First career
Tri-Star titles to VanIten and Van Straten. August 25, 2000; Luxemburg, WI. - Despite a forecast for storms, a light sprinkles during the first couple races, the weather held and the Luxemburg Tri Star Speedway closed their 2000 racing season Friday night. Champions were crowned in each of the four divisions with 2 repeat title holders and 2 first timers highlighting the action.
The IMCA Stock Cars took the track first, and with point leader, Eric VanIten, not making the main, the title was up in the air. Bryan Techmeier led the opening 4 laps before John Heinz moved into the top spot. Techmeier regained the top spot on lap 12 when Heinz pulled out of the contest. Kerry Havlovitz moved into the runner up spot and moved into the lead on lap 15. Jeremy Christians, Shawn Wagner, Pat Davister, Jay Matthias and Tim Van De Hei were behind. Van De Hei was the only one able to catch VanIten for the title, and a lap 19 caution bunched the field and gave Van De Hei a clear shot at overtaking VanIten. Havlovitz continued to lead but Christians and Davister moved right behind after the restart, and Van De Hei pulled into fourth, enough to gain a tie for the title. Havlovitz became a sandwich with 2 laps left with Christians taking the outside and Davister sticking his nose inside. Out of turn 2, Davister inched into the top spot with Christians back into third. Van De Hei now had an open door with the leaders in a line, but the right front broke on the car entering turn one, sending him high and off the track, dropping him back in the lineup, finishing 15th, and handing the 2000 track championship to a surprised VanIten Davister held off Havlovitz and Christians to win his second feature of the season, and moved into second in the standings, finishing just one mark behind VanIten 494 - 493 in the final tally. Matthias took fourth place in the main with Wagner and Larry Ingebretson rounding out the top six. VanIten led the point chase for the last half of the season and wins his first career track title by the closest margin ever in the division here. He also did it without winning a feature here this season, but running consistent, despite the finish tonight.
Several cautions over the first 6 laps of the modified feature kept the field bunched and damaged both point leader, Brian Mullen and challenger, R.M. Van Pay. Both were ale to continue in the race but from the back. Jeremie Hedrick had led from the start and had Jerry Muenster, Randie Back, Eddie Muenster, Todd Dart and Jared Siefert in tow after the final restart on lap 6. Hedrick and Muenster pulled away from the pack, both running the high side of the track, Muenster would dip inside every couple laps, searching for the bite to overtake the leader. Each time, it looked like he gained a bit more in formation, and on lap 19, challenged from the inside again. His run was cut short when the engine let go on lap 21, leaving Hedrick alone at the front to claim his first career feature win here at Tri-Star. Todd Dart inched ahead of Back for the runner up spot, with Dan Ratajczak coming from last place to finish in fourth. Van Pay recovered to place fifth and Siefert rounded out the top six. Mullen finished the race in 9th place and earned his fourth Tri Star track championship but just 10 points over Van Pay. Mullen ran to five feature wins during the season and was one of 9 different feature winners during the year.
Over the first half of the Street Stock main, there ware five separate cautions that kept the field bunched. Phil Hiles led the first 3 laps before Leon Schott took over on lap 4. With the final restart on lap 10, Schott took off and pulled into a several length lead leaving the Greenleaf connection of, Jesse and Jamie Colwell, while Charlie Kroll, Kevin Jandrin, James Tebon and point leader, Travis Van Straten were behind trying to play catch up. It took five laps to close on the leader and Kroll inched into the runner up spot. Attempting to take the inside line into the lead on lap 16, Schott slammed the door and Kroll had to take evasive action, hitting the binders, and getting a bit sideways in turn two also getting tapped from behind. Kroll dropped out of the race and the Colwells took up the battle for the lead. Schott had the right front tire break lose on the car with just a few laps left which allowed Jamie Colwell the break he needed to take the lead unchallenged on lap 18. Jesse followed into the runner up spot and drove to the finish, with Jamie winning his second straight feature followed by brother Jesse. Schott pulled out of the race with point leader, Van Straten, finishing in third place and capturing his first career track championship. James Van Rixel ended a strong run by finishing in fourth. Tom Leonhard took fifth and Rich Kyllonen rounded out the top six. Van Straten captured his first career track title by winning 2 features during the season. He becomes the 11 different title holder in the 12 seasons here et Tri Star. Jamie Colwell finishes the season in second place only 8 points behind, 553 - 545. Dan Davister took charge of the Sport Truck finale and pulled into a large lead by mid way with 2000 track champion, Kevin Strebel, giving chase. Over the final half of the race, lapped traffic slowed the leader and allowed Strebel a chance to close right behind for the final 2 laps. Davister held off the charge and won his first feature of the season with Strebel taking second. Jerry Scray, Ed Danoff, Dan Scharenbroch and Dave Davister rounded out the top six finishers. Strebel was one of six different feature winners this season and won six himself, on the way to a second straight track championship. Tri Star Promotions would like to THANK all of the fans, drivers and sponsors for their continued support this season, and look forward to the 13th season which will kick off in spring of 2001. RACING SUMMARY IMCA Modifieds: IMCA Stock Cars: Street Stocks: Sport Trucks: |
