logosmall.gif (8457 bytes)

Two New Winners at LGR/Swan Goes Four for Four!
By Dale Erdmann

May 18, 2002; Lake Geneva, WI. -  It was another cold rainy night at Lake Geneva Raceway Saturday night as the fifth night of racing went into the books. McHenry Limousine And Performance Unlimited of McHenry,Illinois sponsored tonights program. The Budweiser super late models 35 lap feature was won by Erik Darnell a third generation driver from Beach Park,IL. his first career win. Rookie Sonny Schoffen of Crystal Lake,IL. won the 25 lap McHenry Limousine super stock feature his first career win in the non stop event. The caution plagued Performance Unlimited sportsman feature for 25 laps went to James Swan of Lake Geneva keeping his record intact but it wasn’t a run away win for the defending Mid American champion who will race full time here this season.

Photo Highlights
42801b.jpg (10225 bytes)
Erik Darnell (#7) a third generation racer, scored his first career Super Late Model feature win at Lake Geneva Raceway.42801b.jpg (10225 bytes)
Swan the unstoppable!!  James Swan (#97) scored his fourth straight Sportsman feature win this evening.  He's undefeated in 2002 at Lake Geneva Raceway.
42801b.jpg (10225 bytes)
Rookie Sonny Schoffen (#75) earned his first career Super Stock feature checkered at Lake Geneva Raceway this evening.

Scott Poritz moved in front of the super late model contest with Erik Darnell and first nighter Wayne Freimund trying to get around him. Darnell accomplished that fete two laps later just before Jeff Lorenz spun bringing out a caution flag. Darnell now had Poritz and Rick Corso to contend with as the laps continued.Al Schill crept up on Poritz and within a lap the veteran point leader was knocking on Corso’s door. The top three were glued together for the next ten laps before Billy Skinner Jr. and Eddie May got together bring the grueling pace to a halt.

With the green reappearing Darnell, Schill, Corso and Skinner were so tight that any mistake would be disastrous.Suddenly Jerry Freeman running sixth stalled causing a chain reaction melee. The caution quickly came out as starter Dave Rex Jr.knew that could have gotten ugly. When the green came out Corso lost traction and nearly went into the wall coming off turn two but the crafty driver pulled off what could have been a real bad thing and the race continued. The next ten laps were a Darnell and Schill show the leader looked like he glued to a rail and each lap when it looked like it was going to be too close to call this youngster led the lap.

The last laps were now and Skinner joining the fray even thou the last lap Schill pulled even and even went ahead coming off turn two but at the checkered it was Darnell decisively ahead for the win over Schill, Skinner, Corso, quick timer Jamie Wallace and the last feature winner Matt Kocoureck in a great close race contest.

Pete Olson slipped in front of the other nineteen super stock cars with Bob Moeller second and Norm Paulsen at his side for two laps before going around the former champion.This was already looking like the last feature as the tight field was developing.On lap nine Scott Scholl running eighth dropped into the pits quickly for an unknown reason.Sonny Schoffen was steadily moving forward and by lap eleven the young driver was running third with Moeller and now John Janssen right behind him.

It looked like Olson would win his first feature with just five laps to go. Then Schoffen slipped under Paulsen and he inched up on the leader.Each time with both these drivers behind him Olson turned back the challenges.With the white flag out Olson lost the lead at the wire but came back again to regain the top spot.Coming off turn three it was dead heat coming across the line Schoffen was ahead winning the contest over Olson, Paulsen at his side Rob Summers, Janssen and fast timer point leader Jack Rubach in another thrilling feature finish.

An unknown visiting driver led the first eight laps before the pressure got to be too much and a tangle was produced with second place Zac Deeringer bringing out the second caution. The first was two laps earlier as Terry Crowell spun wildly off turn three. Before the green could stay out for even a half a lap Brian Baker and John Senerchia tangled causing another delay.

Denny Norton Jr. was now the leader after running third behind this group. Defending champion Mike Lange jumped into second and quickly moved under Norton. But then four laps later James Swan who stayed cool and calm during the enduring beginning of the event scooted in front and never looked back. With just three laps to go Rob Wormiester’s throttle stuck causing a real mess in turn three taking five cars out during the final caution.

Swan would walk away the winner with Lange, Norton, Jeremy Bloomberg, Ken Joosten and John Fischer rounding out the top six.

