Johnson Clean Sweeps Herb's Mini-Mods! By Dale Erdmann

August 23, 2002; Lake Geneva, WI. -The weather was great and over 125 race cars were jammed in the pit area for the second to the last weekly Friday night race program for the 2002 schedule. Defending division champion “Doctor Tooth” Ken Johnson of Paddock Lake serviced notice that he wants to win another Herb’s mini modified title as the veteran driver took fast time won the dash and by just a few feet won the 15 lap feature race.

The class will hold their championship on Friday September 27th. at the small car world championships at Lake Geneva Raceway.

Photo Highlights

"Doctor Tooth" Ken Johnson (#2th) earned a clean sweep in the Mini-Modified this evening at lake Geneva Raceway. Lyle Kuklinski (#45) was all smiles after capturing his first career Legend Car main event. Tom Ross (#1) scored his third Sport Truck feature win of the 2002 season at Lake Geneva Raceway.

Keith Tolf of Kenosha a regular in the Great Lakes Allison legacy cars won his first S&P motorsports millennium late model division in Joshua Shaw’s race car. Tolf won a feature in the legacy group earlier this season. Lyle Kuklinski of New Berlin won his first career Perfection Auto Body legends feature for 15 laps in what turned into a controversial event as the top two in points Curt Gnatzig and Clayton Kruse who are only separated by 20 points got into each other during the event as their championship ends on the 27th. of September also. Tom Ross of Northbrook Illinois won his third 15 lap sport truck feature of the season and Nick Kalteis of Lake Villa IL. won his fourth Anchor Towing Basic International 15 lap feature of the season but now is tied in the point battle with Greg Sheldon with just a few more weeks left.

Rookie Curt Thomarin slipped in front of the mini modified feature with Chris Marinello, Joe Miller, and Bill Trusky glued to his back side. Miller trussled with Thomarin for just two laps before moving in front of the field.Quickly Hermie Schultz crept into third with his son Jeff Schultz and Ken Johnson storming through the pack.

On lap five Jeff took over the lead with as Johnson caught Miller before the lap ended. Schultz, Johnson, and Miller were too close to call as the laps began to disappear. On lap nine Johnson dove into third hard enough to make his pass stick and until the caution came out as Mike VanHouten spun with just two laps to go it looked like Johnson would easily win the event. But Schultz who held the point lead until last week wanted the win. When racing resumed Schultz didn’t let the leader gain any pavement and with the white flag out coming off turn four Schultz tried his patented move diving deeply into the corner but then bobbled coming off the turn and Johnson inched back ahead and won the race over Schultz. Hermie Schultz nipped Miller for third Wilmot IMCA modified point leader Scott Kuxhouse in the VanHouten back up car was fifth and Trusky sixth in a finish that had the crowd on their feet for the checkered.

Mike Carpenter Jr. jumped in front of the millennium late model feature from his outside pole starting spot.with visiting Steve Schlossen next. Nothing change until lap five when Boyd Calvert moved into second.That was short lived as Kieth Tolf inched ahead of Schlossen and then Calvert on lap seven.By lap ten fast timer Shawn Conely was second but along ways back from the leader. The first and only car was lapped on the lap twelve as it looked like Carpenter would win his first feature here. But then came lap sixteen as everyone but Carrie Dygon made it trhough turm four as she spun.

Ty James in his first week back after his misfortunes of meeting the wall didn’t see Dygon smashing hard into her drivers door. Out came the first and only caution but no one was injured. Dygon would continue but James received some substantial damage. Conely tried everthing to move in front of Carpenter but this driver wanted his first win. Coming into turn two with the white flag out contact was not made but both drivers spun and the race was over. Tolf who was running third picked up the win Kenny Joosten took second with Tommy Nevoso the point leader next. Calvert, Paul Dygon, and Schlossen rounding out the top six.

Robb Duffek led the first four laps of the legend feature before Lyle Kuklinski moved in front with a tight pack behind him. On lap eleven Clayton Kruse working his way in front after starting in the back.Curt Gnatzig with just two laps to go moved around Kuklinski and set out after the leader.

With just one lap to go Kruse held the advantage as Gnatzig made contact and around went Kruse. Both drivers started in the back and scorers went off that lap and Kuklinski was the winner with Larry Will Herman Greinig third Brad Popp Duffek and Kruse completed the top six.

Vladi Vladimirov led the first lap of the BIC twenty two car feature with Jeff Bremer taking over the top spot for the next four go rounds. Then Nick Kalteis wedged his way in front winning the contest over Dan Hunt the quick qualifier Greg Sheldon Steve Richter, Bremer and, Tony Burrafato.

Friday night August 30th. marks the end of the season for weekly Friday night racing. The Small Car world championships will be here September 27th. This Friday time trials begin at 6pm. racing at 7:30. The regular five divisions will be here. Points will continue   for the mini modifieds millennium late models legends and BIC cars after the 30th.