Vern Brown Score Clean Sweep in FIRA at LGR!  Kuklinski Takes Over Legends Point Lead! By Dale R. Erdmann and Dave Kamholtz

June 18, 2004; Lake Geneva, WI. -  It was another big Friday night of family fun stock racing at Lake Geneva Raceway. Veteran  Formula Indy driver Vern Brown of Waunakee scored a clean sweep in his division, by taking fast time,winning his heat and running away with the 20 lap feature.Lyle Kuklinski of New Berlin won his second 20 lap feature for the Perfection Auto Body legends cars. Mark Hartline of Gilberts, Illinois won his second 25 lap S&P motorsports millennium late model feature in a real close finish.

Photo Highlights

Mark Hartline (30) on his way to Friday's Lake Geneva Millennium late model feature race win.  Todd Miller (23) could not hold off Dan Giannotti (33) on his way to the BIC feature race win Friday at Lake Geneva Raceway. Chad Ross (3) and Tom Ross (1) couldn't hold off Vincent Merry (55), shown on his way to the top spot in the sport truck main event Friday at LGR. Lake Geneva Raceway's Formula Indy feature was captured by Vern Brown Friday. He was joined in victory lane by Junior Fan Club member Kelly Gerlitz.

Defending champion Vincent Merry of Wadsworth,IL. just missed a clean sweep of Vazcom Communications sport truck action,as he won his heat and the 15 lap feature. Michael Bilderback of South Beloit,IL. also just missed a clean sweep, taking second in his heat,but took fast time and a the wire won the 9 lap Bandana Bandito bandolero feature and the Rolling services Basic International cars 15 lap feature went to the new one lap qualifying record holder Dan Giannotti. The new one lap mark is 20.521 seconds. The evenings program was sponsored by Nestles of Burlington. Bonus money went to the Legends, millennium and BIC feature winner.

Kyle LaPier moved in front of the bandolero feature with Bobby Yonkee, Michael Bilderback and Jason Halbrader in hot pursuit.By lap four Bilderback worked his way around Yonkee. Michael Cooter who started in row three was now fourth after waging a battle with Halbrader.

It looked like that would be the way it would end, but the leader got wide on lap seven giving Bilderback a chance to make up some pavement. Then coming for the checkered LaPier looked sure he’d pull off his first win here ,but coming to the end of turn four, the leader again went wide. There was a drag race to the checkered, that was won by less than a few inches by Bilderback. LaPier was second, with Yonkee, Cooter, Halbrader and Branden Allen sixth.

It took Vincent Merry just five laps to gain the lead, after two Yellow pages USA caution periods, one on the opening lap and then lap four. Merry went on to win the event over quick timer, Tom Ross, with Chad Ross third.

The legends feature would have gone non stop but on lap five, Robb Duffek and Brian Julien got together coming off turn two and fire erupted from the Julien mount. The fire was put out quickly by the safety crew, Julien escaped unharmed, but his night was over for the rookie driver.

When the race resumed Ernie Schaal who led since the opening lap, charged back in front one more time. Lyle Kuklinski inched along side the leader and went in front on lap seven. Defending champion Steve Licht didn’t have a very good night.In hot laps his familiar number eight blew the motor. In his back up car, while running sixth coming out of turn two, he smashed the wall hard after getting pinched in the three deep action. This bent the upper control arm and Licht retired to the pits for the evening.

By the time quick qualifier Curt Gnatzig broke from the field which took a lot long er because of the tight racing, time ran out.Kuklinski won the feature, Nick Shutkas held onto second with Gnarzig third, Joe Scala fourth, Hermann Greinig was fifth and Schaal held onto sixth, with a lot of cars right behind him.

First night racer Aaron Flabe slipped in front of the millennium feature with Carrie Dygon at his tail. Joe Rusciano, Kieth Tolf and Steve Maciosek got by Dygon with a very close cluster from back to front. By lap nine, Mark Hartline who started
tenth row inside, was running third, after a lengthy run with Kenny Joosten.

