Rusciano Scores First Career Victory at LGR!  Van Houten's Bad Streak Broken! By Dale R. Erdmann

July 23, 2004; Lake Geneva, WI. - It was another great night for stock car racing, as the family fun night show brought in one of the Saturday night divisions and three of the regular Friday night classes at Lake Geneva Raceway. Former Sycamore Speedway champion Joe Rusciano out of Crystal Lake, Illinois pulled of a last second win at the wire, for a
thrilling ending of the S&P motorsports millennium late model feature and claim his first career win for the second year driver.

Photo Highlights

Matt Kocourek was Friday¹s super late model feature race winner at Lake Geneva Raceway.  Joe Rusciano topped the Millennium late model feature Friday at LGR. Vladi Vladimirov (55) raced to victory in the BIC class main event at Lake Geneva Raceway July 23. Mike Van Houten mini modified at LGR Friday evening. Junior fan David DeCubellis presented the trophy.

In the Jim Olson collision centers super late models, former champion, Racine’s Matt Kocourek won the 35 lap feature race. The
Lusia pizzeria mini modifieds feature for 15 laps, was an emotional one for Cary,IL. driver Mike VanHouten who has had his fill of disappointments this season, but the driver in his eighth year of racing broke that bad streak with his first win of the season and the Rolling services Basic International cars 15 lap feature went to Racine driver Viadi Viadimirov.

In the Jim’s Budget Auto BIC dash Viadimirov won the 6 lap contest. The Hometown computer mini modified dash went to Curt Thomazin of Elkhorn. Ryan Mathews of Lake Geneva won the Al Schill Jr.memorial super late model dash sponsored by Barker’s reconditioning and Jeff Steenbergen of Waupun won the Millennium late model dash.

The millennium late model feature started off just like it eneded, pole sitters Joe Rusciano and Brad Kossow dueled side by side for the lead, with Rusciano leading lap one, before Kossow inched ahead on lap two.Ralph Gentile, then Monty Coffman moved into third, with Dylan Schuyler and Josh Wallace next.Rusciano led laps seven, nine and fourteen, before the first Yellow Book USA caution appeared in lap fifteen for the spun car of Schuyler.

Kossow crept in front,as the side by side formation returned quickly,as Rusciano led   the next go round, now Coffman, Bill Hobson and Curt Thompson were next and those two at the top could feel the pressure. On lap nineteen just after Kossow regained the lead, Brian Ulrich tagged Jeff Steenbergen sending him around and out came the final caution.

Kossow couldn’t shake Rusciano on the restart and now there was four drivers behind this two some waiting for a mistake,as Keith Tolf joined the fray. The final last six laps were worth the whole price of admission as the lead changed hands on the twenty third lap.

The white flag was out with Kossow about six inches ahead, then into one,e verything remained the same, off of two, it was a dead heat, into three, the same way, too close to call, then off of four there was enough room for Hobsin and Coffman to squeeze their way into the cluster. Coming to the line, another dead heat, but coming across the line, Rusciano somehow came across just three inches ahead of Kossow, then Coffman, Hobsin, Tolf and Thompson in the closest feature of the season.

Earl Counter slipped in front of the super late model main event with Jamie Artelt, Landry Potter, Jason Hicks and Terry Patnode all over the leader. Lap three Artelt got the upper hand, with Counter hanging on to second one more before Hicks got by. Chuck Duncan and Don Collins flew off the track in turn four and out came the caution. No one was injured, but Collins mount received some extensive damage. Artelt led one more lap before Hicks moved by on lap ten.

Two cautions followed on lap twelve and thirteen,Hicks remained the leader, with Potter second and now Matt Kocourek along side Artelt for third.Potter took over the lead on nineteen, after some real hard work, Eddie May was now right behind Kocourek.

The field was close but somehow Kocourek managed to get up to second and got by Potter after a spirited three lap battle for the top spot and then went on to win the race. Time ran out for May who got into second with seven laps to go, running out of time for any challenge. Potter was third, Hicks took fourth, with Patnode and Kent Burkoth in a near dead heat for fifth and sixth.

The non stop mini modified feature brought hometown driver Andy Krueger out front, with Curt Thomazin, Jesse Johnson and Glen Vernezze trying to move up. Mike VanHouten who started near rear of the field got a big break early and was up
To third by lap seven.

It looked like that would be the way it would end,it with the white flag out, Van Houten caught Krueger for the win. Point leader and quick qualifier Ken Johnson nipped Jesse Johnson for third, Vernezze was fifth and Hermie Schultz sixth.

Rod Brossart led the first nine laps of the BIC feature,before eventual winner Vladi Valdimirov moved past him for the victory.Lenny Adams was second with Bob Koch,fast timer and point leader Todd Miller fourth,Andy Portzen and Roger
Schultz completing the top six.

