Randy LeMieux scores
career first Mod win in Modified thriller at Thunderhill! August 9, 2000; Sturgeon Bay, WI. - A special racing program opened the 2000 Door County Fair at the Thunder Hill Speedway Wednesday night which produced one first time winner, and three repeat winners to top off Nelson Team night at the Fair.
The IMCA Modifieds opened the feature portion of the show with Brian Baenen leading the opening circuit before Bill LeMieux pulled into the top spot and immediately started to pull away from the pack. The first of two cautions appeared on lap 5 with Baenen still second ahead of Buck Schmelzer, Shawn Olson, Randy LeMieux and Darrell Massart. Schmelzer and LeMieux pulled into the top three after the restart and tried to stay with the leader. Bill LeMieux was running away at the front and continued to do so until the final caution on lap 16. Unfortunately, it was the leader that brought out the caution when the engine blew on the front stretch to complete lap 16, and then stalled in turn two before being able to coast off the track. Point leader, Todd Dart, was making a run to the front and moved into the runner up spot the lap before the caution, and inherited the top spot followed by Schmelzer, Randy LeMieux, Olson, Jared Siefert and Baenen. Randy LeMieux stormed into the front on the restart with Dart right alongside over the final laps. Randy LeMieux was able to get a slight lead on the final lap and drove on to win his first career modified feature with Dart a close second. Olson made a late race charge to secure the third place finish. Massart ran to fourth with Randie Back and Doug Maurer rounding out the top six. Tim McCormick pulled into the top spot of the Stock Car feature and was able to pull away from the field over the early laps. The field was bunched behind a fierce battle for the runner up spot between Craig Paque, Jay Matthias, Pat Davister, Jeremy Christians, Tim Van De Hei and Benji LaCrosse. The lone caution of the race came on lap 6 for a spin and then kept the field bunched for the duration. McCormick continued to set the pace while the battle resumed for the second spot Matthias was able to move into the runner up spot after the restart but secured the spot three laps later; and started to close on the leader. On lap 12, Matthias pulled to the outside and took over the lead. McCormick held the runner up spot and had to contend with the hungry pack behind, allowing Matthias to pull away and collect his second feature win of the year. McCormick ran to his best career finish, taking second. Davister tried for the pass, but settled for third. Christians, in only his second run of the year, took fourth with Larry Karcz, Jr in fifth and Paque taking sixth.
Tom Daubner pulled into the lead of the Street Stock main from the front row and was trailed early on by B.J. Soquet. On lap 3, Ed Anschutz took over the spot with Soquet, Kevin Jandrin and Phil Faustini behind. Jandrin moved to the front, taking over second on lap 7. Two laps later the lone caution of the feature appeared. Daubner was still in control, but lost his big lead with Jandrin now right behind. Daubner continued to set the pace after the restart, but Jandrin moved outside and took the lead on lap 12, bringing Faustini along with Mike Soukup, Soquet and Jeff Vlies Jandrin was running to the inside and Faustini was running strong outside over the final laps. On the final tour around the third mile clay oval, Faustini pulled even on the back chute and maintained the run to the finish line. Jandrin got just a bit more bite out of the final turn to win his second feature of the year by mere inches at the line over Faustini. Soukup took third with Vlies taking the fourth place finish. Point leader, Gregg Siebold took fifth with Soquet rounding out the top six.
Thom Terrien led the opening lap of the Bomber nightcap before Maynard Hegnet took control and began to pull from the field. Two cautions on lap 3 shuffled the lineup with most of the top 10 became involved. On the restart, Hegnet was in front followed by point leader, Greg Soukup. John Knudson, James Bosman and Ryan LeMieux were behind. The green was out for the rest of the 15 lapper, with Hegnet maintaining the top spot to the finish to win his first feature since August 7, 1993. Soukup took his best finish of the season to the runner up position followed by John Knudson, Tracy Koontz, Tony Herbst and Dennis Weidner.
There will be no racing at Thunder Hill this Saturday, August 12th. The full racing program will return on Saturday night, August 19th. Racing starts at 6 PM every week at the Hill located on the Door County Fairgrounds in Sturgeon Bay. RESULTS IMCA MODIFIED: IMCA STOCK CARS: STREET STOCKS BOMBERS |
