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Steenbergen Wins The Big One at LGR!
  Rodgers, Norton Jr., and Rubach Score!
By Dale R. Erdmann

April 17, 2004; Lake Geneva, WI. - The first annual spring fling took place at Lake Geneva Raceway night and 21 year old Jeff Steenbergen out of Waupun won the 50 lap feature for the millennium late model/limited late model race. Steenbergen who started out racing in the Formula Indy cars,then Mid American trucks before moving to the limited late model division collected $750 as the visiting driver topped the field in this exciting race. Jack Rubach out of Burlington the 2001 champion in the McHenry Limousine super stocks took fast time for the third week out of three, won the 6 lap dash and the 25 lap feature race for a clean sweep. Randy Rodgers of Elkhorn won his first 35 lap Jim Olson Collision center feature for the super late models after finishing second and Denny Norton Jr. from McHenry,Illinois won his first Performance unlimited sportsman 25 lap feature.

Photo Highlights
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Jeff Steenbergen won the 50-lap special event for millennium/limited late models Saturday at Lake Geneva Raceway. 
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Jeremy Bloomberg (18) and Denny Norton, Jr. (96) traded the lead seven times in the last 10 laps of the LGR sportsman main Saturday with Norton taking the win.
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Jack Rubach scored a clean sweep in the super stock class at Lake Geneva Saturday.

Sonny Schoffen slipped in front of the 20 car field at the drop of the green flag with Paul Loppnow,Mike Lloyd,Jacob Humphrey and Steve Machiosek in hot pursuit. By lap ten Jeff Steenbergen who started mid pack was along side Humphrey fighting for third.Schoffen was still in front but Lloyd could feel Steenbergen’s presence by lap twelve. The first Yellow Pages USA caution period came on lap fifteen when Starter Dave Rex Jr. was sure there would be problems as Schoffen had both Lloyd and Steenbergen in tight formation in a three way battle for the lead,as everyone bobbled.

Just four laps after the green came out Brad Kossow spun stopping the race one more time. Again Schoffen had Lloyd, Steenbergen and Mark Hartline in one of the closest runs for the top spot .On lap nineteen Humphrey joined the fray and the crowd got what they came for,some excellent racing. Then came lap twenty three and Hartline’s mount burst in flames bringing out a rare red flag. Hartline escaped injury but his night was over.

As the green was displayed Lloyd jumped in front with quick qualifier Paul Dygon creeping into second. The top five diced for a new position with Chad Stevens now in contention for a top spot. Before lap thirty was completed Keith Tolf was now fifth. Somehow Steenbergen inched his way from third to second and in front within seven laps. Lloyd, Dygon, Tolf and Stevens were not going to give up  as this race for second place would be so close.

The leader started to pull away from the field after a six lap dash for the lead. The final caution came on lap forty seven as Lloyd and Tolf got together in this tight contest. The last three laps were all Steenbergen’s as Dygon tried everything to no avail.as Stevens pulled off a slick move with just two laps to go, moving around Dygon and trying to reel in the leader.

Coming into three something happened to Stevens as he flew off the turn with everyone going by. Steenbergen won the great race, with Brian Ulrich nipping Dygon for second. Thompson was fourth,with Tolf recovering for fifth and Humphrey sixth.

Pole sitters James Olson and Brad Norgard dueled for the led the first go round of the Super Late Model main event, then on lap two Joe Fischer moved under Norgard .Jeff Lorenz, Russ Blakeley and Mike Meyerhoffer were next. Lorenz just got under Norgard when the first Yellow Pages USA caution period came on lap seventeen.

The leader big advantage was gone, but as the green reappeared Fischer was tight on his bumper. Shane Bishop joined the top three on the restart with Jason Hicks next.Randy Rodgers, Jerry Cowan, Blakeley ,Jacob Humphrey and fast timer Rick Corso were trying to move up. Out came another caution on lap twenty seven when Earl Counter spun. This tightened up a field that was already close, but one lap later Corso got squeezed into the wall coming off two when Bishop and Cowan made contact. Everyone escaped injury,but Corso’s run to the front was over as his mount received consistable damage.

Olson went on to win the race over Rodgers, Fischer, Hicks, Humphrey and Blakeley. A post race inspection dropped Olson from the finish. This gave the win to Rodgers and moved Meyerhoffer to sixth.