The only caution of the race came on lap fourteen when rookie Ryan Walsh spun while running midpack, but everyone missed him. Hartline picked the left lane on the restart and Flabe couldn’t hold him back as the lead changed on lap fifteen.

Hartline won the event with Joosten taking second, Toft with his ill handling car managed a third, Flabe was right behind him for fourth.Brian Ulrich was fifth and Rusciano sixth.

Valerie Epright grabbed the lead of the large BIC car feature before a melee ensued on lap two .Epright held onto to the front spot two more laps before Todd Miller, who had his qualifying fast time streak broken tonight went into the lead for the next four laps. Once Dan Giannotti moved up to challenge, it all over, as he took over the lead on lap seven, going on to easily win the event. Point leader Viadi Viadimirov was third and Tony Renk fourth in another great race.

The first appearance for the season of the Great Lakes Allison legacy series will be this coming Friday, drivers from 5 states will be here. All regular divisions will be here too. Time trials begin at 6pm. first race at 7:30pm.

Basic Int'l Cars
A-Main 01 -- 1. Dan Giannotti, Bristol, Wis; 2. Todd Miller, Oak Creek, Wis; 3. Vladi Vladimirov, Racine, Wis; 4. Tony Riek, Elkhorn, Wis; 5. Rod Brossart, Fox Lake, Ill.; 6. Andy Portzen, Burlington, Wis; 7. Rob Schiebel, Ingleside, Ill.; 8. Lenny Adams, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 9. Pete Koenig, Richmond, Ill.; 10. Brit Bromann, Grayslake, Ill.; 11. Matt Booker, Wonder Lake, Ill.;
12. Russell Gest, Elkhorn, Wis; 13. Reid Kahrs Jr, West Allis, Wis; 14. Valerie Epright, Delavan, Wis; 15. Lisa Waterman, Trevor, Wis; 16. Roger Schultz, Machesney Park, Ill.; 17. Bob Koch, McHenry, Ill.; 18. James Raderschadt, Lake Geneva, Wis; 19. David Emery Jr., Lake Geneva, Wis; 20. Leo Bujak, Spring Grove, Ill..

B-Main 01 -- 1. Brit Bromann, Grayslake, Ill.; 2. David Emery Jr., Lake Geneva, Wis; 3. Shaun Deibert, Milwaukee, Wis; 4. David Johnson, Skokie, Ill.; 5. Morgan Breeding, Woodstock, Ill.; 6. Cindy Krause, Burlington, Wis; 7. Scott Kellermeier, East Troy, Wis; 8. Peter Olson Jr., Johnsburg, Ill.; 9. Ken Causey, Pell Lake, Wis; 10. David Emery Sr, Delevan, Wis; 11. Chad Arterburn, Lake Geneva, Wis.

Heat 01 -- 1. Brit Bromann, Grayslake, Ill.; 2. David Emery Jr., Lake Geneva, Wis; 3. David Johnson, Skokie, Ill.; 4. Dylan Helfenstein, Racine, Wis; 5. Chad Arterburn, Lake Geneva, Wis; 6. Cindy Krause, Burlington, Wis; 7. Scott Kellermeier, East Troy, Wis; 8. David Emery Sr, Delevan, Wis; 9. Robert Palka, Pell Lake, Wis.

Heat 02 -- 1. Morgan Breeding, Woodstock, Ill.; 2. Peter Olson Jr., Johnsburg, Ill.; 3. Russell Gest, Elkhorn, Wis; 4. Roger Schultz, Machesney Park, Ill.; 5. Valerie Epright, Delavan, Wis; 6. Shaun Deibert, Milwaukee, Wis; 7. Lisa Waterman, Trevor, Wis; 8. Ken Causey, Pell Lake, Wis; 9. Paula Emery, Delevan, Wis.

