Mullen repeats in Mods, Czarapata captures career first in Stock at 'The Berg'!
By Dave Panske

June 16, 2000; Luxemburg, WI. - Another cool and windy night, but the racing was fast with two first time, and two repeat feature winners Friday night at Tri Star on Coke night.

Randy LeMieux started the modified main in the front row and took command followed by Randie Back, Dave Maurer, Robert Waechter, and Dave Fisher. With the race staying green for the first 21 laps, LeMieux was able to pull away from the field and left the race for the runner up spot.

By the mid point of the race, Back and Maurer still trailed LeMieux, but Brian Mullen was making his way to the front bringing Doug Maurer, and Mike Mashl along. Mullen was working on closing the gap on Back, finally moving into the runner up spot on lap 18, but then faced an almost, 1/4 lap gap to catch the leader, with just 7 laps left.

On lap 22, the lone caution of the race appeared and bunched the field right behind the leader. LeMieux was running high on the track and on the restart, Mullen started to work the low groove, inching alongside. It took 2 laps before Mullen slipped into the top spot and drove away for his second straight feature win and his third for the season. LeMieux completed the run in the runner up spot followed by Back, Doug Maurer, Waechter and Mashl. The win also moved Mullen into the point lead for the first time this season.

Travis Van Straten was all smiles after he recorded his first career Street Stock feature win at Luxemburg Tri-Star.   Van Straten was presented a large trophy by Coca-Cola representatives John Giglot (left) and Bill Jensen (right).

The Street Stocks started their main event with a caution on the opening lap, but then settled into a smoother line with Jeff Vlies taking the lead on the start, followed by Tom Leonhard, Leon Schott, Jeff Treml, Tom Daubner, Fred Davister and Jamie Colwell. Vlies was still leading the way at the mid point with Schott now behind. Leonhard was now third with Treml next. Point leader, Travis Van Straten had moved through the pack into fifth with Davister next.

A final caution on lap 14 bunched the pack on the leader and set up a 6 lap dash. On the restart. Van Straten moved inside of the leader and took over the top spot when Vlies slipped out of the groove in turn four. Colwell had made a move into third. Davister hooked up on the outside and started to make his way to the front. Van Straten could not shake the group behind, but was definitely in control as the white flag appeared.

Tom Leonard (#77) made his first trip to victory lane this season after scoring a win in a Street Stock heat race on the third-mile clay oval.

Davister, still running outside pulled even with the leader entering turn one. It looked like a dead heat for the win until the radiator let go in Davister's mount down the back chute. Davister got sideways in the water, but did not spin, brining the car home in 8th place. Van Straten collected his first career feature win at Tri Star with Vlies taking the runner up finish for his best finish ever here. Colwell took third place with Schott fourth, Treml fifth and Leonhard in sixth.

Brandon Czarapata (#33) scored his first career IMCA Stock car feature win here at Luxemburg Tri-Star.

There was plenty of action in the IMCA Stock Car main with rookie, Greg Gretz leading the opening lap before Craig Paque took his turn, leading 2 circuits before point leader, Eric VanIten pulled into the top spot on lap 4. Larry Ingebretson, Benji LaCrosse, Brandon Czarapata and Rod Snellenberger were moving through the field when the lone caution of the race appeared on lap 7.

Just as the caution appeared, LaCrosse was making a move to the inside of the leader, only to have to set up for the restart. VanIten took command again and LaCrosse took a couple laps to work alongside again. On lap 11, LaCrosse was in the front but VanIten was still in the hunt. On lap 13. The pair touched in turn 2, slowing enough for Czarapata to sneak by on the outside into the lead. LaCrosse suddenly slowed with a flat tire, and had to make a trip down the lane, VanIten tucked right behind the leader as Tim Van De Hei and Jay Matthias moved into the top four.

