Weather a factor at The Hill.
Ratajczak takes rain-shortened IMCA Modified win!
By Dave Panske
August 7, 1999; Sturgeon Bay, WI. -Rains throughout the day every where else, hit the Thunder Hill Speedway just enough to make a perfect track to start the program Saturday night. The heats and consys were run and the stage set for the features to follow.
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He also beat the rain!! Tom Stark (#8) won his first race of the season at Thunderhill Speedway in his IMCA Modified action when he earned the checkered flag in the third heat of the evening. Rains which would enter the area washed out much of the planned program this evening. |
The IMCA modified main started with a crash on the back chute that took three cars out of the lineup. When the green appeared, John Soukup took the point followed by Mike Plate, Darrell Massart, Dean Maurer, and Dan Ratajczak. Maurer hooked up and moved into the runner up spot by lap 7 with Ratajczak and point leader, George Henkel moving right behind.
A stalled car brought out the first caution on lap 10 As the race was to restart, a light rain started Maurer was able to slip to the inside of Soukup and Ratajczak moved right behind Maurer. Massart stayed high and was tight behind Soukup. The group ran that way for 2 laps. Coming out of turn 4 to complete lap 12. Maurer slipped and the car broke lose at the line, and spun into the inside, bringing out the caution again. Several cars also got together on the back chute after the caution appeared.
With the caution also came the rain, which continued to get heavier, forcing the race to be called complete as of the last completed lap. However, Maurer caused the caution and was dropped to the back of the lineup, any cars going to pit lane before the race was called were also dropped back in the order.
The win went to Ratajczak, his first of the season here. Massart was in the runner up spot with Chris Derenne taking third place, Henkel maintains his point lead by taking fourth with Gary Jacobs earning his best finish of the season in fifth and Michelle Ploeckelmann rounding out the top six positions.
The other three divisions had points and money split, and all of the payoffs will be made next week. The race this week will be run in conjunction with the Door County Fair with all divisions running with racing at 6 PM.
Thunderhill Speedway is a third mile clay oval located on the Door County Fairgrounds in Sturgeon Bay, WI. The weekly Saturday Night racing program consists of IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, Street Stocks and Bombers.
RESULTS
IMCA MODIFIED:
12 LAP FEATURE: (Rain
shortened) 1.) Dan Ratajczak, Frog Station; 2.) Darrell
Massart, Brussels; 3.) Chris Derenne, Luxemburg; 4.) George Henkel, Sturgeon Bay; 5.) Gary
Jacobs, Algoma; 6.) Michelle Ploeckelmann, Green Bay
12 LAP CONSOLATION: 1.) Jacobs; 2.) Jason LaViolette, Brussels; 3.) Plockelmann;
4.) Tim Schmecker, Sturgeon Bay
FIRST HEAT: 1.) Derenne; 2.) Mike Plate, Newton
SECOND HEAT: 1.) John Soukup, Sturgeon Bay; 2.) Massart
THIRD HEAT: 1.) Tom Stark, Sturgeon Bay; 2.) Randy LeMieux,
Sturgeon Bay
IMCA STOCK CARS:
20 LAP FEATURE: Rained Out
FIRST HEAT: 1) Rod Snellenberger, Pulaski; 2.) Craig Paque, Algoma
SECOND HEAT: 1) Joe LeBotte, Kewaunee; 2.) Jason Geyer, Brussels
THIRD HEAT: 1) Larry Karcz Jr., Pulaski; 2.) Charlie Kroll, Algoma
STREET STOCKS
15 LAP FEATURE: Rained Out
FIRST HEAT: 1) Phil Faustini, Sturgeon Bay; 2.) Tom Daubner, Carlsville
SECOND HEAT: 1) Kevin Jandrin, Forestville; 2.) Scott Pagels, Little Sturgeon
THIRD HEAT: 1) Shawn Olson, Algoma; 2.) Gary Reinhardt, Fish Creek
BOMBERS
15 LAP FEATURE: Rained Out
12 LAP CONSOLATION: 1) Tony Herbst, Sturgeon Bay; 2.) Brent Eisenman, Luxemburg;
3.) Jay Naze, Forestville; 4.) Marty Beilke, Sturgeon Bay
FIRST HEAT: 1) Rick Sternard, Sturgeon Bay; 2.) Greg Soukup, Egg Harbor
SECOND HEAT: 1) Wayne Moore, Sturgeon Bay; 2.) Wally Lhost, Sturgeon Bay
THIRD HEAT: 1) Bill LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay; 2.) Travis Annoye, Casco