Next Saturday night May 25th. will be the first trailer race of the season. Race fans should get here early if the weather is good because of the crowd expected for this crowd pleaser. Time trials begin at 5:45 pm first race at 7 sharp. On Monday May 27th. the Midwest Enduro stock car series will be here for the Cherry Bomber 299 race at 1 pm.

SUMMARY OF EVENTS LAKE GENEVA RACEWAY, LAKE GENEVA, WI. --  May 18, 2002
Super Late Model Feature            
1    7    Erik Darnell    Park City, IL
2    14    Al Schill    Franklin, WI
3    47    Billy Skinner Jr (t)    Pell Lake, WI
4    88    Rick Corso (t)    McHenry, IL
5    87    Jamie Wallace    Pell Lake, WI
6    43    Matt Kocourek    Racine, WI
7    67    Jerry Cowan    Burlington, WI
8    5    Fran Prestay    Waterford, WI
9    36    Scotty Poritz    Waterford, WI
10    5    Terry Patnode    ,
           
Super Late Model Semi Feature           
1    30    Mark Hartline    Gilberts, IL
2    99    Scott Koerner    ,
3    96    John Nutley    Midlothian, IL
4    11    Dan Mecum    Marengo, IL
5    36m    Jeff Menliascino    Walworth, WI
           
Super Late Model Heat 1           
1    30    Mark Hartline    Gilberts, IL
2    11    Dan Mecum    Marengo, IL
3    96    John Nutley    Midlothian, IL
4    41    Denny Hiffman    River Forest, IL
5    25    Jeff Lorenz    Waukesha, WI
6    5    Terry Patnode    ,
7    3    Chuck Duncan    Milwaukee, WI
8    99    Scott Koerner    ,
9    36    Scotty Poritz    Waterford, WI
           
Super Late Model Heat 2           
1    14    Al Schill    Franklin, WI
2    2    Joe Fischer    Mchenry, IL
3    88    Rick Corso (t)    McHenry, IL
4    43    Matt Kocourek    Racine, WI
5    67    Jerry Cowan    Burlington, WI
6    44    Wayne Freimund    ,
7    36    Scotty Poritz    Waterford, WI
8    7    Erik Darnell    Park City, IL
           
Super Late Model Time Trials           
1    87    Jamie Wallace    Pell Lake, WI
2    61    Jerry Freeman    Richmond, IL
3    47    Billy Skinner Jr (t)    Pell Lake, WI
4    5    Fran Prestay    Waterford, WI
5    63    Jason Hicks    Lake Geneva, WI
6    2M    Eddie May    Crystal Lake,
7    67    Jerry Cowan    Burlington, WI
8    43    Matt Kocourek    Racine, WI
9    14    Al Schill    Franklin, WI
10    88    Rick Corso (t)    McHenry, IL
           
Super Late Model Dash            
1    5    Fran Prestay    Waterford, WI
2    2M    Eddie May    Crystal Lake,
3    63    Jason Hicks    Lake Geneva, WI
4    47    Billy Skinner Jr (t)    Pell Lake, WI
5    87    Jamie Wallace    Pell Lake, WI
6    61    Jerry Freeman    Richmond, IL

Sportsman Feature           
1    97    James Swan    Lake Geneva, WI
2    7    Mike Lange    Milwaukee, WI
3    96    Dennis Norton Jr    Wonder Lake, IL
4    18    Jeremy Bloomberg    Hampshire, IL
5    47    Kenny Joosten    Wonder Lake, IL
6    13F    John Fischer    Burlington, WI
7    63    Gary Lamonte    West Allis, WI
8    13    Kevin King    Greenfield, WI
9    71    Terry Crowell    North Prairie, WI
10    32    Brian Baker    Springfield, WI
           
Sportsman Heat 1           
1    17    Sportsman 17    ,
2    94    Lee Gibbs    ,
3    22    Rob Workmeister    ,
4    72    Mark Gess    ,
5    33    Jeff Peterson    Lumbard, IL
6    16    Rick Rowlett    Marengo, IL
7    5n    Gary Norton    Hebron, IL
8    21    Todd Stoner    Pleasant Prairie, WI
9    45    Ken Smart    ,
           
Sportsman Heat 2           
1    54    Erik Pierce    Lake In The Hills, IL
2    2    Zac Derringer    Wonder Lake, IL
3    77    John Senerchia    Orland Park, IL
4    32    Brian Baker    Springfield, WI
5    96    Dennis Norton Jr    Wonder Lake, IL
6    18    Jeremy Bloomberg    Hampshire, IL
7    13F    John Fischer    Burlington, WI
8    13    Kevin King    Greenfield, WI
           
