18th Annual Banquet New LGR Record! By Dale R. Erdmann

January 26, 2003; Lake Geneva, WI. - It was a night to remember as nearly 300 Drivers pit crews families and friends came out to honor the champions of the 2002 Saturday Night race season at Lake Geneva Raceway. The event took place at Rumpoles Banquet facility in Twin Lakes as Kevin Dawson hosted the 18th. annual event.

Dawson the owner and Promoter of this complex announced that over $310,000 in purse pay out went to the drivers this season.Special thanks went to the 40 plus employees that help put the events on each week.Especially the safety crew headed by Dave Blink after he and his crew suppressed a scarey situation that happened one night saving a drivers life. The entire crowd gave the safety crew a standing ovation.

A big thank you went to Anheuser Busch along with Beechwood Distributors, Ron Service, General Tire the official wrecker service, John Fischer of Lynch Motors now southeast Wisconsin’s number one Chevrolet dealer. Burlington Glass Company, Charlie and Linda Dorr the raceway photographers and Sandy and Darrell Franklin who video tape all our events.Darrell Franklin gave us the bad news after being here four years. Due to bad health in his family they would have to give up the job. Franklin was able to make worldwide publicity after the trailer race got on the FOX network show that aired it many times since it took place.

In the Budweiser super late model division 31 year old Matt Kocourek a second year driver out of Racine took the point lead on the mid season championship night and held on to win his first title. Kocourek started oval track racing 6 years ago in the Legend division after racing district 16 moto cross events when his career began. The runner up was veteran driver multi time champion Al Schill of Franklin .Jamie Wallace another former champion out of nearby Pell Lake a second generation driver took third  in this strong tight division. Former title holder Fran Prestay of Burlington was fourth Rick Corso of McHenry,Illinois a mid American champion took fifth. Rounding out the top ten were Jerry Freeman also the rookie of the year, second generation driver Jason Hicks, Denny Hiffman a former road course competitor Jerry Cowan a former super stock top runner and veteran Joe Fischer.

In another close division the super stocks Rob Summers of Lake Geneva won his first crown in his third year of acing.2001 champion Jack Rubach of Burlington was second. Veteran driver Scott Eggbrecht of Crystal Lake,IL.was third.Another former champ John Janssen of Powers Lake was fourth and Dan Huber of Antioch,IL. fifth. Completing the top ten were Mike Bell, rookie of the year Sonny Schoffen, former champion Bob Moeller, with Pete Olson and Mike Gunderson next.

In a division that raced nearly 75% of the time the sportsman division saw 2001 Mid American champion James Swan out of Lake Geneva win his first title here as he dominated the competition the first two thirds of the season. Zac Deeringer of McHenry,IL. was second with Kenny Joosten of Wonder lake,IL. only afew points behind in third. Nick Schumacher of Germantown was fourth with veteran Brian Baker of Springfield fifth. Following were Denny Norton Jr., rookie of the year Erik Pierce, former Legends driver Gary LaMonte, 2001 champion Mike Lange and Terry Crowell rounded out the top ten.

Aero Racing wheels contingencies went to to the highest point finisher in each division. Al Schill, James Swan and Rob Summers took home the cash.

The $1500 Five Star race car body was given to Vincent Merry a rookie driver in the super late model division after a random drawing. $500 gift certificates went to Mike Bell and Jerry Freeman. The Turbo Blue racing fuel awards went to Al Schill, Rick Corso and Denny Hiffman.

Circle Track Specialitiesof Waukesha in a random drawing went to Jerry Freeman, Rob Summers and Denny Norton Jr.

The Barkers Reconditioning Al Schill Jr. memorial dash award was a three way tie for the first time as Matt Kocourek, Al Schill and Jamie Wallace each won three dash events another ten drivers also won dash events marking an all time record.

The Bassett wheel awards went to Al Schill and Rob Summers.

Denny Norton Jr.owner of Performance Unlimited presented contingency awards to the following drivers in the super late models Matt Kocourek picked up $200 Al Schill $100 and Jamie Wallace $50. In the super stocks Rob Summers received $200 Jack Rubach $100 and Scott Eggbrecht $50. In the sportsman group James Swan got $200 Zac Deeringer $100 and Kenny Joosten $50.During a random drawing $100 gift certificates went to one driver in each division.

Hoosier Tire Company gave out over $3000 to drivers that qualified for their contingencies.

The final announcement was that the super stock feature winner would now get $125, the Sportsman $300, and the super late models at least $700 thanks to Budweiser.

The 26th. annual BARS “lets go racing” show will kick off the 2003 season with their show at the Original Outlet Mall on
I-94 and Highway 50 just 5 miles west of Kenosha. The show will be March 28th. 29th. and 30th. It’s the only show free to the public and there is no entry fee to the drivers. All type of race cars will be there.

The Lake Geneva Raceway oval track begins it’s 38th. season of racing on Saturday Night April 5th.