131 Cars compete in action at "The
Hill!"
By Dave Panske
July 10, 1999; Sturgeon Bay, WI. - A field of 131 teams in five divisions jammed the pit for a big night of racing action Saturday night at the Hill.
James Iverson led the opening lap of the IMCA Modified main, but following a lap 2 restart, he drifted wide in turn one and put Jesse Bray in command. Dan Ratajczak, Brad Anderegg, Mark Berglund, Dean Maurer and John Soukup were behind. On lap 7, Maurer pulled outside and pulled by Anderegg and alongside Ratajczak in turn two. Entering turn three, the pair split with Maurer staying high and Ratajczak going low by Bray.
Maurer emerged in the lead at the line and started to pull away from the field. Maurers big lead was erased by a caution on lap 14, but once again he pulled away on the restart and picked up his second straight feature win and third for the season.
Ratajczak chased but settled fort he runner up spot. R.M. Van Pay and Mike Mashl made good moves through traffic coming from he back of the field to place third and fourth respectively. Anderegg took fifth and George Henkel rounded out the top six.
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Gary Bouche (#47) was all smiles after earning a trip to the winners circle at Thunderhill after the IMCA Stock Car feature event. For Bouche it was his first feature win since July 26, 1997 at the raceway. |
The IMCA Stock Cars continue to impress the fans with their close tight racing and tonight was an exceptional feature. Dave Pavlik took the lead at the start, but Gary Bouche and Tim Van De Hei stayed right behind, side by side. By lap 5, John Heinz joined the mix and a couple laps later, Rod Snellenberger was in the lead pack. On lap 6, Van De Hei pulled inside of the leader, and for the next 5 laps, ran side by side with the rest doubled up behind. A stalled car on lap 12 brought out the first caution and changed the front runners when both Van De Hei and Snellenberger took to pit lane with flats.
Pavlik held the lead on the restart with Heinz and Bouche still neck and neck for' second. Rob Gagne and Jerry Wenzel now moved up with the leaders with Jon Wolf, point leader, Larry Karcz, Jr. and Jay Matthias as well.
A spin brought out the final caution on lap 15 and on the restart, Bouche made a move inside of Pavlik for the final run to the finish. The pair swapped the lead several times with Bouche inches ahead for the white flag Bouche was able to gain the edge on the back chute and held off Pavlik through the final turn to win his first division feature of the season and first since July 26, 1997. Pavlik was second with Gagne taking third. Wolf, Wenzel and Matthias founded out the top six.
Ken Hendricks led the way for the first 4 laps of the Street Stock main before drifting wide in turn 2, letting Kevin Jandrin and Jeff Vlies get by Jandrin pulled away from the pack while Hendricks, Gary Reinhardt and Shawn Olson were running three wide for third. Cautions on laps 6 and 7 bunched the field, with the second yellow for a wild ride in front of the grandstand. Hendricks had the left rear wheel break on his car. With the pack so close, Dan Anschutz rode over the tire sending his car high into the air. Hendricks was out with Anschutz able to continue on.
Jandrin again set off to build a lead on the restart with Reinhardt taking second place. Olson and Gregg Seibold battled for third place with Troy Rass and Scott Pagels behind.
The race ended one lap early when Dave Baenen slammed the back chute wall on the final lap, leaving Jandrin to collect his second straight division feature win. Reinhardt, Siebold, Rass, Pagels and Jared Siefert round out the top six. Jandrin also became the first repeat winner in the division this season.
Travis Annoye led the Bomber main start to finish, but not without severe pressure from several drivers throughout the contest. Corey Haen and Wayne Moore kept on the pressure early with Moore side by side for the lead for 3 laps before the lone caution for a spin on lap 7. Annoye continued to lead on the restart with Wally Lhost taking over the charge from second. Moore and Bill LeMieux doubled up for third place.
