Corso Scores First Super Late Model Win at Geneva!  By Dale Erdmann

April 13, 2002; Lake Geneva, WI. - What a difference one week makes as the weather in Southeastern Wisconsin became bearable for the second night of racing at Lake Geneva Raceway Saturday Night. The overflow crowd saw some close finishes as the turns of the one third mile paved banked oval were very tricky as water weeped from the surface but 2000 Mid American Champion and 2001 millennium late model champion Rick Corso of McHenry, Illinois survived the competition. The Budweiser super late model 35 lap feature event to win the event in a wire to wire victory during the Lakes Area Rental night. Scott Eggebrecht of Crystal Lake,IL. won the first McHenry Limousine super stock 25 lap feature and defending McLeodUSA Mid American champion James Swan from Lake Geneva won his second straight 30 lap Performance Unlimited sportsman feature.

Photo Highlights

Rick Corso (#88) nips Al Schill (#14) to win the 35-lap super late model feature on Saturday night at the Lake Geneva. Rick Corso (#88) celebrates his first career Super Late Model victory at Lake Geneva Raceway. Corso has already won features in two other classes at the track. The McHenry Limo super stocks do some three wide racing in their feature race Saturday at Lake Geneva Raceway. Scott Eggebrecht (#64) of Crystal Lake, IL. won the first McHenry Limousine super stock 25 lap feature Saturday at OGeneva. He was joined by Junior Fan Dylan Joosten. For the second week in a row James Swan (#97) flew to victory in LGR¹s Performance Unlimited sportsman main event.

As starter Dave Rex Jr. waved the double green flags pole sitters Al Schill and Rick Corso dueled for the lead. Corso moved in front before the first lap was completed with Schill and rookie Jerry Freeman side by side for second. With ten laps in the books Corso had lost his big advantage as Schill reeled him in. Second generation driver Jason Hicks, Kent Burkoth, Jeff Lorenz and John Nutley were putting on a show for the next position in an extremely close battle.

The first caution came out for rookie Dan Mecum’s spin and now things got real interesting. As the green flag reappeared a cluster of four looked like they were on a rail for the lead as Corso, Schill, Freeman and Burkoth moved away from the field. Within two laps Joe Fischer joined this group with Schill trying to get under the leader. Corso fought back and it was still too close to call for second.

On lap twenty six visiting Re/Max driver Chad Barker and Ron Stoehr tangled in front of the crowd bringing the event to a halt. This set up a nine lap dash that Corso would have to prove he could handle. Burkoth, Hicks and Nutley were so close for the fight for third. With just five laps to go Schill showed his experience of why he won so many championships moving under the leader and down the back straight away inching ahead for a brief moument. Keeping the pressure on Corso didn’t make a difference as Corso smoothly stayed out front.Charging down in front of the crowd Schill was less than four inched of being the leader. Then someone tagged Nutley and a great race was nearly wiped out as everyone behind him tried to miss the fourth place runner.

Some eight race cars ended up in this melee but no one was injured and all race cars continued the last three laps. The challenge never came back again as Corso walked the field with a two length win over Schill, Burkoth, Bob Koidahl who was last weeks feature winner, Denny Hiffman and Jerry Cowan.

Second year driver Mike Gunderson paced the field of the super stock feature for one lap before veteran Scott Eggebrecht came in front. Mike Kooi, Norm Pualsen and Gunderson diced for second the next three laps. Then something happened to Gunderson’s mount as smoke was everywhere and the only caution flag slowed the race on lap five. Eggebrecht charged back in front as the race re started Scott Scholl moved along second place Kooi with Paulsen rookie Sonny Schoffen and Jermey Tess so close.

Kooi and Scholl diced for second for the next remainder of the contest as Dan Huber who damaged his mount during hot laps won the semi and came from last place to challenge the top runner before time ran out for a up front battle. Eggebrecht won the race with Scholl nipping Schoffen for second. Huber was fourth with Rob Summers and Mike Bell under a blanket to complete the top six. A post race inspection dropped Scholl and Huber from the finish with Tess and Kooi moving into the top six.

Gary LaMonte a former Legends driver grabbed the lead of the sportsman feature that got off to a rocky start. LaMonte’s lead ended quickly as his sleek mount stalled in turn four and the first caution appeared. Before one more lap could be recorded Bill Prietzel and Kevin King tangled stopping the action again. Second year driver Ken Joosten moved in front with Denny Norton Jr., Nick Schumacher and James Swan swapping positions.

Rookie Jeremy Bloomberg stalled on lap ten and the third and final caution appeared before some all out racing materialized. Joosten held back challenges from Schumacher the next four laps before Swan moved in for the kill. Rookie Erik Pierce started to smoke and headed to the pits on lap twenty. The final ten laps didn’t change too much as Swan won the event over Joosten a hard charging Terry Crowell who got by fourth place Schumacher with five laps to go. Norton and Scott Ascher rounded out the top six.

Next Saturday night will be the first round of the no bull triple crown series. The 50 lap super late model feature will have a $1000 claim for the victory. There will be no increase in admission prices as the super stocks and the sportsman will race in a full program also. Time trials begin at 5:45 p.m  and first race at 7 pm.sharp. A District 16 moto cross race will take place the next day on the stadium dirt course starting at 10 am.The top regional and local riders will compete.