This Friday night the bandoleros,legends,Rascal outlaws return along with the Mini mods and millennium late models.Time trials begin at 6pm.racing at 7:30

Basic Int'l Cars
A-Main 01 -- 1. Vladi Vladimirov, Racine, Wis; 2. Lenny Adams, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 3. Bob Koch, McHenry, Ill.; 4. Todd Miller, Oak Creek, Wis; 5. Andy Portzen, Burlington, Wis; 6. Roger Schultz, Machesney Park, Ill.; 7. James Raderschadt, Lake Geneva, Wis; 8. Rod Brossart, Fox Lake, Ill.; 9. Reid Kahrs Jr, West Allis, Wis; 10. Russell Gest, Elkhorn, Wis; 11. Cindy Krause, Burlington, Wis; 12. Pete Koenig, Richmond, Ill.; 13. Rob Schiebel, Ingleside, Ill.; 14. Leo Bujak, Spring Grove, Ill.; 15. Matt Booker, Wonder Lake, Ill.; 16. Shaun Deibert, Milwaukee, Wis; 17. Lisa Waterman, Trevor, Wis; 18. Jack Rabey, Lake Villa, Ill.; 19. Robert Palka, Pell Lake, Wis; 20.Scott Kellermeier, East Troy, Wis.

B-Main 01 -- 1. Robert Palka, Pell Lake, Wis; 2. Scott Kellermeier, East Troy, Wis; 3. Peter Olson Jr., Johnsburg, Ill.; 4. David Emery Sr, Delevan, Wis; 5. Morgan Breeding, Woodstock, Ill.; 6. Paula Emery, Delevan, Wis; 7. Jim Neuhaus, Genoa City, Wis; 8. Jay Lunsford, Caledonia, Wis; 9. Bobby Grolt, McHenry, Ill.; 10. Walt Lepperd, Eagle, Wis; 11. Bryan Talbert, Kenosha,

Heat 01 -- 1. Robert Palka, Pell Lake, Wis; 2. Scott Kellermeier, East Troy, Wis; 3. Peter Olson Jr., Johnsburg, Ill.; 4. Walt Lepperd, Eagle, Wis; 5. Paula Emery, Delevan, Wis; 6. Bryan Talbert, Kenosha, Wis; 7. David Dupree, Lake Geneva, Wis.

Heat 02 -- 1. Rod Brossart, Fox Lake, Ill.; 2. Lisa Waterman, Trevor, Wis; 3. Jack Rabey, Lake Villa, Ill.; 4. Jay Lunsford, Caledonia, Wis; 5. Cindy Krause, Burlington, Wis; 6. Jim Neuhaus, Genoa City, Wis; 7. Bobby Grolt, McHenry, Ill.; 8. Morgan Breeding, Woodstock, Ill..

Heat 03 -- 1. Roger Schultz, Machesney Park, Ill.; 2. Russell Gest, Elkhorn, Wis; 3. Shaun Deibert, Milwaukee, Wis; 4. James Raderschadt, Lake Geneva, Wis; 5. Pete Koenig, Richmond, Ill.; 6. Leo Bujak, Spring Grove, Ill.; 7. Matt Booker, Wonder Lake, Ill.; 8. Andy Portzen,

Time Trial -- 1. Todd Miller, Oak Creek, Wis; 2. Lenny Adams, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 3. Bob Koch, McHenry, Ill.; 4. Reid Kahrs Jr, West Allis, Wis; 5. Vladi Vladimirov, Racine, Wis; 6. Rob Schiebel, Ingleside, Ill.; 7. Andy Portzen, Burlington, Wis; 8. Russell Gest, Elkhorn, Wis; 9. Roger Schultz, Machesney Park, Ill.; 10. Pete Koenig, Richmond, Ill.; 11. Leo Bujak, Spring Grove, Ill.;
12. James Raderschadt, Lake Geneva, Wis; 13. Matt Booker, Wonder Lake, Ill.; 14. Shaun Deibert, Milwaukee, Wis; 15. Rod Brossart, Fox Lake, Ill.; 16. Cindy Krause, Burlington, Wis; 17. Lisa Waterman, Trevor, Wis; 18. Jack Rabey, Lake Villa, Ill.; 19. Bobby Grolt, McHenry, Ill.; 20. Jay Lunsford, Caledonia, Wis; 21. Jim Neuhaus, Genoa City, Wis; 22. Morgan Breeding,
Woodstock, Ill.; 23. Paula Emery, Delevan, Wis; 24. Walt Lepperd, Eagle, Wis; 25. Scott Kellermeier, East Troy, Wis; 26. David Emery Sr, Delevan, Wis; 27. Peter Olson Jr., Johnsburg, Ill.; 28. David Dupree, Lake Geneva, Wis; 29. Robert Palka, Pell Lake, Wis; 30. Bryan Talbert,

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Vladi Vladimirov, Racine, Wis; 2. Bob Koch, McHenry, Ill.; 3. Todd Miller, Oak Creek, Wis; 4. Lenny Adams, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 5. Reid Kahrs Jr, West Allis, Wis.