Over the final three laps, Lhost pulled inside of the leader, but Annoye found the bite he needed high to hold on to win his third feature of the season. Lhost settled for second with point leader, Mike Soukup coming from the rear of the field to place third. LeMieux took fourth with Moore fifth and Greg Soukup in sixth.
| What a Rascal?!? The Rascal Outlaw Sprints were on hand this evening and the feature race was won by Bob Torkelson (#4) . The little open-wheeled cars really flay around Thunderhill's third-mile clay oval. |  |
The Rascal Outlaws made and appearance with Bob Torkelson leading the way in the feature followed by brother, Butch Torkelson. Chris Carlson took third with Kevin Popaeko fourth, John Benkert fifth and Clay Lagerwalt sixth.
RESULTS
IMCA MODIFIED:
20 LAP FEATURE: 1.) Dean Maurer, Green Bay; 2.) Dan
Ratajczak, Frog Station; 3.) R.M. Van Pay, Green Bay; 4.) Mike Mashl, DePere; 5.) Brad
Anderegg, Algoma; 6.) George Henkel, Sturgeon Bay
12 LAP CONSOLATION: 1.) Van Pay; 2.) Randie Back, Green Bay; 3.) Buck Schmelzer,
Casco; 4.) Randy LeMiuex, Sturgeon Bay
FIRST HEAT: 1.) Maurer; 2.) Anderegg
SECOND HEAT: 1.) Henkel; 2.) Ratajczak
THIRD HEAT: 1.) Chris Derenne, Luxemburg; 2.) Mark Berglund, Green
Bay
IMCA STOCK CARS:
20 LAP FEATURE: 1) Gary Bouche, Algoma; 2.) Dave Pavlik,
Sturgeon Bay; 3.) Rob Gagne, Luxemburg; 4.) Jon Wolf, Green Bay; 5.) Jerry Wenzel,
Manitowoc; 6.) Jay Matthias, Luxemburg
12 LAP CONSOLATION: 1) Matthais; 2.) Tony Boucher, Algoma; 3.) Dave Andrews, Green
Bay; 4.) Mike Weitor, Green Bay
FIRST HEAT: 1) Eric VanIten, Green Bay; 2.) Russ Tuttle, Brussels
SECOND HEAT: 1) John Heinz, Green Bay; 2.) Matt Junio, Casco
THIRD HEAT: 1) Tim Van DeHei, DePere; 2.) Pavlik
FOURTH HEAT: 1) Shawn Wagner, Pulaski; 2.) Jason Geyer, Brussels
STREET STOCKS
15 LAP FEATURE: 1.) Kevin Jandrin, Forestville; 2.) Gary
Reinhardt, Fish Creek; 3.) Gregg Siebold, Denmark; 4.) Troy Raas, Brussels; 5.) Scott
Pagels, Little Sturgeon; 6.) Jared Siefert, Green Bay
12 LAP COLSOLATION: 1.) James Tebon, Algoma; 2.) Troy Muench, Sturgeon Bay; 3.)
Siefert; 4.) Dave Baenen, New Franken
FIRST HEAT: 1) Tom Daubner, Carlsville; 2.) Pagels
SECOND HEAT: 1) Rass; 2.) Rick Johnson, Gills Rock
THIRD HEAT: 1) Jandrin; 2.) Reinhardt
FOURTH HEAT: 1) Siebold; 2.) Jeff Vlies, Algoma
BOMBERS
15 LAP FEATURE: 1.) Travis Annoye, Casco; 2.) Wally Lhost,
Sturgeon Bay 3.) Mike Soukup, Sturgeon Bay; 4.) Bill LeMieux, Sturgeon Bay; 5.) Wayne
Moore, Sturgeon Bay; 6.) Greg Soukup, Edd Harbor
12 LAP CONSOLATION: 1) Marty Beilke, Sturgeon Bay; 2.) Ed Anschutz, Algoma; 3.)
Chad Spredja, Suamico; 4.) Mike Cole, Sturgeon Bay
FIRST HEAT: 1) Lucas Long, Sturgeon Bay; 2.) Corey Haen, Sturgeon Bay
SECOND HEAT: 1) Annoye; 2.) Moore
THIRD HEAT: 1) LeMieux; 2.) Lhost
RASCAL OUTLAWS
15 LAP FEATURE: 1.) Bob Torkelson; 2.) Butch Torkelson;
3.) Chris Carlson; 4.) Kevin Popaeko; 5.) John Benkert; 6.) Clay Lagerwalt