3rd Annual Small Car World Championships open October Classic weekend at Lake Geneva Raceway!

3rd Annual Small Car World Championships open
October Classic weekend at Lake Geneva Raceway!
By Dale Erdmann

September 29, 2000; Lake Geneva, WI. - It was the 3rd Annual Small Car World Championships and just over 100 cars were in the pit area, for the big event. The show also was the mini modifieds season championship, as Ken Johnson, a 39 year old dentist from Paddock Lake won his third straight championship, with his second place finish, in the 20 lap race won by his good friend Duck Wack also from Paddock Lake. Wack told the largest crowd to ever witness these events "He would like to thank, Kevin Dawson for having us here this season and we will now race every Friday night next year, if you mant us". Dawson later told Wack and his fellow competitors, that Herb's INC. of Antioch, Illinois will be sponsoring their group next season and would gladly have them race each night.

The mini modified feature got off to a rocky start, as rookie driver Bruce Brandenburger had problems at the get go. Mike Hennessy, a 15 year veteran to racing, but rookie in this division, had engine problems forcing him out of the event. Then Mike Reuss slipped in front. Lee Morrison a 17 year old high school student was right on his bumper with Schultz by his side.

By lap three Schultz was forced to the pits with drive train problems, as Ken Johnson flew around the top two and scooted out front. Roy Morrison climbed in front the next lap, with Duck Wack looking for a place out front, within two laps, it was a see/saw battle for that front spot, between Johnson and Wack.

Johnson slipped up on lap nine nearly spinning, as Wack was finally in firm command of that top spot. One lap later Joe Miller wanted that lead and Wack had to contend with a new threat. Lee Moorison diced with Miller the next three laps, as things were tight at the top. Wack maintained his lead, but the final four laps were too close to call. At the wire Wack too the win, with Johnson nipping Miller for second, Roy Morrison fourth, with 1997 rookie of the year, Mike Van Houton taking fifth and Jay Harpster along side for sixth.

American short tracker Tom Graves was denied a clean sweep with his second place finish in his heat, but with just two laps to go, the visiting driver took the lead and beat Vincent Merry, Rolf Tillman, Todd Ross and Eric Roberts to the line. After the race, Graves told the crowd,"The number 14 truck gave me gots of problems, but raced me clean, it was sure fun racing here, in this 4 cylinder class".

Gary LaMonte in the legend cars was also not able to win his heat, but took fast time and stayed just ahead of Herman Greinig to win the 15 lap feature.

The open wheeled Formula Indy cars had visiting driver Gary Miller do what he's done the last three years, easily winning the 15 lap feature. Second and third place was extremely close with Mike Kamphuis inching his way into second at the line, with Tom Cormack next.

Sport truck driver Dave Shine used his experience to win the Rascal Outlaw feature for 15 laps, with Butch Torkelson and Greg Findley finishing behind the winner.

Popular high school senior Erik Darnell took fast time second in his heat and pulled off a win in the 15 lap wisconsin Allison legacy series feature, just in front of Scott Nicoson, Sam D'Agostino, Doug Reichley, Chad Davidson and the winners younger brother Casey Darnell.

It was another points show for the Dwarf cars, but even though the group was short on cars, the feature came down to the last lap, at the line with Ken Osborne in his first race, winning the 15 lap feature. Larry Gurganus, quick timer Roger Osborne, the winners father claiming third.

The GEM Pro Carts were heavy on kart count and close on action, with Joe Moser winning the feature just ahead of Reid Caponis and David Byrne, in this scorers nightmare event.

The next Friday night race program will be May 25th, 2001. The Millennium Late Models, BIC cars and Herb's Mini Modifieds will be featured each week. Other divisions that know they can support a number of shows (5-10 nights) should call the raceway to see about joining the program. For more info call (262) 248-8566. The schedule will be ready December 15th, 2000.

