Ratajczak takes Modified fair race for second win
in a row at "The Hill"
By Dave Panske

August 14, 1999; Sturgeon Bay, WI. - It's Mid August and a cool night greeted race fans to the Door County Fair and a regular Saturday night racing program at The Hill.

Dan Ratajczak (#73) held off the challenges of R.M. Van Pay to record his second straight IMCA Modified feature win at Thunderhill.  Ratajczak currently hold down the third spot in the current standings.

It took three tries to get the first lap recorded in the IMCA Modified main, but once it started, the race went non stop. Mike Plate took the lead for the first lap before a flat tire forced him out and in the shuffle at the front, Dan Ratajczak took over the top spot and started to pull away from the field.

Randie Back moved into the runner up spot and R.M. Van Pay was working quickly to the front after starting near the back of the field. On lap 9, Van Pay moved by Back into the second spot and started to work closing the gap Ratajczak had built. Mid way, George Henkel was in fourth place followed by Randy LeMieux, Gary Jacobs, Todd Dart and Brad Anderegg.

Over the last half of the race, Van Pay hooked up high and Ratajczak was hugging the inside line. Van Pay slowly reeled in the leader and the final four laps, Van Pay tried several times to get by but could not get the bite needed outside to pull off the pass. He also tried to get inside but Ratajczak was not going to open a gap for him to get by.

Ratajcak collected his second straight feature win with Van Pay right behind. Henkel, the point leader, finished third with Back taking fourth. Dart took fifth and Anderegg rounded out the top six.

First feature win of 1999!  Jay Matthais (#8) earned his first IMCA Stock Car feature win of the 1999 racing season here at Thunderhill.  Matthais outsdistanced his rivals on the third-mile clay oval.

The IMCA Stock Cars took the green and never looked back also running a non stop event. Jay Matthias flew into the lead, hooked up on the high side of the track and cruised to his first feature win of the season here, leaving the race behind. Butch Beyers was running second while point contenders, Rod Snellenberger, Craig Paque and Pat Davister moved forward. By lap 6, it was crowded in the second place pack with cars running three wide and bumper to bumper. Beyers was holding onto the runner up spot at the mid way mark with Davister edging Snellenberger and Paque for third. Brian Bruechert, Eric VanIten and point leader, Larry Karcz, Jr. were now joining the pack.

With five laps left, Davister settled into the runner up spot with Snellenberger, Bayers, Paque and VanIlten behind. Matthias took the checker almost a straight away ahead at the finish with Davister holding off Snellenberger for second. Paque nipped Beyers at the line for the fourth place finish and Bruechert rounded out the top six.

Another new winner in 1999!  James Tebon (#21) put his sharp looking Street Stock in victory lane after scoring his first feature triumph of the season here at Thunderhill Speedway.

The first two rows of the Street Stock feature stayed in formation for the first few laps with Kevin Jandrin scored as the leader through lap 4. James Tebon moved alongside then and settled into the lead spot. On lap 7 when Gregg Siebold came ahead to battle with Jandrin for second place. With five laps left, the battle up front was still tight with Tebon holding the edge. Ed Anschutz was holding onto fourth place with Scott Pagels, Shawn Olson and point leader, Bernie Reinhardt behind.

On lap 14, just as he crossed the flag stand, Reinhardt's car suddenly erupted in a ball of flames when the engine let go. He drove the car to the waiting safety crew on the back chute and got out unharmed which set up a two lap dash to the finish.

Tebon was able to hold the lead to collect his first feature win of the season. Siebold ran the high side to nip Jandrin for the runner up spot. Anschutz drove away with his best career feature finish in fourth. Shannon Smith took fifth with Rick Johnson rounding out the top six.

James Anderson paced the opening lap of the Bomber main before Ford Maivitz took over and started to pull away. Point leader, Mike Soukup and Lucas Long hooked bumpers and stalled on the front chute bringing out the first caution on lap 5. Both rejoined at the back.

