On lap five of a scheduled thirty lap feature, new comer Schoffen's brand new race car, made contact with another car, he lost control. The car flew over the wall, after nearly toppling the fence between the pits and that back straightaway wall, then coming to rest between the safety wall and the fence, and starting on fire. The safety crew quickly extinguished the fire. Schoffen and the pit people watching the incident escaped injury, but his brand new race car received extensive damage and nearly $1500 worth of pit fence was destroyed. Joe Fischer and Larry Los diced for the lead for the first five laps before Los inched ahead of the other nineteen race cars. The first caution appeared on lap eight after Wayne Freeman had problems. Under way once again, Los held onto to the top spot with Fischer still at his left. On lap eleven Fischer nearly lost it, but some great driving brought the mount back under control, not even losing a position. Scott Lindsey who had settled into third suddenly had Fran Prestay at his side one lap later. Just as Prestay got by Lindsey, there was a melee involving numerous back marker traffic, stopping the race one more time. Los continued the command of that top spot as the next green appeared. But two laps later Prestay was knocking at his door. For the next three laps it was just like the start of the race, but this time Prestay would come out on top. Just as that happened Fischer, Landry Potter and Billy Baumeister got together in turn two, stopping the action. Prestay subbing for Billy Skinner who had just back from his honeymoon, held on for the win, in the event which was cut short due to curfew on lap twenty nine. Lindsey nipped Los for second, with Bob Koidahl fourth, Rick Corso in his first time in his brand new car was fifth and Eddie May at his side for sixth. The super stock feature got off to a rocky start, as rookie Paul Roscoe had a tire go down as the race started and slid onto the grass and nearly rolled on his side causing a complete restart. Fast running Doug Peterson who won the dash, slipped into the pits with an oil leak, returning later to the event, but then dropped out again, with the same problem. Mike Bell paced the twenty car field, with Mike Olson right at his back side. Two second year drivers Rob Summers and Scott Scholl dueled for that next spot. On lap five Sonny Schoffen made contact with ninth place runner John Maki Jr. The Schoffen's mount veered to the right and flew over the backstretch wall. This brought out the red flag and a long delay due to the incident. Bell stayed out front two more laps when the green finally repappeared, but Summers and Mike Kooi were looking at that top spot. Summers pulled off a slick move and took over the lead, Andy Szymanskyj dropped Bell to third by lap ten. But fast timer Dave Melahn was the driver on the move, advancing past Bell with the half way point shown. Due to the curfew, this event would be cut to twenty laps. Szymanskyj could feel the pressure before long, as Melahn knew time was running out for a challenge. Some how Melahn was able to gain the lead with just five laps to go. Before the checkered flag, Jack Ruback nipped Kooi earning fourth place. Melahn, Summers and Szymanskyj were tight at the wire taking the top three spots. The Performance Unlimited sportsman feature saw Jerry Freeman slip in front at the drop of the first green flag, with Denny Norton Jr. and Brian Baker all over him. Norton spun, collecting John Fisher and two unknown drivers with just one lap in the books. Freeman led just one more lap before Baker flew in front. Freeman dropped another position on lap five, when Nick Schumacher got around him after a battle with Zac Deeringer.Quick timer Kevin Rybuck was running fifth by lap ten in this real tight field. By lap fifteen Schumacher wasn't running away with this race,as he couldn't shake Baker, Lange and now Rybuck. Freeman got a second wind on lap twenty inching in front of Rybuck. Then came lap twenty one, somehow sixth place Shawn Utphall got off the surface in turn three, then flipping at least once, coming to rest on the grass, uninjured, but his sleek looking mount received damage. The race was called to the time, Schumacher won the first feature of the season, with Baker and Lange next. Rybuck nipped Freeman who got wide at the wire, as Deeringer took sixth. The Sideline Motorsports sport truck feature was short on trucks, but not action. Chad Ross grabbed the lead, with Todd Ross and Vinccent Merry next. Chad Phillips wasn't having a good night, spinning in turn four, but off the surface so the caution didn't have to come out. By the time Phillips got back to full throttle his chances of being in contention were gone. On lap six of the only feature to go the advertised distrance, Merry slipped in front, going home to victory of this fifteen lap event. Taking second was fast qualifier Bill Olson in last seasons championship truck that James Olson drove. Chad, then Todd Ross were next, as Phillips was credited with fifth and Bill Vankirk was tough on his own mount was sixth. Next Saturday will be a junior fan club night with rides in the race cars. The sportsman will join the super late models and the super stocks for this program. Time trials begin at 6 pm. races at 7:30 sharp. The Friday night oval track program does not begin until May 18th. Visit our website 24 hours a day at www.lakegenevaraceway.com SUMMARY OF RESULTS FOR LAKE GENEVA RACEWAY APRIL14,2001 SUPER LATE MODELS McHenry Limo SUPER STOCKS PERFORMANCE UNLIMITED SPORTSMAN
SIDELINE MOTORSPORTS SPORT TRUCKS |
