Dart tops Thuderhill Mods!!

May 22, 1999; Sturgeon Bay, WI. - A cool evening, but another smooth fast track offered some hot racing action at the Hill on Saturday night.

Dean Maurer took charge of the IMCA Modified main at the start but the field stayed with him during the early laps to prevent a run away. Brother, Dave Maurer, Jesse Brey, Randy LeMieux, Chris Christenson and Todd Dart were behind. Dart hooked up tight on the inside and moved forward, taking the runner up spot on lap 6 and one lap later pulled even with Maurer for the top spot. It took three laps to secure the lead on his own, but once in front, pulled ahead and ran to his first feature win of the season. The race then turned to the second spot where Maurer had his hands full with R.M Van Pay and Dan Ratajczak. Maurer was able to hold his spot to the finish with Van Pay and Ratajczak right behind. Dave Maurer finished fifth and Randy LeMieux sixth.

Defending IMCA Modified champion Todd Dart (#3), showed everyone he has not forgotten the fast way around the track during the off-season. Dart took over the race lead from Dean Maurer and went on to score the win in the feature race.

Gary Bouche set the pace in the IMCA Stock Car main for the opening two circuits before John Heinz pulled into the top spot and started to pull away from the rest of the field A multi car spin on the back chute brought out the lone caution on lap 7 with Heinz still leading, Sean Jerovetz was in the second spot with Bouche, Jay Matthias, Rod Snellenberger and Jason Geyer behind. Once the green flew again, Heinz again pulled away and ran unchallenged to his first feature win of the year. Matthias caught and took the second place from Jerovetz on lap 14 but Jerovetz was able to hold off Snellenberger to place third. Bouche and Charlie Kroll rounded out the top six.

Shawn Olson took the lead at the start of the Street Stock main followed by Phil Faustini, Gary Reinhardt, Josh Massart and Bernie Reinhardt. The running order was unchanged when a multi car crash occurred on the front stretch on lap 5. Worst of the cars involved was the feature winners car from last week, Tom Daubner. His car got crossed up and was hit in separate directions, which twisted the car into a demo derby look alike. Tom was not injured.

Bernie Reinhardt (#11) celebrates his first Street Stock feature win at the Thunderhill Speedway since July 19, 1997. Reinhardt took the lead in the feature with less than six laps remaining in the race.

Olson again took the point on the restart with Bernie Reinhardt moving into the third spot. One lap later, Reinhardt was in the runner up spot and pulled even with the leader in turn two with 6 laps left Reinhardt ran alone for the final laps, but Faustini and Olson doubled up and stayed right behind. Olson took the runner up finish at the line with Faustini spinning out on the final lap, leaving Gary Reinhardt the third place finish. Dan Anschutz came back from the early caution to take fourth place on the final lap with Scott Pagels taking fifth and Jared Siefert sixth. The win was Reinhardt's first since July 19, 1997.

Not as lucky this week! Tom Daubner (#34) won the Street Stock last week on the third-mile clay oval, but his fortunes this were were not the same. Daubner was involved in a multi-car wreck which severely damaged his car.

Wally Lhost set the opening lap pace for the Bombers but Rick LeMieux took over the lead on lap two. Wayne Moore moved into second and after three laps, took over the lead and started to pull away. Moore looked smooth, running through traffic as the laps faded and looked like a sure winner.

The race was for second between LeMieux and defending champion, Jay Naze. As the field was making the final lap. Moore was coming into turn four when the right rear tire broke on his car, causing him to stop. LeMieux and Naze were side by side and suddenly were in a drag race to the finish. The caution came out and the race was finished won the last completed lap, but, because Moore caused the caution, LeMieux had been inches ahead of Naze at the tine and was awarded the win, his first here since September 9 of 1995. Naze was scored in second with Corey Haen, Jersey Wiitala, Bret Eisenman and Greg Soukup behind.

Weekly Saturday night racing will continue throughout the summer featuring four divisions on the 1/3 mile clay oval, Gates open at 4:30 with racing at 6:00. The Thunderhill Speedway is located at the Door County Fairgrounds in Sturgeon Bay, WI about 35 miles north of Green Bay, WI just off Hwy. 57.

IMCA MODIFIED:
20 LAP FEATURE: 1.) Todd Dart, Algoma; 2.) Dean Maurer, DePere; 3.) R.M. Van Pay, Green Bay; 4.) Dan Ratakczak, Frog Station; 5.) Dave Maurer, Green Bay; 6.) Jesse Brey, Manitowoc
12 LAP CONSOLATION: 1) Gary Jacobs, Algoma; 2.) Brad Anderegg, Algoma; 3.) Mark Berglund, Green Bay; 4.) Jack Parrish, Luxemburg
FIRST HEAT: 1.) Dean Maurer; 2.) Randy LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay
SECOND HEAT: 1.) Brey; 2.) Randi Back, Green Bay
THIRD HEAT: 1.) Ratajczak; 2.) Van Pay

IMCA STOCK CARS:
20 LAP FEATURE: 1) John Heinz, Green Bay; 2.) Jay Matthias, Luxemburg; 3.) Sean Jerovetz, Suamico; 4.) Rod Snellenberger, Pulaski; 5.) Gary Bouche, Algoma; 6.) Charlie Kroll, Algoma
12 LAP CONSOLATION: 1) Kerry Douglas, Sturgeon Bay; 2.) Larry Karcz Jr., Sobieski; 3.) Joe LeBotte, Kewaunee; 4.) Dave Bouche, Algoma
FIRST HEAT: 1) Snellenberger; 2.) Dave Pavlik, Brussels
SECOND HEAT: 1) Jerovetz; 2.) Todd Smith, Sturgeon Bay
THIRD HEAT: 1) Heinz; 2.) Gary Bouche

STREET STOCKS
15 LAP FEATURE: 1.) Bernie Reinhardt, Fish Creek; 2.) Shawn Olson, Algoma; 3.) Gary Reinhardt, Fish Creek; 4.) Dan Anschutz, Sturgeon Bay; 5.) Scott Pagels, Little Sturgeon; 6.) Jared Siefert, Green Bay
FIRST HEAT: 1) Olson; 2.) Anschutz
SECOND HEAT: 1) Gary Reinhardt; 2.) Rick Johnson, Sturgeon Bay
THIRD HEAT: 1) Bernie Reinhardt; 2.) Tom Daubner, Carlsville

BOMBERS
15 LAP FEATURE: 1.) Rick LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay; 2.) Jay Naze, Forestville; 3.) Corey Haen, Sturgeon Bay; 4.) Jeremy Wiitala, Sturgeon Bay; 5.) Bret Eisenman, Luxemburg; 6.) Gary Soukup, Sturgeon Bay
12 LAP CONSOLATION: 1) Son Aregoni Jr., Sturgeon Bay; 2.) Wiitala; 3.) Ford Malvitz; 4.) Tony Herbst, Sturgeon Bay
FIRST HEAT: 1) Naze; 2.) Wally Lhost, Sturgeon Bay
SECOND HEAT: 1) LeMieux; 2.) Jay DeDimmick, Sturgeon Bay
THIRD HEAT: 1) Wayne Moore, Sturgeon Bay; 2.) Travis Annoye, Casco