Sportsman Time Trials           
1    97    James Swan    Lake Geneva, WI
2    4    Nick Schumacher    Germantown, WI
3    63    Gary Lamonte    West Allis, WI
4    71    Terry Crowell    North Prairie, WI
5    7    Mike Lange    Milwaukee, WI
6    47    Kenny Joosten    Wonder Lake, IL
7    96    Dennis Norton Jr    Wonder Lake, IL
8    18    Jeremy Bloomberg    Hampshire, IL
9    77    John Senerchia    Orland Park, IL
10    32    Brian Baker    Springfield, WI
           
Sportsman Dash           
1    47    Kenny Joosten    Wonder Lake, IL
2    71    Terry Crowell    North Prairie, WI
3    4    Nick Schumacher    Germantown, WI
4    7    Mike Lange    Milwaukee, WI
5    97    James Swan    Lake Geneva, WI
6    63    Gary Lamonte    West Allis, WI

 Super Stock Feature           
1    75    Sonny Schoffen    Crystal Lake, IL
2    0    Pete Olson    Mchenry, IL
3    1    Norman Paulsen (t)    Beach Park, IL
4    38    Rob Summers    Lake Geneva, WI
5    43    John Janssen    Burlington, WI
6    46    Jack Rubach    Burlington, WI
7    1    Mike Bell    Waukesha, WI
8    63    Tony Burrafato    McHenry, IL
9    42    Craig Mertes    Antioch, IL
10    64    Scott Eggebrecht    Crystal Lake, IL
           
Super Stock Semi Feature           
1    98    Greg Beebe    Waukesha, WI
2    18    Nick Nelson    Lombard, IL
3    29    Trevor Mock    Island Lake, IL
4    39    Brad Spiniolas    Harvard, IL
5    6    Dave Timan    ,
6    10    Tom Roney    ,
7    87    Ken Eisbrenner    Racine, WI
8    31    Erik Engle    Genoa City, WI
9    53    Dustin Holland    Genoa City, WI
10    92    Tom Fay    Arlington, IL
           
Super Stock Heat 1           
1    31    Erik Engle    Genoa City, WI
2    28    John Maki Jr    Antioch, IL
3    87    Ken Eisbrenner    Racine, WI
4    6    Dave Timan    ,
5    98    Greg Beebe    Waukesha, WI
6    39    Brad Spiniolas    Harvard, IL
7    4    Brad Norgard    Pell Lake, WI
8    16    Willy Peterson (t)    Woodstock, IL
           
Super Stock Heat 2           
1    18    Nick Nelson    Lombard, IL
2    29    Trevor Mock    Island Lake, IL
3    0    Pete Olson    Mchenry, IL
4    10    Tom Roney    ,
5    92    Tom Fay    Arlington, IL
6    1    Norman Paulsen (t)    Beach Park, IL
7    93    Tom Boyd    Antioch, IL
8    76    Mike Kooi    ,
9    53    Dustin Holland    Genoa City, WI
           
Super Stock Heat 3           
1    75    Sonny Schoffen    Crystal Lake, IL
2    63    Tony Burrafato    McHenry, IL
3    42    Craig Mertes    Antioch, IL
4    21    Aaron Willms    Burlington, WI
5    43    John Janssen    Burlington, WI
6    30    Scott Scholl    Wauwatosa, WI
7    4    Mike Gunderson    ,
8    99    Adam Mass    Woodstock, IL
           
Super Stock Time Trials            
1    46    Jack Rubach    Burlington, WI
2    38    Rob Summers    Lake Geneva, WI
3    44    Dan Huber    Antioch, IL
4    64    Scott Eggebrecht    Crystal Lake, IL
5    1    Mike Bell    Waukesha, WI
6    60    Jeremy Tess    East Troy, WI
7    30    Scott Scholl    Wauwatosa, WI
8    4    Mike Gunderson    ,
9    42    Craig Mertes    Antioch, IL
10    43    John Janssen    Burlington, WI
           
Super Stock Dash           
1    1    Mike Bell    Waukesha, WI
2    60    Jeremy Tess    East Troy, WI
3    64    Scott Eggebrecht    Crystal Lake, IL
4    38    Rob Summers    Lake Geneva, WI
5    44    Dan Huber    Antioch, IL
6    46    Jack Rubach    Burlington, WI