Opening Freeze couldn't stop Darnell at LGR!

April 14, 2000; Lake Geneva, WI. - It was opening night at Lake Geneva Raceway, as a large crowd came out to see some great racing. The problem, cold northeast winds brought the wind chill down to 14 degrees. Danny Darnell of Park City, Illinois won his first 30 lap super late model feature, since 1998. Darnell was credited with a feature win last season, after the apparent winner was disqualified.

Al Schill Sr. (#14) and Danny Darnell (#85) kept fans on the edge of their seat with this side by side battle in the Super Late Model feature.

Darnell came across the line with defending champion, Al Schill along side, in a very close contest. Jamie Artelt of Waukegan, IL. a 23 year old first night driver, took fast time with a lap of 16.375 seconds. Artelt raced karts for 10 years, before following in his late grandfathers foot steps. Herb Artelt was a top runner here and at the old Waukegan Speedway. Adam Regnier of McHenry, IL. kept his record intact, winning his third opening night 20 lap super stock feature, that went non stop. Jim Olson of Woodstock, IL. won the sport truck 12 lap feature. Lakes Area Rental who sponsors the junior fan club, let the kids ride in the race cars, when their parents went to their cars to warm up at 8:35 pm.

The 19 car super late model feature got off to a rocky start. On Lap two nearly half the field was involved, with the worst part of the incident seeing Mike Simon fly over another race car, with everyone escaping injury. Kent Burkoth flew off the banking in turn three, when Larry Los spun in front of nearly all of the field. Then on lap 3, Landry Potter and Brad Durbin did solo spins just as the green reappeared.

Around we go! Larry Los (#9) wound up facing the wrong direction during the Super Late Model feature, as cars scatter to miss his errant mount. Bob Moeller (#74) winds up meeting Los nose to nose.

Tom Smith, who, just like opening night last season, paced the field when real racing resumed . The field was tight, with Smith just in front of Joe Fisher, Al Schill, Russ Blakley and Danny Darnell. Then on lap 7, Burkoth and Jamie Artelt got together as they flew, off turn three to halt the action.

On the restart Schill and Darnell got aroun Fisher, with Smith firmly in command of the top spot. But 8 laps later Schill was along side of the leader, Smith. By the end of that go round, Schill was the new leader. Looking like they were glued together, Schill, Smith and Darnell were flawless. On lap 21, Darnell tried the inside, but Schill fought back regaining the lead.

Darnell crept in front one lap later, but Schill wasn't going to go away. The on lap 24, Schill dove into three as Darnell stayed in front. Lap 27, Schill tryed that same move as Darnell got a little wider, taking back the lead, as the crowd went wild. With the white flag displayed, it looked like Schill would repeat his last season's opening night with a win. But coming down to the wire, Darnell inched in front, taking the win over Schill, Smith, Shane Bishop, Fisher, Durbin, Burkoth and Blakley for an exciting finish .

Adam Regnier (#73) put his Super Stock in the winner circle scoring a feature win on opening night.

It took Adam Regnier just three laps to charge in front of the 20 car Super Stock field, after starting in the fifth row inside. Craig Mertes, John Maki and Dan Huber, all part of the Antioch connection put on a great show throughout the event, as these team mates diced for a top spot. Before the checkered Jeff Lorenz wound his way through the field ending up second, as Regnier came across the line in first. Jerry Cowan followed Lornez taking third, Huber nipped Maki and Metres, with Tom Fay next and Mike Kooi rounding out the top eight of this thrilling event.

Todd Ross looked like he'd pull off a feature win in sport truck competition, but dropped out with electrical problems. Jim Olson who was running second, pulled in front and never looked back winning the event over defending champion Chad Ross, R.J. Ross, Lance Ross and Vince Merry.

Jim Olson (#24) opened his season with a Sport Truck feature victory. Olson took over the front spot when Todd Ross who was leading dropped from the event. Olson led the remaining distance for the win.

Greg Peterson (#36) loops his ride in traffic during a Super Stock heat and is narrowly missed by his fellow competitors. Peterson would recover and go on to win the event.

Next Saturday night racing continues as the sportsman cars join the super late models, super stocks and one on one events. An Easter egg hunt for the Junoir fans will also take place that night.

SUPER LATE MODELS:
30 Lap Feature: 1.) Danny Darnell, Park City, IL; 2.) Al Schill Sr., Franklin; 3.) Tom Smith, Gary, IN; 4.) Shane Bishop, Pell Lake; 5.) Joe Fisher, McHenry, IL; 6.) Brad Durbin, Lyons; 7.) Kent Burkoth, Pell Lake; 8.) Landry Potter, Genoa City; 9.) Denny Hiffman, River Forest, IL; 10.) Paul Loppnow, Burlington
First 10 Lap Semi-Feature: 1.) Brian Ulrich, Racine; 2.) Mike Simon, Grayslake, IL; 3.) Bob Koidahl, Cary, IL
Second 10 Lap Semi-Feature: 1.) Jamie Wallace, Pell Lake; 2.) Mike Simon Jr., Elgin, IL; 3.) Larry Surleta, Lakeville, IL
1st Heat: 1.) Chuck Johnson, Rockford, IL; 2.) Bart Reinen, Jefferson; 3.) Joe Fransisco, Genoa City
2nd Heat: 1.) Simon Jr.; 2.) Koidahl; 3.) Ulrich
3rd Heat: 1.) Smith; 2.) Fisher; 3.) Loppnow
Dash: 1.) Hiffman; 2.) Durbin; 3.) Darnell
Time Trials: 1.) Jamie Artelt, Waukegan, IL, 16.375 Seconds; 2.) Burkoth, 16.588 Seconds; 3.) Schill, 16.613 Seconds

SUPER STOCKS:
20 Lap Feature: 1.) Adam Regnier, McHenry, IL; 2.) Jeff Lorenz, Waukesha; 3.) Jerry Cowan, Burlington; 4.) Dan Huber, Antioch, IL; 5.) John Maki, Antioch, IL; 6.) Craig Mertes, Antioch, IL; 7.) Tom Fay, Delevan; 8.) Mike Kooi, Island Lake, IL; 9.) Rob Hunt, McHenry, IL; 10.) Al Kupahl, Franklin, WI
15 Lap Semi-Feature: 1.) Dave Timan, Lake Villa, IL; 2.) Name Not Available; 3.) Hunt
1st Heat: 1.) Greg Peterson, Paddock Lake; 2.) Timan; 3.) Hunt
2nd Heat: 1.) Regnier; 2.) Kupahl; 3.) Maki
Dash: 1.) Loernz; 2.) John Janssen, Genoa City; 3.) Marty Robb, Lake Zurich, IL
Time Trials: 1.) Janssen, 19.138 Seconds; 2.) Cowan, 19.234 Seconds; 3.) Lorena, 19.401 Seconds

SPORT TRUCKS:
12 Lap Feature: 1.) James Olson, Woodstock, IL; 2.) R.J. Ross, Northbrook, IL; 3.) Lance Ross, Kenosha, WI; 4.) Vincent Merry, Wadsworth, IL; 5.) Jim Phillips, Darien; 6.) Larry Berey, Caledonia, IL; 7.) Todd Ross, Grayslake, IL; 8.) Curt Mason, Libertyville, ILl
1st Heat: 1.) Olson; 2.) T. Ross; 3.) C. Ross
Time Trials: 1.) C. Ross, 19.737 Seconds; 2.) Olson, 19.845 Seconds; 3.) T. Ross, 19.939 Seconds