Norm Paulsen paced the field in the super stock main event with Ken Eisbrenner, Adam Regnier and Mike Bell at his heels. It was a see/saw run at the top with the lead changing every other lap. On lap ten Regnier, Mike Gunderson and Craig   Mertes got involved in a racing incident,causing the first caution of the season in the feature race.

On the restart Tom Roney charged in front as Regnier tried to hold onto second but Adam Mass moved around one lap later.Four laps later Jack Rubach was on the move and took over the top spot with just six laps to go and went on to win this sometimes three wide contest.John Janssen nipped Rob Summers for second. Roney was third,with Mass and Regnier next.

The sportsman feature was another close contest with Rick Rowlett out front the first three laps before the first Yellow Pages USA caution period for a problem with the car driven by Russ Blakeley. Rowlett led two more lap before Denny Norton Jr. inched his way in front.On lap seven Rowlett spun bringing the race to a halt.

Underway Fast qualifier Jeremy Bloomberg moved in front two laps, but Norton slipped back in front once again. The lead would change seven times  Before Norton Jr. came home the winner. Bloomberg, Kenny Joosten, Erik Pierce, Bobby Giers and Jamie Dorsey completed the top six.

This coming Saturday night another special is on tap.The first of the three Night “No Bull” series will take place sponsored by Five Star race car bodies and nightly sponsor Jim Olson Collision centers.

Many new super late model drivers will take a try at the $1000 to win the 50 lap feature. Time trials begin at 5:45 pm. first race at 7.

SUMMARY OF EVENTS Lake Geneva Raceway April 17th,  2004:   Results Not Available

Super Late Models    Trophy Dash 01                
        1    88    Rick Corso (t)    McHenry, IL
        2    22    Russ Blakeley    Delavan, WI
        3    63    Jason Hicks    Delavan, WI
        4    67    Jerry Cowan    Burlington, WI
        5    14R    Randy Rodgers (t)    Elkhorn, WI
        6    63H    Jacob Humphrey    Lake Geneva, WI

Super Late Models     Time Trial               
        1    88    Rick Corso (t)    McHenry, IL
        2    63    Jason Hicks    Delavan, WI
        3    14R    Randy Rodgers (t)    Elkhorn, WI
        4    67    Jerry Cowan    Burlington, WI
        5    63H    Jacob Humphrey    Lake Geneva, WI
        6    22    Russ Blakeley    Delavan, WI
        7    32    Earl Counter    Geneva, IL
        8    25    Jeff Lorenz    Waukesha, WI
        9    17    Shane Bishop    Lake Geneva, WI
        10    5    Terry Patnode    South Milwaukee, WI
        11    2    Joe Fischer    Mc Henry, IL
        12    93    Mike Meyerhoffer (t)    Burlington, WI
        13    24    Jim Olson    Woodstock, IL
        14    19    Dave Thomas    Franklin, WI
        15    8    Ron Stoehr    Dousman, WI
        16    4    Brad Norgard    Pell Lake, WI
        17    9    Larry Los    Darien, WI
        18    56    Mike Simon Jr    Ingleside, IL
        19    36    Jeff Menolascino    Walworth, WI
        20    48    Mike Simon Sr    Grayslake, IL
        21    3    Chuck Duncan    Milwaukee, WI
        22    4    Don Collins    Trevor, WI
        23    55     Vincent Merry (t)    Wadsworth, IL
        24    88V     Steve Vaughn    Loves Park, IL

Super Late Models    Heat 01               
        1    9    Larry Los    Darien, WI
        2    4    Don Collins    Trevor, WI
        3    36    Jeff Menolascino    Walworth, WI
        4    4    Brad Norgard    Pell Lake, WI
        5    48    Mike Simon Sr    Grayslake, IL
        6    3    Chuck Duncan    Milwaukee, WI
        7    8    Ron Stoehr    Dousman, WI
        8    56    Mike Simon Jr    Ingleside, IL

Super Late Models    Heat 02               
        1    5    Terry Patnode    South Milwaukee, WI
        2    17    Shane Bishop    Lake Geneva, WI
        3    19    Dave Thomas    Franklin, WI
        4    24    Jim Olson    Woodstock, IL
        5    93    Mike Meyerhoffer (t)    Burlington, WI
        6    25    Jeff Lorenz    Waukesha, WI
        7    32    Earl Counter    Geneva, IL
        8    2    Joe Fischer    Mc Henry, IL