Limited (Millenium) Late Models
A-Main 01 -- 1. Joe Rusciano, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 2. Brad Kossow, Union Grove, Wis; 3. Monty Coffman, Algonquin, Ill.; 4. Bill Hobson, Roscoe Ill.; 5. Keith Tolf, Union Grove, Wis; 6. Curt Thompson, Fort Atkinson, Wis; 7. Sonny Schoffen, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 8. Paul Dygon, Wind Lake, Wis; 9. Ralph Gentile, Racine, Wis; 10. Jeff Steenbergen, Waupun, Wis; 11. Dylan Schuyler, Dousman, Wis; 12. Josh Wallace, Pell Lake, Wis; 13. Brian Ulrich (t), Racine, Wis; 14. Ryan Walsh (t), Woodstock, Ill.; 15. Carrie Dygon, Racine, Wis; 16. Stephen Brooks, New Lenox, Ill.; 17. Dan Baschal, Racine, Wis.

Heat 01 -- 1. Monty Coffman, Algonquin, Ill.; 2. Josh Wallace, Pell Lake, Wis; 3. Dylan Schuyler, Dousman, Wis; 4. Brad Kossow, Union Grove, Wis; 5. Bill Hobson, Roscoe, Ill.; 6. JoeRusciano, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 7. Carrie Dygon, Racine, Wis; 8. Ralph Gentile, Racine, Wis; 9. Ryan Walsh (t), Woodstock, Ill.; 10. Stephen Brooks, New Lenox, Ill.; 11. Dan Baschal, Racine,

Time Trial -- 1. Sonny Schoffen, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 2. Jeff Steenbergen, Waupun, Wis; 3. Keith Tolf, Union Grove, Wis; 4. Brian Ulrich (t), Racine, Wis; 5. Paul Dygon, Wind Lake, Wis; 6. Curt Thompson, Fort Atkinson, Wis; 7. Dylan Schuyler, Dousman, Wis; 8. Bill Hobson, Roscoe, Ill.; 9. Monty Coffman, Algonquin, Ill.; 10. Ralph Gentile, Racine, Wis; 11. Brad Kossow, Union
Grove, Wis; 12. Joe Rusciano, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 13. Josh Wallace, Pell Lake, Wis; 14. Ryan Walsh (t), Woodstock, Ill.; 15. Carrie Dygon, Racine, Wis; 16. Stephen Brooks, New Lenox, Ill..

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Jeff Steenbergen, Waupun, Wis; 2. Curt Thompson, Fort Atkinson, Wis; 3. Paul Dygon, Wind Lake, Wis; 4. Sonny Schoffen, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 5. Brian Ulrich (t), Racine, Wis; 6. Keith Tolf, Union Grove, Wis.

Mini-Modifieds
A-Main 01 -- 1. Mike Van Houten, Cary, Ill.; 2. Andy Krueger, Lake Geneva, Wis; 3. Ken Johnson, Park Ridge, Ill.; 4. Jesse Johnson, Elkhorn, Wis; 5. Glen Vernezze, Salem, Wis; 6. Hermie Schultz, Silver Lake, Wis; 7. Curt Thomazin, Elkhorn, Wis; 8. John DeMay, Lake Villa, Ill.; 9. Bill Trusky, Silverlake, Wis; 10. Scott McCarthy, Antioch, Ill.; 11. Gerardo Giuliano, Schaumburg,, Ill.; 12. Chris Thomazin, Elkhorn, Wis.

Heat 01 -- 1. Jesse Johnson, Elkhorn, Wis; 2. Glen Vernezze, Salem, Wis; 3. Andy Krueger, Lake Geneva, Wis; 4. John DeMay, Lake Villa, Ill.; 5. Gerardo Giuliano, Schaumburg,, Ill.; 6.  Scott McCarthy, Antioch, Ill.; 7. Chris Thomazin, Elkhorn, Wis.

