Wild Friday Night at LGR! By Dale Erdmann

May 23, 2003; Lake Geneva, WI. -  It was one of those nights at Lake Geneva Raceway Friday as WLKG Radio and the Lake Geneva Regional News sponsored the weekly program.

Randy Schneider of Burlington won his first Anchor Towing Basic International cars 15 lap feature of the season. Phil Schultz of Silver Lake a former champion won the Herb’s mini modified 15 lap feature in his Brother’s Jeff’s race car. Clayton Kruse of Burlington won the 15 lap Perfection Auto Body feature for 15 laps in the Steve Licht mount that won last week. The race was marred by a lap five incident that sent Herman Greninig, fast timer Curt Gnatzig and new comer Les Knollberg up into the wall and fence under starter Dave Rex’s flag stand. When everything was said and done the impact of three cars tore down some 34 feet of fence and shook the flag stand. No one was injured but all three cars received substantial damage. Chad Ross of Kenosha won the 15 lap Midwest sport truck feature. Kenny Joosten of Wonder Lake, Illinois was the surprise winner of the 25 lap S&P motorsports millennium late model feature and 13 year old Michael Bilderback of South Beloit,IL. the nephew of Ricky Bilderback continued to dominate the Banderlora class with his win of the 10 lap event. 

Photo Highlights

Chad Ross (#3) captures the Sport Truck main event this evening. Phil Schultz (#74) a former champion in the Mini-Modifieds jumped into his brother Jeff's car and came away with a feature win. Current BIC point leader Dan Hunt (76) passes leader Lenny Adams during BIC feature action at Lake Geneva Raceway.

The millennium feature just got started as lots of problems ensued. With Jacob
Humphrey out front on lap two Joshua Shaw and quick qualifier Brian Ulrich tangled causing the first caution. Then lap three Butch Aissen in his first time in a millennium car and Earl Counter tangled. Each time the field remained tight. Two more laps were counted before Steve Maciosek spun and brought out another caution.

Three laps later Monty Coffman spun stopping the action one more time. Humphrey pulled the field each time after a poor qualifying lap due to engine problems. Ken Joosten moved into second after a long fight with Mark Hartline with Mike Lange hot on his tail. Mike Carpenter Jr. joined the fray on lap ten as this was finally turning into a race.Then on lap fourteen Aissen spun again. It would be all out racing for the next  ten laps with Humphrey up to every call. Behind him Joosten, Hartline, Carpenter, Mike Lange, Shaun Conley and now Paul Dygon were too close to call.

With the white flag displayed Counter spun into the protection tire causing the race to become a green, white, yellow situation after the caution stopped this good race. Suddenly the leader ducked into the pits for some unknown reason. The next problem was the restart as everyone was biting at the bit. Coming off turn four Lange and Conley made contact. This incident sent Lange to the pits and the next line up brought this two lap dash to an exciting climax. Joosten won his first feature of the season with Hartline and Conley next at his right and left. Dygon, Ulrich and Carpenter were three deep at the wire in that order for one wild feature finish.

Glen Vernezze slipped in front of the mini modified feature with Mike VanHouten right at his side. Van Houten gained the top spot one lap later as Phil Schultz was on a mission jolting from sixth to second in two laps. Rookie Jesse Johnson was a close fourth with fast timer Ken Johnson next by lap six just as Schultz grabbed the lead. Once in front the new leader moved away from the field just like he did in the dash.

With five laps to go Johnson secured second as the lapped cars became a factor. Schultz would win the event using those lapped cars to his advantage.Johnson was three lengths back for second.Van Houten, Jesse Johnson, Hermie Schultz and Chris Marinello were next.

Next Friday night the the first ever IROC coaches race will take place. Five local Coaches who host WLKG’s sports jam every Saturday morning will race each other

In BIC cars.The central states super mini cups and the open wheel Formula Indy cars will join the mini mdifieds, BICS and millennium cars. Time trials begin at 6pm and the   First race at 7:30 sharp.