Super Late Models    A-Main 01               
        1    14R    Randy Rodgers (t)    Elkhorn, WI
        2    2    Joe Fischer    Mc Henry, IL
        3    63    Jason Hicks    Delavan, WI
        4    63H    Jacob Humphrey    Lake Geneva, WI
        5    22    Russ Blakeley    Delavan, WI
        6    93    Mike Meyerhoffer (t)    Burlington, WI
        7    19    Dave Thomas    Franklin, WI
        8    9    Larry Los    Darien, WI
        9    4    Brad Norgard    Pell Lake, WI
        10    25    Jeff Lorenz    Waukesha, WI
        11    67    Jerry Cowan    Burlington, WI
        12    4    Don Collins    Trevor, WI
        13    17    Shane Bishop    Lake Geneva, WI
        14    48    Mike Simon Sr    Grayslake, IL
        15    8    Ron Stoehr    Dousman, WI
        16    32    Earl Counter    Geneva, IL
        17    88    Rick Corso (t)    McHenry, IL
        18    36    Jeff Menolascino    Walworth, WI
        19    56    Mike Simon Jr    Ingleside, IL
        20    3    Chuck Duncan    Milwaukee, WI

Sportsmen    Dash   
        1    43     Jamie Dorsey    Rockford, IL
        2    54    Erik Pierce    Lake In The Hills, IL
        3    50    Bobby Giers    Lakemoor, IL
        4    18    Jeremy Bloomberg    Hampshire, IL

Sportsmen    Time Trial               
        1    18    Jeremy Bloomberg    Hampshire, IL
        2    50    Bobby Giers    Lakemoor, IL
        3    43    Jamie Dorsey    Rockford, IL
        4    54    Erik Pierce    Lake In The Hills, IL
        5    96    Dennis Norton Jr    Wonder Lake, IL
        6    47    Kenny Joosten (t)    Wonder Lake, IL
        7    69    Chris Klein    East Troy, WI
        8    72    Russ Blakeley    Delavan, WI
        9    16    Rick Rowlett    Marengo, IL
        10    9s    Chad Spark    Wonder Lake, IL
        11    29    Mike Borchardt Jr    Greenfield, WI
        12    23    Randy Schneider    Burlington, WI
        13    5n    Gary Norton    Hebron, IL

Sportsmen    Heat 01               
        1    72    Russ Blakeley    Delavan, WI
        2    47    Kenny Joosten (t)    Wonder Lake, IL
        3    5n    Gary Norton    Hebron, IL
        4    96    Dennis Norton Jr    Wonder Lake, IL
        5    69    Chris Klein    East Troy, WI
        6    9s    Chad Spark    Wonder Lake, IL
        7    16    Rick Rowlett    Marengo, IL
        8    29    Mike Borchardt Jr    Greenfield, WI
        9    23    Randy Schneider    Burlington, WI

Sportsmen    A-Main 01               
        1    96    Dennis Norton Jr    Wonder Lake, IL
        2    18    Jeremy Bloomberg    Hampshire, IL
        3    47    Kenny Joosten (t)    Wonder Lake, IL
        4    54    Erik Pierce    Lake In The Hills, IL
        5    50    Bobby Giers    Lakemoor, IL
        6    43    Jamie Dorsey    Rockford, IL
        7    69    Chris Klein    East Troy, WI
        8    72    Russ Blakeley    Delavan, WI
        9    29    Mike Borchardt Jr    Greenfield, WI
        10    9s    Chad Spark    Wonder Lake, IL
        11    23    Randy Schneider    Burlington, WI
        12    16    Rick Rowlett    Marengo, IL
        13    5n    Gary Norton    Hebron, IL

 Super Stocks    Trophy Dash 01                
        1    46    Jack Rubach    Burlington, WI
        2    38    Rob Summers    Lake Geneva, WI
        3    56    Shane Sapp    Crystal Lake, IL
        4    42    Craig Mertes    Antioch, IL
        5    43    John Janssen    Burlington, WI
        6    74    Bob Moeller (t)    McHenry, IL

