATURE: 1.) Jason Czarapata, Pulaski; 2.) James Tebon, Algoma; 3.) Fred Davister, Luxemburg; 4.) Chas Van Ooyen, Appleton; 5.) Brandon Czarapata, Pulaski; 6.) Shannon Smith, Green Bay
FIRST 12 LAP CONSOLATION: 1) Randy Rahn, Brillon; 2.) Gary Reinhardt, Fish Creek; 3.) Jamie Cowell, Greenleaf
SECOND 12 LAP CONSOLATION: 1.) Joe Kerkhoff, DePere; 2.) Bob Bernier, Sobieski; 3.) John Baenen, New Franken
FIRST HEAT: 1) Davister; 2.) James Van Rixel, Abrams
SECOND HEAT: 1) Frank Dorn, Luxemburg; 2.) Darren Otto, Pulaski
THIRD HEAT: 1) Brandon Czarapata; 2.) Lance Arneson, Oconto Falls
FOURTH HEAT: 1) Jared Siefert, Green Bay; 2.) Tebon

SPORT TRUCKS
12 LAP FEATURE: 1.) Eugene Gregorich Jr., Kewaunee; 2.) Ben Kroll, Green Bay; 3.) Bob Brown, Forestville; 4.) Jerry Scray, Green Bay; 5.) Kevin Strebel, Green Bay; 6.) Ed Danoff, Green Bay
FIRST HEAT: 1) Danoff; 2.) Dan Davister, Luxemburg