RESULTS

4 CYLINDERS:
20 Lap Feature: 1.) Tom Graves, Belvidere, IL; 2.) Vincent Merry, Wadsworth, IL; 3.) Rolf Tillman, Woodstock, IL; 4.) Todd Ross, Hoffman Estates, IL; 5.) Eric Roberts, Zion, IL; 6.) John Janssen, Genoa City
1st Heat: 1.) Roberts; 2.) Graves; 3.) Chad Ross Soring Grove, IL; 4.) Tillman
Fast Qualifier: Graves, 19.201 Seconds

WISCONSIN ALLISON LEGACY SERIES:
15 Lap Features: 1.) Erik Darnell, Park City, IL; 2.) Scott Nicoson, Ringwood, IL; 3.) Sam D'Agostino, Darien, IL; 4.) Doug Reichley, Waukesha; 5.) Chad Davidson, Lodi; 6.) Casey Darnell, Park City, IL
1st Heat: 1.) Nicoson; 2.) E. Darnell; 3.) Reichley; 4.) Keith Tolf, Kenosha
Fast Qualifier: E. Darnell, 18.724 Seconds

FORUMLA INDY:
15 Lap Feature: 1.) Gary Miller, Gaines, MI; 2.) Mike Kamphuis, Jenison, MI; 3.) Tom Cormack, Oak Lawn, IL; 4.) Keith Howard, Franklin, Park, IL; 5.) Ashleigh Miller, Gailes, IL; 6.) Jason Dull, Machesney Park, IL
First Heat: 1.) G. Miller; 2.) Cormack; 3.) Kamphuis; 4.) A. Miller
Fast Qualifier: G. Miller, 16.309 Seconds ( New Track Record )

MINI-MODIFIEDS:
15 Lap Feature: 1.) Duck Wack, Paddock Lake; 2.) Ken Johnson, Paddock Lake; 3.) Joe Miller, Kenosha; 4.) Lee Morrison, Antioch, IL; 5.) Roy Morrison, Antioch, IL; 6.) Mike Van Houton, Cary, IL
1st Heat: 1.) R. Morrison; 2.) Mike Heuss, Elkhorn; 3.) Jay Harpster, Salem; 4.) Hermie Schultz, Silver Lake
2nd Heat: 1.) Johnson; 2.) Miller; 3.) L. Morrison; 4.) Van Houton
Fast Qualifier: Johnson, 17.806 Seconds ( New Track Record )

LEGENDS:
Feature: 1.) Gary Lamonte, West Allis; 2.) Herman Greinig, Addison, IL; 3.) Al Smith, Rockford, IL; 4.) Robb Duffek, Orland Park, IL; 5.) Scott Baran, Palinfield, IL; 6.) Curt Gnatzig, Hartford
First Heat: 1.) Gnatzig; 2.) Lamonte; 3.) Greinig; 4.) Smith
Fast Qualifier: Lamonte, 18.189 Seconds ( New Track Record )

RASCAL OUTLAWS:
15 Lap Features: 1.) Dave Shine, Crystal Lake, IL; 2.) Butch Torkelson, Bristol; 3.) Greg Findley, Ingleside, IL; 4.) John Benkert, McHenry, IL; 5.) Mark Findley, Ingleside, IL
1st Heat: 1.) G. Findley; 2.) Shine; 3.) Torkelson; 4.) M. Findley
Fast Qualifier: Torkelson, 17.246 Seconds

DWARF CARS:
Feature: 1.) Ken Osborne, Beloit; 2.) Larry Gurgannis, Hammond, IN; 3.) Roger Osborne, Beloit; 4.) Scott Ihrke, Cary, IL; 5.) Al Claps, Roselle, IL; 6.) Greg Ihrke, Cary, IL
First Heat: 1.) Ihrke; 2.) Gurganus; 3.) Claps; 4.) K. Osborne
Fast Qualifier: R. Osborne, 18.488 Seconds

GEM PRO KARTS:
15 Lap Features: 1.) Joe Moser, Sugar Grove, IL; 2.) Reid Caponis, Plainfield, IL; 3.) David Byrne; 4.) Matt Smith, Groveland, IL; 5.) Brandon Hill, Lake Geneva; 6.) David Budres
1st Heat: 1.) Tyler Baran, Plainfield, IL; 2.) Gina Mooi, New Lenox, IL; 3.) Paul Weter, River Grove, IL; 4.) Raymond Mooi, New Lenox, IL
2nd Heat: 1.) Corey Domenick, Lombard, IL; 2.) Billy Halbert, Channahon, IL; 3.) Jordan Theil, Appleton, WI; 4.) Jeff Everts, Joliet, IL
3rd Heat: 1.) Hill; 2.) John Ehlers, Burlington; 3.) Tiffany Wester, Pine Green Grove, IL; 4.) Denise Krause, Bridgeview, IL
2nd Heat: 1.) Smith; 2.) Caponis; 3.) Christopher Lishamer, Elgin, IL; 4.) J.J. Adams, Wonder Lake, IL
Fast Qualifier: Ryan Rockhold, Pekin, IL 20.501 Seconds