Luxemburg beats weather!   Zeitler best in Mods, Heinz tops Stocks!
By Jeffrey Sachse

April 28, 2000; Luxemburg, WI. - Tri Star Promotions opened their 12th season of action at Luxemburg Tri-Star Speedway in front of a good crowd which was on hand in spite of less than ideal weather conditions.   However the hot action on the track kept the crowd in the stands and the show was completed before 10pm, in spite of a short delay to run in some moisture which fell on the track just prior to the Modified feature event.

Dave Zeitler (#84) scored the IMCA Modified feature victory on opening night at Luxemburg Tri-Star.  Zeitler found off the challenges of Mike Mashl to earn the victory on the third-mile clay oval.

Heading up the action, Dave Fisher bolted from his pole starting position as the track began to take shape after a light rain.  A pair of quick cautions kept the field bunched up on Fisher's rear bumper before action began in earnest.  Fisher had to content with Zeitler who gave chase in second and Mike Mashl who had moved into the third slot by lap six.  The lead trio ran nose and tail around the third mile clay oval, with Fisher never having more than a car length breathing room.  After the halfway point in the race Fisher's car began to push in turns three and four and on lap 18 Zeitler took advantage of that situation, nosing under Fisher for the lead.  Mashl followed in Zeitler's tire tracks into the runner-up spot.   For the remaining distance Mashl pressured Zeitler looking for a weakness, but none was to be found as Zeitler took the checkered by a car length over Mashl.  Fisher held on for a solid third followed by Chris Derenne, Eddie Muenster and R.M. Van Pay, who charged from the tail of the field after making the feature though the consolation race.

John Heinz (#57) was the surprise victor of the IMCA Stock Car main after taking the lead on the final lap of the event.

The IMCA Stock Cars did their share to keep fans entertained during feature action. Jay Matthias paced the opening circuits of the feature race with John Heinz moving up to challenge for the lead.  Matthias bowed to Heinz pressure turning over the top spot on lap 13.  Matthias lost the runner-up spot a lap later as Dan Gracyalny moved into second.  Heinz turn at the front was short lived as Gracyalny powered around Heinz for the top spot on lap 14.  From there it appeared Gracyalny was headed for victory.  However on the last lap Gracyalny slowed dramatically.   Heinz roared into the lead and beat Brian Bruechert back to the finish line to record the victory.  Bruechert settled for second, while Tim Van De Hei, Jon Wolf, Pat Davister and Brandon Czarapata rounded out the top six in a mad scramble to the line.

The Street Stock feature race saw several leaders fall by the wayside due to mechanical problems and the Colwell brothers finish 1-2 in the feature event.   Travis Van Staten paced the opening laps of the event before Fred Davister charged into the lead.  Davister however was to suffer the misfortune of losing a wheel and the lead while bringing out the caution for his wounded mount.  VanStraten was again at the point for the restart, however rookie Jamie Van Rixel took over the top spot on lap eight.

VanRixel's lead was short lived however as he suffered a flat tire, turning the lead very briefly over to Kevin Jandrin.  Jandrin suffered the same fate however on the next lap as he to had a tire go down.  This turned the lead over to Jesse Colwell who had his brother Jesse in the runner-up spot.  The Colwell's cars performed flawlessly to the checkered and they finished 1-2 with Jesse in first and Jamie in second.  VanStraten drove a steady race to claim third ahead of Tom Leonard, Bob Bernier and Corey Haen who comprise the top six finishers.  Haen, who earlier won the consolation drove a smooth race to make his was to the sixth place finish.

Rapid Rookie! James Van Rixel (#4) ran his first ever Street Stock race and scored a heat victory in the process.	First of two! Dan Gracyalny (#55) won heat races in both the IMCA Modified and IMCA Stock Car divisions this evening.

Kevin Strebel the defending Sport Truck champion got his season off to a good start as he claimed the opening night feature victory.  Stebel passed early race leader Bob Brown in a daring three wide pass to claim the lead.  Once out front Strebel never looked back and took the checkered in convincing fashion.  Brown would lay claim to second ahead of Dave Davister, Jerry Scray and Ed Danoff in the top five positions.