On the restart, Travis Annoye moved into second behind Malvitz and after another restart on lap 8, Annoye took over the top spot when Malvitz had a tire blow on his car. Annoye hooked up and drove off to his fifth feature win of the year, leaving the battle for the runner up spot. Rookie contender, Chad Szprejda, Greg Soukup, Jay Naze and Anderson ran tight to the finish for second. Szprejda was running the outside line and edged Naze at the line by a bumper. Mike Soukup came through the field to take fourth at the line and hold his point lead, Jeremy Wiitala and Todd Polster rounded out the top six.

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. Racing action starts promptly at 6:00 p.m.

RESULTS

IMCA MODIFIED:
20 LAP FEATURE: 1.) Dan Ratajczak, Frog Station; 2.) R.M. Van Pay, Green Bay; 3.) George Henkel, Sturgeon Bay; 4.) Randie Back, Green Bay; 5.) Todd Dart, Algoma; 6.) Brad Anderegg, Algoma
12 LAP CONSOLATION: 1.) Van Pay; 2.) Buck Schmelzer, Casco; 3.) Brian Baenen, New Franken; 4.) Jesse Brey, Manitowoc
FIRST HEAT: 1.) Ratajczak; 2.) Mike Plate, Newton
SECOND HEAT: 1.) Chris Christensen, Sturgeon Bay; 2.) Chris Derenne, Luxemburg
THIRD HEAT: 1.) Gary Jacobs, Algoma; 2.) Anderegg

IMCA STOCK CARS:
20 LAP FEATURE: 1.) Jay Matthias, Green Bay; 2.) Pat Davister, Luxemburg; 3.) Rod Snellenberger, Pulaski; 4.) Craig Paque, Algoma; 5.) Butch Beyers, Green Bay; 6.) Brian Bruechert, Kewaunee
12 LAP CONSOLATION: 1.) Rob Gagne, Luxemburg; 2.) Tim Van De Hei, DePere; 3.) Jon Wolf, Green Bay; 4.) Joe LeBotte, Kewaunee
FIRST HEAT: 1) Charlie Kroll, Algoma; 2.) Beyers
SECOND HEAT: 1) Larry Karcz Jr., Pulaski; 2.) Paque
THIRD HEAT: 1) Matthias; 2.) Jeff Brehmer, Pulaski
FOURTH HEAT: 1) Rob Waechter, Luxemburg; 2.) Eric VanIten, Green Bay

STREET STOCKS
15 LAP FEATURE: 1.) James Tebon, Algoma; 2.) Gregg Siebold, Denmark; 3.) Kevin Jandrin, Forestville; 4.) Ed Anschutz, Algoma; 5.) Shannon Smith, Green Bay; 6.) Rick Johnson, Gills Rock
12 LAP CONSOLATION: 1.) Smith; 2.) Johnson; 3.) Jason Brungraber, Sturgeon Bay; 4.) Troy Raas
FIRST HEAT: 1) Tom Daubner, Carlsville; 2.) Shawn Olson, Algoma
SECOND HEAT: 1) Anschutz; 2.) Siebold
THIRD HEAT: 1) Jared Siefert, Green Bay; 2.) Scott Pagels, Little Sturgeon

BOMBERS
15 LAP FEATURE: 1.) Travis Annoye, Casco; 2.) Jay Naze, Forrestville; 3.) Chad Szprejda, Suamico; 4.) Mike Soukup, Sturgeon Bay; 5.) Jeremy Wiitala, Green Bay; 6.) Todd Polster, Sturgeon Bay
12 LAP CONSOLATION: 1) Wally Lhost, Sturgeon Bay; 2.) Rob Wagner, Sturgeon Bay; 3.) Tom Frea, Sturgeon Bay; 4.) Marty Beilke, Stugeon May
FIRST HEAT: 1) Scott Reinhardt, Fish Creek; 2.) Greg Soukup, Egg Harbor
SECOND HEAT: 1) Szprejda; 2.) Mike Soukup
THIRD HEAT: 1) Annoye; 2.) Naze