Over the next few laps, both Van De Hei and Matthias moved by VanIten and started to close the gap on the leader. It took most of the rest of the race to close in, then ran out of laps to make a run for the win, allowing Czarapata his first career division feature win here. With Van De Hei and Matthias right behind. VanIten took fourth place with Jeremy Christians rounding out the top five, Last weeks winner, Brian Bruechert, had to make the main through the consy, and came through the pack to complete the top six finishers.

Getting a head start on their future racing plans this group of winners, piloted their Big Wheels to victory as the kids took to the track for the annual Big Wheel races.

Jeff Scray took charge of the truck main and set the pace through the first 6 laps before Ed Danoff closed in and finally made the inside line work moving into the lead on lap 7. Once in front, Danoff pulled away and won his second straight feature. Point leader, Kevin Strebel, finished in the runner up spot with Jerry Scray taking third. Dan and Dave Devister made up the top five finishers.

Fans got a look at the future as a large group of "rookie" drivers took to the track at intermission for the annual Big Wheel Races sponsored by Coke.

RACING SUMMARY

IMCA Modifieds:
25 LAP FEATURE: 1) Brian Mullen, Seymour; 2.) Randy LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay; 3.) Randie Back, Green Bay; 4.) Doug Maurer, Green Bay; 5.) Rob Waechter, Luxemburg; 6.) Mike Mashl, DePere
12 LAP CONSOLATION: 1) Jerry Muenster, Green Bay; 2.) R.M. Van Pay, Green Bay; 3.) Shawn Olson, Algoma; 4.) Tom Baumgart, Denmark
FIRST 10 LAP HEAT: 1) Randy LeMieux; 2.) Bill LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay
SECOND 10 LAP HEAT: 1.) Dave Fisher, Green Bay; 2.) Brad Anderegg, Algoma
THIRD 10 LAP HEAT: 1) Mashl; 2.) Doug Maurer
FOURTH 10 LAP HEAT: 1) Back; 2.) Todd Dart, Algoma

IMCA Stock Cars:
22 LAP FEATURE: 1.) Brandon Czarapata, Pulaski; 2.) Tim Van De Hei, DePere; 3.) Jay Matthais, Green Bay; 4.) Eric VanIten, Green Bay; 5.) Jeremy Christians, Horicon; 6.) Brian Bruechert, Kewaunee
12 LAP CONSOLATION: 1) Bruechert; 2.) Jason Czarapata, Pulaski; 3.) van De Hei; 4.) Joe LeBotte, Kewaunee
FIRST 10 LAP HEAT: 1)  Craig Paque, Algoma; 2.) Rod Snellenberger, Pulaski
SECOND 10 LAP HEAT: 1) Greg Gentz, Kewaunee; 2.) VanIten
THIRD 10 LAP HEAT: 1) Josh Massart, Brussels; 2.) Brandon Czarapata

Street Stocks:
20 LAP FEATURE: 1) Travis Van Straten, Hortonville; 2.) Jeff Vlies, Algoma; 3.) Jamie Colwell, Greenleaf; 4.) Leon Schott, Green Bay; 5.) Jeff Treml, Greenleaf; 6.) Tom Leonard, Two Rivers
12 LAP CONSOLATION: 1) Mike Coel, Green Bay; 2.) James Tebon, Algoma; 3.) Dave Baenen, New Franken; 4.) Nathan Jacobson, Green Bay
FIRST 10 LAP HEAT: 1) Leonard; 2.) Vlies
SECOND 10 LAP HEAT: 1) Schott; 2.) Treml
THIRD 10 LAP HEAT: 1) Fred Davister, Luxemburg; 2.) Tom Daubner, Sturgeon Bay

Sport Trucks:
12 LAP FEATURE: 1) Ed Danoff, Green Bay; 2.) Kevin Strebl, New Franken; 3.) Jerry Scray, Green Bay; 4.) Dan Davister, Luxemburg; 5.) Dave Davister, Luxemburg; 6.) Jeff Scray, Green Bay
8 LAP HEAT: 1) Danoff; 2.) Jerry Scray