Super Stocks    Time Trial               
        1    46    Jack Rubach    Burlington, WI
        2    74    Bob Moeller (t)    McHenry, IL
        3    38    Rob Summers    Lake Geneva, WI
        4    43    John Janssen    Burlington, WI
        5    56    Shane Sapp    Crystal Lake, IL
        6    42    Craig Mertes    Antioch, IL
        7    5    Dave Edwards    Salem, WI
        8    4    Mike Gunderson (t)    Union Grove, WI
        9    10    Tom Roney    Ridgefield, IL
        10    92    Tom Fay(t)    Arlington Heights, IL
        11    99    Adam Mass    Woodstock, IL
        12    73    Adam Regnier    Twin Lakes, WI
        13    90    Scott Norton    Wonder Lake, IL
        14    1    Mike Bell    Waukesha, WI
        15    87    Ken Eisbrenner    Racine, WI
        16    1    Norman Paulsen (t)    Beach Park, IL
        17    18    Nick Nelson    Lombard, IL
        18    66    Mike Olson    Wonder Lake, IL
        19    65    Tom Jastrab    Pell Lake, WI
        20    17    Josh Matz    Burlington, WI
        21    11    David Erickson    Algonquin, IL
        22    59     Darrick Perrier (t)    Streamwood, IL
        23    13    Chad Hagler    McHenry, IL
        24    5    Jason Krage    Huntley, IL
        25    8    Carl Paglini    Twin Lakes, WI
        26    1F    Ken "farmer" Calhoun    Johnsburg, IL
        27    29     Trevor Mock    Island Lake, IL
        28    36    Joe DeCubellis    Salem, WI
        29    16    Willy Peterson (t)    Woodstock, IL

Super Stocks    Heat 01               
        1    36    Joe DeCubellis    Salem, WI
        2    1F    Ken "farmer" Calhoun    Johnsburg, IL
        3    11    David Erickson    Algonquin, IL
        4    17    Josh Matz    Burlington, WI
        5    29    Trevor Mock    Island Lake, IL
        6    59     Darrick Perrier (t)    Streamwood, IL
        7    65    Tom Jastrab    Pell Lake, WI
        8    5    Jason Krage    Huntley, IL
        9    13    Chad Hagler    McHenry, IL
        10    16    Willy Peterson (t)    Woodstock, IL

Super Stocks    Heat 02               
        1    66    Mike Olson    Wonder Lake, IL
        2    1    Norman Paulsen (t)    Beach Park, IL
        3    18    Nick Nelson    Lombard, IL
        4    73    Adam Regnier    Twin Lakes, WI
        5    99    Adam Mass    Woodstock, IL
        6    87    Ken Eisbrenner    Racine, WI
        7    90    Scott Norton    Wonder Lake, IL
        8    10    Tom Roney    Ridgefield, IL
        9    4    Mike Gunderson (t)    Union Grove, WI
        10    92    Tom Fay(t)    Arlington Heights, IL
        11    5    Dave Edwards    Salem, WI
        12    1    Mike Bell    Waukesha, WI

Super Stocks    B-Main 01               
        1    1F    Ken "farmer" Calhoun    Johnsburg, IL
        2    11    David Erickson    Algonquin, IL
        3    17    Josh Matz    Burlington, WI
        4    29    Trevor Mock    Island Lake, IL
        5    59     Darrick Perrier (t)    Streamwood, IL
        6    65    Tom Jastrab    Pell Lake, WI
        7    5    Jason Krage    Huntley, IL
        8    13    Chad Hagler    McHenry, IL
        9    16    Willy Peterson (t)    Woodstock, IL
Super Stocks    A-Main 01               
        1    46    Jack Rubach    Burlington, WI
        2    43    John Janssen    Burlington, WI
        3    38    Rob Summers    Lake Geneva, WI
        4    10    Tom Roney    Ridgefield, IL
        5    99    Adam Mass    Woodstock, IL
        6    73    Adam Regnier    Twin Lakes, WI
        7    1    Norman Paulsen (t)    Beach Park, IL
        8    66    Mike Olson    Wonder Lake, IL
        9    4    Mike Gunderson (t)    Union Grove, WI
        10    5    Dave Edwards    Salem, WI
        11    87    Ken Eisbrenner    Racine, WI
        12    56    Shane Sapp    Crystal Lake, IL
        13    92    Tom Fay(t)    Arlington Heights, IL
        14    11    David Erickson    Algonquin, IL
        15    42    Craig Mertes    Antioch, IL
        16    1F    Ken "farmer" Calhoun    Johnsburg, IL
        17    90    Scott Norton    Wonder Lake, IL
        18    74    Bob Moeller (t)    McHenry, IL
        19    1    Mike Bell    Waukesha, WI
        20    18    Nick Nelson    Lombard, IL