SCHRAUFNAGEL REMAINS UNSTOPPABLE AT MANITOWOC! By Bill Schlei

July 17, 2002; Manitowoc, WI - Sweltering weather conditions didn't deter we're "no sweat" for the race fans at Manitowoc Expo Speedway Wednesday night as they came out in numbers to see some of the best racing of the season.

The IMCA Modified feature began with Kiel's Eric Scribner and Kewaunee's Chris Derenne up front with Scribner getting the advantage as the flag dropped. He would lead until lap 3 when last weeks feature winner Jay Schraufnagel used a nifty inside move in turn two to take over the lead.

Schraufnagel stayed up front until lap six when the Oconto Falls Julie McDermid lost power on the backstretch and rolled to a stop in turn three.

On the restart Schraufnagel again led the pack with Scribner in close pursuit. However, Green Bay's R.M. VanPay who had started in the fourth row had now worked his way to the front and drove around Scribner to second.

At the same time, Mike Wedelstadt of Hortonville used a classic "slide job" to move his ride from seventh to second place only to overdrive turn three and drop to fifth.

Van Pay ran at the very edge of the cushion for the remainder of the race trying to run down th 10s car but had to settle for second as Schraufnagel captures his second in a row at Manitowoc. Scribner finsihed third just ahead of Green Bay's Jared Seifert and Wedelstadt respectively.

Next up were the IMCA Stock Cars who put on by far the best contest of the evening. Luxumburg's Larry Ingebretsen and GB's Mike Wietor led the field to the start with Pulaski's Rod Snellenberger close behind in the second row.

Ingebretsen led the first few laps running side by side with Wietor when last week's winner Brett Piontek passed both cars on the front stretch to assume the lead. Piontek would hold on for two laps before Kewaunee's Greg Gretz went by on the backstretch and grabbed his piece of the action.

Snellenberger came to challenge on lap 7 and while these two were occupied Brandon Czarapata of Pulaski muscled his way to the front and took over a lead he would never relinquish. The battle then fell to second place with Horicon's Jeremy Christians, Gretz and "Hot Rod" running three wide much of the time as the racemovedto it's late stages. In the end it was Gretz getting second with Christians, Snellenberger and Larry Karcz, Jr. rounding out the top 5.

The Street Stock feature was a battle of attrition with the first four leaders dropping out due to mechanical failure.

Jolene Mueller of Two Rivers led the first for laps until she was overtaken by Paul Kuene who had led the feature the week before only to retire with engine problems. No problem under  the hood this week however a flat right front tire force PK to the pits under green leaving last weeks feature winner Lance Arneson of Krakow in the lead.

Just as suddenly Arneson's car caught fire and brought out a caution flag. The damage from the fire caused Arneson to retire leaving B.J. Soquest of Green Bay up front. Unfortunately Soquest's had car troubles of his own and would not make it to the restart.

When the green flag fell again it was Tom Leonard of Two Rivers on the point with Doug Morgan and Jeff Treml right on his heels. Leonard would prevail however taking his fifth feature win of the season. Treml got the number two spot with Morgan in third, Kewaunee's Keith Kickbusch fourth and a very game Paul Kuene who mananged a top five finish.

Andy Waack of Manitowoc was the winner in the Hobby Stock division "limping" his broken car across the finish line just ahead of Eric Wetenkamp of Manitowoc.

Next week is D.A.R.E. night at the Expo with a live remote from Fox Rock 107.

For more information go to their website at racingonline.com and click on the Manitowoc Expo Speedway box at the bottom of the page.

MANITOWOC COUNTY EXPO RESULTS - July 17, 2002