Time Trial -- 1. Ken Johnson, Park Ridge, Ill.; 2. Mike Van Houten, Cary, Ill.; 3. Curt Thomazin, Elkhorn, Wis; 4. Hermie Schultz, Silver Lake, Wis; 5. Jesse Johnson, Elkhorn, Wis; 6. Andy  Krueger, Lake Geneva, Wis; 7. Gerardo Giuliano, Schaumburg,, Ill.; 8. Bill Trusky, Silverlake,  Wis; 9. John DeMay, Lake Villa, Ill.; 10. Chris Thomazin, Elkhorn, Wis; 11. Glen Vernezze, Salem, Wis; 12. Scott McCarthy, Antioch, Ill..

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Curt Thomazin, Elkhorn, Wis; 2. Mike Van Houten, Cary, Ill.; 3. Ken Johnson, Park Ridge, Ill.; 4. Hermie Schultz, Silver Lake, Wis.

Super Late Models
A-Main 01 -- 1. Matt Kocourek, Racine, Wis; 2. Eddie May, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 3. Landry Potter, Racine, Wis; 4. Jacob Humphrey (t), Lake Geneva, Wis; 5. Terry Patnode, South Milwaukee, Wis; 6. Kent Burkoth (t), Burlington, Wis; 7. Brandon Hill, Lake Geneva, Wis; 8. Jason Hicks, Delavan, Wis; 9. Jamie Artelt, Waukegan, Ill.; 10. Jeff Holmgren, Jr., East Troy, Wis; 11. Earl
Counter, Geneva, Ill.; 12. Steve Vaughn, Loves Park, Ill.; 13. Mike Simon Sr, Grayslake, Ill.; 14. Randy Rodgers (t), Elkhorn, Wis; 15. Brad Norgard, Pell Lake, Wis; 16. Vincent Merry, Wadsworth, Ill.; 17. Chuck Duncan, Milwaukee, Wis; 18. Shane Bishop, Lake Geneva, Wis; 19. Ryan Mathews, Lake Geneva, Wis; 20. Fran Prestay, Waterford, Wis; 21. Rob Summers, Lake Geneva, Wis; 22. Don Collins, Trevor, Wis; 23. Dave Martinson, Waukegan, Ill..

Heat 01 -- 1. Steve Vaughn, Loves Park, Ill.; 2. Don Collins, Trevor, Wis; 3. Chuck Duncan, Milwaukee, Wis; 4. Mike Simon Sr, Grayslake, Ill.; 5. Brandon Hill, Lake Geneva, Wis; 6. Brad Norgard, Pell Lake, Wis; 7. Dave Martinson, Waukegan, Ill.; 8. Rob Summers, Lake Geneva, Wis;9. Mike Simon Jr, Ingleside, Ill..

Heat 02 -- 1. Vincent Merry, Wadsworth, Ill.; 2. Earl Counter, Geneva, Ill.; 3. Jason Hicks, Delavan, Wis; 4. Randy Rodgers (t), Elkhorn, Wis; 5. Jacob Humphrey (t), Lake Geneva, Wis; 6.Jamie Artelt, Waukegan, Ill.; 7. Jeff Holmgren, Jr., East Troy, Wis; 8. Landry Potter, Racine, Wis;9. Shane Bishop, Lake Geneva, Wis.

Time Trial -- 1. Eddie May, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 2. Fran Prestay, Waterford, Wis; 3. Matt Kocourek, Racine, Wis; 4. Ryan Mathews, Lake Geneva, Wis; 5. Terry Patnode, South Milwaukee, Wis; 6. Kent Burkoth (t), Burlington, Wis; 7. Jacob Humphrey (t), Lake Geneva, Wis; 8. Jeff Holmgren, Jr., East Troy, Wis; 9. Jason Hicks, Delavan, Wis; 10. Landry Potter, Racine,  Wis; 11. Jamie Artelt, Waukegan, Ill.; 12. Shane Bishop, Lake Geneva, Wis; 13. Earl Counter, Geneva, Ill.; 14. Vincent Merry, Wadsworth, Ill.; 15. Randy Rodgers (t), Elkhorn, Wis; 16. Brandon Hill, Lake Geneva, Wis; 17. Chuck Duncan, Milwaukee, Wis; 18. Mike Simon Sr,
Grayslake, Ill.; 19. Steve Vaughn, Loves Park, Ill.; 20. Brad Norgard, Pell Lake, Wis; 21. Mike Simon Jr, Ingleside, Ill.; 22. Don Collins, Trevor, Wis; 23. Dave Martinson, Waukegan, Ill.; 24. Rob

Trophy Dash 01 -- 1. Ryan Mathews, Lake Geneva, Wis; 2. Kent Burkoth (t), Burlington, Wis; 3. Matt Kocourek, Racine, Wis; 4. Eddie May, Crystal Lake, Ill.; 5. Fran Prestay, Waterford, Wis; 6. Terry Patnode, South Milwaukee, Wis.