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Rohloff takes
IMCA Mod finale, Van Pay earns fifth title at "The Berg!" LaCrosse, Colwell,
Strebel track champs!
By Dave Panske |
August 24, 2001;
Luxemburg, WI. - A nice night for the final race of the 2001 season at the
Luxemburg Tri Star Speedway. A close night of racing produced two first time and two
repeat feature winners. The four divisions also crowned their champions for the season.
Stock cars were first up with two cautions in the first 3 laps that altered the
field a bit and then ran to the finish non stop. Brian Bruechert moved into the lead after
the final restart with Jeremy Christians, Travis Annoye, Eric VanIten, Larry Ingebretsen
and point leader, Benji LaCrosse right behind.
The lead pack stayed bumper to bumper and side by side for the entire race with plenty of
pressure on the leader. Bruechert held off all challenges and drove off with a division
leading 4th feature win for the season. Christians was right behind at the finish with
VanIten, Annoye, Dylan Heilmann and LaCrosse rounding out the top six. The finish by
LaCrosse clinched his first home town track championship.
TheModifieds took the track next with a non stop feature event to close their season. Chad
Nelson set the pace early with Doug Maurer putting the pressure on and swapping the lead
until moving into the top spot on lap 7. Nelson held second as the field spread out and
Brad Rohloff moved into third. The point chase was being decided back in the field between
Brian Mullen and R.M. Van Pay. The pair of 4 time champs entered the race tied for the
lead and started together in row 8.
On lap 14, Rohloff moved into the runner up spot and started to chase down the leader. Van
Pay and Mullen were now in the top 10. Rohloff was making the outside work and close on
Maurer. He powered into the lead on lap 18 and checked out on the field to collect his
first tri star feature win since May 15, 1998. With Rohloff alone at the front, eyes
turned to the point chase again as the pair were staying together working through traffic.
On lap 21, Van Pay was working outside when the inside car slipped in turn one and got
into Van Pays car. Mullen saw his chance to put Van Pay behind him and went wide to pass.
The cars slid up the track into Mullen. His car drove over the front tire of Van Pays
machine and settled off the track in turn two, ending his title run. Van Pay lost several
spots but was able to continue and collected his fifth track championship.
Gary Reinhardt took control of the Street feature at the start followed by Laurel Ettien,
James Tebon, Tom Leonhard, and Phil Hiles. A lap 2 caution changed the lineup with
Reinhardt still in control for the restart with Tebon, Ettien, Jamie Colwell, Fred
Davister, and Jeff Vlies behind. By the mid point, Colwell had moved into third and point
chaser, Mike Coel moved into sixth. Point leader, Jamie Colwell was running in ninth. A
pair of cautions bunched the pack for the final time on laps 11 and 12. Jamie Colwell
moved into second after the restart and up on the leader. Reinhardt held off all
challenges to collect his first ever Tri Star feature win.
Jamie Colwells car started to lose power as the field made the second last lap. On the
final lap, as the cars of Tebon, Coel and Vlies tried to get around the car in turn two,
contact caused a scramble. Tebon was able to get through to finish second and Vlies came
in third. Jesse Colwell slipped through the mix up and came in fourth and clinched his
first career track championship. Jamie Colwell coasted the car around to finish fifth with
James Van Rixal rounding out the top six.
Jeff Scray took the lead at the start of the Sport Truck feature and pulled away from the
pack while the battle was for second. Ben Kroll and Dave Davister went at it with Davister
finally taking over second on lap 6. He closed the gap on the leader but ran out of laps
to mount a serious challenge. Scray won a division leading fourth feature win of the year
with Davister right behind at the finish. Kroll was third with Dan Davister taking fourth.
Point leader, Kevin Strebel took fifth and along with that a third straight track
championship. Shawn Dorn rounded out the top six.
The staff and management of the Luxemburg Tri Star Speedway would like to congratulate
their 2001 champions and thank all the drivers, crews and fans for their support
throughout the season.
SUMMARY
IMCA MODIFIED
25 Lap Feature l. Brad Rohloff, Pulaski 2. Doug Maurer, Green Bay 3. Todd
Dart, Algoma 4. Robert Waechter, Luxemburg 5. Chad Nelson, Green Bay 6. Eddie Muenster,
Green Bay
12 Lap Consy l. Doug Mahlik, New Franken 2. Dan Ratajczak, Frog Station
3. Randie Back, Green Bay 4. Muenster
10 Lap Heats First l. Scott Boyea, Green Bay 2. Tom Baumgart, New Franken
Second l. Jeremy Hodkiewicz, Shawano 2. Waechter
Third l. Maurer 2. Rohloff
Fourth l. Nelson 2. Jerry Muenster, Green Bay
IMCA STOCK CAR
22 Lap Feature l. Brian Bruechert, Kewaunee 2. Jeremy Christians, Horicon
3. Eric VanIten, Green Bay 4. Travis Annoye, Casco 5. Dylan Heilmann, Green Bay 6. Benji
LaCrosse, Luxemburg
12 Lap Consy l. Kyle Fredrick, Cecil 2. Dave Bouche, Algoma 3. Troy
DeGrave, Luxemburg 4. Jay Matthias, Green Bay
10 Lap Heats First l. Annoye 2. Heilmann
Second l. Brandon Mindak, Green Bay 2. Travis Van Straten, Hortonville
Third l. Jeff LaCrosse, Luxemburg
STREET STOCK
20 Lap feature l. Gary Reinhardt, Fish Creek 2. James Tebon, Algoma 3.
Jeff Vlies, Algoma 4. Jesse Colwell, Greenleaf 5. Jamie Colwell, Greenleaf 6. James Van
Rixal, Abrams
12 Lap Consy l. Tim Cayemberg, DePere 2. Tom Daubner, Sturgeon Bay 3.
Marty Beilke, Sturgeon Bay 4. Van Rixal
10 Lap Heats First l. Phil Hiles, Appleton 2. Jamie Colwell
Second l. Leon Schott, Green Bay 2. Tebon
Third l. Fred Davister, Luxemburg 2. Tom Leonhard, Two Rivers
SPORT TRUCK
15 Lap Feature l. Jeff Scray, Oconto 2. Dave Davister, Luxemburg 3. Ben
Kroll, Green Bay 4, Dan Davister, Luxemburg 5. Kevin Strebel, New Franken 6. Shawn Dorn,
Green Bay
10 Lap Heat l. Aaron Behnke, Green Bay 2. Dave Davister |