Heat 03 -- 1. Andy Portzen, Burlington, Wis; 2. Tony Riek, Elkhorn, Wis; 3. Matt Booker, Wonder Lake, Ill.; 4. Pete Koenig, Richmond, Ill.; 5. Rod Brossart, Fox Lake, Ill.; 6. James Raderschadt, Lake Geneva, Wis; 7. Reid Kahrs Jr, West Allis, Wis; 8. Leo Bujak, Spring Grove,

Time Trial -- 1. Dan Giannotti, Bristol, Wis; 2. Todd Miller, Oak Creek, Wis; 3. Lenny Adams, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 4. Vladi Vladimirov, Racine, Wis; 5. Bob Koch, McHenry, Ill.; 6. Rob Schiebel, Ingleside, Ill.; 7. Tony Riek, Elkhorn, Wis; 8. Rod Brossart, Fox Lake, Ill.; 9. Andy Portzen, Burlington, Wis; 10. James Raderschadt, Lake Geneva, Wis; 11. Pete Koenig, Richmond, Ill.; 12.
Leo Bujak, Spring Grove, Ill.; 13. Reid Kahrs Jr, West Allis, Wis; 14. Matt Booker, Wonder Lake, Ill.; 15. Roger Schultz, Machesney Park, Ill.; 16. Valerie Epright, Delavan, Wis; 17. Russell Gest, Elkhorn, Wis; 18. Lisa Waterman, Trevor, Wis; 19. Ken Causey, Pell Lake, Wis; 20. Shaun Deibert, Milwaukee, Wis; 21. Peter Olson Jr., Johnsburg, Ill.; 22. Paula Emery, Delevan, Wis; 23. Morgan Breeding, Woodstock, Ill.; 24. David Emery Jr., Lake Geneva, Wis; 25. Dylan Helfenstein, Racine, Wis; 26. Chad Arterburn, Lake Geneva, Wis; 27. David Johnson, Skokie, Ill.; 28. Brit Bromann, Grayslake, Ill.; 29. Cindy Krause, Burlington, Wis; 30. Scott Kellermeier, East Troy, Wis; 31. David Emery Sr, Delevan, Wis; 32. Robert Palka, Pell Lake, Wis.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Bob Koch, McHenry, Ill.; 2. Vladi Vladimirov, Racine, Wis; 3. Lenny Adams, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 4. Dan Giannotti, Bristol, Wis; 5. Todd Miller, Oak Creek, Wis; 6. Rob Schiebel, Ingleside, Ill..

INEX Legends
A-Main 01 -- 1. Lyle Kuklinski, New Berlin, Wis; 2. Nick Shutkas, Caledonia, Ill.; 3. Curt Gnatzig, Hartford, Wis; 4. Joe Scala, Fox River Grove, Ill.; 5. Hermann Greinig, Addison, Ill.; 6. Ernie Schaal, Wauconda, Ill.; 7. Steve Licht, Burlington, Wis; 8. Robb Duffek, Orland Park, Ill.; 9. Brian Julien, Waukesha, Wis; 10. Dave Cooter Sr. (o), Loves Park, Ill..

Heat 01 -- 1. Lyle Kuklinski, New Berlin, Wis; 2. Brian Julien, Waukesha, Wis; 3. Dave Cooter Sr. (o), Loves Park, Ill.; 4. Robb Duffek, Orland Park, Ill.; 5. Hermann Greinig, Addison, Ill.;6. Ernie Schaal, Wauconda, Ill..

Time Trial -- 1. Curt Gnatzig, Hartford, Wis; 2. Nick Shutkas, Caledonia, Ill.; 3. Steve Licht, Burlington, Wis; 4. Joe Scala, Fox River Grove, Ill.; 5. Robb Duffek, Orland Park, Ill.; 6. Hermann Greinig, Addison, Ill.; 7. Lyle Kuklinski, New Berlin, Wis; 8. Ernie Schaal, Wauconda, Ill.; 9. Dave Cooter Sr. (o), Loves Park, Ill.; 10. Brian Julien, Waukesha, Wis; 11. Kyle La Pier (y);; 12.
Michael Bilderback (y), S. Beloit, Ill..

