SIEFERT SUPREME IN IMCA MOD ACTION AT MANITOWOC! By Bill Schlei

June 5, 2002; Manitowoc, WI - Jared Seifert of Green Bay out-dueled and outlasted the competition at Manitowoc County Expo Speedway on Wednesday night in IMCA Modified action.

Mike Plate of Newton started on the pole with Scott Boyea of Green Bay on the outside. These two battled side by side for the first four laps trading the top spot until lap four when Seifert tangled with two other cars bringing out the first caution of the race.

On the restart, Plate led from the point and hung on for another three laps when the sixty-six car of Seifert took the low line out of turn four and assumed the lead. On the next lap, however, Michelle Ploeckelmann of Green Bay lost power and stopped between turns one and two causing yet another yellow situation.

On the next restart Seifert again took the lead and drove to the victory. Plate finished second just ahead of Julie McDermid, Bill Lemieux and last weeks feature winner Mike Wedelstock.

The IMCA Stock Cars Jeremy Christians of Horicon came from a third row starting spot to win the feature by the length of the strait-away.

Tim VanDe Hei of Green Bay started on the pole with Greg Gretz of Kewaunee on the outside of the front row. VanDe Hei led the first few laps and began to run away from the field until the yellow flag was displayed for the car of Rick Mahlberg of Denmark who ended up in the infield between turns three and four.

On the restart, VanDe Hei led once again but Christians had already begun his march to the front and began passing cars at a rate of two per lap until he took over the lead and ran away from the field. VanDe Hei ended up a strong second ahead of Greg Gretz, Travis Vanstratten and Larry Karcz, Jr. respectively.

Street Stock was a "slam-bang" affair that only a body shop owner could love. Lance Arneson of Krakow started on the pole and led from start to finish holding off a charging Doug Morgan of Kewaunee.

On the second lap of the race Andy Cassavant of Two Rivers was struck from behind on the back stretch with such force that the entire rear and axle was knocked loose from the car causing an extended yellow period.

Aaron Thornton of Sturgeon Bay who won last week's feature was involved in a multi car incident with Jeff Treml of DePere and Andy Waack of Manitowoc which caused Thornton to retire for the evening.

Treml managed to recover and finish third followed by Jon Mignon and Keith Kickbusch.

The Hobby Stock class continued to provide an exciting close to the evening with everybody trying to stop the seemingly unstoppable Erik Wetenkamp of Manitowoc.

Wetenkamp had won the first two features of the year and seemed to be on his way to a third when he lost control of his ride on the front stretch and slammed into the guardrail just beneath the flag stand, bounced across the front stretch colliding with Derek Moede of Casco coming to rest in a giant mud bog in the infield.

Wetenkamp was able to continue on the restart but seemed to lack control perhaps due to the damage suffered in the wreck and was eventually black-flagged for rough driving.

This opened up the race for Phillip Reichwaldt who took over the lead on the restart and appeared to be on his way to a win when Nathan Wegner of Maribel closed the gap and drove by to take the lead with just three laps to go.

Reichwaldt continued to pursue Wegner and managed to pull up to his rear bumper on the final lap. Unfortunately, Reichwaldt was a little too aggressive in his attempt to pass in turn three striking the car of Wegner and spinning him out.

Reichwaldt was black flagged and the race win was given to Jason Arenz of Kiel who had been running third. Wegner was awarded second with Derek Moede of Casco finishing third.

Next week is First Chrysler Night at the Expo Speedway. Gates open at 5:30 pm with racing at 7pm.

MANITOWOC COUNTY EXPO RESULTS - June 5, 2002