Race fans will be greeted with a special attraction this Friday night May 5th, at the Luxemburg Tri-Star speedway.

The Dale Jarrett Winston Cup show car will be on display under the grandstand from 6 - 9pm. The car is the famous Robert Yates chassis number 12. This car was driver by Davey Allison, Ernie Irvan and Jarrett before becoming the show car.

The appearance is being sponsored by the Hot Laps Motorsports Bar and M.R. Clean Auto Detailing.

This is in addition to the full program of IMCA Modified, IMCA Stock Car, Street Stock and Sport Truck racing that takes center stage in Luxemburg every Friday night. Action is set to begin weekly at 7:00pm.

IMCA Modifieds:
FEATURE: 1) Dave Zeitler, Luxemburg; 2.) Mike Mashl, Green Bay; 3.) Dave Fischer, Green Bay; 4.) Chris Derenne, Luxemburg; 5.) Eddie Muenster, Green Bay; 6.) R.M. Van Pay, Green Bay
CONSOLATION: 1) Doug Maurer, DePere; 2.) Van Pay; 3.) Troy Muench, Algoma; 4.) Art Siefert, Green Bay
FIRST HEAT: 1) Dan Gracyalny, Little Chute; 2.) Mashl
SECOND HEAT: 1) Zeitler; 2.) Danny Deau, Little Suamico
THIRD HEAT: 1) Derenne; 2.) Jesse Brey, Manitowoc
FOURTH HEAT: 1) Mike Klenz, Green Bay; 2.) Dan Ratajczak, Frog Station

IMCA Stock Cars:
FEATURE: 1) John Heinz, Green Bay; 2.) Brian Bruechert, Kewaunee; 3.) Tim Van De Hei, DePere; 4.) Jon Wolf, Green Bay; 5.) Pat Davister, Luxemburg; 6.) Brandon Czarapata, Pulaski
FIRST CONSOLATION: 1) Larry Karcz Jr., Pulaski; 2.) Joe LeBotte, Algoma; 3.) Dave Bouche, Algoma; 4.) Troy DeGrave, Green Bay
SECOND CONSOLATION: 1) Brandon Mindak, Luxemburg; 2.) Josh Massart, Brussels; 3.) Kerry Havlovetz, Maribel; 4.) Sherry Czarapata, Krakow
FIRST HEAT: 1) Dan Gracyalny, Little Chute; 2.) Rod Snellenberger, Pulaski
SECOND HEAT: 1) Jay Matthias, LUxemburg; 2.) Davister
THIRD HEAT: 1) Heinz; 2.) Wolf
FOURTH HEAT: 1) Bruechert; 2.) Mark Derenne, Kewaunee

Street Stocks:
FEATURE: 1) Jesse Colwell, Greenleaf; 2.) Jamie Colwell, Greenleaf; 3.) Travis Van Straten, Shiocton; 4.) Tom Leonard, Two Rivers; 5.) Bob Bernier, Sobeiski; 6.) Corey Haen, Sturgeon Bay
CONSOLATION: 1) Haen; 2.) Aaron Thorton, Sturgeon Bay; 3.) bernie Reinhardt, Sturgeon Bay; 4.) Dave Verhagen, Green Bay
FIRST HEAT: 1) Fred Davister, Luxemburg; 2.) Van Straten
SECOND HEAT: 1) James Van Rixel, Abrams; 2.) Jerry Kroll, Algoma
THIRD HEAT: 1) James Tebon, Algoma; 2.) Shannon Smith, Green Bay

Sport Trucks:
FEATURE: 1) Kevin Strebel, Green Bay; 2.) Bob Brown, Forestville; 3.) Dave Davister, Luxemburg; 4.) Jerry Scray, Abrams; 5.) Ed Danboff, Forestville; 6.) Shawn Dorn, Abrams
HEAT: 1) Davister; 2.) Strebel