August 17, 2001; Luxemburg, WI. - Two days of rain moved the Thursday night IMCA Special back to the regular Friday night racing slot at the Luxemburg Tri Star Speedway. Despite losing some of the traveling cars who opted to stay at their local point tracks, a total of 85 cars put on a very competitive program for the largest crowd of the season, sponsored by Concrete Finishers of Luxemburg.
A field of 22 cars took the green for the Midwest Motorsports IMCA Stock Car series 30 lap feature. This was the final race of the series and would decide the 2001 champion. Rob Waechter took control from the pole followed by Jeremy Christians, John Heinz, Craig Paque and Brandon Czarapata. The first of 2 race cautions appeared on lap 3 for a three car spin. Waechter continued at the point while Heinz moved into the runner up spot. Heinz worked on the leader until he found a gap on lap 10 and took over the lead. Larry Karcz, Jr moved into third and stayed with Waechter right behind the leader. The race was close up front with Waechter running alongside the leader until lap 18 when he drifted wide allowing Karcz to move into second. A final caution appeared on lap 20 with Heinz still setting the pace in front of Karcz. Paque was holding third with Christians right in the hunt in fourth. Series point leader, Mark Elliott, of Webster City, Iowa, worked his way from the middle of the field into the fifth spot with Waechter and Benji LaCrosse behind. The action stayed close up front to the finish. Elliot moved outside and pulled into the runner up spot after the restart. He stayed outside and ran even with the leader while Paque moved right behind Heinz for a three way battle as the laps clicked off. The pack remained close for the final laps, with Heinz able to hold off all challenges to take the checkered flag for his first Tri Star feature win of the season and first win in the Midwest Motorsports series. Paque was able to slip by Elliott out of the final turn to take the runner up finish, but the third place finish by Elliott earned him the series championship. Track point leader, LaCrosse, was able to finish in fourth place just ahead of Karcz and Christians. The Modifieds lined up 22 cars as well for their IMCA Nationals feature with Jared Siefert drawing number one for the starting grid and pulling into the number one spot at the start. Jeremy Jacobs pulled into second followed by M.J. Hintz, Randie Back, Tim Lemirande, Mike Mashl, and track point leader, Brian Mullen. A total of three cautions slowed the race with the first for Jacobs as he stalled off the track on lap 8. On the restart, Mullen pulled outside and took over the runner up spot. Brother, Scott Mullen moved by Back into third 1 lap later and Jay Schraufnagel moved into fourth by lap 10. Siefert drove an excellent line at the front to hold a 2 car length margin over the field. The Mullen boys battled for second with Scott finally able to sneak inside for the spot on lap 18. Schraufnagel, Back and Lemirande were right behind when the caution appeared again on lap 22 for a pair of spinners in turn one. Siefert was still at the point with the Mullen side by side behind for the restart. Just like before, Siefert didn’t worry about what was behind, only controlling his world at the front. Back and Schraufnagel moved up to pressure Scott Mullen for second after the restart, but Siefert again, maintained his steady lead gap. Scott was able to pressure for a couple laps before the final caution with 3 laps left. He charged again on the final restart, but Siefert would not be denied and drove off with the biggest feature win of his 2 year modified career and the $1500 first place check. Scott Mullen took the runner up spot with Schraufnagel, Back, Brian Mullen and Mike Mashl making up the top six. A post race inspection altered the top four when Back was DQ’d which moved everyone up putting Lemirande in the top six. The Luxemburg Tri Star Speedway will close out their 2001 season this next Friday night when all four divisions will be in competition. All four divisions will crown their champions as well, as all four point chases are very close heading into the final night. Racing returns to the normal 7 PM start time next week. SUMMARY IMCA STOCK CAR IMCA MODIFIED |
