Kocourek Wins SLM Feature at LGR!! By Dale Erdmann

May 17, 2003; Lake Geneva, WI. -   It was another night with a sharp east wind blowing as it chilled the hearty souls that came out for weekly Saturday night race program at Lake Geneva Raceway. Matt Kocourek of Racine the defending Budweiser super late model champion came back to win his first 35 lap feature of the season. Jeremy Miller of Rockton,Illinois won his second feature of the season in the Performance unlimited sportsman division and Scott Eggebrecht of Crystal Lake, IL. won his second McHenry Limousine super stock 25 lap features of the year.

Photo Highlights

Matt Kocourek (#43), the defending Super Late Model champion, won the feature Saturday night at Lake Geneva Raceway. He was joined in victory lane by Junior Fan Club member Tori Wrobel. Jeremy Miller (#5) won his second main event of the year at Lake Geneva when he took top honors in the sportsman feature Saturday. Scott Eggebrecht (#64) also won his second 25-lap super stock main of the season Saturday at LGR.

The super late model feature had a false start after Joe Fischer and Mark Hartline got together even before the field crossed the line. At the drop of the next green Fischer charged in front with Fran Prestay, Billy Skinner Jr. and Jason Hicks trying to advance.

It was a tight formation throughout the field as Prestay worked his way along the leader Fischer was up for the call and never flinched.With Prestay working the inside of the leader, Skinner got around Prestay.Hicks was waiting for a mistake up front but now Rick Corso was challenging his position.

Behind this cluster was Matt Kocourek, Jerry Freeman and Wayne Freimund. The first car to be lapped came on lap fourteen as Fischer used this situation to own his benefit. Kocourek advanced to fifth by lap seventeen, but up front things were heating up as it was a three battle for the lead.Kocourek got his break on lap twenty moving into third as the front three lapped another car, leaving Prestay behind as his traction appeared to give out.

Then came a lapped car that never moved down causing an already tight field to get mean on lap twenty six just after Kocourek moved into second. Freeman advanced to  fourth as Skinner could feel the pressure of Hicks who just got by Prestay. Randy Rodgers got past Prestay one lap later. This was shaping up into a barn burner for the frozen crowd that was going wild. One laps later another car got lapped and everyone tried to use that car to their own advantage.

Fischer maintained his composure with Kocourek advancing to second on lap twenty nine, Skinner stayed right on his bumper with Freeman glued to his backside. Kocourek snuck inside Fischer three times before he could move it stick.With four laps to go   Kocourek became the new leader holding on for the win. Fischer was second, with third place to Skinner, Freeman was fourth with Hicks and Rodgers nearly a dead heat in what was an exciting feature.

Before the feature could even start Tom Roney had problems after qualifying third for the night. Scott Eggebrecht and Adam Mass dueled for the lead of the super stock main event with Mike Gunderson, Norm Paulsen and Mike Bell clamoring for a new position. Gunderson got by Mass on lap four and set sail for the front of the field. Mass wasn’t going to settle for that as he moved back into second two laps later.

On lap twelve Paulsen broke a ball joint just after moving into third, coming to a halt in turn four just after getting past Gunderson. On the restart Eggebrecht moved away from the field with Gunderson feeling the pressure of Dan Huber. Rob Summers was next with fast timer Sonny Schoffen’s watching this situation. Summers got by Mass on lap seventeen.       Gunderson got wide as Huber slipped into second on lap fourteen. Then Summer moved by on lap nineteen when Huber out wide. Bob Moeller and Mass tangled with just three laps to go setting up a real nail biter.Eggebrecht took the win with Schoffen nipping Summers for second. Huber was fourth with Jack Rubach and Gunderson completing the top six.

Gary Norton led the first lap of the sportsman feature with Erik Pierce, Rick Rowlett and Danny Church climbing all over the leader. Pierce moved into the lead one lap later with Church next.Rookie Steve Hoff was now third as Norton slipped off the pace.

Jeremy Miller was fourth on lap five with Norton, fast time James Swan right behind him. Kenny Joosten spun on lap ten bringing out the caution flag bringing this fast pace to a halt. On the restart Miller surprised Swan moving inside and then into second before the lap would end. Jeremy Bloomberg and Gary LaMonte were right behind the top three.

On lap eighteen something flew off one of the cars running up front. The final caution appeared with Pierce still the leader as the green came out.Quickly Miller moved inside and in front for the win. Swan nipped Pierce with Bobby Hacker,LaMonte and Bloomberg in another close race.

This coming Saturday night will be the first of three trailer races this season sponsored by R.A. Adams of McHenry night.The super late models, super stocks and sportsman will be on hand.Time trials begin at 5:45 and the first race at 7pm sharp.