The controversial super stock feature for 25 laps went to Dave Melahn of Burlington who stayed out of trouble to win the event, after fellow Burlington driver Jack Rubach was short changed for his first win and nearly destroying his race car, after taking fast time for the fifth out of sixth times out this season. Bob Selsing of Palmyra won his first 25 lap sportsman feature of the year.
Jerry Mueller grabbed the early lead of the super late model contest with Jamie Artelt right along side of the front runner. Joe Fischer dropped out at the end of the first time around with an oil leak. Paul Loppnow was running third, with rookie Jerry Cowan next. On lap six Loppnow had a fire start under his hood , just as race leader Mueller had something break something in the back of his mount, dashing any hopes of a win and the first showdown of this race. Wayne Freimund slipped in front with the next flash of the green. Billy Skinner picked the right lane when the cone was on the track and moved quickly into second. Skinner crept in front after a close battle with the leader. Fast timer Jamie Wallace was now third, with Bob Koidahl next and Artelt right there. On lap eleven Jeff Way, Koidahl and Freimund got together and out came the second caution. Loppnow returned at that time, but five laps down,Mueller returned the next lap after some quick repairs. With the next green Wallace and Kent Burkoth were all over their fellow Pell Lake driver. Dicing for a challenging second it was tight back to tenth. Billy Baumeister and Denny Hiffman joined the action up front on lap twenty five. Skinner was driving a very smooth race with Wallace trying everything in the book to get around the leader. The next problem stopping a great race came on lap twenty nine, after a fifth place running Larry Los got tagged by someone, bringing the race to a halt again. Los wasn't happy about the incident and stopped by a corner person to let them know this and who he felt was involved. No one saw the alleged driver, but Los wasn't satisfied with that decision and ended up with a black flag because of the delay. It could have been a great six lap dash, but two laps later Artelt went around just after Mike Vogt Jr. retired to the pit area due to his mount smoking. That may have left something on the surface Chuck Duncan became involved in the Artelt incident and out came the final caution. Those three final laps gave race fans some real close action as Skinner held on for the win. Wallace, Burkoth, Corso, Hiffman, Baumeister, a recovering Freimund and Cowan making up the top eight. Pole sitter John Maki Jr. moved in front of nineteen other super stock drivers as Mike Bell, Rob Summers and Scott Eggebrecht did everything in their power to challenge the leader. For the next nine laps Maki and Bell put on an excellent show, dicing back and forth for the lead. Dan Tschida moved into the fray on lap seven, with Adam Regnier trying to be a force to be reckoned with. Craig Mertes wasn't going away and he moved into the action at the top on lap eleven just after Bell secured the lead. Within four laps Tschida moved along side Maki and there was a four car race at the front,with Bell in command. Pete Olson was involved with Doug Peterson while they running in the top five, both ended their evening with eight laps to go stopping the intense pace. One more lap under green and Rob Summers received the black flag for smoke, just as Greg Peterson spun and Mike Kooi became involved. Dave Edwards couldn't find enough pavement on the next green, getting off the track in turn three/four. The first of two cautions came for a Tschida spin in front of the field, with everyone missing the fallen runner. Bell shot out front one more time but Maki wanted the win too, taking the lead with three laps to go. The crowd was going wild with this close feature. One lap later Maki was inside, suddenly quick timer Jack Rubach was to the leaders right, with Bell, Dave Melahn and Regnier all over each other. Maki got into the side of his challenger Rubach causing a spin in front of a tight field coming at him. His stalled mount was hit in the front left and rear left, as the caution appeared for that incident. Maki was sent to the pits for that play and ended up getting two weeks off due to the speed he came into the tight pit area. The two lap dash was a Mertes and Melahn show , that came down to the wire for a Melahn win. Mertes was second, with Eggebrecht, Dave Timan, Paul Konieczny, Nick Nelson, Kooi and Greg Peterson so close. Terry Crowell shot in front of the sportsman feature with Dan Erickson, Bob Selsing and Jerry Freeman all looking at that top spot. Somehow Selsing pulled off a slick move to gain that top spot on lap two with everyone still behind him . Nick Schumacher dumped water all over the surface and seven more cars became involved causing the caution to appear. As the green came out Selsing never looked back even with numerous pressure from others. Selsing won his first career feature here, with Zac Deeringer, Erickson, last weeks feature winner Jocko Terralt was fourth, followed by point leader Mike Lange who took fast time and Shawn Upthall. This coming weekend marks the first holiday schedule of the season. On Friday night on the oval there will be weekly action. Saturday night Al's Auto Salvage presents the first wild trailer race of the season, as the sportsman join the super late models and super stocks. Time trials both nights are at 6 pm. racing at 7:30 pm sharp. On Monday at 1 pm. the first and original Cherry Bomber 299 Midwest Enduro stock car series event takes place with up to 100 cars racing at once. Klements Sausage Company will sponsor the race. Darryl Traber is the defending series champion. Pro moto cross racing for the weekly stadium dirt course is Friday at 8 pm. SUMMARY OF EVENTS LAKE GENEVA RACEWAY ,LAKE GENEVA,
WI. MAY 19th. 2001 |