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Steve Licht, Burlington, Wis; 2. Joe Scala, Fox River Grove, Ill.; 3. Curt Gnatzig, Hartford, Wis; 4. Nick Shutkas, Caledonia, Ill..

Limited (Millenium) Late Models
A-Main 01 -- 1. Mark Hartline, Gilberts, Ill.; 2. Kenny Joosten (t), Wonder Lake, Ill.; 3. Keith Tolf, Union Grove, Wis; 4. Aaron Falbe, Beaver Dam, Wis; 5. Brian Ulrich (t), Racine, Wis; 6. Joe Rusciano, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 7. Steve Maciosek, Burlington, Wis; 8. Brad Kossow, Union Grove, Wis; 9. Paul Dygon, Wind Lake, Wis; 10. Sonny Schoffen, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 11. Josh Wallace,
Pell Lake, Wis; 12. Carrie Dygon, Racine, Wis; 13. Paul Edmundson, Whitewater, Wis; 14. Ryan Walsh (t), Woodstock, Ill.; 15. Ken Jones, Lombard, Ill.; 16. Ralph Gentile, Racine, Wis; 17. Randy Schneider, Burlington, Wis.

Heat 01 -- 1. Keith Tolf, Union Grove, Wis; 2. Aaron Falbe, Beaver Dam, Wis; 3. Joe Rusciano, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 4. Brad Kossow, Union Grove, Wis; 5. Carrie Dygon, Racine, Wis; 6. Ryan Walsh (t), Woodstock, Ill.; 7. Randy Schneider, Burlington, Wis; 8. Paul Edmundson, Whitewater, Wis; 9. Ralph Gentile, Racine, Wis; 10. Josh Wallace, Pell Lake, Wis;

Time Trial -- 1. Paul Dygon, Wind Lake, Wis; 2. Kenny Joosten (t), Wonder Lake, Ill.; 3. Mark Hartline, Gilberts, Ill.; 4. Brian Ulrich (t), Racine, Wis; 5. Sonny Schoffen, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 6. Steve Maciosek, Burlington, Wis; 7. Ralph Gentile, Racine, Wis; 8. Keith Tolf, Union Grove, Wis; 9. Brad Kossow, Union Grove, Wis; 10. Joe Rusciano, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 11. Ryan Walsh (t), Woodstock, Ill.; 12. Aaron Falbe, Beaver Dam, Wis; 13. Carrie Dygon, Racine, Wis; 14. Josh Wallace, Pell Lake, Wis; 15. Ken Jones, Lombard, Ill.; 16. Randy Schneider, Burlington, Wis; 17. Paul Edmundson, Whitewater, Wis; 18. Lee Heiligenthal, Las Crucess, N.M.

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Sonny Schoffen, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 2. Mark Hartline, Gilberts, Ill.; 3. Steve Maciosek, Burlington, Wis; 4. Brian Ulrich (t), Racine, Wis; 5. Kenny Joosten (t), Wonder Lake, Ill.; 6. Paul Dygon, Wind Lake, Wis.

Bandoleros
Heat 01 -- 1. Kyle La Pier (y);; 2. Michael Bilderback (y), S. Beloit, Ill.; 3. Michael Cooter (y);;4. Bobby Yonkee (b), Willowbrook, Ill.; 5. Jason Halbrader (o), Machesney Park, Ill.; 6. BrandenAllen (y), Yorkville, Ill..

Feature race 1.Michael Bilderback (y)…S.Beloit,Ill. 2.Kyle LaPier (y) 3)Bobby Yonkee (b) Willowbrook,Ill. (4) Michael Cooter (y),Loves Park,Ill. (5) Jason Halbrader (o) Machesney Park,Ill.(6) Branden Allen (y),Yorkville,Ill.

Time Trial -- 1. Michael Bilderback (y), S. Beloit, Ill.; 2. Kyle La Pier (y);; 3. Michael Cooter (y);; 4. Bobby Yonkee (b), Willowbrook, Ill.; 5. Jason Halbrader (o), Machesney Park, Ill.; 6. Branden Allen (y), Yorkville, Ill..